#10. DAN LE SAC VS. SCROOBIUS PIP
(Friday) These one hit internet wonders from 2006 must have something pretty sweet up their sleeves to come back to our attention via a coveted Coachella slot. Stay tuned.
Must see if you are: wondering why they didn’t book Flight of the Conchords.
#09. AESOP ROCK
(Friday) For some reason, the same rotating cast of indie-rappers appear to be the only hip-hop that goes down smooth at Coachella. Atmosphere, El-P, Sage Francis and our man Aesop. Ironic, only because Coachella usually has the best crowd you’ll find for the indie-rap scene. The kids know every word.
Must see if you are: carrying the Rhyming Dictionary in your backpack
#08. 120 DAYS
(Saturday) We’ve been into this Norwegian foursome’s U2-meets-Stereolab sound for a minute now. With all the blogging about headliners, it’s easy to forget that Coachella-type festivals are really built upon the smaller bands who get a chance to play to much larger audiences then they ever would alone. Promise us you’ll go see at least one band a day that you’ve never heard before.
Must see if you are: liveblogging from the Polo Grounds
#07. APHEX TWIN
(Friday) Yeah, he might just lie on the ground and play the kazoo through a delay pedal. And the guy in the Warp records t-shirt next to you would still think it’s brilliant. But it’s really the not knowing that makes Richard James a must see. That and the fact that he might actually find the frequency to cause levitation.
Must see if you are: sick and tired of beats you can dance to
#06. SASHA AND DIGWEED
(Saturday) These guys were an effin’ institution back in the ’90s. Scientist marveled at how two guys playing epic progressive house and trance records was somehow better than one person playing those same records. It just was, ok.
Must see if you are: wearing anything glowing and not watching French DJs
#05. MGMT
(Saturday) We’re still waiting for the next Postal Service album, but Ben Gibbard will be on the main stage doing his snoozeville Death Cab thing. In the meantime, this newly minted duo will deliver the electro-pop hits waiting to happen.
Must see if you are: an Indie 103 listener
#04. CUT COPY
(Friday) The Modular Records act we’d second most like to see (Oh Avalanches, where art thou?), these nu-disco dons rocked us twice in Austin (plus once in LA two days earlier). They’re new album is on constant rotation, and we’re just not sick of them yet. So so good.
Must see if you are: into fun and happiness
03. PORTISHEAD
(Saturday) And if you’re not into fun and happiness, Coachella has that for you as well. It’s become a tradition every year for a ’90s reunion to be a huge draw at Coachella and make the act much bigger (and better) than they were back then. Pixies, Daft Punk and Gang of four anybody? This year Portishead do the trick. And if you’ve heard their new album, or watched them perform the whole thing live on Current TV last week, you know this is more than a quick cash-in.
Must see if you are: sad in the sunshine
#02. PRINCE
(Saturday) The booking that “saved” this year’s Coachella was wrought with drama. He’s on! He’s off! He’s on again! We went back and watched the clips we could find from the Purple one’s Superbowl performance, and he knows how to play for the BIG audiences. Someone asked me if I thought Portishead was bummed Prince took their headliner slot. I’m guessing they’re thrilled.
Must see if you are: breathing
#01. EROL ALKAN
(Saturday) A totally personal choice for our Number #1 act to see at Coachella. Erol has been blowing us away for a decade-plus with his remixes and DJ mixes found on the W-W-W. He’s never played the West Coast before, yet somehow sells a ton of “E.R.O.L Keeps Kid Dancing” t-shirts in Los Angeles. We expect nothing less than robots in a pyramid…oh, wait a minute.
Must see if you are: if you are as cool as Joshua Glazer
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