Results tagged “coachella”

                                   

It wasn't until concertgoers arrived at the gates yesterday that they finally learned what classic album Phish would cover in its entirety during their "musical costume" set at Festival 8. Reviving a tradition that began in 1994 when Phish covered The Beatles' The White Album, last night the quartet staged an ambitious cover of the Rolling Stones' 18-song double LP, Exile on Main St. As in years past, the costume choice was a closely-guarded secret until the day of the show, when thousands of "Phishbill" programs (à la Playbill) were distributed, complete with bios of the "cast," which last night included Sharon Jones on vocals and members of the Dap Kings on horns.

Tonight Vermont-based jam band Phish (LAist Review) will be concluding Festival 8, a three-day stint in Indio at the famed Empire Polo Club. Indie rock duo Black Gold are poised to take on the Troubadour with none other than all-female rock trio Girl In A Coma. And, lastly, Ohio-based lo-fi rock act Times New Viking will be performing at the Echo with San Franciscan noise-infused pop outfit Sic Alps for this week's edition of Part Time Punks. But we strongly suggest heading over to Amoeba Music in Hollywood to catch Los Angeles' own "Ambassador of Boogie Funk," Culver City-based DJ/selector DâM-FunK.

              

Last night Phish tore through the first two of eight sets which the quartet's scheduled to play during their three day "Festival 8" in Indio, California. The Halloween-themed bacchanal, taking place at the astonishingly beautiful Empire Polo Grounds (also home to the Coachella music festival), is a homecoming of sorts for Phish, which invented a new rock festival model in 1996—even before disgruntled audience members rioted at Woodstock '99 over the rapacious price of water. Phish was the first contemporary band to organize multi-day rock festivals which treated attendees like guests, not numbers. This novel approach inspired Bonnaroo, where Phish performed for the first time in June.

                                   

Friend of LAist, photographer Drew "Rukes" Ressler has clocked a few hours in Coachella's dance tents. Here are some of the DJs and live acts that moved bodies at Coachella 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Today is the second annual Record Store Day, and event put together by the Music Monitor Network, the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), Alliance of Independent Media Stores (AIMS) and Newbury and sponsored this year by NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers). All over the world in over 1,000 independent records stores, people will be celebrating he profound impact indie music retail has had on the music heard today.

It's going to get quite hotter this weekend with temperatures reaching into the 90s on Saturday in Coachella and on Sunday in Los Angeles.

It's 9 p.m. on Saturday at Coachella and you've got to choose between M.I.A., Band of Horses and Junior Boys. "Ugh," one fan of all three bands wrote in an e-mail to LAist regarding the set times released today by the music festival. Anyone else find any good bands you'll have to choose between?

The impending birth of her first baby didn't keep British-Sri Lankan rapper diva M.I.A. from hitting the stage at this year's Grammy's, and just a couple of days later she delivered her son. Although plans to roll the new mom onstage at this year's Academy Awards show didn't pan out (thank goodness?), she has just been added to the line up for next month's Coachella, ostensibly replacing fellow Brit Amy Winehouse, whose legal troubles are making crossing the pond a bit difficult.

Coachella announced today the addition of MIA to the popular desert festival's lineup on April 17, 18 and 19. Earlier this month, they added the Chemical Brothers, The Orb, Devandra Banhart, Murder City Devils and Etienne de Crécy. Today's addition give festival goers over 125 artists to check out. Also: Yesterday, the festival announced some new on-site lodging. These luxurious accommodations are described as fully furnished “Safari” Shikar style “sleeping” and “lounging” tents and they cost... $5,000. But if you're willing to shell that out, that price includes some goodies like all access “side stage” wristbands (including access to the artist trailer camp and festival VIP area); special shuttles to and from the venue; plus “In & Out” access to the festival throughout the weekend and complimentary daily breakfast (served from 7:00-11:00 AM).

Via an in-house digital magazine--we had no idea these still existed--Coachella announced five new bands to the already existing line-up: The Chemical Brothers, The Orb, Devandra Banhart, Murder City Devils and Etienne de Crécy. That makes for a strong 125 acts to be enjoyed in the desert come April 17-19. Earlier today: Amy Winehouse drops off line-up list.

British singer and headline-maker Amy Winehouse has revealed via a spokesman that her Coachella performance next month is a (No, No) no-go, according to the Associated Press. Because Winehouse is facing legal woes in the UK stemming from recent charges she allegedly attacked a fan last fall in London, getting the songstress to the States would be no easy feat: "Being charged with a crime often makes it difficult for people to get U.S. visas." She faced similar trouble last year when her visa request to attend the Grammys was declined, then reversed too late for her to make the event. Winehouse was scheduled to headline the second of three nights of the annual fest in Indio, along with The Killers, Thievery Corporation, and TV on the Radio in a day boasting another nearly three dozen musical acts. Coachella's reaction is succinct: "Yes it's true. Amy Winehouse has canceled her appearance at Coachella."

Your sleepless nights of anxiously awaiting an official announcement are over. After a plethora of postponements, swirling rumors and premature prattle, the 2009 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival roster is finally here.

The internet just let out a big sigh of relief at 5:02 p.m. when KROQ updated their twitter saying that they will announce Coachella's lineup tomorrow morning sometime during Kevin & Bean. Safe to say, it's been a long week for those who were expecting the announcement on Monday or Tuesday.

There's nothing more piteous than a prominent media personality attempting to be hip and omniscient (except maybe attempting to give a blind dude a high five). And that's exactly what happened a few moments ago when American Idol host and "celebrity wrangler" Ryan Seacrest posted an unsubstantiated, preemptive bill for this year's Coachella via his website and twitter. The post, entitled "Coachella Line-Up Announced!," surfaced around 11 AM this morning, touting Nine Inch Nails, Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand, Katy Perry, The Killers, Neil Young, Adele, Foo Fighters, Public Enemy and Lupe Fiasco as headliners.

If you're still waiting for the festival's announcement, take a number. "We'll have more info on the Coachella lineup as soon as we get it," the festival's sponsor, KROQ, announced around 7:45 a.m. Meanwhile, rumors that David Bowie would be reviving Ziggy Stardust flared up on Twitter yesterday. To that, Bowie apparently released a statement calling the rumor "poppycock... while we're about it, David Bowie does not have a Twitter account." UPDATE: LAist reader and twitter user rosyblue just informed us of something we didn't catch on KROQ: "No line up will be announced today. Apparently, they don't have it. Bean said probably tomorrow."

The world thought Coachella promoter Golvenvoice was going to release the long-awaited line up for this year's Coachella festival. In fact, it seems that was the plan, but come this morning, there no line up, no buzz--just disappointment. Idolator got to the bottom of it and e-mailed Kevin and Bean at KROQ while they were on air. Surprisingly, Bean responded:

Music fans across the world are waiting with bated breath for the Coachella announcement, which is supposedly coming today. People are done with the rumors and want to book their trips, possibly taking advantage of the new "recession proof" payment plan.

Are you one of those festival-goers who complains about the exorbitant price of tickets these days? Well, the fine folks at Coachella have designed a plan with the current economic downturn in mind. According to an article published earlier today by USA Today, tickets for this year's festival will be offered in a variety of payment methods. Aside from paying all $269 up front, fans will be able to "pay half down and the rest April 1, or pay 10% followed by equal installments on March 1 and April 1 without interest or additional fees." These proposed price-sensitive "layaway" plans will be sold solely via the internet and they will not be available for $99 single-day admission. So now there should be less deterrence when it comes to forking over your hard-earned cash.

Earlier in the day, an independent confirmation of multiple Grammy Award- winning English singer-songwriter Sir Paul McCartney playing Coachella surfaced on music website Consequence of Sound. The aforementioned website recently provided a substantial glimpse (now totaling some 36 "rumored" artists) into what is shaping up to be the hottest festival this year. And although McCartney is expected to cycle through his usual bevy of hits, it's safe to say that his performance will focus primarily upon 2008's Electric Arguments, the third collaborative electronic effort with producer Youth under the moniker the Fireman. Expect an official line-up announcement straight from the horse's mouth in the coming days.

It is the start of a new year and that means we're slouching towards Southern California's biggest music festivals, starting with Coachella in the middle of April. And, as usual, the internet is simply ablaze with line-up rumors. But this year, much like last, crazed fans have taken things a step further on the festival's message board, going as far as to contact bands directly for confirmation.

LA Observed has shared a new New Yorker story on legendary music icon Prince, who has been living in Los Angeles for the past two years. Recently the Artist Formerly Known as the Artist Formerly Known as Prince played Coachella, declaring as he left the stage: "Coachella will always be Prince's house." Lest he confuse himself or his fans, he actually now calls the "rarefied gated nouveau complex of Beverly Park" here in LA his home.

The rumors were true, so if you've already booked your vacation time or hotel room, change it up. This year Coachella has been moved up two weeks from its regular last weekend of April slot to the 17th-19th with the country-folk version of the fest--Stagecoach--following the next weekend on April 25th for two days. (Photo: Joey Maloney)

Rumors are already floating around for next year's Coachella. "While an official announcement is still forthcoming," teases The Daily Swarm, "Coachella promoters Goldenvoice have begun booking artists for next year’s festival, which has been moved up two weeks from its regular last weekend of April slot to April 17–19, 2009."

Country diva and Palm Springs native Shelby Lynne treated the folks in the audience for her show last night at Indio's Stagecoach Festival to an earful. But she wasn't serving up just the sweet sounds of her songs--she had an awful lot to say about how unhappy she was with the venue and the attendance.

"I love singing to empty seats," Lynne sarcastically said as she opened her set, remarking about the vacant chairs in the reserved section in front of the stage.

Continue reading "Shelby Lynne Puts the "Eff You!" in F-U-N at Stagecoach Festival* (Now With Video!)"

Yup, that's right. Ding, dong, Roger Water's pig is dead. Found, slaughtered in two parts at the La Quinta country club. The Desert Sun reports:

          

There were at least a handful of LAist contributors at this year's Coachella Festival, and as we slowly recover from our Coachella "hangover" we'll continue to upload photos and tell the stories from another epic weekend in the desert... (or at least the parts we can remember)

          

In the previous installations of Coachella there have been some huge headliners. Rage Against the Machine, Radiohead, Bjork, The Beastie Boys but none quite on the level of day two's headliner, the Purple One, Prince. From the moment he hit the stage with Morris Day and Shelia E. it was apparent that the audience was in for a lesson in musicianship and showmanship. As he played through a set mixed of standards and the cover everyone was talking about (more on that in a second) he demonstrated his true mastery of musical performance. Whether it was his virtuoso guitar solos or his dance moves there was never a dull moment in the performance. But the real treat came when Prince played a cover of Radiohead's breakout hit "Creep." There have been many covers of the song but none as dramatic and unique as this cover. The song was given the Prince treatment, a few word changes and an incredible guitar solo. Before leaving the stage he declared "Coachella will always be Prince's house" and after the performance he gave Saturday, it will take alot to prove that statement wrong.

          

Finally, after all the hubub and debate of the quality of this year's Coachella lineup, the festival got underway Friday afternoon. Featuring Jack Johnson at the top of the bill, the day featured outstanding performances from the Raconteurs who proved that they aren't just Jack White's side project but rather a band that is developing their own sound and identity. The Verve, playing for the first time in nearly a decade sounded like they hadn't even missed a step. The day also featured standout performances from indie darlings Vampire Weekend as well as Tegan and Sara among others.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, music festivals are the dim sum of the concert-going experience; try a little of everything and go back for more of what you like (or ditch out on what you don’t). This year’s Coachella was no exception, with acts like country crooner Dwight Yoakam vying for time against dance-rock lovelies Hot Chip, or Prince breaking down the funk for the masses after a particularly breathtaking Portishead set. With the desert heat not as heart-stopping as previous years and the lineup eclectic as it was educational, Coachella brought out all ages and backgrounds of super fans and the uninitiated alike. People-watching was good but people-listening was at an all time high, so I took advantage of all the close quarters on Saturday to do a little eavesdropping.