Late Monday night Coachella dropped its 2016 lineup. With Guns n’ Roses and LCD Soundsystem as headliners (and both reuniting) leaked early on, the anticipation was only building for the remainder of the lineup. My hats off to the Goldenvoice team for putting together yet another massive lineup for music fans to salivate at. This year is clearly very dance heavy (as expected) and obviously there is going to be more electro(nic) incorporated into the Coachella Stage and Outdoor Theater stage. Also with Calvin Harris drawing the largest crowd in Coachella Stage history in 2014 it’s no surprise to see him headlining as well this year. I’ll get to may favorite small line artists below but I think the most interesting part of the lineup is at the bottom which states “DESPACIO All Weekend Long;” and should get every LCD Soundsystem (and music) fan excited because if you aren’t familiar, DESPACIO is a side project of James Murphy and 2manydjs! It’s so rad, see for yourself, HERE.
The top line artists speak for themselves but let’s get into the fun stuff, discovery. Here are my quick hits to the artists you may not know but should by April. If I had to name just one of the below for your to really get lost in, Gallant. Oh baby!
Friday: Ibeyi, Black Coffee, Years & Years, HEALTH, Mavis Staples, Goldroom, Gallant, HAELOS, Miami Horror
Saturday: Chronixx, AlunaGeorge (who dazzled in 2014), Shamir, Moon Taxi, Ex Hex, Mr. Carmack, Alvvays, Algiers, Cloves, Phases
Sunday: HudMo, Kamasi Washington, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Anderson .Paak, Nosaj Thing, Epik High, Tensnake, Alessia Cara, Crystal Fighters, PRAYERS, Young Fathers, the Heavy, Girlpool, AC Slater
I say it often, I am very fortunate for the opportunities and things I get to experience and the last three weeks have been nothing short of amazing (Yes, I still need to write a post about Festival Generation Week from the beginning of the month, such a cool five days).Last week I recapped the week in music that was to me, Coachella East and this past week I was back at it again for round two.
It started on Monday night catching Beach House at House of Blues.I had wanted to see their show for some time and there was a good turnout for show at the beginning of the week.The show was just okay and left me trying to find a bit more energy to stay awake.However, Holy Shit opened up and I have to say, a little fine tuning and these guys are going to be fun to see live.
Tuesday it was time for The xx at The Joint.My first time seeing The xx it got rained out a couple songs in, the second time I just got up and left so the third time I wasn’t sure what to really expect and they did not disappoint.I was floored by how good the show was and as my friend Abby would say, LASERS!There were a ton of them.Definitely caught up with a lot of friends at the show too which made it an even better evening.
Wednesday night, I had this one earmarked for some time; split billing of Local Natives and Of Monsters and Men at The Cosmopolitan.But before that, I had the chance to head over to the CBS Radio studios earlier in the day and catch a mini Of Monsters and Men set. So talented and seeing them in an intimate setting, again, has me spoiled.Now to the show; I had caught a Local Natives show at SXSW and was amped to catch them again and they flat out destroyed it in front of a sold out crowd.These guys are primed for a monster break out this year.As for OMAM, the show was good, the band was on point but unfortunately I think the cool weather and whipping winds made it seem a bit tame instead of a giant sing-a-long dance party on The Strip.
Thursday my body gave out and I had to miss Hot Chip.I was told the show was great and I’m bummed I missed out but my body won.
When Friday rolled around the energy level came right back up as it was all about The Postal Service.Reunited after 10 years since they released Give Up!A chance to see Jenny Lewis again!And LED overload!Definitely was a lot of fun and after seeing Death Cab For Cutie a couple of times, was great to finally see The Postal Service.
Saturday it was a first for me as I attended my first country music concert!I have no idea how many thousands of concerts I’ve been to but until Saturday night that category of country music was empty.Yes, I had seen Garth Brooks’ show at Wynn but that was a show, not a concert.My first country music concert was Kenny Chesney and it may have been the perfect artist to see live.So much energy and an awesome environment, I felt right at home (if only I knew the lyrics to his songs).Add on top of that the concert was two and a half hours which included a four song set with Grace Potter and I was thrilled.After the show it was straight to The Cosmopolitan to catch the second half of the Band of Horses concert.Getting to finally hear “The Funeral” live was a great way to wrap up a two week marathon of concerts.
A special tip of the cap to my friends at The Cosmopolitan, Hard Rock and House of Blues for lighting up Las Vegas the last two weeks with a plethora of fantastic shows. The music scene continues to grow here and we are breaking out of the mold where bands skip Vegas and instead they now crave playing Vegas! Thank you!
Here are some images from the shows.The week would not have been nearly as much fun if I wasn’t surrounded by an amazing group of friends who make every experience that much more memorable. Thanks for being a part of this real life dream with me.The best is yet to come, I promise you that!
If you read the blog last week you’ve already seen who’s playing at Lollapalooza this August but if not, below is the lineup poster. Should be another solid three days/nights in the Windy City and I have to say, nice to see The Dunwells on here again as their set was washed out in 2012.
And thanks Chicagoist for the below breakdown by day.
FRIDAY, AUG. 2
The Killers, Nine Inch Nails, New Order, Queens Of The Stone Age, Steve Aoki, Thievery Corporation, Imagine Dragons, Lana Del Rey, Flux Pavilion, Band Of Horses, Hot Chip, Crystal Castles, Frightened Rabbit, Dillon Francis, Smith Westerns, Disclosure, Father John Misty, Ghost B.C., Modestep, Emeli Sande, Jessie Ware, Atlas Genius, Timeflies, Theophilus London, Monsta, IO Echo, Icona Pop, Chance The Rapper, Lance Herbstrong, Robert DeLong, Deap Vally, Twenty One Pilots, San Cisco, Hey Marseilles, Keys N Krates, The Neighbourhood, Pacific Air, American Authors, Houndmouth, Brick + Mortar, D-Pryde, Brite Lite Brite
SATURDAY, AUG. 3
Mumford & Sons, The Postal Service, The National, The Lumineers, Kendrick Lamar, Eric Church Steve Angello, Ellie Goulding, Azealia Banks, Local Natives, Dada Life, Matt & Kim, Foals, Death Grips, Court Yard Hounds, Adventure Club, Ben Howard, GriZ, Charles Bradley, Heartless Bastards, Baauer, HAIM Unknown Mortal Orchestra, St. Lucia, Shovels & Rope, Little Green Cars Family of the Year, 360 The Bright Light Social Hour, Reignwolf, Pujol, Planet Hemp, Cole Plante, Lukas Nelson & P.O.T.R., Blondfire, Frontier Ruckus, Wheeler Brothers, The Dunwells, Supreme Cuts, Cherub, Wild Cub Brooke Waggoner, Beast Patrol
SUNDAY, AUG. 4
The Cure, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, Knife Party, Grizzly Bear, Major Lazer, Dog Blood, Two Door Cinema Club, Tegan and Sara, Beach House, Cat Power, 2 Chainz, Alt-J, The Vaccines, DIIV, Alex Clare, Baroness, Lianne La Havas, Wild Nothing, Angel Haze, Wavves, Alvin Risk, Jake Bugg, Wild Belle, Art Department, MS MR, Guards, Kill the Noise, Skaters, The Orwells, Palma Violets, Astro Machines Are People Too, Yawn, Half Moon Run, The Mowgli’s, Wake Owl, Bear Mountain, O’Brother Makeshift Prodigy
Earlier today the Lollapalooza lineup was leaked and the Chicago Tribune put together another post following their item last week regarding the headliners. Once again, another stacked lineup for the Chicago based festival. Sure the big acts are powerful and pack a punch but it’s the up and comers which fans are going to be stoked about. Now the question is, do I make a return for a third straight year…..
The Lineup:
Mumford & Sons, The Killers, Vampire Weekend, The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, The National, Postal Service, Phoenix, Queens of the Stone Age, the Lumineers, Kendrick Lamar, New Order, Eric Church, Knife Party, Steve Aoki, Steve Angello, Ellie Goulding, Thievery Corporation, Grizzly Bear, Lana Del Rey, Flux Pavilion, Band of Horses, Major Lazer, Hot Chip, Azealia Banks, Local Natives, Two Door Cinema Club, Crystal Castles, Dada Life, Tegan & Sara, Imagine Dragons, Beach House, Cat Power, Frightened Rabbit, 2 Chainz, Matt & Kim, Alt-J, Foals, Death Grips, Dillon Francis, Court Yard Hounds, Smith Westerns, Disclosure, Adventure Club, Ben Howard, The Vaccines, Griz, Father John Misty, Ghost, Modestep, Charles Bradley, DIIV, Alex Clare, Heartless Bastards, Baauer, Baroness, Lianne La Havas, Emeli Sande, Wild Nothing, Jessie Ware, Atlas Genius, Haim, Angel Haze, Timeflies, Theophilus London, Monsta, Wavves, Io Echo, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Icona Pop, Alvin Risk, Chance the Rapper, Lance Herbstrong, Jake Bugg, Wild Belle, Art Department, MS MR, St. Lucia, Shovels & Rope, Guards, Kill the Noise, Robert Delong, Little Green Cars, Deap Vally, Family of the Year, 360, the Bright Light Social Hour, Twenty One Pilots, San Cisco, Hey Marseilles, Skaters, The Orwells, Palma Violets, Reignwolf, Astro, Pujol, Machines Are People Too, Planet Hemp, Yawn, Keys N Krates, the Neighbourhood, Cole Plante, Half Moon Run, The Mowgli’s, Pacific Air, Lukas Nelson & P.O.T.R., Wheeler Brothers, Wake Owl, American Authors, O’ Brother, the Dunwells, Houndmouth, Supreme Cuts, Brick + Mortar, Cherub, Makeshift Prodigy, Wild Cub, D-Pryde, Brooke Waggoner, Brite Lite Brite, Beast Patrol.
Hello New York! Take a look at the lineup for the 2013 Governors Ball on Randalls Island in NYC and they still have another headliner to announce! June 7-9.
Kanye West, Kings of Leon, (Additional Headliner TBA) , Nas, Pretty Lights, The Avett Brothers, Grizzly Bear, The xx, Cut Copy, Beach House, Kendrick Lamar, The Lumineers, Animal Collective, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Young the Giant, Feist, Thievery Corporation, Bloc Party, Beirut, Of Monsters and Men, DFA 1979, Crystal Castles, Azealia Banks, Yeasayer, Local Natives, Gary Clark Jr, Best Coast, Dirty Projectors, Portugal. the Man, Miguel, Dinosaur Jr, Holy Ghost!, Divine Fits, Twin Shadow, Japandroids, Alt-J, Deerhunter, The Vaccines, Polica, Steel Pulse, TEED, Dillon Francis, Paper Diamond, Fucked Up,Wild Nothing, Icona Pop, The Knocks, MS MR, St. Lucia, Freddie Gibbs, Robert DeLong, GRiZ, Solid Gold, Bear Mountain, Pacific Air, Cherub, The Revivalsists, Swear & Shake, Roadkill Ghost Choir, Ruby Velle & the Soulphonics, Moon Hooch, ON AN ON, Haim, Reignwolf
The latest band of the week for me is Tennis. I just can’t get enough of the husband and wife duo of Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore. To me if Little Joy and Beach House had a baby it would sound something like this duo from Denver with their retro pop sound. Birthed from their adventure of purchasing a boat and sailing the Atlantic, Tennis has garnered a lot of attention the past six months (well deserved too) and on January 18 their first full length disc, Cape Dory, drops. Check out a couple of their tunes and be on the look-out for Tennis in 2011.
Sure there are many great CDs released in 2010 but I think I actually agree with Rolling Stone, they put together a list that’s pretty damn good. Their Top 10 is really hard to argue with but I’d actually put Kings of Leon – Come Around Sundown (the disc especially “Back Down South” reminds me of why I because a fan seven years ago), Beach House – Teen Dream (this was definitely one of those surprise discs and pushed the duo to stardom) and Yeasayer – Odd Blood (great disc and “Ambling Alp” is hands down one of the best songs of the year) up higher.
Do You Hear The Music? 