Feel Good Hit of The Summer 02.01.06: 2006 Coachella’s 1st Wave
Posted by Frank Estrada on 02.01.2006
We've got Tool, Depeche Mode, Sigur Ros, Giant Drag, Tool, Los Amigos Invisibles, Franz Ferdinand, Matisyahu, Tool and more. Plus this week’s Coachella Artist of the week: Tool. The Judgment Night Soundtrack? I feel like such a Tool.
Here is the first wave of confirmed artists if you haven't heard already: Saturday, April 29th
Depeche Mode, Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, Common, Damian Marley, Atmosphere, Carl Cox, My Morning Jacket, Ladytron , Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Tosca, Cat Power, Animal Collective, HARD-fi, Derrick Carter, Devendra Banhart, She Wants Revenge, The Walkmen, The Juan Maclean, Audio Bullys, Imogen Heap, Lady Sovereign, Deerhoof, The Duke Spirit, Editors, stellastarr*, Lyrics Born, Matt Costa, The New Amsterdams, The Zutons, Platinum Piped Pipers, White Rose Movement, Chris Liberator, Colette, Joey Beltram, Hybrid, Wolfmother, The Like, Living Things, Nine Black Alps, The Section Quartet, Infadels, Youth Group, Shy FX & T Power, Infusion.
Sunday, April 30th
Tool, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bloc Party, Paul Oakenfold, Scissor Sisters, Matisyahu, James Blunt, TV on the Radio, Sleater-Kinney , Mogwai, Coheed and Cambria, Gnarls Barkley, Coldcut, Phoenix, Digable Planets, Amadou & Mariam, Little Louie Vega, Mylo (DJ Set), Seu Jorge, Wolf Parade, The Go! Team, Kaskade, Metric, Art Brut, Dungen, The Dears, Jamie Lidell, The Magic Numbers, Los Amigos Invisibles, Jazzanova, Michael Mayer, Mates of State, Gilles Peterson, Gabriel & Dresden, The Subways, Minus the Bear, Be Your Own Pet, Giant Drag, Kristina Sky, The Octopus Project.
Meditation
Now lets bow our heads and meditate on this…hmmmm… oh yea if you didn't realize there will be a few more acts that will be added between today and the time of the events…Tool. Tool Tool. Before I reveal the 2nd day's headliner lets talk about some of the bands who are going to be there. Franz Ferdinand will be a fun complement to Depeche Mode. Sigur Ros I hear nothing but great things about. Damian Marley is so good live, even if you don't like his recorded music. I also hear a lot about Clap Your Hands Say Yea and Cat Power. I like stellastarr*, you might too. Day two has the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who look to be headlining the second stage. Carl Cox is pretty awesome. I always miss Sleater-Kinney so this time I think I will defiantly be there. Coheed and Cambria seem to be a great complement to Tool. Scissor Sisters and Los Amigos Invisibles are crazy. Seu Jorge, did you see The Life Aquatic? He was the one singing David Bowie songs in Portuguese. And I love Giant Drag. So it seems to be a good show and I hope to be bring it to you every week.
LAST WEEKS RUMOR
Ok last week I reported on a rumor that a reunited Smashing Pumpkins were going to be the 2nd headliner for Coachella. I even choose them as my Coachella Artist of the week, dismissing a few bands that have confirmed. Sorry, but it was just too juicy to not talk about. Now when I heard that the Pumpkins weren't going to be there, I was ranting and raving to everyone within earshot that the headliner for night two had to be better. Who could it be? I tried to think and I didn't even want to get my hopes up. I just knew that if Goldenvoice was to top a Smashing Pumpkins reunion, they better make it sexy. They did. Tool. Do you understand? Tool! For all you backpack wearing, headphone junkies, Tool is the band your mama warned you about. Yea you say they suck. But why? Have you seen their videos? Have you heard the music being played? Have you read their lyrics? Better lyrics than any Kanye West critically acclaimed crap. Yea Jesus Walked but read the lyrics to Opiate and you'll see where Jesus led you. You think they are selling out? Listen to Hooker With A Penis and you will be told where to go. Actually, I used to have the lyrics from Ænema printed out and highlighted on my cubical. Why? I use to P.A. for a popular entertainment news show in Southern California, and the lyrics accurately portrayed were how I felt. Tool. Tool played the first Coachella. Now they aren't the first band to play more than one year, but they are the first Headliner to do it. A little Coachella history for you: Tool played Coachella when they had nothing to promote. They were in a lawsuit at the time with their label. While their set was like a greatest hits set for that time, new music was there is you were savvy. A Perfect Circle played the day before during the day with Maynard leading his new group with now classic songs like Judith and 3 Libras. All this good news leads me to jump to…
COACHELLA ARTIST OF THE WEEK: TOOL
Ok now that the 2nd headliner is officially intact, lets praise MJK and the boys. Officially chucking my Zero t-shirt to the floor, I am putting on my more worn Tool t-shirt today. Like Michael Jordan wearing his college shorts under everything, I will wear my Tool shirt under everything till Coachella ends. I will admit that Tool isn't an easy band to get on the first listen. I mean what is Stinkfist about really? Third Eye? Are they a scary band? Let me put all your fears to rest. Remember the scene from Almost Famous when the boy's sister left him a message to light a candle and listen to Tommy and he will see his future. While I am not promising you will see your future, you might learn why Tool is great enough to play two Lollapaloozas and headline two Coachellas: a hard, nay, impossible feat for any pop group. If Tool were a comic book character, their only rival would be Radiohead. While I can go off on side projects and side bands I will leave that for another day. I suggest listing to all of Tool's official releases, because there are a few. So light your candle, press play on Lateralus, and here are some suggestions to get you through the week:
Ænima : If Tool has an album that is the easiest to digest, this is it. Stinkfist is probably the most recognizable song on this album. Tool shows their sense of humor here and packages it in one of their best songs. I think I like this song played better live, because of the changes they have made to it. Pick of a recent bootleg to understand what I'm talking about. I think the best Tool song ever is on this album: Forty Six & 2. Just the intro alone blows my mind, I'm not going to discuss what this title means, but jumping around the Internet, the discussions I found are like people discussing their thesis on the brain the mind and the state of being. I mean how many bands are around that are smarter than you? Not many. So if you are intimidated of the brainpower it takes to understand the band's message, don't worry. The music will eventually move you if listened to over and over again.
Salival : This is available in DVD or VHS format and comes with a cd. While their early videos are collected here, lets talk about the CD. It starts with a meditation by Dr. Timothy Leary about thinking for yourself. This alone is worth the money you are going to spend on this collection. Are you seeing a trend here? It al so contains live versions of songs they have done; Part Of Me and Pushit (which is a great re-imagining of this song). Tool cover Led Zeppelin here playing No Quarter, and you get a hidden song called Maynard's Dick. Remember don't stress listing to Tool, they'll throw in a joke here and there to see if you are still on your toes.
For Extra Credit: Revolution Here is a bone for all you Tool fans. Did you know that Tool did a song with Rage Against the Machine? Legend has it that Tom Morello of Audioslave and Rage was in a band with Adam Jones of Tool. So these bands were close at the time when they were coming out, both playing the same Lollapalooza as well as playing the first Coachella. Funny how things are connected huh? Well when the Soundtrack for Judgment Night was being sorted, seems Tool and Rage were to record a song together. The Judgment Night soundtrack matched Rappers and Alt Rockers of the time and you know what? I love that soundtrack. Cypress Hill with Sonic Youth Worked. Faith No More with Boo Yaa Tribe Worked. You know I think I will write about this in a future column. Back to Tool. Revolution was the song rumored to be their contribution to the soundtrack, but never made it. No I don't know why, remember, this is all legend. But you can find the song with Maynard and Zach trading verses online somewhere. It's a pretty good song.
For You Honor Students: Tool at Coachella: I like bootlegs. They are fun pieces of history. There are a few bootlegs of this concert floating around. From the very first Coachella, it's a great set highlighted by Prison Sex and Sober. They are joined here by Buzz of the Melvins and cover a song from Justin Chancellor's (the bass player) old band Peach. While the set could be longer, I forget their songs are over 10 minuets each, so you get your ear's worth.
Well that's it. Lets ride this train till April and I will see you next week.
