Coachella: Yay Or "I Wanted To Hear 'Today"?
We're in the days leading up to Indo's spring pilgrimage, and Britpop's most unglam monikered leadman gets serious for AP.
TOM SMITH (EDITORS) "We're taking this very seriously. We're fully aware that it's a massive place in a big market. We want to do very well. We believe we can do very well here. It's about people being aware of your band. There's no way people outside of the major cities are going to be aware of your band unless you go to the places and play to the college kids."Meanwhile, the prospect of headliners Depeche Mode, Tool, and Madonna leaves The Orange County Register wondering if the indie fest is "no longer the capital of cool."
The festival's line-up has left some underwhelmed, while Tennessee's Bonnaroo event boosts its star power.Speculation had been rampant all month, partly fueled by a fake poster, widely circulated on the Internet, indicating a much-rumored Smashing Pumpkins reunion would top one of the weekend's two bills.
Would that indeed occur? Would, say, the Red Hot Chili Peppers make another stop at the two-stages-three-tents gathering to promote a coming double album? Or what about those fearless freaks the Flaming Lips - might they return and concoct something even crazier than Wayne Coyne's famous walk-atop-the-crowd-inside-a-bubble-ball stunt?
No, no and no.
And no to the Strokes, the Arcade Fire, the White Stripes and Jack White's new Raconteurs project.
Stereogum's never been to Coachella, and is going to Bonnaroo for the 3rd time this year, so I'm not qualified say Indio Is Losing Its Edge. What's your take?
Posted at 8:35 PM in Concert
Tags: Coachella
Well, last year was brilliant, but I may not be going this year, so I would say that yes, it has indeed lost its cool.
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Well, keep in mind that Jessenyc is a bit of a douchebag, and can't be trusted.
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coachella definitely could have included so many other artists this year as headliners..if its supposed to be a haven for indie rockers or at least for people that are into "cool" muisc then definitely sufjan, raconteurs, and the strokes could have been included. however, they decided to put tool (??) as their headliner...that changes their target completely...and i mean nothings wrong with a little diversity but i was looking for something different, something like bonnaroo..which totally speaks to me...but since i live in socal..and consider myself a starving student...i simply cant go...but coachella could have easily done the same...and it would have been heaven..
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The cool depends on the individual and the reason s/he's going to the festival. The two day passes have sold out which would suggest that there are enough people who think this weekend will be a fun time...whether something's still cool or not doesn't really make sense anymore.
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Last year was ace, and I wasn't even that pumped about the lineup (although I'd gladly have paid $200 for the M.I.A. set alone.) This year is a good mix of just-okay headliners and awesome sub-stage bands and it looks like the weather will be good again...
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The reason Coachella still holds up, despite the drop-off muscially, is that it has many of Hollywood's finest qualities (depending on who you ask):
Palm tree-lined, picturesque setting, with dry heat (a beautiful sunset, usually at a perfect 74 degrees). Movie stars (some getting busted for drugs), parties at mansions with models in swimming pools and celebrity DJ's, girls wearing next to nothing.
If nothing else, it's worth it just to laugh at the hipsters in black, skin-tight jeans in the 120 degree tent.
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And it's dumb to get upset because some bleeding-heart hipster put together a dream lineup and didn't get it right. (Or a couple people from Goldenvoice who like to toy with our emotions.)
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wasef? as in blaze wasef?
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it's all about where ever Radiohead is going to be. Add them to the Coachella line up for this year and, honestly, it's automatically cooler. You know it's true. Even if you don't like them. But that said, all together, yeah, Bonnaroo is still better this year. But really....it hindered on which one Radiohead was going to be at, yeah?
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The beauty of Coachella in the early years was seeing a band that no one had heard of becoming huge afterwards. Now, with music blogs proliferating (this is a good thing) by the time Coachella comes around everyone knows about all the bands. Coachella is still cool, but it has turned into something different from the early years.
Also, Coachella was one of the first things to actually put together a good and truly diverse lineup (i.e. good rap artists, good DJs, as well as up and coming indie bands)
BTW, Tool was the headliner in the first year.
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It's such a big stage and big event, only the biggest names with grand shows seem to work. I think the smaller bands get lost in the lineup. It still seems to be a great lineup, but Austin in the fall is hot enough (close to 100 the last couple of years), I won't be going to the desert to listen to music.
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It might not have big name indie pull this year, but there is more than eneough good music on both days to make it worthwhile. In some ways its better that its not wall to wall fantastic bands; there's less to miss. I think I'd go insane at a festival like SXSW over everyone I would have to miss.
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umm...yes?
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sam?
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Off topic, but a magical Sufjan post disappeared today.
RIAA?
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i defintely wouldnt dont mind coachella it's not like a hassle or anything..but they could have made this year's lineup so much better..instead, like all things too popular, it changed not necessarily for the best...but oh well...
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> Off topic, but a magical Sufjan post
> disappeared today.
No, I just put it up too soon. Sufjan said come back Friday.
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If I was going, I'd go for Jamie Lidell and Gnarls Barkley on the second day and skip Madonna, apparently the indie-world's new queen.
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definitly not as impressive as the last two years. Much more variety in groups. Madonna being added was not as exciting as it was meant to be. And yeah what happened to the indie?! Islands, Broken Social Scene and the Montreal scene? I'm saving my monies and going to Arthurfest instead.
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Oh poor poor hipster, how you love to hate. List any of the Coachella bands individually 6 months ago and the hipsters drool. Put them on an official poster now and they sneer. Fuck 'em, I'm going to have a great time in the desert.
Bonaroo is only getting points for slightly diverting from its former patchouli-drenched lineup. So they made some changes, BFD. It's still a elbow-dancing hippiefest.
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elbow dancing? what is that
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Bonaroo has more hippies at it. Coachella has Madonna in a tent. I am going to Madonna over hippies any day of the week.
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Honestly, I don't get why no one is going ape shit for the weekend line up at the Sasquatch! fest. Give me a break, it kicks the ass off of both festivals.
I think I can wait for Radiohead to announce an American tour than pay more to see them after three days of Patchouli stink.
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The line-up may be rivaled for the first time by Bonnaroo, Sasquatch, and Lollapalooza - but since this is the seventh year and the location is mind-blowingly great - I think Coachella still has the edge when the atmosphere/ambience is included. Such as: everyone there is non-annoying and clean, beautiful mountains surrounding the venue, beautiful sunset, better weather than Bonnaroo/Lollapalooza last year ... and Bonnaroo encourages three-day camping in the humid-as-hell and unremarkable Tennessee.
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Wangdoodle is spot on. While I never been to Bonnaroo, i've been to several "hippie fests" in the past. They're way fun, but also a bit of a pain. Traffic, camping, dirty people, you included, etc. Coachella is like a spa weekend compared to the multiple day camping fests.
Look, I enjoy that stuff too, but a nice condo on a golf course with a pool and hot tub is a nice thing to come home to after 12 hours seeing great music.
Also the headliners are so not what Coachella is about. Another beauty of the fest. The up and commers and discoveries made at Coachella are whats so awesome about it. Bands that you may not get to see otherwise. You are all going to go see Radiohead at their own show anyway, so relax.
I'm f'ing pumped about it.
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If you want to talk about scenery, Sasquatch is beautiful!
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I second what wagondoodle and Sebastian said. I went last year and it was the best time ever. Going again this year for all the reasons above. See you there.
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Coachella has chicks from Southern California in revealing clothing.
Bonaroo: not so much.
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Very disappointed with this year's line-up at Coachella. For a festival that flaunted it's past capability to bring in artists who never play in the States, this year sucks. And Madonna? Total loss of credibility to the folks at Coachella. Either way, got tickets before the line-up was announced and am still venturing to Palm Springs to contemplate making my way to Indio to see Saturday's line-up. Hourly schedule, please? Getting a little slow on that one.
Bonnaroo on the other hand is in my backyard (Nashville) and this year is it's best by far. I heard a rumor that the hippies were boycotting it this year because (gasp!) no Widespread. Hallelujah on my part! Plus, with them downsizing 10,000 tickets the festival is sure to be much more enjoyable. But why they picked Tennessee in June beats me -- we're humid as fuck here.
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any festival with tool on it has lost the edge...
2 much m.o.r. indie shit.
all style no subtance.... and tool are playing!
bad festival.
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just wanted to pop in and say that tool rules... they totally deserve that headline spot.
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I think it lost it's edge right after Radiohead left the stage in 2004. You're never gonna be able to get a better one-two punch headliner as The PIxies/Radiohead.
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Charlie - not to mention after Radiohead and Pixies, the second-day headliner was none other than Robert Smith and crew.
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OHHH the Cure. Love them so much. But yes 2004 was a pretty amazing lineup. 2005 was lame with the Coldplay and this year is a bit surprising with the Madonna. It is crazy because compare 1999 line up (aside from Tool) to this year and you have a very different picture of Coachella.
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1999: Beck, Rage, Tool, Chems, Underworld, Moby, Pavement
Lineup: B
Performances: B+
2001: Janes, Oakey, Weezer, Fatboy, Chems, Orb, Roots
Lineup: C-
Performances: B-
2002: Bjork, Oasis, Chems, Prodge, Foos, Strokes, QOTSA
Lineup: B
Performances: B+
2003: Beasties, Ben Harper, QOTSA, Blur, RHCP, STripes, Stooges, Underworld
Lineup: A+
Performances: B+
2004: Radiohead, Pixies, Kraftwerk, Wilco, Cure, Lips, Air
Lineup: A-
Performances: B
2005: Coldplay, Bauhaus, Weezer, Chems, NIN, New Order, Arcade Fire
Lineup: A
Performances: B-
2006: Depeche, Tool, Daft Punk, Franz, Madge, YYYs, Bloc Party
Lineup: B-
Performances: We'll see. Will anybody get into the dance tent for Madonna? Will Depeche Mode feel boring out in the desert? Well, who cares, we've got margaritas back at the pool
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I went in 2004 because the lineup brought me there all the way from the East Coast. I haven't had the means to return, but I can safely say that I would return regardless of the lineup. 2004 was awesome, but it did get stressful as I tried to get close to the stage to see all the bands I wanted to check out. Running around from stage to stage got old. Overall, that's really a minor issue. This year, for example would be less stressful, because there are less bands I want to see/haven't seen. So, I could relax a little, enjoy the setting, and check out a band I don't know... Regardless of the music, there is a wonderful atmosphere at Coachella and that alone is worth the trip. Palm Springs and Indio are pretty sweet. Hit up that Denny's.
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i swear i've never heard a tool song....
i do remember a creepy video....
but, seriously, who the f*ck listens to tool?
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You know, I'm actually not disappointed in the lineup at all. I mean a little Sufjan couldn't of hurt and Depeche Mode and Tool don't exactly stir any fire in my loins. The real headliners are Madonna and Daft Punk anyway.
Madonna's never played a festival and is a better headliner than Coldplay, Nine Inch Nails or Ben Harper. And I love the Cure and all, but shit, that was the most boring fucking concert I've ever been to in my life. Madonna can put on a better show than that with her eyes closed.
Daft Punk hasn't played a live show in the US since 1997. They haven't played a live show at all since 2001. I can't really imagine an electronic act more likely to blow my mind.
But just on the Indie front, we got:
TV on the Radio
Animal Collective
Wolf Parade
Ladytron
Franz
Juan Maclean
Walkmen
Wolfmother
Deerhoof
CHYSY
Devandra Banhart
the Walkmen
Dungen
Art Brut
Go! Team
Phoenix
Gnarls Barkley
Bloc Party
Mylo
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Ted Leo
I'd go see every act on that list by themselves if they ever came to my fucking city.
It's no 2004, but Cat Power freaking out in front her large audience is going to be awesome!
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^^You dirty fecal freak!^^
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^^^^
It's actually a saying in Cuban culture.
Totally kosher to say in front of old family members and everything. Akin to "Fuck you, dude."
Correct usage would include yelling it at someone who cuts you off harshly.
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coachella's cool factor aside, i can't believe that no one pointed out the obvious... since when is the OC Register in the know on "what's hip" in the music scene? seriously. c'mon now. the twats at the register are probably the last people who have a hand in determining "the capital of cool".
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ha ha jenna i'm so with you on that one. i mean hello it is the freaking OC ... they are the last place to know what is cool and that stupid "The O.C." show does not count.
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calendarlive.com is saying that Kanye has been added to Saturday's lineup...
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Madonna? Really?
Wow. I had no idea.
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I doubt anyone will read this because i think it will be post number 50, but as a veteran of coachella, the whole day is filled with bands you most likely would want to see. Yeah, there is a lot of stupid shit, and yeah it may not seem as impressive as other festivals, but the atomosphere, climate, and location make it a great festival. Also- unless you are a mr. cool guy, you probably won't end up at a hollywood party but rather have a good time in the desert. Another thing is that, the headliners usually suck, but that gives the oppurtunity to see other bands during those times in a less crowded enviornment. I would say it is worth the trip from the NY/NJ/CT area.
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nothing will beat coachella '04, i don't care how tired or blistered you got from running between stages to catch all of the bands, it was fucking amazing.. the line-up was a perfect mix, and the pixies reunion, kraftwerk, air, and basement jaxx were the icing on the cake (not to mention dozens of other bands) and it felt like you actually got more than your money's worth in 2004. if it wasn't for that year, i think there also would've been less speculation about band reunions (i.e. gang of four) and the potential for worldwide recognition in relation to the growth and newly acquired status of american music and indie rock culture and the sudden festival possibilities we've had. the year before, in 2003, one of the same organizers of coachella created field day fest in new york and basically set out to create an east coast replica of coachella but failed miserably, and yet the very next year coachella still thrived while the touring lollapalooza flopped. coachella has set a new precedent for the quality and calibre of an american music festival and (in my opinion) has commercialized it more than sxsw, acl, etc, and there were many people trying to market the idea that festivals can garnish a huge revenue in this country, just in the sponsors alone, and sell out a 2-day event at a location that could draw lots of people. however, the catch seemed to be that it's nearly impossible to design the perfect line-up and attract as many people from around the world (as well as within this country) to a festival that might be thousands of miles away.
but anyway, on a sidenote, madonna's regular concert tickets usually run about $60-70 apiece, and the fact that she's playing in a tent kinda scares me. if you're going, drink alot of water and be careful not to pass out from heat exhaustion or being trampled on by all the people. when beck played a tent in '04, it seemed like at least 3000 people tried to squish in a tent that could've maybe held 2500 max, and i saw plenty of people falling over left and right and/or passing out from the spontaneous heat wave that had passed thru the indio valley that year. but this is fucking madonna. it's going to be nuts no matter what happens.
overall i don't think this year's coachella lineup is worth the money or travel time. sasquatch looks pretty good, bonnaroo will be hot, but honestly i was completely blown away after going to the fib/benicassim festival in spain last year. that fest has always maintained incredible lineups. check out fiberfib.com if you're not familiar with it. europeans still know festivals a little bit better than we do, but i'm glad that america's been working on it. ;)
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Last year everyone complained about it sucking compared to '04. Now '05 was the standout in quality?
Newsflash gang - if you're so "underground," then you're supposed to be looking at the bottom of the bill, not the top. And if you're so "indie," then why would you want 50,000 people watching a band that you like?
And the point of Madonna wasn't to bring in the mainstream (Madonna is playing two shows in LA two weeks later to satiate that crowd). The point was to appeal to the gay community, which is way cooler and way more fun and way more underground than you could ever be.
Also- the Dance Tent is going to be much bigger this year. The people who throw Coachella are total pros and have taken all scenarios into consideration.
Now - how Stereogum could diss on a festival they've never been to (thanks for at least qualifying that)? i guess a bloggers gotta blog...
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It's official. Kanye west is playing.
he's competing against MMJ and some of Imogen, but i'm too stoked to worry about that right now
http://www.coachella.com/06times.html
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"i swear i've never heard a tool song....
i do remember a creepy video....
but, seriously, who the f*ck listens to tool?"
well, dude, wait for may 2 and see how they outsell the new pearl jam record times 2. that's how many people listen to tool. maybe they're not "indie" like all the quirky, untra-hip bands you're into, but they have more technical skill and exhibit more innovation than all of your favorite bands put together. shit... download the new record and give it a listen.
tool is the pink floyd of our generation... if you argue with me simply because they have a huge fan base, you deserve to be shot in the face.
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I'm going for the first time, and I don't give a rat's a$$ if Madonna's playing in a tent or Tool's headlining or Editors are c*ming. I HAVE TICKETS AND I'M SO FREAKIN' GLAD I GET TO GO. Like the Cuban phrase commenter said above, there are TONS of great bands I've wanted to see, some for 20+ years (DM).
There's something great about the venue out in the desert with the sunset and the ambiance. Yes, Bonnaroo and Palooza have fantastic line-ups too, but I don't think a complete dissage of Coachella is warranted.
I think it's definitely more "diverse" this year.
How is this a bad thing?
Leaving in six hours for gorgeous Indio, California!
Woo Hoo!
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Thank you!
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