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View the entire Top 40 here.

Listen to Coachella 2016 Mixtape 1 here.

Listen to Coachella 2016 Mixtape 2 here.

#1. Lush

If the week leading up to the Coachella Music Festival isn’t stressful enough, now I must spend the entire week worrying about whether my #1 must-see band is even going to show up. Unbelievable! Really? Seriously? This can’t even be happening to me! WTF!

The legendary English shoegazers needed to cancel their Weekend 1 performance at Coachella due to visa issues.  However, Lush has reschedule the canceled San Francisco show for Sunday April 24, and claim their Saturday scheduled performance in Gobi Tent is a go.  We pray and wait and see.

Lush formed in 1987 in London. The band consists of Miki Berenyi, Emma Anderson, Phil King, and Chris Acland. They were originally part of the shoegazing movement, but later changed their sound to more Britpop.  They were active until 1998, releasing three proper studio albums.

Spooky (1992)
Split (1994)
Lovelife (1996)

In 1990 the band released a compilation album in the States entitled Gala.  The album combines all of the group’s earlier work from two UK released EP’s, Sweetness And Light and Mad Love, as well as the mini LP Scars.  Gala is a must-have for fans of shoegaze.

In September 1996 the band played their final show.  One month later tragedy struck, drummer Chris Acland committed suicide by hanging himself.  The band never played again, the official breakup announcement came in February 1998.

In September 2015 the three remaining original members announced they were reuniting the band.  They later hired Elastic drummer Justin Welsh to replace Acland.

The band has a brand new EP Blind Spot that just dropped last Friday.  The first single from it is “Out Of Control.”

Luckily, many of the shoegazing bands from that era have recently gotten back together and have ended up on the Coachella Poster.  Let me see if I can name a few… Swervedriver, The Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, and Ride.  Not to mention Slowdive, they’re back together, but haven’t play Coachella yet.

My list of shoegazing reunions will be complete when Catherine Wheel ever gets back together.  Come on Coachella, make it happen!

See you in The Promised Land for Weekend 2.

Can’t wait!

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View the Top 40 here.

Listen to Coachella mixtapes here.

#2. Guns N’ Roses

At this point, what else needs to be said?

Guns N’ Roses are headlining the freaking Coachella Festival with original members Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan.

Axl Rose broke his foot two weeks ago at a warm up gig at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.  Now, he must sit in Dave Grohl’s customized throne, I guess Paul Westerberg’s couch wasn’t available.

In addition to fronting GN’R, Axl Rose is now the lead singer of AC/DC, and apparently Angus Young is now part of GN’R…

This summer, Guns N’ Roses are scheduled to embark upon the Not In This Lifetime…. Tour, playing a 21-city tour of many of this countries most beautiful NFL Stadiums.  How much are those tickets?

Speaking of tickets, you better start saving your money now for Fall Coachella, I can’t even imagine what they’re gonna charge for that one.  Maybe by then, Axl Rose will be the lead singer of The Rolling Stones as well.

Now back to the webcast.

Check out some of these classic vids:

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View the Top 40 here.

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#3. Courtney Barnett

Australian indie rocker Courtney Barnett comes in at #3 on my list of must-see Coachella Bands.  The witty singer-songwriter and guitarist has been making music since 2009.

Her 2015 debut full-length Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit was named by this blog as the Album Of The Year for 2015.  A few of the tracks from the album did pretty well in my Top 101 Tracks of 2015 countdown, “Depreston” #54, “Nobody Cares If You Don’t Go To The Party” #21, and “Pedestrian At Best” #4.

Now that I think of it, was Melbourne informed?

The 2015 masterpiece was preceded by several extended plays, most notable, the 2014 Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas.  The EP is home to the fun tracks “Avant Gardener” and “History Eraser.”

Prior to overplaying and ruining all the tracks on Grimes’ new album “Art Angel,” Sirius XMU attempted to do the same thing to Courtney Barnett.  I refuse to let that happen, I change the channel every time Ms. Barnett is played on XMU.  I made a decision, I’ll listen to SISAT,ASIJS when the time is right, the way all great albums deserve to be played.

Courtney Barnett is making her second Coachella appearance, she also played the fest back in 2014, she was one of those “late-adds” that year.

Now back to the Weekend 1 webcast.

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View the Top 40 here.

Listen to Coachella mixtapes here.

#4. LCD Soundsystem

When rumors of a LCD Soundsystem reunion began to circulate in the fall of 2015, there was little doubt that LCD Soundsystem would be headlining the Coachella Music Festival.

Not only is James Murphy and Co. headlining Coachella, they’re headlining every music festival on the planet this year.  The difference, Coachella gets them first, like they always do.

With only three studio albums under their belt, Mr. Murphy is rumored to have new LCD Soundsystem music on the horizon.

Last December, the band dropped their first single since 2010, a Christmas number entitled “Christmas Will Break Your Heart.”

LCD Soundsystem will be making their fourth Coachella appearance in 2016.  Murphy last played the fest in 2010 (Main), before that he visited in 2007 (Sahara) and 2004 (Gobi).  I’ve never seen LCD Soundsystem.

What’s your favorite LCD Soundsystem song? Mine’s “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House.” Do you think Daft Punk will show up tonight for that song? I don’t, why would they?

Happy Coachella 2016!

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View the Top 40 here.

Listen to Coachella mixtapes here.

#5. Underworld

Karl Hyde and Rick Smith are men behind the electronic heritage act Underworld.

The two have been together since forming the new wave band Freur in 1980.

Most of the members of Freur went on to form Underworld as an electropop outfit in 1987.  From 1987 to 1990 this Underworld lineup released two studio albums.  One of the more popular tunes from that era was “Underneath The Radar,” it was in heavy rotation on MTV’s 120 Minutes, and made several appearances my circa 1989 mixtapes.

Anyone remember the Just Say Yes CD sampler compilation that were available in the late eighties and early nineties?  The badass track “Thrash” was on the Just Say Mao installment.  This period of Underworld’s career is refered to as Underworld MK 1.

In 1994 Hyde and Smith recruited DJ Darren Emerson and relaunched Underworld as a tchno/progressive house trio (Underworld MK 2). The three released the album dubnobasswithmyheadman in 1994, it’s considered the band’s debut album.

In 1996 the trio received their most commercial success when the tune “Born Slippy (NUXX)” was featured in the motion picture Trainspotting.

In 2000 Emerson parted ways with Underworld and its been Hyde and Smith ever since.

Underworld released their seventh studio album Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future a month ago.  It’s the acts first release since 2010′s Barking.

Looks like I’ll be making my fourth appearance overall in the Sahara Tent for a little heritage techno.

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View the Top 40 here.

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#6. Deerhunter

Not many indie bands that have been around since the turn of the century have remained as relevant as Deerhunter.  With each passing album, the band becomes more and more well-received.

The Atlanta, Georgia rockers have been through many lineup changes, but the two constants have been frontman Bradford Cox and drummer Moses Archuleta.

Over a sixteen year career, the group has released seven studio albums.  The most recent, Fading Frontier coming in 2015.  Their 2010 album Halycon Digest received the warmest reception, it did well on many of the best albums of 2010 countdowns, as well as considered an album you must hear before you die.  Have you checked that album off of your to do list?

The self-described “ambient-punk” band last played the Coachella Festival back in 2010.  I caught the last half of their set that day on the Outdoor Stage. I saw them perform at San Diego Street Scene in 2009, I remember that set as being one of my faves of the weekend.

I can’t wait to reconnect with a live Deerhunter set next weekend, their reappearance at Coachella is long overdue.

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View the Top 40 here.

Listen to Coachella mixtapes here.

7. Beach House

I can’t wait for Coachella! And not because I can’t wait for Coachella, but because I can’t wait for these posts to end.

Ironically, the last time I saw Beach House, I couldn’t wait for Beach House end.  And not because I don’t like Beach House, I love Beach House, but because I love The Stone Roses much more.  Back in 2013, Beach House played the Outdoor Stage in the time slot right before The Stone Roses were scheduled to hit the Main Stage.

Instead of enjoying the Baltimore, Maryland dream pop duo, all I could think:

I can’t believe I’m going to get to see The Stone Roses.  I wonder if I should leave right now to get a good spot.  I can’t wait for Beach House to be done.  The Stone Fucking Roses are right here in The Promised Land.

I couldn’t get The Roses out of my head.  Needless to say, Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally didn’t have my undivided attention.  They’ll have it this year, they’re my highest ranked Sunday band on this godforsaken list.

The duo is fresh off of releasing two studio albums in 2015.  Depression Cherry dropped in late August, and then surprisingly, Thank Your Lucky Stars arrived less than two months later.  Prior to those two albums, the band has four other critically acclaimed albums to their credit. The folks in charge of giving albums the critically acclaimed status consider Teen Dream as one of the best albums of 2010.

If I get my way, Beach House will close the Outdoor Stage.  That would be the cherry on top on my 2016 Coachella weekend.

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View the Top 40 here.

Listen to Coachella mixtapes here.

#8. Wolf Alice

One of the more interesting bands to surface over the last couple of years are the North London rockers Wolf Alice.

After a slew of singles, the group finally released their full-length debut My Love Is Cool last summer.

I had the opportunity of seeing the band perform last May prior to the album’s arrival.  It was one of those fun intimate shows at the Soda Bar in San Diego.  I had the pleasure of shooting the shit with the four-piece after the show.

I’ll probably never have the chance to see them in such a tiny venue ever again, however, I’m still looking forward to their big stage Coachella performance.  It should be the highlight of the day on Sunday, as long as Goldenvoice gives them more than 25 minutes.

This blog named the album My Love Is Cool as the #3 best album of 2015.  Three songs from the album made my Top 101 Tracks Of 2015 list.  “Giant Peach” came in at #81, “Freazy” #42, and “Bros” was my #10.  If you get a spare 7 hours and 4 minutes, you can listen to all 101 tunes over on the Spotify.

Wolf Alice never received the warm and fuzzy from North America’s Indie Rock Channel, Sirius XMU.  Over on Alt Nation the band has been in heavy rotation.  Not sure why, except that it gives XMU more time to play more Grimes.

Can’t wait!

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View the Top 40 here.

Listen to Coachella mixtapes here.

9. FOALS

Listen to FOALS mixtape here.

Over the last ten years, FOALS have become one of my faves.  The Oxford, England quintet keeps getting better with age.  Four albums into their career, the group has slowly taken over Europe, and has become one of the best live bands on the planet.  I’ve seen these lads three times.

For whatever reason, the band hasn’t been as well-received in the Sates as they have throughout the rest of the world.  Because of that, they’ve tried a much different approach while touring North America in support of their latest album What Went Down.  The band decided to attract a more alternative audience and is opening for Cage The Elephant and Silversun Pickups on something known as the Spring Fling AF.  Man, it would suck if you went to a FOALS show and Cage The Elephant showed up.

FOALS is lead by daredevil frontman Yannis Phillippakis.  Mr. Phillippakis is best known for creating worldwide headlines back in 2013 for his comments made about The Stone Roses.  Phillippakis later clarified his comments, but sometimes it’s nearly impossible to put the toothpaste back in the tube.

The band has fared very well on this blog. Besides the Heritage narrative, back in 2013 the band took home awards for Band Of The Year, #1 Track Of The Year for the song “Inhaler,” and #3 Album Of The Year for their third studio album Holy Fire.  Last year, their fourth studio album What Went Down finished at #5 on my Top Albums Of 2015 list.  The tracks “Mountain At My Gates” came in at #20, and the title track “What Went Down” landed at #5 on my Top Tracks Of 2015 (listen on Spotify).

Bottom line, I love these dudes.

Conflict-chella should rear its ugly head in the next 48 hours, or so.  I really hope there’s no conflict with FOALS.  I can’t wait to hear how the new material plays live.

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View the Top 40 here.

Listen to Coachella Mixtapes here.

#10. Purity Ring

Edmonton is home for Megan James and Corin Roddick, the synthpop duo that call themselves Purity Ring.  Prior to forming Purity Ring in 2010, the two were members of the band Gobble Gobble.

So far they’ve released two studio albums, 2012 saw the arrival of the debut Shrines, and in 2015 they followed it up with Another Eternity.

Speaking of Another Eternity, I have two songs from the album ranked in my Top 101 Tracks Of 2015 list.  The tune “Push Pull” came in at #71, and “Bodyache” landed at #14.

My apologies if this post seems short or boring.  I’m afraid that this post and Purity Ring’s Coachella set will have a lot in common.  I have them #10 because they’re one of very few acts on the poster I haven’t seen before.  Hope they prove me wrong.

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