411's Coachella 2007 Preview
Posted by Morgan Marx on 04.27.2007
A look at the 2007 edition of the Coachella Festival from the Californian desert
Another year, another edition of America's best festival. Though Goldenvoice's baby is facing stiff competition from the likes of Lollapalooza and the Sasquatch Music Festival, Coachella still manages to be a must-attend event for hipsters, trance fans, and concert goers in general. The 2007 edition features the usual mix of big names, techno stars, and classic bands reuniting (for both the moment and the money). Some changes have occurred, such as the addition of a third concert day, but by and large the same formula that has made past events so successful (sun, mountains, and indie rock) returns. How does this year's version stack up? Let's check out the line-up.
Friday, April 27
With the addition of a third day, the kindly event planers pushed back the start time of the show to between 1 and 2. Hopefully, this means less mid-day cases of sunstroke. The show begins indie-heavy with acts like Noisettes, Tokyo Police Club, Tilly and the Wall, and Gillian Welch all performing on the smaller stages. The Commedians of Comedy are scheduled to hold court for over 2 hours far, far earlier than they are accustomed to taking the stage. Of Montreal will test the powers of no-melt makeup by playing the Outdoor Theatre in the early evening. Hopefully that works out better than Death Cab For Cuties no-drip sunscreen from 2004.
The Main Stage is stacked on Friday. The Silversun Pickups try to prove that they're more than just "Lazyeye." The Arctic Monkeys try to prove that they're not just another British fad. The Jesus and Mary Chain reunite, with a rumored appearance by Scarlett Johansson to boot. Then you have Interpol and Bjork both debuting material from new albums. That is a pretty good quintet.
For those fans that want to be "alternative" or just don't like the massive crowd at the Main Stage, there are various other acts performing around the festival. Jarvis Cocker and Sonic Youth should appeal to both older fans and younger fans trying to out-cool older fans. Elsewhere, Mike Patton's Peeping Tom plays after Rufus Wainwright but before Gogol Bordello. That's an eclectic mix. Finally, Amy Winehouse goes first in the battle of the hip-hop/jazz influenced British chicks, with Lilly Allen to follow on Sunday.
Saturday, April 28
Saturday features the most conflicts. Do I see The Decemberists or Andrew Bird? The Rapture or The Good, the Bad, and the Queen? The Arcade Fire or Ghostface Killah? All right, maybe the last one isn't too much of a conflict for an indie white boy like myself.
Other highlights include the always amazing Regina Spektor and The Black Keys. The New Pornographers are almost a forgotten participant, while Tom Morello's The Nightwatchman play a set in anticipation of RATM's reunion.
There's a steady string of buzz bands that will be trying to vie for attention. The Fratellis, Peter, Bjorn, and John, and Blonde Redhead all ride a wave of critical acclaim into the show. Can P, B, and J live up to the hype? I'll see if I can get in the tent.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are actually playing before Tiesto (the only techno artist I've ever purchased an album of). I'm not the biggest RHCP fan, so I'll be dancing to LCD Soundsystem.
Sunday, April 29
Sunday is by far the weakest of the three days, yet it features the one act I'm dying to see. Rage Against The Machine have finally overcome their differences, solo efforts, and shitty side projects (I'm looking at you Chris Cornell, get Soundgarden back together!). As a 24-year-old, Rage is one of the bands that introduced me to aggressive music, and I hope that they still have it together.
Elsewhere, you've got more Brit invaders (Kaiser Chiefs, Kooks, the Feeling), other reunited acts (Lemonheads, Happy Mondays, Crowded House) and Willie Nelson, pulling double duty and appearing at both Coachella and Stagecoach.
Placebo and Air are playing, but face competition from Lily Allen and Klaxons.
All in all, it should be a great weekend of music, capped off by (hopefully) the triumphant return of RATM. If any of you 411Mania readers are attending let me know whom you'll be seeing. If not, check back early next week for a recap. No bitching about the price of water, I promise!
