Blog-achella '07 - Mika (Sun.) / MSTRKRFT (Sat.)

Sometimes musicians sound like other musicians. Sometimes that's a good thing. Sometimes it's war...

Mika

Who he is: A Lebanese-born singer from London, who quite frankly kinda creeps me out in his pictures. But he is #1 on the charts over there right now.

What he sounds like: Two words - Freddie Mercury.

Mika - Grace Kelly

What I think: Do I lie? Not really my cup of tea. But I gotta say, between this and the My Chemical Romance and hell, even the new Muse (which I love), if Freddie were alive he'd be having some beef with some folks. Which quite frankly would be pretty damn funny. Imagine a feud between Gerard Way and Freddy Mercury, with both of them cutting increasingly flamboyant diss records, ending in a drive-by slapping of Way by Freddie outside of Crunch Gym or some shit. God, that needs to happen. Damn you for dying so young Freddie!

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MSTRKRFT

Who they are: Any more Canadian acts and I'm going to start calling this thing Canuck-a-chella. Wait... did I use that joke last year? Probably. I'm a hack. Anyhoo, these guys used to have the band called Death From Above 1979, but now they have synthesizers.

What they sound like: Two words - Daft Punk...

MSTRKRFT - She's Good For Business

What I think: ... which is not a bad thing! These guys are one of my favorite new outfits of the last couple years, and they have also delivered some killer remixes. Get on Hype Machine and search 'em out. Plus, anytime you make a video in which a bunch of hot secretaries are sat in a dentist's chair and completely slathered in strawberry yogurt, you are cool in my book.



Okay, maybe that was a little much.

Blog-achella '07 - Mando Diao (Sun.) / Stephen Marley (Fri.)

Stay tuned for awesomeness... but first, music :P

Mando Diao

Who they are: A band from Sweden. Are these the first Swedes we've come across in this whole thing? Step it up, Sweden!

What they sound like: A bit Garage Rock, a bit Brit Rock.

Mando Diao - Sheepdog

What I think: Was this song used for an iPod commercial, or is it just me? I kind of like this a bit, but you expected that when I said they sounded Brit Rock, didn't you? I'm so predictable it's not funny anymore. Like, I could drop a "Fuck Interpol" here for no reason and you wouldn't even be surprised. So Fuck Interpol. See? The thrill is gone :P

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Stephen Marley (featuring Jr. Gong)

Who he is: Son #24 of Bob. Which did he have more of, kids or albums? Dude liked to sow that seed, yo! But that's nothing. There were some Amish families where I grew up that had 157 kids. And all the boys were named John. True story. BTW, in case you forgot, Jr. Gong is Damien...

What he sounds like: Much more like Damien than Ziggy, aka... more hip/hop & dancehall than roots reggae. I went with a mellow track, well, because it's really freakin' good. Plus it's got Mos Def.

Stephen Marley - Hey Baby

What I think: "Mi come here fi drink milk, mi noh come here fi count cow". Yeah, that's what I said.

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And this, well it's just something random that got posted on the YouTubes that blows my mind. This happened 20 miles away from my parents farm when I was 6 years old. I can still remember my folks driving me and my brother by to see the ramp while it was being built... but for some reason we didn't watch it happen in person. I can't remember why... but then again, it was 30 years ago. Fuck me, I'm old. But anyways, this guy makes Evil Knievel look like a pussy. Ok, not really, but he's pretty awesome.



When I get my rocket car, I'm gonna try this again... and I'm gonna MAKE IT, beeyatch!!!!!

Blog-achella '07 - Amos Lee (Sun.) / The Lemoheads (Sun.)

The world is a little less funny today, and not just because Evan Dando is playing Coachella...

Amos Lee

Who he is: A kinda odd-looking dude from Philly. Nice hat.

What he sounds like: A bit folky and a bit soulful. Real nice voice. Very chill, though.

Amos Lee - Sweet Pea

What I think: He should be making sweet love with that little hottie Norah Jones. She's a dirty girl. Oh yes, she is...

Oh yeah, the music. It's very coffee house, no? I'll have a venti triple half caf soy latte with pretzel bits and a shot of HGH - it's the secret ingredient that really makes it pop!

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The Lemonheads

Who they are: Evan Dando. Yup. Weirest. Coachella. Ever.

What they sound like: If this song is any indication, exactly what they've always sounded like.

The Lemonheads - No Backbone

What I think: Between Rage, Crowded House, and these guys, on Sunday you can party like it's 1989...

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And this just sucks. He may not have gotten the props, but he was one of the funniest motherfuckers ever...

R.I.P. Richard Jeni

Blog-achella '07 - Konono #1 (Sun.) / LCD Soundsystem (Sat.)

Gotta make it quick today...

Konono #1

Who they are: Street musicians from Kinshasa, Congo who play homemade instruments made of junk, more or less... featuring what they call a likembe or "thumb piano".

What they sound like: Like nothing you've ever quite heard before, to be honest. And from reading a couple of articles, they like to play it LOUD.

Konono #1 - Dishte Tshiekutala

What I think: This is the kind of thing you're either into or it gives you a headache. I am, shall we say, intrigued...

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LCD Soundsystem

Who they are: Tha disco infiltrator fo sho!

What they sound like: They've been covered quite frequently in this space, so I know I don't need to get into it. Jury's still out on the new album though... not feelin' it as much as the first. Here's a surprisingly downcast song, although good.

LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great

What I think: The last time they played Coachella, they were just about the best thing I saw all weekend. Don't miss it!!!!!!

Blog-achella '07 - Kings Of Leon (Sat.) / Klaxons (Sun.)

Sometimes, working in Hollywood can be pretty surreal. How so you say? As if working with Sugar Ray on a daily basis weren't enough, meet my newest co-worker...



Yup... me and freakin' Slater, standin' around waitin' for our turn at the donuts. Wouldn't have thunk it whilst watching "Saved By the Bell" (cough cough) years ago on TBS in the hour between getting home from school and going out to milk the cows every day ... life is strange.

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Kings Of Leon

Who they are: Two sons of a Tennessee preacher and two other rednecks.

What they sound like: They are the ones keepin' the spirit of Lynrd Skynrd, Thin Lizzy, Molly Hatchet, et al. alive, if you believe the press clippings. Southern Rawk!

Kings Of Leon - Pistol of Fire

What I think: "Freebiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiird"! Actually, that would be a massive improvement. This is sub-"meh". Go back to the trailer park, boys.

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Klaxons

Who they are: A British band, 2/3 of which are from Stratford-Upon-Avon, home of original B-Boy, Billy Shakespeare.

What they sound like: The British have dubbed these guys the leaders of the "New Rave" movement. British people love dubbing "movements". I personally don't get what this music has to do with raving. Maybe it's the siren?

Klaxons - Atlantis To Interzone

What I think: Points for energy, but "meh". They are absolutely HUGE in Britain right now... NME thinks they are the future of music (this week)... but does anyone really believe they'll be remembered even by next year's Coachella? Me neither. I'm so jaded.

I mean, they're not nearly as memorable as this...

So to sum up... Klaxons - Flavor of the Week... A.C. Slater - Eternal!

Blog-achella '07 - Kaiser Chiefs (Sun.) / Kid Beyond (Sun.)

Posting a little late today... why? Oh, because I just spent the last hour of my life, one I'm pretty sure I will never get back, trying to find some headline from a tabloid claiming that Courteney Cox and David Arquette's marriage is "on the rocks". GASP! OMGWTF?!?! The public must be alerted!!!!! Now, naturally, I cannot imagine a world without a happy, functional Cox/Arquette union to serve as an anchor in this sea of uncertaintly called Earth 2007, so I get right on it. I'm flipping through every goddamn tabloid we have, and I can actually hear my brain cells withering and dying on the vine like unpicked pinot grapes in a sudden frost as I peruse stories of Angelina's so-called anorexia, Britney's so-called lesbianism (which I'm all for, btw) and Jessica and John's so-called hot sex sessions, and nothing, dammit! So I go online, and find some headlines there. Thank goodness for the interwebs, right? Then I gotta go back and forth between a couple of people to see if we can get the permission to use the interwebs pages, then we do. Success! Finally! Exactly that second, the producers cut the story. After one hour of dealing with this bullshit. I love my job.

Kaiser Chiefs

Who they are: A combo from Leeds, UK that came out originally right along with Bloc Party and The Bravery and all that lot.

What they sound like: Kind of like that lot. They have a new one out, but I picked this song off their first record because of the recent Lily Allen/Mark Ronson cover that has been out there. If you listen closely, the verses kind of sound like a pirate sea shanty... or is it just me?

Kaiser Chiefs - Oh My God

What I think: Caught a show of theirs on the telly a few months back, and they are a very fun live band. Recommended.

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Kid Beyond

Who he is: Beatboxer extraordinaire from the Bay Area.

What he sounds like: He is very much like a Jamie Lidell in method, sampling and looping himself on the fly to build rather impressive compositions. His singing voice isn't nearly as good though, although his beatboxing, noisemaking skills may be even better. Supposedly, everything you hear on this track came out of his mouth...

Kid Beyond - Deep Inside

What I think: My innate music techy nerdiness makes me a sucka for this sort of thing. I wouldn't miss it. Just watch the following video he made for Ableton Live (the software). If it leaves you all impressed, you'll know what I'm talking about...

Blog-achella '07 - Junior Boys (Sun.) / Justice (Sat.)

J is for Jammin'...

Junior Boys

Who they are: More Canadians, but don't worry, I won't do the "take off, hoser" bit today. They're from Hamilton, Ontario, a lovely town which you know is a big deal because they have a Canadian football team there. Canadian football, of course, is just like American football, except that the players on defense get to wear moose horns on their helmets, the running backs are pulled down the field by sled dogs, and every touchdown is worth 15,000 points. Canadians love high scores. The Hamilton side is known as the Tiger-Cats, because, well, apparently they like to be really specific in Canada. They wouldn't want you to think their team was the Tiger Shrimp or Tiger Woods....

What they sound like: More white boy nerd funk!

Junior Boys - The Equalizer

What I think: Love these guys just as much as the Hot Chip. This is what pop music should sound like! Now, we only need one band to complete the nerd funk trilogy, and that would be these guys...



Make it happen, Goldenvoice!!!!!!!!!

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Justice

Who they are: Frenchies.

What they sound like: They are maybe the most blog-hyped of the new French house/techno artists. They did the "We Are Your Friends" song. They like to make screechy sounds sometimes and farty sounds at others. They have a good beat and you can dance to it.

Justice - Phantom

What I think: Although this sound can (and does) very often dip into the obnoxious and ear-ouchy, I can't deny that I'm into it in certain doses. I will, however, deny that I am the father of Anna Nicole's baby, no matter what the damn DNA tests "claim" to "prove". Oh crap... I've said too much...

Blog-achella '07 - Jack's Mannequin (Sat.) / The Jesus and Mary Chain (Fri.)

Ah, Monday... as your spirits are crushed by the realization that another work week has begun, look to Coachella for inspiration... and find it somewhat lacking today. Look, Coachella's fun and all, but it doesn't change the fact that your job is a dead-end and you're going nowhere in life. Oh, and nobody likes you.

Jack's Mannequin

Who he is: Andrew McMahon, who was also the frontman of the band Something Corporate. Nope, never heard of 'em either.

What he sounds like: Music from the O.C., for the O.C., and I'm sure at some point it was featured on "The O.C." I'm not going to look that up... I'm just going to assume it's fact.

Jack's Mannequin - Bruised

What I think: Is it wrong to tell someone who survived a battle with Leukemia that his music kinda sucks? But hey, because of this guy, Tommy Lee playing at Coachella is now a distinct possibility (Tommy is his bud and played percussion on most of the tracks of the album.) -- Hold on, I hear the door. I'll get it. Oh, look who's here! The Apocalypse!

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The Jesus and Mary Chain

Who they are: The Scottish brothers Reid and assorted other folk.

What they sound like: I remember first hearing them in college, when my freshman year roomate (this guy named Tom - who had absolutely zero personality and didn't even make it through the full year, but introduced me to all the mopey 80s music I had been totally unaware of... Smiths, Cure, etc., so he did serve some purpose) played the Psychocandy album... just wall to wall feedback and I was like "what the hell, dude?"... and so kinda blew 'em off until the following song popped up on 120 minutes, then I was like, "well, that's not nearly as suck." Okay, so it wasn't exactly an epiphany...

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Head On

What I think: I saw them open up for Depeche Mode back in (cough cough) on the Violator tour, and the one thing I remember was how whichever one is the singer just beat the living crap out of his mic stand for an hour straight while he was singing, leaving it a mangled mess at the end of the show. What did the mic stand do to deserve that? I am told it called his mom a trollop. So it totally deserved it.

Cheerio!!

Blog-achella '07 - Interpol (Fri.) / The Kooks (Sun.)

In which I quite possibly piss off Plasticgod

Interpol

Who they are: With Headquartes located in Lyon, France, Interpol is the world's largest international police organization, with 186 member countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime. Interpol aims to facilitate international police co-operation even where diplomatic relations do not exist between particular countries. Action is taken within the limits of existing laws in different countries and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Interpol's constitution prohibits 'any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.'

What they sound like: Look, it's not like I so much hate their music... they're an okay band. I just hate everything else about them. Especially Carlos "I wanna be a" D.-J. I've seen better wedding DJs. Go get hit by a bus, poser. And get a hair cut before you do, you Crispin Glover wanna-be look-alike.

Interpol - Next Exit

What I think: Fuck Interpol :P

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The Kooks

Who they are: A band from Brighton, UK. I've actually been there. Right on the English Channel. Neat place, and site of Fatboy's Slim's famous Big Beach Boutique parties.

What they sound like: Pretty much straight-ahead rock. Hooky, catchy stuff.

The Kooks - Ooh La

What I think: Kinda "meh", but sometimes these bands do surprise by putting on a fun, enthusiastic show. I remember Razorlight a couple of years ago. Never heard of 'em, wouldn't think twice about seeing 'em if I had... but ended up at their set and enjoyed it very much because they were great performers and really got the crowd into it...

Have a fantastic weekend!

Blog-achella '07 - Hot Chip (Sat.) / Infected Mushroom (Sun.)

You know, I think I'm right about at the halfway mark now... whew...

Hot Chip

Who they are: A London band signed to James Murphy's DFA Records (always a sign on quality) who have been darlings of the blog-o-sphere for over a year now. Thing is, unlike most of the (and I'm about to invent a sweet acronym right now) DOTBOS (eh? eh? scha-weeeeet!), these guys are actually quite good. Case in point: Deerhoof = DOTBOS. Yup, Deerhoof even gets some scorn a whole year later. Feel the pain, Deerhoof!

What they sound like: It's like white boy nerd funk, which sounds kinda lame but it's pretty fitting. Much like Junior Boys and Fujiya & Miyagi. Hold on now, did I just invent a sub-genre as well? Fuck, I'm good!

Hot Chip - Over And Over

What I think: I like these guys, and the other two bands I just mentioned, quite a bit, but that's probably because I'm a nerdy white boy who is sometimes funky :P Hot Chip also dabble in the remixing with some good results... you may want to hit up Hype Machine and look for their mix of Amy Winehouse's "Rehab"...

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Infected Mushroom

Who they are: A trance act (huh? they still have trance?) from Israel (oh, that explains it - I can't remember why, but I know that for some reason trance has always been big in Israel. Anyone care to enlighten me?)

What they sound like: Trancetrancetrancetrancetrancetrancetrancetrancetrance. The hard kind. I did manage to find a "slower" song that is actually not too bad to listen to, though...

Infected Mushroom - Elation Station

What I think: It would be pretty hypocritical of me to poo-poo the trance in a kneejerk fashion, since I started in the electronic music by going to Moontribe parties, so let's just say... I'm a bit too old too for, um... this...



PLUR, bitches!