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Coachella will be taking place today at Empire Polo Field | Photo by Joey Maloney for LAist
Let's face it: Picking and choosing from the Coachella bill can be as daunting as sitting down at the Cheesecake Factory—the choices are multitudinous and, quite often, overwhelming. So we took it upon ourselves to narrow the pool down for you, offering up some suggestions for a thoroughly enjoyable Coachella experience.
And, lastly, to live vicariously through us: follow us on twitter @LAist.
Our Picks:
Switch @ Sahara 12:00-1:30 PM London-based DJ Dave Taylor, the prolific remixer who produced M.I.A's "Kala" and Santogold's "Creator," will be on the decks if you get there early enough.
Alberta Cross @ Outdoor Theatre 1:25-2:10 PM These Brooklyn-based Anglo-Swedish rockers have a handful of promising Americana tunes. Think Kings of Leon meets Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
Noah & the Whale @ Outdoor Theatre 2:25-3:15 PM London's finest folk rock quartet, Noah and the Whale, made their foray into the mainstream realm last year with a Saturn Outlook television commercial. You know, that other prominent song in the last three years that revolves around whistles. Their pop-laden set will inevitably perk you up.
People Under The Stairs @ Gobi 3:05-3:55 PM Some of LA's finest emcees and self-proclaimed B-boys are slated to flow in the afternoon. Having recent finished their sixth studio album, People Under the Stairs will be exercising their glib tongues, as well as rousing the masses with their humor.
The Hold Steady @ Mojave 4:30-5:20 PM If you've got a beer in one hand and you're waving a clenched fist with the other, then you've likely found yourself under the woozy spell of the Hold Steady. These Brooklyn-based rockers know how to throw a rollicking good time.
M. Ward @ Outdoor Theatre 4:55-5:45 PM One half of the critically-acclaimed pop folk act She and Him—the latter of course—will be gracing the crowd with his incredible breadth of musicianship.
Buraka Som Sistema @ Gobi 5:35-6:20 PM The buzz act of Friday night is Buraka Som Sistema, an electronic music project from Portugal that are spearheading the "progressive Kuduro" movement. If it doesn't make you shake your thang thang, then M.I.A. surely won't. Speaking of which, it has been rumored that this would be the most ideal time for the aforementioned post-preggers, Grammy Award-nominated rapper to make a guest appearance.
The Bug featuring Warrior Queen @ Gobi - 6:35-7:25 PM London-based producer Kevin Martin, otherwise known as the Bug, will lay a thick and grimy layer of dancehall/dubstep/industrial hip-hop on you. If you didn't get enough dancing to get your heart rate rapid, then this will undoubtedly do the trick.
Leonard Cohen @ Outdoor Theatre 7:30-8:30 PM Leonard Cohen, a Canadian poet, novelist and singer-songwriter who almost seems as if he "was born an old man," will be putting on one of the more intense shows Coachella has to offer. Unfortunately, however, you won't be getting an opportunity to experience a fourth encore, as Cohen is the second-last headlining act on this stage.
Beirut @ Mojave 8:30-9:20 PM Balkan folk, world music, call it what you will. However, Santa Fe native Zachary Condon will be leading his band of multi-instrumentalists through a lustrous array of Eastern European folk and Western pop tunes.
Morrissey @ Coachella Stage 8:30-9:30 PM The Smiths' front man Mozz will be warming up the crowd for McCartney. Morrissey's solo career has arguably been as successful as that of the Smiths, especially here in America. We wouldn't necessarily count on a ton of Smith's songs slipping into the set though, but there is nothing comparable to experiencing this man's voice in person.
Silversun Pickups @ Outdoor Theatre 9:05-9:55 PM Los Angeles buzz band Silversun Pickups are performing fresh on the heels of releasing their sophomore release Swoon, the follow-up to 2006's Carnavas. This will probably be one of the few times you'll ever get to see them in this capacity, headlining a festival as prominent as Coachella. So make sure to go and support the local bands on the bill this year!
Paul McCartney @ Coachella Stage 10:00 PM If you don't make it over to see Paul McCartney, not only will you hate yourself, but your parents will likely hate you as well. We wouldn't count on a once-in-a-lifetime moment like McCartney reuniting with, say, Ringo Starr, but we would count on one of the most memorable and nostalgic performances of Coachella.
The Crystal Method @ Sahara 11:25 PM If you're willing to cut out of McCartney early (tsk, tsk!), then we suggest you head over to catch LA's own electronic duo the Crystal Method, who are considered to be the pioneers of the big beat dance genre. Some brawny beats and stellar sampling might be a fantastic close to your night.
Other shows:
Britney Spears, Pussy Cat Dolls @ Staples Center $39.50 - $750
John Prine, Josh Ritter @ The Wilshire Theatre
The Cave Singers, Pocahaunted @ Spaceland $8
Ramblin' Jack Elliott @ McCabe's Guitar Shop
BITCHES, Foot Village, The Widow Babies @ The Smell
Fascinoma, The Karabal Nightlife, Nightfur, Kissing Cousins, Lucy Langlas @ Pehrspace
Intronaut, Kylesa, Made Out of Babies @ Echoplex $10
Club Underground @ The Echo
Andy Clockwise, Until June, The Quiet, Ryan Calhoun, Barrett Johnson @ The Hotel Café
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Nightman Cometh @ The Troubadour $20
Japanther, Ninjasonik @ Out of Asia (3249 South La Cienega Blvd.)
2009 Iron Band Competition @ Knitting Factory (Main Stage)
A Tribute to Hawkwind featuring Ed Mundell, Backbiter, The Hight Saints, Babylon Pink, Iron Mountain, The Copperthief, Hallowed Engine, Electric Children @ Knitting Factory (Front Stage)
Out of Grey, Ridley, Making Eyes @ The Roxy
Habberdashery's Record Release @ Home Restaurant (Free! At the new Home on Riverside)
Guttermouth @ Alex's Bar
Kissing Cousins, The Karabal Nightlife, Nightfur, Fascinoma, Lucy Langlas @ Pehrspace
Natalie Wattre Band, Northern 45, Wires In The Walls @ The Mint
Rusty Tinder, Drew Broadrick, The 3 Heads @ Genghis Cohen
My. Hyde, Lost Heayn, Still Watters Run Deep @ Molly Malone's Irish Pub
Ollin @ Redwood Bar & Grill
The Monthlies @ Silver Factory Studios
Phantom.357, Kamikaze, Master Cylinder, Sorry State, The Gimps @ Mr. T's Bowl
Ghost Town @ Kibbitz Room at Cantor's Deli
