Oh Coachella. Here I thought I would never make the 2000-mile trip again just to see a bunch of hipsters in stilettos parade their way through the grass in an effort to be seen by LA’s famous. You won’t let me have my beer in hand and go to a show, no you force me to stay in a fenced-in area to enjoy my beverage, too far away from any stage to get a good view of a show. So I have to choose: chug the expensive beers I just stocked up on because I stood in line for 30 minutes, or sit in the grass and come to terms with the fact that I’m missing one of the 100+ great sets on my “must not miss” list. And that’s just it, oh Coachella, no one has a line up quite like yours. It’s a music lover’s paradise. You stay up to date with the current hot artists and bring back old legacies. You even revived Tupac one year. So in the end, although you may come across a bit stuck up, you still remain one of the best festivals.
So here I am again, staring at your 2014 line-up of a yet again sold-out year, and the itch to make my way into the desert to wing it for three ridiculously hot – or cold – days overcomes me. You unpredictable predictable you. You’re like that bad ex-boyfriend you promise to never go back to because he treats you…well not so great at times…yet you have that air to you that I cannot resist. Please, I want to be a part of your life again, for those three days. Then we can break up again, until next year.
I get out my Excel sheet and start making a list of all the artists I want to see this year. And yes, it always requires an Excel sheet, because the array of great artists is overwhelming and without my list I would feel like I lost control – or at least oversight. “Who do you want to see today?” they ask, as I get my printed Excel sheet out of my jeans’ pocket with pride and start to name the long list of definites to maybes. So who will make it onto my list this year? Here are my top 10 (not necessarily in that order):
- OutKast: Are you kidding? I saw these boys in Atlanta many years ago before they split into two separate entities. All I can say is that I wanted to get married to Andre 3000 after that set. I’m not sure if it was the balloon-like ridiculous pants he wore or…well he’s just awesome, okay? But let’s be honest. He needs Big Boi for balance. The reunion was necessary.
- Broken Bells. Producer Danger Mouse meets James Mercer of The Shins. Need I say more? The end product is like the ultimate love child.
- MS MR. I discovered this band a bit over a year ago. Their song Hurricane quickly caught attention and landed them a record deal in no time. The band’s sound is a sweet mix between dark and sexy. If they’re as good live as they sound recorded, then this show will definitely be a win.
- Pharrell Williams. How much talent can you squeeze into one body? Part of the band The Neptunes and N.E.R.D. back in the 90’s and early 2000’s, this guy has not stopped producing and writing amazingly catchy tracks. No wonder he shows up on albums all across the board, from Madonna to Jay-Z and last year’s Daft Punk hit album, where he co-wrote Get Lucky and Lose Yourself to Dance. This guy’s infectious beats and voice will make your heart smile and your feet dance uncontrollably. Trust me.
- Empire of the Sun. I saw these kids at Bonnaroo a couple of years ago, and boy was it a trippy show. Elaborate costumes and a mind-bending performance guaranteed.
- Sure, a little bit depressing at times, but oh so beautiful. I’m always surprised at how much I like their music when I get their album out after almost forgetting about them. It’s quite angelic, to tell the truth.
- Beck! Beck! Beck! He just released a brand new album. Finally! I’ve been waiting for it for years. And of course, it’s yet another masterpiece. Morning Phase is beautifully composed and arranged, and so very dreamy. God, I love this artist. One of the best out there, hands down.
- The 1975. I’ve had their song Sex on repeat for several months. This highly energetic and young band reminds me of my punk-rock days and brings back certain feelings of social revolution, disruption and independence. Ah, to be 16 again.
- SEXY – in all caps. The perfect marriage between pop and R&B, topped with Aluna’s georgeous voice will probably tempt you to make out with the person standing next to you.
- A little bit U.K. garage, a little bit pop, and a lot of house, these newcomers started attracting a lot of attention in 2012. They collaborated with the above mentioned AlunaGeorge to create the track White Noise, which became an immediate hit. Double winner.
That was tough. It’s hard to pick just ten off the grandiose line-up. I could go on forever, but to list everyone I want to see this year would require my Excel sheet. And frankly, it’s a work in progress. And I don’t want to take all the fun out of it for you. I do encourage you to visit artist pages and listen to a couple of sample tracks of each and everyone. I always find great new discoveries that way and oftentimes they turn into long lasting love affairs, so to say. So cheers, my friends, you can find me in the green desert in April. And maybe I’ll even share my Excel sheet with you then.
