TUIW Guide To Coachella

We at TUIW are so psyched for Coachella, the big music festival happening this weekend in Indio, California! Both of us are going to be at the festival and we’ll be blogging about the whole shindig. But, before it starts, here’s a look at just a few of the acts we’re excited for:

Friday

Ra Ra Riot
If you’re a fan of Death Cab for Cutie, Vampire Weekend, or The Arcade Fire, Ra Ra Riot is the band for you. Combining catchy indie pop hooks with string instruments, Ra Ra Riot has crafted some really terrific music in just a short time. Key tracks to persuade you include the beautifully melancholy “Each Year,” and the surprisingly bouncy and insanely catchy “Dying is Fine.”

The Avett Brothers
An already enjoyable Americana/folky band before their recent big record with Rick Rubin, I and Love and You, The Avett Brothers are a terrific, cohesive band that will you get tapping your toes and singing along, even if you don’t know the words. One of the best songs I heard all of last year is their “I and Love and You,” which is absolutely gorgeous.

LCD Soundsystem
The most dancing you’ll do all weekend will come the first day with LCD Soundsystem. While we haven’t heard too much of the new record, all it takes is hearing “All My Friends” once to make your Coachella experience awesome.

Jay-Z
There’s not much to say about this one. I can’t wait to see one of the greatest rappers of all time take one of the biggest stages in the country. The last time he played a festival, he absolutely tore apart Glastonbury, an English institution, and should do the same here.

Sleigh Bells
I saw Sleigh Bells twice during SXSW, but missed my favorite song (“Crown on the Ground”) both times. Given the manic, high-energy nature of their performance and how much fun their show was, I can promise I won’t make that mistake again.

Fever Ray
Given that Fever Ray (or The Knife for that matter) pretty much never tours, this stop at Coachella is a must-see for me. I expect nothing less than face-melting perfection.

Saturday

Camera Obscura
What started as a project closely tied to Belle & Sebastian (Stuart Murdoch produced their first record), Camera Obscura has blossomed into a phenomenal chamber pop band with all the right shades of Phil Spector included. Their latest record, My Maudlin Career is absolutely stunning, and previous working, including the insanely catchy “If Looks Could Kill” have got me really excited to see this band at Coachella.

White Rabbits
If you like Spoon, you’re going to love White Rabbits. Their latest album, It’s Frightening, was produced by Spoon’s Britt Daniel, and combined with the band’s already raw, bouncy sound, It’s Frightening was one of my favorite records of 2009. Having seen them at Bonnaroo last year, I can vouch for their great live show as well.

Dirty Projectors
While the 2009 buzz over Dirty Projectors has faded a little bit, I still highly recommend going to see them. While some people are so strongly against the syncopated guitars and weird melodies, the Dirty Projectors kill it live. The harmonies are just as perfectly in sync, and you really won’t want to miss a live version of “Stillness is the Move.”

Major Lazer
The MIA-facilitated collaboration between Diplo and Switch released a pretty sweet new album, but I’m really excited to see two extremely talented producers/DJs do their thing in a live setting.

Beach House
Three months into 2010, Teen Dream is still my favorite album of the year, so I’ll be excited to see how the droning electronics and sweeping emotion of that record translate to a live setting (especially an outdoor, daytime setting, which doesn’t seem especially ideal for that music, does it?)

Sunday

Local Natives
I was absolutely blown away by Local Natives’ newest record, Gorilla Manor. Taking the best parts of Fleet Foxes, combining them with the subtleties of Grizzly Bear, and adding the raw power of the Arcade Fire, Local Natives are a band on the rise. If you don’t believe me, listen to the songs “Sun Hands” and “Airplanes,” and you’ll change your mind pretty quickly.

Yo La Tengo
If you’re already a fan and haven’t seen Yo La Tengo, do not miss this show. All the fuzz and distortion you love on their records is even better in person, and the long, wandering jams are a delight to listen to. Yo La Tengo have become elder statesman of indie rock, and missing them would be a big shame.

Thom Yorke and Atoms for Peace
I don’t think there’s too much more to say. It’s Thom Yorke from Radiohead! Go see him! Love it!

Pavement
I just listened to the song “Cut Your Hair” and I think these guys have big break out potential. I bet they’ll even get their video on MTV!

Phoenix
Phoenix puts on an absolutely delightful show. It doesn’t really matter what they play, since all their music is so fun and catchy, but songs like “1901″ and “Long Distance Call” are extra-exciting live.

Jonsi
Jonsi is the singer of Sigur Ros so it should still be worth it to see him, as he tours in support of his new album. Word on his record is that its not too different from Sigur Ros, which makes me very excited to see him.

Sly Stone
Sunday’s just too jam-packed with music, but we couldn’t go without mentioning soul legend Sly Stone. He rarely makes appearances which makes this one extra exciting, and the prospect of hearing “Everyday People” and “Dance to the Music” in the Coachella Valley is an sweet one.