Coachella Preview

So the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, CA is coming up this weekend, but unfortunately I'm stuck on the other side of the country here in Boston. It's quite a travesty--this year's line-up includes several of my favorite bands and many more that I would love to see. However, I don't have a free instantaneous teleportation device, so I'll write about several of the acts instead. Regardless if you're attending these three days of music under the desert sun, you should check the following bands/songs out:

Atoms for Peace - "Black Swan": Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke's Atoms for Peace band is the big headliner Sunday night. The group also features Flea and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. Expect to hear brooding, electronic tinged cuts from Yorke's solo album "The Eraser" as well as the multitude of new songs Yorke has been constantly revealing during his recent shows.

Baroness - "Jake Leg": Baroness, one of the few metal bands at this year's festival, has experienced a meteoric rise over the past year with the release of the "Blue Record." Following in the path of stoner-metal giants Mastodon, Baroness's heavy, psychedelic guitar riffs appeal to headbangers and those who usually avoid the mosh pit alike. Singer/lead guitarist John Baizley's neolithic roar and sinuous solos fill out dense, progressive arrangements.

RX Bandits - "My Lonesome Only Friend": I know I posted about these guys yesterday, but RX Bandits are a band you simply need to see live. Their songs bounce about from thrashy punk to danceable ska grooves to dual guitar solos that could put Dragonforce to shame. Overall, an incredibly fun and original group.

Porcupine Tree - "Trains": Playing right after RX Bandits at the Outdoor Theatre on Saturday, Porcupine Tree are one of today's reigning progressive rock bands. I know they probably hate this comparison, but they're pretty much the modern day Pink Floyd, capable of creating incredibly beautiful, melancholic soundscapes. They're not afraid to occasionally get heavy as well.

Dirty Projectors - "Stillness is the Move": Last year, Dirty Projectors released "Bitte Orca" to rave reviews, and it's no wonder why. I can't think of any other band to compare their sound to, a true testament to the Projectors' originality. The group is anchored by mastermind David Longstreth's warbling falsetto crooning and off-kilter, angular guitar lines. Constantly changing rhythms and the three part harmonies of Amber Coffman, Angel Deradoorian, and Haley Deckle blend together to create weirdly beautiful songs.

Check out the full lineup here.