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Coachella 2011: Top 10 Bands Not To Miss (Day 1)
(Photo by Joey Maloney, Used with permission)
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It's that time again, kids. Pack your skinny jeans, sun hats, ironic sunglasses and questionable footwear because the annual migration to the Empire Polo Grounds is upon us. We have rocked through the 150+ bands playing over the next three days to present to you a few choice selections not to miss during the Big Carrot Festival Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. These are just, like, our opinions man, so feel free to give your own in the comments.
Black Keys - 8:40-9:30 p.m., Coachella Stage
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are the Black Keys. That's it. Two dudes (they use a few backing musicians for select songs) making a shit load of sound. Their latest album, "Brothers." was one of the best albums of last year and has propelled them to their rightful place as one of the premier rock outfits today.
Cut Copy - 8:35-9:25 p.m., Mojave Tent
Along with their Austrailian brethren the Presets (playing Sunday Night), Cut//Copy bring back the 80s with their fantastic electro-rock sounds.
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Robyn - 10:50-11:40 p.m., Mojave Tent
By now you have hopefully heard of this Swedish songstress. The Electro-Pop diva was at one point tapped to become the next "It Girl" pop star however after basically telling her label to shove it over creative control lead them to find another blond singer to replace her. Who was their replacement? Britney Spears, who coicidentally brought Robyn in to write and record on her albumBlackout. Fast forward to the present day and the 29 Year Old Robyn has become a dance-pop phenomenon.
Warpaint - 4:40 - 5:25 p.m., Outdoor Theatre
Repping Los Angeles, the ladies of Warpaint quickly became local favorites. With their release The Fool at the end of 2010, they are no longer a well kept secret in the LA music scene, but on the radar of music fans worldwide.
Odd Future - 4:30 - 5:25 p.m., Mojave Tent
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All to be more specific, or OFWGKTA as they are listed on the Coachella poster. This Los Angeles based hip hop collective lead by ringmaster Tyler the Creator is generating massive amounts of buzz after their monster shows (and walkouts) at SXSW. Based on the performances they gave in Austin, expect this to feel more like a punk gig than a hip hop show.
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!!! (CHK CHK CHK) - 2:20 - 3:10 p.m., Outdoor Theatre
Do not expect to stand around with your hands in your pockets at this show. This Sacramento dance-rock band puts on one of the most entertaining shows you will see. They were a standout at last year's F Yeah Fest and there is no reason to expect anything less at Coachella.
Sleigh Bells - 7:30 - 8:10 p.m., Mojave Tent
Sleigh Bells return for the second straight year to the Empire Polo Grounds. After signing with M.I.A's N.E.E.T. record label in '09, 2010 saw them explode onto the scene. Along with Coachella last year, the noise-pop duo made stops at the Hollywood Bowl and HARD Music Fest.
Ms. Lauryn Hill - 6:05 - 6:55 p.m., Coachella Stage
Yes this R&B, hip hop queen deserves the prefix. It is arguable that no woman has been more game changing and iconic in the world of hip hop than Ms. Hill. From her work with 90's super group the Fugees to her classic album the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, she is not to be missed.
Brandon Flowers - 8:15 - 9:05 p.m., Outdoor Theatre
Sometimes a solo project isn't a bad thing. The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers used a hiatus from his 2009 Coachella Headlining day job as a chance to record a solo album. The result is last year's Flamingo, which albeit doesn't sound too dissimilar from his work with the Killers but
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Caifanes - 10:45 - 11:35 p.m., Outdoor Theatre
Reunion shows are one of the staples of the Coachella lineup each year. For some, mainly those that speak Spanish, this is the biggest yet. While not a household name in United States, Caifanes, one of the leaders of the Rock En Espanol movement of the '90s, is one of the most popular groups to ever come out of Mexico. Following a bitter legal battle between fontman Saul Hernandez and co-founder Alejandro Marcovich the band broke up. 16 years later they make their triumphant return on the Coachella Stage.
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