Last year, TUiW went to Coachella based on its stellar lineup, and this morning we have the lineup for this year’s festival, one that seems equally enticing. The fest, held in Indio, CA from April 15-17, will be headlined by Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, Kanye West, and the reunited Strokes, with featured bands including the Black Keys, Interpol, Robyn, Animal Collective, Mumford & Sons, Bright Eyes, the National, and Death From Above 1979, who evidentially have reunited. If those names weren’t enough, throw in Broken Social Scene, Crystal Castles, Lauryn Hill, Sleigh Bells, Cee-Lo, Lightning Bolt, the reunited Big Audio Dynamite and Suede, Duran Duran, Erykah Badu, the Black Keys, Titus Andronicus, Best Coast, the Kills, the New Pornographers, Lil B, HEALTH, OFF!, Odd Future, and the Chemical Brothers. Damn. Find out more here.
Tag Archives: Coachella
2011 Coachella Lineup Announced
Filed under Music News
TUIW Goes to Coachella: Sunday
Stephen Malkmus of Pavement
TUiW spent the past weekend in Indio, CA for this year’s Coachella festival. Here’s our recap of Sunday:
Local Natives
The L.A. band got a lot of support from the locals at Coachella, who packed the tent well in advance of their set. Local Natives worked through tracks off of their stellar debut Gorilla Manor, and brought even more energy to tracks already filled with plenty. Album stand outs “Sun Hands” and “Airplanes” sound even more gorgeous live, as the band’s stellar harmonies floated over a more raw, live sound. With a great debut and a tight live performance, the future looks awfully bright for Local Natives.
Owen Pallet
Owen Pallett brought his quirky, formal style of violin and looping (complete with a multi-instrumentalist accompanying him) and focused mostly on tracks from Heartland, his really good new album. The show also featured Pallett’s amiably goofy stage presence, like when he referred to the stage he shared with Jonsi and Bradford Cox as the “gay ghetto” and then asked his accompanist if he had tried “cornholing.”
Deerhunter
Though they were beleaguered with technical problems, Deerhunter put on a fantastic live set, thanks in large part to the enthusiasm of frontman Bradford cox. During one particular technical setback, Cox improvised a Coachella songs, pondering the number of people who OD’ed or had faulty condoms. He also gave a shout-out to fellow Coachella performer Julian Casablancas before closing with “Disappearing Ink,” on which he admitted to ripping off Casablancas’ vocal style. The rest of the set was full of fantastic, fuzzed out jams, with the highlight being a great version of “Nothing Ever Happened.”
Yo La Tengo
It was oddly delightful to see Yo La Tengo, a band that has toiled so long in relative obscurity, play the main stage of a major festival. Their brief set functioned as a kind of greatest hits and the band tore through songs like “Autumn Sweater” and “You Can Have It All” (complete with some stylish dance moves) while saving enough time for one of their trademark noise freakouts at the end. All in all, it was an immensely satisfying set from a great band.
Spoon
Continuing the theme of unexpected bands triumphantly taking their rightful place as festival headlines, Spoon played a great set to an adoring audience. While the show didn’t reach further back than Kill the Moonlight, it featured all of Spoon’s newest essentials, even if the crowd didn’t seem as into the songs from their newest album. Also, Bradford Cox joined the band on guitar for “Who Makes Your Money.”
Pavement
For what we’d estimate was a sizeable minority of Coachella-goers, this was it. The reason we shelled out $300 and drove 20 hours to a desert in the middle of nowhere in California. So was it worth? Hell yes. From the first strains of “Silence Kit” to the triumphant finish of “Cut Your Hair,” Pavement was back with an energy and a fire that betrays the slacker storyline. Playing a range of music from across their career (but centered on Slanted and Enchanted and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain) Pavement was, simply, everything we dreamed they’d be.
Thom Yorke and Atoms for Peace
They weren’t Radiohead, but Thom Yorke’s new band injected new life into 2006′s good-not-great The Eraser (which they played through from start to finish). Yorke was bouncy and energetic (and had a bit of an unofficial dance-off with Flea) and all the stuff he played was great, but the highpoint was when he played “Airbag” on just an acoustic guitar and then moved to a piano for “Everything in Its Right Place.”
Gorillaz
A somewhat disappointing end to Coachella, Gorillaz much lauded stage showed was stripped down, with the band appearing as themselves as pictures and weird video clips playing behind them. The music was alright, but without the much discussed holograms or even a video of the cartoon’s singing, it was a fairly typical set. There was no Lou Reed appearance, as was the rumor floating around, but De La Soul (who performed on their own earlier in the day) and a video of Snoop Dog appeared to rock out with Damon Albarn and co.
Filed under Live Review, Music Review
TUIW Goes to Coachella: Saturday
Beach House
TUiW spent the past weekend in Indio, CA for this year’s Coachella festival. Here’s our recap of Saturday:
Beach House
When Beach House took the stage, they promised to “cool us off,” and they easily succeeded. Playing their dreamy pop in the middle of the day might not have seemed like the best of situations, but it was perfect, with the crowd gently swaying to tunes from their stellar Teen Dream, as well as favorites like the gorgeous “Gila.” Jay-Z was in the house watching (he reportedly saw The xx too) as the band did a cover of Gucci Mane’s “Lemonade,” which they passed off as a “work in progress.” One of the better sets of the weekend, Beach House started Saturday with a chill bang. (Just a note, we missed both Girls and Camera Obscura thanks to traffic and water lines. Thanks Coachella!)
The Raveonettes
With the rest of their band stuck in Europe due to the volcano in Iceland, the Raveonettes’ Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo played on as a duo. This didn’t stop them from bringing the noise as Wagner’s droning, fuzzy guitar riffs blared over Foo’s bass and steady drumming. Both admitted to being nervous and uncertain about playing just the two of them, but they hardly missed a beat, playing their blend of 50′s and 60′s rock run through a blender with the Jesus and Mary Chain. The Raveonettes were one of the great surprises of the weekend with their really phenomenal set.
Dirty Projectors
In the year since we last saw the Dirty Projectors, they became some of the bigger indie darlings of 2009, thanks in part to their funky hit “Stillness is the Move.” The band didn’t disappoint at Coachella, their syncopated guitar riffs and perfectly timed vocal harmonies intertwining effortlessly. The Dirty Projectors have garnered all sorts of praise and dislike for their unique sound, but regardless of what you think, they are a terrific live act. The set was also made better by the fact that we stood right next to Vincent Chase himself, Adrian Grenier (!).
MGMT
Congratulations bro! MGMT is already getting a lot of flack for their new, different record, but you have to give them credit for sticking to their guns and playing new songs with as much gusto as the older, much loved ones. While the crowed danced and sang along to hits “Time to Pretend” and “Electric Feel,” they mostly seemed bored during the Congratulations tracks, and genuinely disappointed that the band didn’t even play “Kids.” It’s going to be an uphill climb for MGMT.
Major Lazer
Major Lazer was probably the most ridiculous live show of the whole weekend. Their show quickly turned into a sort of rave, with the unhappy MGMT fans coming over to dance and party. A manic blend of hip-hop, trance, and electronica, Major Lazer is all about one thing: dancing.
Flying Lotus
Though he was sadly not joined by Thom Yorke (who appears on his new record), Flying Lotus put on a great set of chopped beats and hooks, and appeared to be having way more fun than your average dude at a laptop. Like Major Lazer, Flying Lotus is all about dancing, but with more emphasis on hip-hop than dance. Those disappointed by the absence of Yorke were treated to an awesome live remix of the Radiohead track “Reckoner,” which stood out in an all around stellar set.
Filed under Live Review, Music Review
TUIW Goes to Coachella: Friday
Grizzly Bear perform at Coachella
UIW spent the past weekend in Indio, CA for this year’s Coachella festival. We just arrived back in our respective homes, so we’re working on our reviews, which will all be up over the next two days. To start though, here’s our recap of Friday.
P.O.S.
A former punk rocker who has since incorporated more rap into his repertoire, Minneapolis’ P.O.S. started Coachella off with a loud and raucous bang. While it’s too easy to call him “rap rock” P.O.S. definitely comes from that mold.
Baroness
Those of us here at TUIW aren’t the biggest of metal fans, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying Baroness. Each of their songs sounds like the epic finale, but there’s always one more. Baroness didn’t have a huge crowd listening, but it’s safe to say that everyone there was having a blast.
Sleigh Bells
It’s not hard to understand why M.I.A. is so smitten with Sleigh Bells, who put on a manic freakout of a show. Internet hits like “Crown on the Ground” sounded even better live, and songs from their forthcoming debut LP were fantastic. Get ready world, here comes Sleigh Bells.
Yeasayer
We only caught a little bit of Yeasayer, but they drew a huge crowd to see them. Making the most of their patented blend of indie styles, Yeasayer put on a somewhat expected show, one without much variety from their records. The highlight though was easily “2080,” with it’s crowd pleasing screaming at the end.
Ra Ra Riot
Both of us were impressed by Ra Ra Riot’s live show, which had so much more energy than their record might have suggested. The songs were all so much more immediate live than they were on the record. A samples of their new record were pretty good, making that one we’re excited for.
Lucero
The best way to describe Lucero is if the Drive-By Truckers played up their Springsteen influence a bit more. With horns filling in the gaps between the Southern Rock riffs, Lucero made the most of the small, but ardent crowd listening.
Grizzly Bear
Clearly the year spent touring behind Veckatimest has improved the live versions of its songs by the band. Playing to an enthusiastic crowd, the band absolutely blew the doors off songs like “Fine for Now,” while playing quieter songs like “Cheerleader” with the perfect amount of frailty. Both of us had seen them play Bonnaroo last year, and easily agreed this was a much better show.
LCD Soundsystem
James Murphy and Co. picked up exactly where they left off with the first show of the This Is Happening tour. The jury’s still out on the new stuff, but classics like ‘Us v Them,’ ‘All My Friends,’ and “Yeah” sounded as good as ever, and Murphy even improvised a hilarious verse on “Losing My Edge.”
Jay-Z
Jay commanded a crowd of 75,000people like no one we’ve ever seen before and clearly had fun doing it. His set was one of the weekend’s most anticipated and Hova didn’t disappoint. He tore through fan favorites like “HOVA” and “99 Problems” and was easily our favorite of the weekend’s three headliners.
Fever Ray
Given how rare a show from Fever Ray (or The Knife, for that matter) is, her set on Friday night was a can’t miss show that didn’t disappoint. Backed by an awesome band and a trippy light show, Karin Andersson played all the key tracks from her solo debut and ended the first day on a high note.
Filed under Live Review, Music Review
TUIW Goes to Coachella
Sorry things have been quiet around here for the last couple of days; Michael and I have been making the long road trip from Austin to California. Now, with an assist from In-N-Out Burger, we’re ready to face Coachella. Stay tuned to the blog and our Twitter feed (@tangledupinwire) for updates all weekend long.
Filed under Site News
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.
Filed under TUIW Guide To
TUIW Guide to 2010 Summer Music Festivals
Want to go to a big music festival this summer but not sure which one? TUIW has you covered with our quick and handy guide to this summer’s best American festivals.
Coachella
When:April 16-18
Where: Indio, CA
Who: Pavement, Thom Yorke and Atoms for Peace, Jay-Z, Muse, Gorillaz, LCD Soundsystem, Sly and the Family Stone, Grizzly Bear, Vampire Weekend, The Specials, Fever Ray, MGMT, Dirty Projectors, Beach House, Phoenix, Spoon, Camera Obscura, Local Natives
Why: One of the best lineups of the summer, Coachella is the festival to go to if you live in the Southwest. This years offers camping for the first time this year, and being in the middle of the desert, the shows go into the wee hours of the morning. (Jonah and I will be attending, so expect comprehensive reviews)
Sasquatch!
When: May 29-31
Where: The Gorge, WA
Who: Pavement, My Morning Jacket, Massive Attack, Vampire Weekend, MGMT, the National, LCD Soundsystem, Band of Horses, Tegan and Sara, Broken Social Scene, Passion Pit, Public Enemy, She & Him, the New Pornographers, the Hold Steady, the xx, Dirty Projectors, No Age, Drive-By Truckers, Kid Cudi, the Mountain Goats, Quasi, Camera Obscura, Midlake, WHY?, Japandroids, Wale, YACHT, Cymbals Eat Guitars, the Very Best, Neon Indian, tUnE-YarDs, and Local Natives.
Why: Wowzers what a lineup! The festival is also Memorial Day weekend, so you don’t have to worry about taking time off of your pesky job.
Bonnaroo
When: June 10-13
Where: Manchester, TN
Who: Dave Matthews Band, Jay-Z, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Conan O’Brien, Weezer, The Flaming Lips playing Dark Side of the Moon, Phoenix, LCD Soundsystem, The Avett Brothers, She & Him, Dr. Dog, Aziz Ansari, The xx, The Dodos, Local Natives, and Here We Go Magic.
Why: Though the lineup isn’t as outstanding as its been in past years, Bonnaroo is a unique and awesome experience. The biggest thing Bonnaroo has going for it is it’s extra-stellar comedy tent, which this year features an appearance by Conan O’Brien.
Pitchfork Festival
When: July 16-18
Where: Chicago, IL
Who: Pavement, Modest Mouse, LCD Soundsystem, Broken Social Scene, St. Vincent, Panda Bear, Girls, John Spencer Blues Explosion, El-P, Raekown, Here We Go Magic, Lightening Bolt, Cass McCombs, Sleigh Bells, Big Boi, Wolf Parade, Liars, Robyn, Neon Indian, Washed Out.
Why: The smallest festival in our Guide, the Pitchfork fest is all about the music. There’s no corporate sponsors and wacky art fields. Instead, the P4k Fest is all about getting to see your favorite indie bands in one place. The downside: 3-day passes are already sold out, so you’ll have to pay more at a ticket broker to get in.
Lollapalooza
When: August 6-8
Where: Chicago, IL
Who: The Arcade Fire, The Strokes, Lady Gaga, Green Day, Soundgarden, Phoenix, MGMT, Spoon, the National, Hot Chip, Erykah Badu, the Black Keys, Devo, the xx, Cut Copy, the New Pornographers, Grizzly Bear, Yeasayer, Dirty Projectors, Metric, Matt and Kim, Drive-By Truckers, Jamie Lidell, Frightened Rabbit, the Walkmen, HEALTH, Wavves, Blitzen Trapper, Stars, Deer Tick, Rogue Wave, the Big Pink, the Dodos, Cymbals Eat Guitars, the Morning Benders, the Antlers, the Soft Pack, Harlem.
Why: Closing out the summer festivals is Lollapalooza which is packed with awesome bands. Though headliners Lady Gaga, Green Day, and Soundgarden leave something to be desired, they’re paired with The Arcade Fire, Strokes, Phoenix, and a ton of other little bands that balance it all out.
Filed under TUIW Guide To
Holy Crap! Coachella Lineup!
Festival Season is underway with the release of the lineup for this year’s iteration of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and its a doozy. Jay-Z, Muse, and Gorillaz are the headliners, but the real action is happening with some of the lower-tier artists including Thom Yorke ????, Sly and the Family Stone !!!! and Pavement >>>> (apparently Thom Yorke ???? is what he’s calling his solo show these days). Other bands include LCD Soundsystem, Grizzly Bear, Vampire Weekend, The Specials, Fever Ray, MGMT, Dirty Projectors, Beach House, Phoenix, Spoon, and dozens more awesome bands. I’ve got to say, going to Coachella was never reasonable when I was an East Coaster, but given this line-up and the fact that I’m only a day and a half away by car, I’m definitely considering it.
Filed under Music News
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