A new year means music festivals everywhere will be dropping their lineups soon. Firefly and Hangout Fest both revealed their 2016 lineups late last year, and Okeechobee's first-wave lineup also dropped late in the fall, with the rest of the lineup being revealed up through December. Early this week, the world-famous California-based festival Coachella revealed its lineup, and like every lineup, it's full of great artists, artists I'd pass on, surprises, and up-and-comers.
To be honest, this lineup is pretty underwhelming compared to previous years, and especially compared to the powerhouse lineup they had last year. I think that can be blamed mostly on Goldenvoice spending most of their money getting Axl and Slash reuniting, which is pretty understandable. All that being said, there are still some fantastic acts on here.
To be honest, this lineup is pretty underwhelming compared to previous years, and especially compared to the powerhouse lineup they had last year. I think that can be blamed mostly on Goldenvoice spending most of their money getting Axl and Slash reuniting, which is pretty understandable. All that being said, there are still some fantastic acts on here.
Hits
LCD Soundsystem
Yes, it's only been a few years since they "broke up", but don't lie and say you're not excited. At this point, I think they've built up enough of a post-breakup legacy that they can headline a festival. Admit it: You can't wait to be grooving to "Dance Yrself Clean" and "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House" On top of this tour, the band supposedly have a new album in the works. LCD Soundsystem is back, people!
Calvin Harris
This will mark the first time an EDM act has headlined the Coachella stage. While it seems like a strange choice for a headliner at first glance, it makes sense, as Calvin Harris has already headlined Lollapalooza and will headline Hangout Fest a month after Coachella. On top of that, he has a bunch of hits, and I know that if I were seeing him at the festival, I would undoubtedly be losing my mind to "Summer" and "Blame". If Ellie Goulding sticks around, they could also do "Outside" and "I Need Your Love". Even more hopeful would be a surprise appearance from Rihanna. So this show has loads of possibilities that could make it memorable.
Ellie Goulding
Ellie Goulding has been one of my favorite singers for several years now, and even though she had a pretty high-billed Coachella appearance two years ago, her profile has grown immensely since then after the massive success of "Love Me Like You Do" early last year and the release of her third album, Delirium. Goulding's grown into a worldwide superstar now, and I'm happy to see her hitting the festival circuit again this year.
Courtney Barnett
The first time Courtney Barnett played Coachella, she was still just an unknown singer-songwriter from Australia. After her very hyped 2015 release Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit, appearances on numerous late-night TV shows, and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, she's now ready to take the main stages by storm. I first saw Courtney Barnett at Firefly in 2014, and while I was a fan right then and there, I never expected her to gain so much popularity so quickly. She's our generation's Lou Reed, and I can't wait to see her slay over the livestream.
Kamasi Washington
Be honest: This was the only jazz album you cared about last year. Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course! Kamasi released the nearly three-hour The Epic last year, to much critical acclaim. While I don't know how the saxophonist will fare amongst the crowds at Coachella, there is no doubt in my mind that those in attendance will be treated to a great show.
Others
The Arcs
Savages
M83
Vince Staples
Lush
Mavis Staples
Moon Taxi
The Arcs
Savages
M83
Vince Staples
Lush
Mavis Staples
Moon Taxi
Misses
Note: Aside from reviewing albums I dislike, I don't like being negative on this blog, since people don't really care about stuff you dislike. This section may be ending that. Just as a forewarning.
Foals
Early on, Foals were an interesting math-rock group with some killer grooves. Now, in 2016, they've turned into an alt-rock machine that, while actually not that bad, is largely unoriginal and a little boring. It's strange that they're on the second line, considering that I rarely hear them outside of AltNation. Not doubt they'll draw a huge crowd at the Outdoor Theatre, but I'd skip out on this one.
Halsey
Badlands was such a titantic disappointment that it really makes it hard to get excited for an appearance by Halsey, especially since she's billed so high. The Room 93 EP was one that I liked enough to make sure I caught her performance at Firefly this past summer, but that was before the release of Badlands. Does one mediocre indie-pop album mean that she should be billed above Grimes, Run the Jewels, or Gary Clark Jr? In my opinion, no. Who knows, maybe before then she'll drop something that'll change my mind.
The 1975
The 1975 have released a couple of new songs in the past few months. "Love Me" is an interesting indie-pop-funk number, but that's not really enough to get me excited about their top-line appearance at the festival. I've seen many comments on Reddit and other forums about how lame their performance at the 2014 festival was, and haven't really read very many positive things about the show. But hey, it's been two years, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Flume
Maybe this is just me being overly cynical, but I've just never seen the appeal of Flume. I've always thought his version of chilled-out trip-hop was boring, and that he was really just a not-as-good version of SBTRKT. So really, I have no idea what has contributed to his sudden, meteoric rise in fame. But I have some respect for him, and no doubt he'll have a huge late-night set that will draw thousands of adoring fans who aren't as big on Calvin Harris.
Cold War Kids, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, Of Monsters & Men, etc.
Truth be told, I like all of these bands, and Of Monsters and Men's 2013 Bonnaroo show remains one of my favorites from my two years I have attended the festival. But after a lackluster album from the band last year as well as Ed Sharpe's equally lackluster 2013 album, it's difficult for me to get excited about seeing them. While Cold War Kids haven't really put out any disappointing albums, it's the same deal with them. Most of the fanbases of these college indie favorites have graduated college and have jobs, so it's unlikely that they will draw the same crowds that they did five years ago.
Surprises
Ice Cube
Ice Cube's appearance on Bonnaroo's 2014 lineup surprised me then, and his appearance on this year's Coachella lineup is equally surprising given how much he's been in movies lately. Seeing as 'chella is a Cali-based festival, I'm sure everyone is hoping for an appearance by some of his NWA cohorts. Man, imagine a surprise appearance by MC Ren for "Straight Outta Compton", with Kendrick coming out to rap Eazy E's part. I'm definitely being hopeful here, but at a music festival, nothing's impossible!
Sufjan Stevens
This one is surprising mainly considering that Sufjan Stevens doesnt' really like doing big festivals, I guess because they aren't as intimate as smaller shows and fests. Unfortunately, I can't picture the talented-singer songwriter drawing a particularly huge crowd, but he definitely deserves it.
Volbeat
Coachella has never been one to book metal bands that the indie crowd wouldn't really listen to (i.e. booking Tool as a headliner), but Danish metal band Volbeat will now get that chance. The band is huge overseas, having headlined the massive German rock festivals Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in 2013 (above The Killers!). Now, the masses at Coachella will get to hear their brand of Johnny Cash and Elvis Presly-inspired heavy metal.
Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton's booking comes as a surprise to me because, like Volbeat in the metal genre, Goldenvoice doesn't really book straight-country artists to play their festivals (Stagecoach, however, is a different story). Sturgill Simpson last year got pretty close, but booking Chris Stapleton for this year will make Stapleton probably the biggest country artist that has been booked to play Coachella. Maybe this is marking a slight change in the festival; we could start seeing more indie-friendly country artists playing the festival in the coming years.
Who To Know
DMA's
Australia's DMA's sound so much like Oasis, than Noel Gallagher hates them. While the trio does sound uncannily like Oasis, I still think they're pretty good. I think they're pretty good, especially compared to what the Gallagher brothers have been putting out in their solo projects. They may never headline a festival, but they're still a noteworthy band to know going into this festival, because who knows? I may be wrong and they could very well be headlining festivals in a few years time.
Skepta
British hip-hop, also known as "grime", is a bit of a hit-or-miss genre. Skepta, however, is one of the rising stars of British grime here in the United States after an appearance onstage at last year's BRIT awards alongside Kanye West. Before grime blows up here in the United States, catching Skepta at Coachella is your chance to be in the know before it happens.
Shamir
If you've listened to Shamir's debut album Ratchet, you probably know that this set is going to be a pretty big dance party. If you aren't yet familiar with Shamir, check out his songs "Make A Scene" and "On the Regular" and try not to dance.
Wolf Alice
Another band that has experience a meteoric rise to fame since last year, London rockers Wolf Alice will bring their brand of grungy alt-rock to the Polo Fields this Spring,