Go INDEEp Music

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the complete list.

Well that was fun! See you in the desert, or not.

#1 = RIDE

Ride are a hugely influential British shoegazing band that formed in 1988.  For me, the recently reunited band is a reunion dream come true, that is, since the last dream come true (The Replacements) and the dream come true before that (The Stone Roses), and the one before that (The Feelies), and the one before that (Pixies), you get the point.

The band was scheduled to play their first reunion show at Coachella Weekend 1, however they did a warm up show by invitation only (mine must have gotten lost in the mail) last week in their hometown of Oxford, and this past Wednesday, a gig at The Roxy in Hollywood.

I’ve written ad nauseam about the band and the reunion, if you would like to know more about them, read the piece I did on RIDE prior to any discussion about a RIDE reunion.

Discography:
Nowhere (1990)
Going Blank Again (1992)
Carnival Of Light (1994)
Tarantula (1996)

BTW, Ride Fans got screwed.  Not so much the Gobi placement, the Gobi is a perfect setting, but the 50 freaking minutes.  After all these years, the band deserved a 70 minute time slot.  But then again, if nobody knew who The Rose Roses were, how do you expect them to have heard of RIDE?

Years played Coachella = Zero

Times I’ve seen them = Zero

In addition to the videos provided on the links provided, please enjoy some more shoegazing classics below:

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

Best of Luck to everyone that tried to guess my Top 10.  All Systems Go!

#2 = KASABIAN

KASABIAN is an English indie rock band from Leicester that formed back in 1997.  The band consists of Tom Meighan (lead vocals), Sergio Pizzorno (guitarist, vocals, and beats), Chris Edwards (bass), and Ian Matthews (drums).

Since emerging on the indie scene back in 2004, the Leicester lads have been one of my favorite bands.  As soon as I laid ears on the tunes “Club Foot” and “Reason Is Treason” from their phenomenal self-titled 2004 debut album, I’ve been fully consumed.  They’ve released five studio albums overall, and all to critical acclaim, albeit in Europe.  Their most recent album 48:13 was released in the United States last October.

The band’s sound is heavily influenced by The Stone Roses, but also has obvious elements of Primal Scream, The Happy Mondays, Oasis, and dare I say, DJ Shadow.  It’s everything you want; danceable guitar driven Madchester baggy rock, electronic beats, traces of hip hop, and it’s all perfectly executed with an extremely confident and cocky edge.

Considered by many, including me, as one of the best live acts on the planet, they’re shamefully overlooked here in the States.  KASABIAN is one of the biggest bands in the world, except here in the United States, they headlined Glastonbury in 2014 for Christ’s sake!  They will play the friendly confines of the Mojave stage for the second time in a row, while appearing on the poster on line 4, right below FKA Twigs, seriously FKA Twigs.  The band seems to not really care about their lack of exposure in the U.S., they feel it’s one place in the world they can go and walk down the street without anyone recognizing them, that is if I’m not walking down the same street.

I’ve seen the band six times, and next Saturday night will make number seven, even if there’s an unfortunate overlap with Alt-J, my #4 band on my list.  KASABIAN will be making their third Coachella appearance overall, the 2012 performance in the Mojave nearly blew the fucking roof off the joint, or maybe it did.  That show probably ranks as one of the five best Coachella shows I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a bunch over the last eleven fests.  North American KASABIAN shows are rare and hard to come by, so see them while you can, they won’t disappoint.

Who likes fun facts?
The band is named after Linda Kasabian, one of Charles Manson’s disciples.  Ms. Kasabian is said to have served as Manson’s getaway driver.

Discography:
KASABIAN (2004)
Empire (2006)
West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (2009)
Velociraptor! (2011)
48:13 (2014)

Below is a nice introduction to KASABIAN, I took the liberty of providing one tune from each of their five albums, enjoy:

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

Best of Luck to everyone that tried to guess my Top 10.  All Systems Go!

#3 = AC/DC

AC/DC is a Heritage hard rock band that formed in 1973 in Sydney, Australia.  The band has released fifteen studio albums over their forty-plus year career.  Their most recent album Rock Or Bust was released last November.  View their entire album discography here.

This was an impressive “get” by the festival organizers.  It ranks up there with Prince as a headliner that we may talk about forever.  The band has a lengthy back catalogue of hits that may cause Paul to pull the plug on them if they decide to play them all.

Their recent troubles have been well-documented, but it shouldn’t diminish the buzz on the field on those two headlining nights.  I can only imagine the roar of the crowd when they strike the first note of “Hells Bells.”  Can’t Wait!  BTW, I wasn’t one of those douchebags from high school that wore their t-shirt every other day.

Years played Coachella = Zero

Times I’ve seen them = Zero

Let’s enjoy some AC/DC, shall we!!!

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

Best of Luck to everyone that tried to guess my Top 10.  All Systems Go!

#4 = Alt-J

Alt-J is an English indie band that formed in Leeds in 2007.  Their unique art rock style sound could be considered a genre of its own.  The four-piece released their debut album An Awesome Wave to critical acclaim in 2012.  The album took home the prestigious British Mercury Prize as the best U.K. album of 2012.  The follow-up sophomore effort This Is All Yours is equally as good, IMO.  I had that album as my #9 Album Of 2014, the more I listen to it, the more I think #9 doesn’t do it justice.

Years played Coachella = 1 (2013 Mojave Tent)

Times I’ve seen them = I caught the last four tunes of that Coachella set and have wanted to see them again ever since.

Please enjoy a few Alt-J videos below:

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

Best of Luck to everyone that tried to guess my Top 10.  All Systems Go!

#5 = The Orwells

The Orwells are an indie rock quintet from Chicago, Illinois that formed in 2009.  The kids started the band when they were in the ninth grade.

They’ve released two studio albums, 2012′s Remember When and 2013′s Disgraceland.  In December 2014, The Orwells were hired by Apple to sell the new iPad Air 2, ultimately pimping out the tune “Who Needs You.”  Since emerging a few years back, the band has been recognized as a Band On The Come.

The band is named after the English novelist best known for his book Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell.

Years played Coachella = Zero

Times I’ve seen them = Zero

My 5-year-old son named “Let It Burn” his #1 song of 2014

Also enjoy “Who Needs You”

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

Best of Luck to everyone that tried to guess my Top 10.  All Systems Go!

#6 = Panda Bear

Noah Lennox aka Panda Bear is an experimental rock musician that’s currently based in Portugal.  Mr. Lennox began his solo career in 1999 and shortly after was a founding member of the equally experimental act Animal Collective.  Under the Panda Bear moniker, Noah has released five studio albums, including his most recent effort back in January.

Lennox is also a member of the band Jane, and collaborated on the Daft Punk track “Doin’ It Right,” from the 2014 Grammy Award winning Album Of The Year.  There you go, reason to believe Daft Punk will appear at the 2015 Coachella Festival.

Discography:
Panda Bear
Young Prayer
Person Pitch
Tomboy
Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper

Years played Coachella as Panda Bear = Zero

Times I’ve seen him = Zero

My fave Panda Bear tune is “Comfy in Nautica”

I dig this new tune “Boys Latin” too

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

Best of Luck to everyone that tried to guess my Top 10.  All Systems Go!

#7 = Parquet Courts

Parquet Courts are an indie rock quartet from Brooklyn that formed in 2010.  The band also releases music under the moniker Parkay Quarts, and are involved in a side project with fellow New Yorkers PC Worship called PCPC.  Since bursting onto the indie scene in 2012 with their second full-length Light Up Gold, the band has been one of my favorite acts of that last couple of years.

Under normal conditions, Parquet Courts would probably land in my Top 3, however I’ve already seen them.  Nothing will ever top that evening at The Che Café in San Diego.  I was about 18 inches away from them, all the while being repeatedly pushed on to the stage.  My adventures on the stage included picking up and repositioning the microphone for bassist Sean Yeaton that kept getting knocked over, how fun!

I’m still looking forward to their Coachella debut.

Discography:
American Specialties (2011) (cassette only release)
Light Up Gold (2012)
Sunbathing Animal (2014)
Content Nausea (2014) (as Parkay Quarts)

I named “Stoned and Starving as my #3 Track Of The Year in 2013, listen below:

Check out the vid for “You Got Me Wonderin Now”

Here’s the set opener “She’s Rollin” from The Che Café last night (courtesy of DJ DEEp)

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

Best of Luck to everyone that tried to guess my Top 10.  All Systems Go!

#8 = Jack White

John Anthony Gillis aka Jack White is the hardest working indie rock musician on the planet.  Mr. White is best known for his work as the lead singer and guitarist for the legendary band The White Stripes.  He is headlining the fest on Saturday night as a solo artist.  Mr. Gillis is also a member of the indie bands The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather.

This is Jack White‘s first appearance at the Coachella Festival as a solo artist, however all of the acts he is associated with (see my rankings down below) have performed at Coachella.

To add to the resume, Jack has dabbled in a little acting, and is a music producer for his Third Man Records label. Bottom line, Jack White is the Ryan Seacrest of the indie music world.

Taking a little peeksee at Jack’s setlists, it shows a fun set of a material from his entire career as a musician, should be fun!

DJ DEEp ranks Jack White’s work:
1. The Raconteurs
2. The White Stripes
3. Jack White (the solo artist)
4. The Dead Weather

Discography as a solo artist:
Blunderbuss (2012)
Lazaretto (2014)

Enjoy “Lazaretto” below:

Also enjoy “Sixteen Saltines”

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

Best of Luck to everyone that tried to guess my Top 10.  All Systems Go!

#9 = HAERTS

HAERTS are an synthpop outfit from Brooklyn that formed back in 2010.  The band got the indie communities attention in 2013 with their single “Wings,” this blog named it as the #7 Track Of 2013.  Their self-titled full-length debut was released last October, it was preceded by the EP Hemiplegia released one year earlier.

Wasn’t music so much simpler when there wasn’t a need to stylize the name of your band.  The Wilson sister got by just fine as HAERT.

Years played Coachella = Zero

Times I’ve seen them = Zero

Check out the vid for “Giving Up”

Here’s another vid for “All The Days”

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

Best of Luck to everyone that tried to guess my Top 10.  All Systems Go!

#10 = Toro Y Moi

Toro Y Moi is the moniker used by chillwave extraordinaire Chazwick Bradley Bundick.  His popularity peeked during the chillwave invasion of 2010, and is often confused with being the godfather of chillwave.  All of that credit actually goes to the Michael McDonalds, Steely Dans, Boz Scaggses, and Pablo Cruises of the world, to name a few, they did all of the heavy lifting for young Chazwick back in the seventies.

When I first began constructing this list for your viewing pleasure, I had Mr. Moi much lower.  But as he continues to share new music off his upcoming (April 7) release What For?, I just can’t get enough. 

For those interested, Toro Y Moi means Bull and Me.  Bundick also uses the moniker Les Sins, releasing the album Michael in late 2014.

Discography:
Causers of This (2010)
Underneath the Pine (2011)
Anything in Return (2013)
Michael (2014) under the Les Sins brand
What For? (2015)

Years played Coachella = Zero

Times I’ve seen them = Zero

Here’s something new “Empty Nesters” (courtesy of Pitchfork)

“Say That” is his best, IMO

If you liked those, you’ll dig “Still Sound”

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

It’s always interesting and fun when the countdown hits the Top 19.

#11 = The Cribs

The Cribs are an English indie rock trio that formed back in 2002.  The band consists of the Jarman brothers, Gary, Ryan, and Ross.  Between 2008 – 2011 the group employed Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr.  The band has released six studio albums in their career, including their latest effort For All My Sisters which dropped last week.

Recently, the Jarman  brothers have stirred up this nonsense about “old school dinosaurs.”  The band claims “We’re one of those bands who have seeped into public consciousness just by being around such a long time. There are still some old school dinosaurs in the UK who just have a grudge against us. They just don’t give us a chance to get bigger or actively block it…so we just have to put out another record that’s better than the last one.”  If you have an idea what they’re talking about, please discuss.

The Cribs will be making their first appearance at the festival since 2007, their 2010 scheduled appearance was cancelled due to the Icelandic volcano.

Discography:
The Cribs (2004)
The New Fellas (2005)
Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever (2007)
Ignore The Ignorant (2009)
In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull (2012)
For All My Sisters (2015)

Years played Coachella = 1 (2007 Mojave)

Times I’ve seen them = Zero

Familiarize yourself with The Cribs below:

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

It’s always interesting and fun when the countdown hits the Top 19.

#12 = The War On Drugs

The War On Drugs are a Philadelphia based six-piece that formed back in 2005.  Yeah I said indie, however with the release on their latest album Lost In The Dream, the band has turned more mainstream alternative.

Founding member Kurt Vile left the band after the release of their debut album and its been all roses ever since.  The Lost In The Dream album was named by many reputable publication as the Band Of The Year for 2014, while this blog had it as eleventh best.  Two of the tracks from the album placed very well in my Top Tracks Of 2014 countdown, “Red Eyes” came in at #11, and “Under The Pressure” was the #2 track of the year.

Every year the organizers of the Coachella Festival misstage an act, meaning their mainstream appeal doesn’t warrant a Gobi or Mojave Tent placement.  I find it fun each year to predict the misstaging, The War On Drugs will unfortunately be misstaged.  BTW, I made up the word misstage, so I can spell it however I want.

Discography:
Wagonwheel Blues (2008)
Slave Ambient (2011)
Lost In The Dream (2014)

Years Played Coachella = Zero

Times I’ve seen them = Zero

Besides the two great tracks above also enjoy “Baby Missiles” below:

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

It’s always interesting and fun when the countdown hits the Top 19.

#13 = Allah-Las

Allah-Las are a Los Angeles based indie rock band that formed in 2008.  The group has released two studio albums, a self-titled effort in 2011, and 2014′s Worship The Sun.  The quartet prides itself on a 60′s style sound that blends British invasion pop hooks with West Coast psychedelic rock.  Sound fun?

For those that enjoy fun facts… three of the members in the band met while working at the legendary Amoeba Music’s Hollywood location.  While at work, the band studied 60′s U.K. vintage vinyl, the idea was “To make the kind of music we weren’t hearing being made by contemporary bands,” they have said, “free of digital effects and synthesised sounds, groovy and danceable in a way that wasn’t aggressive.” 

Each year, I name one band as my under the radar can’t miss act of the festival, here you go, Allah-Las.

Years played Coachella = Zero

Times I’ve seen them = Zero

Sample some of their tunes below:

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

It’s always interesting and fun when the countdown hits the Top 19.

#14 = Glass Animals

Glass Animals are an English indietronica act that formed in 2012 that in Oxford.  The quartet released their debut album Zaba last summer to positive press.  I had the album at #18 in my Top Albums of 2014, and two of the singles, “Gooey” and “Pools,” finished the year at numbers 32 and 17 respectively in my Top Tracks of 2014 countdown. Lists are fun!

Years played Coachella = Zero

Times I’ve seen them = Zero

Here’s another track to check out “Hazey”

GoINDEEpMusic

These are the bands that I’m looking forward to checking out at the 2015 Coachella Music Festival.  In the unlikely event anyone cares, here’s the list so far.

It’s always interesting and fun when the countdown hits the Top 19.

#15 = Interpol

Interpol is a New York City based indie band that has been around since 1997.  Led by Paul Banks, the trio has released five studio albums, the most recent being 2014′s El Pintor.  I don’t normally rank bands that I’ve seen multiple times this high, but for some reason I feel compelled to see them again.  I have a sneaking suspicion that there might be a late night Friday conflict with a few other bands I’m also looking forward to seeing, we shall see.

Discography:
Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)
Antics (2004)
Our Love to Admire (2007)
Interpol (2010)
El Pintor (2014)

Years played Coachella = 3 (2003 Outdoor Theatre, 2007 Main Stage, 2011 Main Stage)

Times I’ve seen them = 2 (2007 Coachella & 2011 Pottychella)

The more I listen to “All The Rage Back Home” the more I dig it:

How are things on the west coast? “The Heinrich Maneuver” is always fun!

1 more, how bout “NYC”

GoINDEEpMusic