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| Coachella 2011 |
For many artists, Coachella is an opportunity to move from a cult following to a large audience. For example, in 2005 Arcade Fire played a knockout set one sunny afternoon on a side venue; now they’ll close the Saturday night show on the main stage. The Black Keys first played Coachella in 2004; now they have a prime spot on the main stage on Friday night.
This year’s lineup glows with quality. Here are seven artists who are likely to impress:
Beardyman is a London-based old-school master of the beatbox – using the human voice to make a variety of rockin’ dance sounds including percussion, bass and melodic instruments. He’s a skilled comedian and mimic too, and much more than a novelty act: When he loops his voice and adds music from his turntables to his act, he creates a seamless flow and the sensation of funk and reggae bands at play. “I Done a Album,” his new disk, showcases his full repertoire.
Glasser is the name under which Cameron Mesirow performs her ethereal experimental music featuring her thrilling voice, which rings flawlessly whether she’s singing a cappella or above layers of charming electronic sounds. With traces of Björk and Shara Worden in her blend, she impressed at the recent South by Southwest Festival – the live EP of one of Glasser’s appearance at SXSW available on iTunes bears witness how well she performed in Austin. The bet is Mesirow will do just as well during her early evening set on Saturday.
Cee-Lo Green is already a star – witness his recent Grammy appearance in which he was dolled up in feathers to sing with the Muppets and Gwyneth Paltrow as well as his role on “The Voice,” NBC’s forthcoming singing contest. But he’s also a very fine R&B vocalist whose 2010 album “The Lady Killer” was overshadowed by the hit single now known as “Forget You.” Soul and R&B is in short supply at Coachella, which means Cee-Lo can turn the main stage into a funky club.
The New York City-based Scissor Sisters have some influential fans – count Bono and Elton John among them – and their retro dance music is wildly popular in the U.K., but less so at home. They go at about midnight on Saturday night and are likely to prove their slinky blend of glam rock, disco and pop is the ideal soundtrack for a party, even in a tent in the desert.
Phosphorescent is the stage name of Alabama-born Matthew Houck, who makes rootsy alt-country that suits perfectly his Sunday-at-12:15 p.m. set time. As his 2010 album “Here’s to Taking it Easy” (Dead Oceans) demonstrates, Houck writes and sings gentle folk rock ballads that will soothe an early-rising audience.
One of most engaging proponents of the new, wild mix of bass-heavy electronica, dubstep and pop, Skrillex’s late 2010 EP “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” is a wall-rattling, head-spinning joy. Though he’s only 23 years old, he’s a veteran of punk bands, including a stint as a guitarist in From First to Last, and his diverse experience shows in his music, which will rock the Sahara dance tent on Friday afternoon.
Warpaint, a quartet from Los Angeles, has been at building an audience since 2004, and during that time has refined their lo-fi sound to a moody, downtempo mist that recalls Portishead, Cocteau Twins and other atmospheric groups. Their brooding music seems in conflict with a late-afternoon set in the Friday sun, but they’re on against Cee-Lo and the indie rock band the Morning Benders, so they may serve as an oasis for concertgoers looking to chill before night arrives.
