#38. Bat For Lashes

Natasha Khan is the woman behind English sleepy dream pop act Bat For Lashes.  She has released three studio albums with a fourth one due on July 1.  Natasha’s other project is under the moniker Sexwitch.

If you’ve ever attended the Coachella Music Festival you’ll know what I’m about to talk about.  At some point during the three day event, it happens.  The body just shuts down for about an hour and there’s nothing you can do about it, it just shuts down. You can’t control it, first you think if I sit down for just a minute I’ll be fine, and then it hits you, one solid hour of nighty night.  The crazy thing is it could happen anywhere, any time, or any day.  It could happen in the beer garden, during a Grimes show, or even during Arcade Fire’s headlining extravaganza.  You’re stepped on, kicked, laughed at, and photographed, but there’s nothing you can do, you’re dead to the world.  Once you wake up you’re good to go with whatever’s left of the weekend.

When I think about Bat For Lashes I think about falling asleep.  I think about missing the whole damn show because the music is so boring.  This will be Bat For Lashes second appearance at the fest, she played the Mojave in 2013.

GoINDEEpMusic

#39. CHVRCHES

I would be remiss if I left today’s best synthpop band on the planet off my list.  Squeaking in at number 39 is the Glasgow, Scotland trio CHVRCHES.  Under normal conditions, the band would’ve landed in my Top 10.  However, DJ Deep has tickets to see them at the North Park Theatre in San Diego on April 13.

The band has released two magnificent albums since bursting on the indie scene back in 2012.  Their full-length debut The Bones Of What You Believe was named by this blog as the Album Of The Year for 2013 and the band’s sophomore effort Every Open Eye landed at #4 on my Top Albums Of 2015 list.

Why isn’t this band bigger than they are?  One theory is that people are completely turned off by the stylized “V” is their name.  Sounds ridiculous, but frontwoman Lauren Mayberry told NME last year she thinks that if the band went by Lauren or Lauren Mayberry instead of CHVRCHES, hid the fact there are two other male members in the band, they would be much more recognizable and successful.  However, the band agreed early on in their career that all photos of the band would include all three members and not just showcase Lauren separately.  Something to think about, but I kinda like the “V,” just sayin.

CHVRCHES will be making their second appearance at the Coachella Music Festival.  The trio played an energetic set on the Outdoor Stage back in 2014.

Please inform Glasgow.

GoINDEEpMusic

Occasionally, one must take the opportunity to utilize the #40 position on the list as an opportunity to showcase the worst band on the entire poster, instead of the 40th best must-see band.  This is one of those opportunities.

#40. The 1975

Do you enjoy being packt like sardines in a crushed tin box? Do you enjoy being surrounded by shirtless bros with teenage girls perched on their shoulders?  Do you enjoy teenage girls that shout every word to every song as they gesture the “I love you” sign to the band? and finally, Do you enjoy shirtless bros that yell woo-hoo in your ear? If any of this sounds fun, then I have the band just for you.

The band I’m talking about is The 1975, a Manchester, England quartet.  Traditionally, shitty bands like this call America home, but certainly not Manchester of all places.  They’ve been making really bad music together since 2002, but thankfully have only released two albums.  The lead singer is fellow shirtless bro Matthew Healy, I think he’s the one the girls lose their collective minds over.

How do I know anything about this?  Well, I lived through it, to tell about it.  During Coachella 2014, I got caught in the middle of that shit storm described above, because I thought arriving for Neutral Milk Hotel a few bands early to get a good spot was a bright idea.  Man was I wrong, as it turns out, The 1975 was just an appetizer for those that arrived eight hours in advance of Lana Del Rey’s set.  Folks, concert-going shouldn’t be this brutal, but I guess it sure beats the Bataclan, or does it?

If this crap is your thing, try enjoying this:

GoINDEEpMusic