One Day 'til Coachella - Final Thoughts Before Hitting the Road

It's going to be HOT this year folks.  Come prepared.  Not only do you need the necessities I mentioned in a post many years ago, but I'd like to add to it by setting up my updated Coachella packing list.

You need the usual stuff mentioned in the previous post as well, but here are a few things I'd definitely add to this list on the eve of my 14th Coachella:

• Lip balm (not sure why this never made the list before)
• A hat (Ibid.)
• The official Coachella app (gets better every year)
• Bandana (or something to cover your face in case we get another damn sandstorm worthy of a Darude-like ninth ring of hell)
• Sweatshirt (or something warm, again, in case of sandstorm.  We stood in line at merch for 45 minutes last year due to poor weather and poor planning)

 And then of course there's the original list of stuff:

• Tickets
• Hotel reservations
• Phone and charger
• Sunblock
• ATM card, credit card, and ID
• several pairs of shorts
• several shirts
• PJs
• Unna-ma-pants
• sox
• shoes (not good ones, closed-toe, they're going to get dirty)
• medications
• toiletries like toothbrush, toothpaste, contact solution, floss, and for chrissakes, deodorant
• extra contact lenses
• glasses
• music (duh)
• reading material
• camera and case
• $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 'Tis the season.  Let's live.

3 Days 'til Coachella - Schedule is UP!

Well, shit.

Not since 2008 when Prince made a surprise appearance on the schedule on Saturday night (I remember quite clearly blurting out, "What the fuck?!  I thought Portishead was headlining?!") have we seen such a literally last-minute amazeballs announcement addition to the otherwise completely fucking insanely awesome lineup:

PIXIES

Where the FUCK did these guys come from??? Is it that Coachella is such a massive thing now that they can just ask one of the best rock bands of all time (and one of the most anticipated reunion shows, that performed their first major show AT Coachella in 2004) to just come out and hang in the desert with us?

Well, shit.

Nothing wrong with that.

Now here's the answer key.

Friday

Dum Dum Girls
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Kate Nash (?)
Afghan Whigs
Broken Bells / Bonobo
Brian Ferry
The Knife
Outkast

Saturday

Sander Kleinenberg
Aeroplane
Bombay Bicycle Club / Banks / CHVRCHES
Holy Ghost!
Washed Out
Warpaint
Fatboy Slim
Pixies
Mogwai
Pet Shop Boys

Sunday

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Fishbone
Poolside
Scuba
Classixx
Blood Orange
The Naked and Famous
Little Dragon
Lana Del Rey
Laurent Garnier / Disclosure

9 Days 'til Coachella - Banks

Normally, an endorsement from the LA Times is the kiss of death for a festival act, but this year they might be onto something with at least half of their recommendations for the rising stars.  I noticed a few gems in their recommendations that I was aware of, but Banks, I was not.

This singer is a true find.  Sultry, smoking hot lyrically and vocally, and she ain't bad to look at, neither.

And oh shit, she's on Saturday.  Shit.  Saturday is really stacking up.

Anyway, she sounds a bit like Siouxie singing for Portishead, or something like that, in the best way possible.

My greatest fear is that the choices we'll have to make this year will be harder than that Sophie's Choice shit.  What?  She had to choose between two kids or something?  That's nothing compared to what we might be up against.  It's either going to be a massive tearfest of sorrow trying to pick between acts stacked up at night, or it's going to be a real candidate for best undercard ever.

Either way, slap my ass and call me Sally.  Nine days away.