Name: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Genre: Rock
Day: Saturday

Wikipedia sez: “The Red Hot Chili Peppers is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983 by Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Hillel Slovak (guitar), and Michael “Flea” Balzary (bass), along with drummer Jack Irons. Throughout their career, the band has fused various elements of punk, funk, heavy metal and rap. They hold the record for most number one singles on the Billboard Modern Rock Chart with 11, and has held a record of 81 weeks at number one.”

Despite many members on the Coachella message boards getting stuck into them, I can’t get enough of some Chili Willie action, especially if it’s stuff off the Californication album. My mate Pete saw them last weekend and said that it was a decent show, despite the random (and long) jamming between songs and the really odd finish with John Frusciante “turning some knobs”. But hey, at least Flea is wearing clothes? The Chili Peppers have had some great performances in the past (Woodstock ‘99 is one of my favourites), but after reports from their recent tours, I have no idea what to expect. Unless some bigger name pops up on Saturday night, I think I’ll be checking them out.

Likelyhood of Seeing at Coachella: Yes.

Read on to view Red Hot Chili Peppers live videos…

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Name: Ratatat
Genre: Electronic
Day: Sunday

Wikipedia sez: “Ratatat is a New York City electronic music duo consisting of guitarist Mike Stroud and synthesizer driver and producer Evan Mast. Mike Stroud and Evan Mast met as Skidmore College students, but did not work together until they recorded “Cherry” in 2001, a track that later would end their debut album. Their 2004 debut, Ratatat, was written and recorded in Mast’s Crown Heights, Brooklyn apartment on Stroud’s PowerBook. This album is entirely instrumental, except for occasional excerpts of dialogue at the beginning and end of some tracks.”

Pretty interesting concept - one guy jams on a guitar and the other guy spins instrumental tracks. But everything I have read about Ratatat playing live suggests that they are one of the worst case of groups to see live, simply because their live performances are identical to their albums. From what I’ve heard of their album tracks it’s not too bad, ambient abstract rock, sort of a cross between Air and Guy Sigsworth. Will they be worth checking out, just in case? Well chances are they will be performing early, so I may just give them a go after all.

Likelyhood of Seeing at Coachella: Maybe..

Read on to view Ratatat live videos…

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Name: Rage Against The Machine
Genre: Rock
Day: Sunday

Wikipedia sez: “Rage Against the Machine is a Grammy Award-winning American rock band, noted for their blend of hip hop, hard rock, punk and funk as well as their explicit revolutionary socialist philosophy and lyrics.The band split up in 2000, with guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk forming part of the supergroup Audioslave, and vocalist Zack de la Rocha starting a low-key solo career. In early 2007, reunion performances at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Rock the Bells IV were announced. Rage drew inspiration from early metallic instrumentation, as well as rap acts such as Public Enemy and Afrika Bambaataa. Their music was based primarily on de la Rocha’s rhyming styles and vocals along with their sound, especially Morello’s unusual extended guitar techniques.”

I’m not going to go on about Rage Against The Machine, quite simply because I’d only be lavishing them in praise. The live concerts that I have seen look like pure insanity. Will their performance be the same? I doubt it, simply because they haven’t been playing together for seven years. In fact I doubt their performance at Coachella will be the show stopper of the festival, because of this. But I’d be lying if I said that I am not looking forward to it. One for the history books, that’s for sure.

Likelyhood of Seeing at Coachella: Reason I am going.

Read on to view Rage Against The Machine live videos…

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Name: Pop Levi
Genre: Indie
Day: Saturday

Wikipedia sez: “Pop Levi is an English musician from Liverpool. In addition to his solo work, he has been a member, along with Snap Ant and Loka of Super Numeri. He played bass with Ladytron, as well as doing remix work for them, and contributing the song, “Twins”, to their Softcore Jukebox mix album. Pop Levi has been listed as one of Lauren Laverne’s favourite artists to make it big in 2007 on BBC2’s The Culture Show.”

Come on, that can’t be his real name. Regardless of whatever his name might be, Levi makes psychedelic pop/rock drawing influences such as late era Beatles, Van Morrison and Prince. It’s not the most sane music you will ever here (if music was ever , as guitars sound strong while Levi’s lyrics are only second in weirdness to his singing voice. With that said I can’t say I mind it, but to me their is no real hook wanting me to chase up more.

Likelyhood of Seeing at Coachella: Not for me.

Read on to view Pop Levi live videos…

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Name: Placebo
Genre: Rock
Day: Sunday

Wikipedia sez: “Placebo is an alternative rock band consisting of Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Hewitt. The band was founded in London in 1994 when Brian and Stefan, who went to the same school but apparently never spoke, met again by chance in London and subsequently formed ‘Ashtray Heart’. The band gained some measure of notoriety for the sexualities of its members (Olsdal is homosexual, Hewitt is heterosexual and Molko is bisexual) and their excessive lifestyles, often chronicled in their songs; for example, the track titled “Special K” from Black Market Music (2000) describes being under the influence of the drug Ketamine.”

It seems like Placebo has been around forever, mainly due to to their song Every You Every Me being in Cruel Intentions, which is played every time that movie is shown on Channel Ten, which must be reaching into the high 800s around now (only Happy Gilmore has it beat, I believe). Placebo are a fine rock band, playing straight forward rock tunes along with Molko’s odd high-pitched vocals. They also re-did the theme music for Veronica Mars (their song We Used To Be Friends), which I didn’t like at first but grew on me fairly quickly. All in all, they make decent music but I don’t think I’ll see them unless I’m wandering past.

Likelyhood of Seeing at Coachella: I’ll pass.

Read on to view Placebo live videos…

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Name: Pharoahe Monch
Genre: Rap
Day: Saturday

Wikipedia sez: “Pharoahe Monch (born Troy Donald Jamerson on October 31, 1972) is an American hip hop artist from Queens, NY. He is known for his complex delivery and multi-syllabic rhyme schemes. Pharoahe Monch’s name is derived from the monkey doll Mon Chi Chi. After receiving a bad haircut, which left Monch looking like a “chimpanzee”, girls in Monch’s High School class began calling him “Mon Chi Chi”, which was later shortened to “Monch”. Monch adopted the “Pharoahe” prefix after meeting future Organized Konfusion partner Prince Po. He chose the Pharaoh title while studying Egypt.”

Pharoahe Monch was on indie rap label Rawkus Records in the late nineties along with a host of the biggest underground names in rap such as Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Skillz and Common, so I’ve heard a few of his tunes in the past. Unlike some Monch is a poetic MC, focusing on clever wordplay and thoughtful rhymes rather then how fast he can spit or appealing to the masses. His songs also feature beats not often heard in tracks as he adapts (Push being a decent example), but he makes them work quite well. I gotta listen to some more of this guy, but so far I’m liking it.

Likelyhood of Seeing at Coachella: Yeah I think so.

Read on to view Pharoahe Monch live videos…

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Name: Peter Bjorn & John
Genre: Indie
Day: Saturday

Wikipedia sez: “Peter Bjorn and John are a Swedish indie rock band, formed in Stockholm in 1999. The current members are Peter Morén on vocals, guitar, and harmonica; Björn Yttling on vocals, bass and keyboards; and John Eriksson on drums, percussion, and vocals. To date they are best known for the 2006 single “Young Folks”, which featured Victoria Bergsman of The Concretes and was a top 40 hit in the UK Singles Chart. It was also named NME’s second best track of 2006, beaten only by “Over and Over” by Hot Chip. In Australia it was voted number 16 in the annual Triple J Hottest 100 for 2006.”

Young Folks was one of those classic summer songs that will be remembered for the ages due to it’s insane levels of catchiness. The rest of their album followed the same trend, with fantastic straight up rock tunes like Detects On My Affection and Roll To Credits or pop friendly songs like Paris 2004. It’s so refreshing to hear them in interviews to, these three guys play music for themselves and if people like it, they consider it a bonus. If they are as good live as their last album was, Peter Bjorn & John will be one act to catch at Coachella.

Likelyhood of Seeing at Coachella: Yes!

Read on to view Peter Bjorn & John live videos…

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