Coachella 2011: Top 10 Bands Not To Miss (Day 2)

Less than two days remain until the quiet fields of Indio will be the filled with the sounds of electronic, rock, punk, metal, hip hop, math rock, gypsy punk, synth-pop, rock en espanol, ambient, trip-hop, big beat, dance, funk and oodles of other sub-genres. Yesterday we gave you the Top 10 Bands Not To Miss during Day 1 of Coachella. Today, we present our picks for Day 2. Also, our fantastic friends at Coachella released the conflict-inducing set times for the weekend. Make sure to stretch before all that running.

Arcade Fire - 11:20-???, Coachella Stage
Who the fuck is Arcade Fire? Many asked this very question after their Album of the Year win, but there is little left to be said about this Montreal group that hasn't been put out there already. From their breakout debut at Coachella in '05 (Author's Note: To this day one of my favorite concert experiences... Look for a surprise appearance by yours truly in the video below) to Album of the Year Grammy Winners this year, the journey of Arcade Fire from Spaceland to headlining status at Coachella is one storybooks are written about. Their meteoric rise has not only moved "Indie Rock" out of the niche genre category, but paved the way for other like-sounding and minded artists to get noticed.

The Kills - 7:50-8:40 p.m., Outdoor Theatre
Some bands just ooze coolness. The duo of Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince are just that, cool. Dark and moody is the M.O. of the Kills and their new release, Blood Pressures, takes their garage rock even further. Mosshart, who you have seen here both with the Kills, and with Jack White as the Dead Weather, is a no nonsense front woman full of swagger and bravado.

the Joy Formidable - 12:55-1:35 p.m., Gobi Tent
This Welsh trio made huge waves last month at SXSW just as their debut album The Big Roar hit shelves. Led by frontwoman/firecracker Ritzy Bryan, the Joy Formidable is anthemic, big and loud with a sound that does not hold back.

Big Audio Dynamite - 9:05-10:00 p.m., Outdoor Theatre
Somehow, in what was one of the more puzzling decisions in music history, the Clash decided to give guitarist/vocalist/co-founder Mick Jones the boot (true, he may have had an issue with punctuality). Arguably, as much of a driving force to the band as Joe Strummer, Jones split off and formed Big Audio Dynamite. An amalgam of hip hop, reggae, punk and rock, B.A.D. makes their return to a stage after 11 years.

Bright Eyes - 7:20- 8:10 p.m., Coachella Stage
Conor Oberst has hinted the latest Bright Eyes release, The Peoples Key, would most likely be his last under the Bright Eyes name. Oberst has been a Coachella regular, with appearances as both Bright Eyes and side project Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band. If the rumors are indeed true, Coachella will be a wonderful sendoff for the band he formed nearly 16 years ago.

Foals - 3:15-4:05 p.m., Mojave Tent
Layered, dreamy, dancey, upbeat . This Oxford "Math-Rock" band that lists Tennis (the sport not the band) as one of their driving forces, creates wonderfully crafted tracks that are just those things. Some in the british press have even gone as far to dub them the next Radiohead.

Animal Collective - 9:45-10:55 p.m., Coachella Stage
As much rock as they are electronic, Animal Collective took the free form looseness of jam band granddaddy the Grateful Dead and created their own sort of electro-jam band. Their sound at one moment can be a mix of euphoric and melodic to lush ambience the next. Their performance on the main stage will be one not to miss as their sound is pitch perfect for the Polo Grounds.

Empire Of The Sun - 10:25-11:20 p.m., Outdoor Theatre
Continuing the Aussie synth-pop/rock take over, Empire of The Sun is a Coachella match made in heaven. From their name, to their heavily performance driven shows (think costumes, makeup, story), to their dancey electro-rock, this aims to be one of those "OMG! that was the most fun I had!" gigs that Coachella-goers talk about on their ride home on the 10.

Broken Social Scene - 6:05-6:55 p.m., Coachella Stage
At any given time Broken Social Scene can be a group of 6 or almost 20. While Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning serve as the foundation, the rest of group is a revolving door of sorts with Leslie Fiest, Emily Haines of Metric, Amy Millan and Evan Cranley of Stars amongst those to have recorded and toured with BSS. The many voices and influences give BSS a communal feel and regardless of who is on stage at any given time you can expect the best from one of indie-rocks stalwarts.

Cults - 1:55-2:40 p.m., Gobi Tent
Not a goth metal group or the seminal 80's band that gave us "She Sells Sanctuary" (the pluralization of the name is key), Cults however are a NYC band that in the last year has been tagged as one of the next big things. Their sound is a fun throw back of sorts to '60s girl pop with a ting of surf-rock. What started as sort of a joke between film students Brian Oblivion (guitar, vocals) and Madeline Follin (vocals) has evolved to them performing at one of the worlds biggest music festivals. Funny.

PREVIOUSLY:
Coachella 2011: Top 10 Bands Not To Miss (Day 1)
Coachella 2011 Set Times Announced: Got Conflicts?
Eat Your Heart Out, Coachella: A Food Guide For The Desert
Coachella 2011 Lineup Announced!
Video: Tiny Ant People Set Up A City At Coachella