The original version of this article contained information that was unclear and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information.
Well, Tuesday was the day of Coachella statuses. Once a year, music fans everywhere take to social media to celebrate their successful ticket purchases, mourn their bad luck, or look sadly at their bank account statements and watch these statuses come and go.
Last year, Coachella’s schedule seemed to indicate a shift toward an increasingly dance-heavy lineup. I’m not going to lie, it scared me a little bit. And a fair portion of Coachella-ers felt the same way. No need to worry, because this year’s lineup is a spectacular return to the festival’s roots. Indie and alternative bands make a strong showing, ranging from the amazing vocal harmonies of Los Angeles-based band Local Natives to the radio-friendly folk of The Lumineers.
Anyone still on the fence about purchasing tickets for Coachella’s second weekend, this is a great year to go. And here’s why. Fair warning, I’m an indie music fan and not well-versed in dance music. So, there’s an entire dimension to the lineup that I’m not well-equipped to analyze. Who knows, the lineup could be even better than I think (which is definitely saying something).
Red Hot Chili Peppers
This is going to be a really short section. The band’s presence is great. I repeat, Red Hot Chili Peppers will be at Coachella. Moving on.
Oh, Look Who’s Back
The lineup this year also comes with a couple of pleasant surprises, with bands returning from a long period of inactivity. Perhaps most notable is Phoenix, whose album “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” was a smash hit. But then the band just disappeared. Well, it’s back, and headlining the second day.
Also in the lineup for the second day of the festival is The Postal Service, Ben Gibbard’s side project. And we all know that it’ll be playing “Such Great Heights.”
Iceland
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of bands from Iceland. I’ve written about prog-rock band Sigur Rós too many times to count, and Of Monsters and Men also came out with a hit-filled album a little while back. Both of these bands will be at the festival, and while Of Monsters and Men is definitely more easily accessible than Sigur Rós, both are well worth a listen if you’re lucky enough to be getting a wristband in the mail.
And here’s the thing. There are so many other great bands playing at the festival that can’t be easily clumped under a heading. James Blake is an outstanding electronic musician whose manipulation of the human voice is a fascinating thing to listen to. Then there’s Moby, who has been around seemingly forever, but always delivers good music. Heck, Dropkick Murphys are going to be there for anyone looking for some quasi-Celtic, head-banging rock music. Modest Mouse, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Band of Horses, Two Door Cinema Club, Franz Ferdinand, Lord Huron – there are too many great bands to name here.
If you were lucky enough to successfully buy a ticket for the festival, pat yourself on the back, because you’re in for quite the weekend of music. For those looking at the festival’s second weekend with skepticism, throw the skepticism out the window and go for the ticket. It may not have quite the novelty of the first weekend, but the bottom line is that you still get to see the same bands.
And if Coachella just isn’t in the cards for you this year, fear not. There’s always next year. For those who are more folk-inclined, Sasquatch is also a great option, and the lineup for that festival, which takes place in the ridiculously beautiful, natural amphitheater called The Gorge, should be coming out relatively soon. I’ll be looking at that lineup as well, in all hopes that it can meet the high bar Coachella set this year.
Are you happy with the Coachella lineup this year? Email Bain at abain@media.ucla.edu. “B-Sides” runs every Thursday.
Clarification: A subhead titled “The Lumineers” was mistakenly inserted into the article.