There are 48 Days until this years Coachella brings a bunch of unbathed, sweaty music-lovers together in California. Don’t misinterpret that for condescension – that’s exactly how music festivals are meant to be experienced: as low-maintenance and perspiration-inspiring as possible. Unfortunately I will be missing out again this year, so I’ve decided to surround myself with the featured artists as a consolation prize. Everyday I’m going to focus in on one of the acts scheduled to perform, and highlight why they deserve to rock the venue.
Thus, Day One commences!
I have chosen Yeasayer to open the festivities. The Brooklyn-based band just released their eccentric sophomore effort, Odd Blood, which is currently getting plenty of spins on my record player. The three-man effort is headed by Anand Wilder, Chris Keating, and Ira Wolf Tuton (maybe their parents were fans of LSD?) and describes themselves as “Middle Eastern psych-snap-gospel.” I can’t decide if they’re being facetious or downright serious, but either way, I love it.
Their first album, All Hour Cymbals was released in 2007 to piqued interest and positive reviews. It was a relaxed, stripped down effort; often focusing on single piano chords or majestically nonsensical lyricism/vocals. Odd Blood is a refreshing step forward for the group, showcasing their ability to evolve, or at least elaborate on the psychedelic sound that made them so noteworthy. I’d wrote previously about my appreciation for lead single “Ambling Alp,” so I’ll go with the next cliche song choice, the completely lovable “O.N.E.” The XXXchange remix is also choice listening.
Yeasayer will play Coachella on Friday April 16th, the first day of the festival. Their exact performance time and stage designation is still TBD.
For more information, check out the official Coachella website. And to get you in the festival spirit, watch one of my favorite live performances by Spank Rock and Amanda Blank at Lollapalooza back in 2008. I think the highlight for me is 3 minutes in when Blank hops on the mic and subs a choice expletive “I keep it dirty / not like Fergie / F*ck the Black Eyed Peas” and the crowd goes wild.
I would love to go to coachella sometime but alas… Also, have you heard Whatchadoin by N.A.S.A and it feautres Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold & Nick Zinner (all star cast! haha)
justine
Love that song… I think my favorite from N.A.S.A.’s album was “Strange Enough” with Karen O. and ODB. I saw them in concert last year and they put on quite a show! There were dancing aliens, and both Sam and Ze wore full astronaut suits – it was great.