Coachella, Day One: Ghostland and the Presets Steal The Show.....Until They're Forced To Hand It Back

So by this point, everyone knows that Paul McCartney came and conquered. He played for nearly 3 hours, and gave me an experience I never fully thought through until it actually happened. But we'll get there.....

LOS CAMPESINOS!

The first act I caught was Los Campesinos!, whom, as I predicted, delivered the sleeper set of Friday afternoon. Unlike my prediction, however, they pulled a surprisingly large crowd, especially considering they played the smallest tent. People were pouring out of every exit, and dancing like jackasses to the big British band, who overcame minor technical gaffes to start the weekend in grand fashion.

WHITE LIES

Well hot damn. These guys came to play. Of all the bands I nominated before as future headliners, White Lies' star seemed to shine brightest. It was by no means a perfect set, but these guys showcased that indelible X factor that some bands never attain - the rock star charisma. Frontman Harry McVeigh's voice was spellbinding, and the band somehow managed to take songs that could be considered high school goth poetry in the wrong hands, and delivered them with feverish aplomb. With one solid radio hit, these guys could snowball into a very big deal in the US, much as they've begun to overseas. And if you've written them off as another Joy Division clone, listen again. There's a lot more going on here.

CRYSTAL CASTLES

Well, they brought the crazy all right. But not entirely the good kind, especially after all the backstage gossip got sorted out. In a move that echoed their much-discussed cancelled gig in Texas last week, Crystal Castles pulled some seriously diva-esque behavior, refusing to come onstage until at least half an hour past their scheduled set time, then refusing to leave once they had run way over time (don't get me wrong.....I'm being a partial hypocrite here, if you read my Sunday re-cap, but whatever). That said, the show was pretty nuts, with lots of microphone smashing, strangling and general debauchery to go around. But besides not playing "Vanished", there seemed to be something missing to the overall performance. The energy was there, but it was a drugged out, soulless kind of energy. And overall a great time was had watching these two do their thing, and I seemed to like them a bit more than most of the other folks I spoke with did, but I just couldn't wash the weird aftertaste of it all from my mouth. Maybe it was the news of their backstage antics that got to me, but something just seemed a tad off.

GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY

After all the raves i'd heard about their live show, it really shouldn't surprise me that this was the best (non-Paul) full show that I saw all Friday, but somehow these guys snuck up on me. First of all: I'm certainly no rave kid, but the 3-D lasers Ghostland Observatory used were enough to make me wanna stare at them all night in a pretend-drug stupor. Honestly, words can't describe how cool these things were. Other than having the festival's best special effects, the Austin, TX duo also had the stage presence of demented Lewis Carrol characters, and had the crowd flat-out dumbfounded. For the uninitiated, they didn't know quite what to make of it all, but they sure liked it. There's no one moment for me to single out as the best of the show, but they all blended together for one hell of a party. Here's a small taste of the madness:

GIRL TALK

After a nice detour back to the Mojave tent for some of Beirut's set (as well as walking by the outdoor theatre just in time to hear Mr. Cohen's glorious "Hallelujah"), it was right back to the Sahara again for the next set, which damn near came close to matching the power of Ghostland, using only the power of two laptops. Seriously, if anyone missed this set just because they thought it'd be lame to watch a DJ at a concert festival, they missed out, because it turns out that the dude is just as skilled at putting together awesome visuals as he is at arranging mash-ups. The show began with Mr. Gillis onstage, surrounded by inflatable cacti and a football style inflatable entrance ramp, shaped like a dark figure with glowing eyes. As soon as the music started, the entrance exploded with what looked to be 100 or so white, rhinestone-covered revelers, who surrounded the DJ for the whole set, dancing their asses off and suitably hyping up the crowd (alas, Ms. Paris Hilton did not make a return appearance, like she did in '07). Gillis even managed to work in a psuedo-encore, and finished off with the best exit I saw all weekend. To catch a quick, Cloverfield-style glimpse into the chaos, click below. And believe me, it was even more fun in there than it looks:



btw.........here's a hilariously well-timed "part two" that I just found, from one of the onstage revelers. Seriously, it picks up almost exactly where the one above leaves off:

PAUL McCARTNEY

There's really not much to say that hasn't been said. I began watching his set fairly deep in the crowd, and once I got over the kick of seeing him out there, I honestly got a tad restless, and decided to check out The Presets' set back in the Sahara. As amazing as that show turned out to be (what I saw of it anyway), I realized it was time to get back. And obviously, it was. Two songs into my return, he delivered the emotional words about Linda, and took his set to the next level. It was fairly easy to move right near the front for the rest of the show, as nostalgia melted away to living, breathing rock glory. Anything slightly off the beaten path that you'd want him to play ("Get Back"), he did. Stuff you'd never dream he'd play ("GIve Peace A Chance"?!) he did. The pyro on "Live and Let Die" was amazing. Hearing "Blackbird" as an acoustic solo was even better. The second encore was so beautiful that it seemed to go by in 30 seconds. Being there, especially alongside fans who were old enough to have seen him in his original band, was the sort of experience that you just can't fully describe. It was a chance to see songs that, 50 years from now, will be as timeless as church hymns, sung by their creator, with all the spirit he had when he first wrote them. It was an emotional night, and one that no one in the crowd will ever forget. Unfortunately, it also set the bar rather high for the weekend, and everyone I talked to was convinced Saturday and Sunday would be anticlimactic affairs. Lucky for us, that wouldn't be true at all, as the weekend had many more memories in store......albeit slightly different kinds of memories than those found on Friday. But we'll get to that.

TOP FIVE MOMENTS FROM FRIDAY:

5. Los Campesinos End Their Set With "Sweet Dreams, Sweetheart".....With A Broken Guitar



After Noah's gutiar fails him, Garreth takes over and goes apeshit, scaling a vast array of surfaces within a very short period of time. Now that's the way to send a crowd home happy. Or just make them happy, since no one was planning to go home at 5:00 on Friday.

4. Girl Talk's Exit



OMFG, to the max.

3. Leonard Cohen - "Hallelujah" (even from the back of the crowd)



Yeah. I walked by the Outdoor Theatre at the right freakin' time.

2. The Presets - "This Boy's In Love"



Like I said, I caught a solid 20 min of Beirut, as well as two Leonard Cohen songs and about ten minutes of whatever the hell kind of party NASA was throwing. But the slice I saw that had me jones-ing most for the full set was the 20 minutes or so I saw of The Presets, which was closing out the Sahara tent as McCartney burned off his newer tracks. Everything I saw was spectacular, but once I'd heard "This Boy's in Love" and "My People", I knew I could walk away somewhat satisfied. If the rest of the set matched what I saw, I totally buy into the rumors that these guys stole the tent scene for the whole weekend. It was that good. Too bad they were opposite a living legend. PS: Sorry the song cuts off right when it's getting good, but videos of this performance have been slow to leak.

1. Paul McCartney's Entire Second Encore



Okay, so this is just the first song. But you get the idea.

And that's it for Friday. Check back soon for Sat/Sun.

Just Got Back From Coachella.....

......so tired. Full review of the weekend coming up, but here are some quick thoughts:

1. Can it still be considered "stealing the show" when you're a headliner? All three days were great, but Paul McCartney, The Cure, and (surprise!) even The Killers were in a league of their own.

2. How anyone beyond the barricade endured the 14+ minute (not joking) single chord of distortion from My Bloody Valentine is nothing short of a miracle.

3. Do you really need to take so many pictures? Get your camera the fuck out of my view, please.

4. Vick's Vabo-Rub is a versatile product.

5. Oh yeah......and The Cure played for over 3 and a half hours. Then on their THIRD encore, after having their sound cut, then lights, they kept singing. By this point, the crowd was a small joke of what it had been 3 and a half hours earlier, but it was one of the most badass rock moments I've ever been a part of.....thank you, Mr. Smith. You are a new hero to me.

6. I'm tired. No, really. Good night.

How to Be a Poser at Coachella (Like Me)

So you've decided to go to Coachella this year. But beyond the Killers, that dude from the Beatles and that M.I.A. song with the guns, you have no idea what the hell's going on (sorry for the condescension, music fans, but as this doubles as an LA blog, you'll have to bear with me). Here's a cheat sheet to help you verbally spar with the skinny-jeans hipsters debating whether to do blow & dance to Crystal Castles or do bi-curiosity & dance to Franz Ferdinand (before going full gay for Morrissey, of course). Anyway, snide jokes aside, here's a quick guide to some of this weekend's highlights......

-Most Anticipated Acts I've Never Seen Live-

1. Crystal Castles (Friday)



The 8-bit rockers' live show has become awfully notorious over the last couple years, and I for one can't wait to see the big guns they'll pull out for Coachella. They command the Sahara tent on Friday, and whatever happens onstage (or in the crowd, for that matter), will undoubtedly be the talk of the night. In other words: these two are fucking crazy, and you don't wanna miss whatever they're gonna do.

2. TV On The Radio (Saturday)

Both times I finally got around to realizing they were playing LA, it was too late to buy tickets, and I didn't much feel like blowing a lot of $$$ to scalpers. So this will be a long time coming for me.

3. Lykke Li (Sunday)



Swooooooooonnnn!!!!!

-Acts That Just Might Headline In A Few Years-

1. White Lies (Friday)

The festival's most controversial young act might be these British upstarts, who are seen by some as a 21st century Tears for Fears/Depeche Mode hybrid, and by others as a Killers knockoff. Their act is worth seeing on Friday, if only to discover if they deliver on the hype, or crumble under the pressure of their biggest stage yet. Based off their killer set at the Viper Room a few months ago, I'd bet on the former.


2. Fleet Foxes (Saturday)

The fact that, barely over a year since the band released its first EP, these guys are playing the festival's second biggest stage, is a testament to their massive talent. If they keep up at this rate, they may be headlining come album #2.


3. No Age (Sunday)

So maybe they won't be headlining til they're the X or Throbbing Gristle-style fringe nostalgia act twenty years in the future, but considering they're one of the hottest (and most influential) acts in the rock right now, you don't wanna miss these guys.

-Fuck it. Let's Just Cut to My Recommended Schedule-

Friday:


Let's be honest, you'll probably be stuck in traffic the vast majority of the day, so if all else fails, make sure you catch Los Campesinos! in the Gobi tent at 4:20. The crowds should be relatively thin, as the more popular bar band is playing one tent away, but believe me when I say these guys have more to prove than The Hold Steady, and will almost certainly put on the crazier show. From there, White Lies play the Mojave tent at 5:20, though if you're already one of their detractors, you can go directly to the Sahara for the Ting Tings. Get comfortable, because this is gonna be the best spot on the field for the next few hours, with Crystal Castles at 6:40, Ghostland Observatory at 7:50, and Girl Talk at 9:00. Of course, if dance music isn't your thing, catching Franz Ferdinand, Leonard Cohen and Morrissey on the big stages aren't the worst ways to spend a Friday night. Either way, it goes without saying that Paul McCartney at 10:00 might just be a popular draw.

Saturday:


Let's be even more honest than we were on Friday: there's nothing worth running to early on in the day, so I'd recommend hitting up a pool party instead (between Adidas, Dim Mak and Guy's House, you're sure to find at least one that's fun). Dr. Dog is the first solid act of the day, but things won't really heat up til TV On the Radio takes the main stage at 6:25, unfortunately scheduled against Glasvegas, but that's how it goes. Wander next door to Fleet Foxes at 7:25, but don't stray too far, as M.I.A. goes on at 8:55. In another tough choice, she's scheduled against Band of Horses, but if you've seen Fleet Foxes already, well.....then you've already kind of seen Band of Horses, so it's cool. Finally, love them or hate them, the Killers should put on one hell of a show at 10:25. If there's any time left, catch the tail end of Gang Gang Dance in the Gobi tent and try not to get a contact high on the way in.

Sunday:



Finally........it's time to sweat it out all day long. Begin your Sunday by rocking the fuck out to Vivian Girls at 12:45, No Age at 1:45, and Fucked Up at 2:50, all in the Mojave tent. Feel free to stick around for the Brian Jonestown Massacre to see who gets kicked in the head, but Lykke Li performs at the Outdoor Theatre at 4:05, then Antony and the Johnsons perform right after at 5:25. Suddenly (thanks to their brilliant 3rd LP) Sunday's buzziest act, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, go on the main stage at 6:15, followed by My Bloody Valentine at 7:50 and the Cure at 9:25, if you've got the energy left. The Kills and the Horrors are really the only other acts worth seeing, but by that point, if you're not somebody's biggest fan, chances are you'll be speeding back to Hollywood. And with all that said, I'll see you this weekend....and I'll be back with my review next week.....along with, possibly, a little help from a friend. You'll see what I mean.......so there you have it. Enjoy your weekend, and don't take too many drugs, or you could wind up hanging out with THESE GIRLS:

White Lies - "Death" (Crystal Castles remix) (zshare download)

The Killers - "Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself" (Morrissey cover) (zshare download)

Ghostland Observatory vs Michael Jackson - "Scream" (Dave Wrangler remix) (zshare download)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Zero" (Animal Collective remix) (zshare download)

You Fucking Crashed Me!

So it's been a while since the last post, thanks to the fact that too many people downloaded songs the other week. Like, 100 fucking GB worth of people within five days(that's a lot). While this surge in popularity is good for the site, it also means my fileden account is dunzo until my bandwidth resets in 16 days. In the meantime, there may be major hiccups with previewing songs directly on Shark Party, but rest assured you can still download them all the same. You just have to click DIRECTLY on the link now, preview the song @ Z-Share, then download from there.

---------------Song of the Week-----------------


Chiddy Bang - "Kids"





Right off the bat, here's the song of the week, from 4 Philly college FRESHMEN named Chiddy Bang (already after my heart with that title), with a re-working of the MGMT smash that's obvious on paper, but absolute genius in execution. I could describe it further, but best to let the guys speak for themselves:


Chiddy Bang Video Podcast #1 from Chiddy Bang on Vimeo.


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Wale feat Lady Gaga - "Chillin"







Yes, I know that's not Lady Gaga with him, but at this point, is there a difference (besides talent)?. Plus it's just fucking hilarious. Anyway......next up is Wale, a rapper from DC who's been making some moves on the underground hip-hop scene for the past 3 years. The sample he uses is a bit more traditional than an MGMT track, but it's one I'm flat out shocked hasn't been used to this degree before. Hopefully the suddenly-high-profile guest he got will help push Wale to the next level, because he's talented enough to deserve some new fans.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - "Adult Friction"






Well it took a few months, but we finally have the year's first bona-fide breakthrough band in New York's Pains of Being Pure At Heart. Sounding like The Smiths, Belle & Sebastian, Black Tambourine and even Jesus & Mary Chain slapped together and put in a blender with extra fuzz, the band's self-titled debut has been out since February, and already lit up radio and the blogs in a fiery frenzy. The sound isn't particularly new (especially to the West Coast, where noise-pop acts like Deerhoof have been going strong for a while), but the melodies are beautiful, and all the elements combine in a lovely, unexpected kind of way. If they keep up at this rate, they may well find themselves crossing over to the mainstream, as indie mainstays Grizzly Bear and Phoenix finally seem to be doing. This is good, since considering the state of pop music (that new Black Eyed Peas atrocity; that Keri Hilson song that won't fucking die; whoever the hell is sampling Eifel 65 and vomiting that "lips like sugar" chorus on top of it), the mainstream could definitely use more bands like this one.

So Dance We All

So the Battlestar finale was the best finale ever, and if you disagree, well then you're just crazy. That said, it was pretty heavy-handed, so for those in need of a frakkin' pick me up (I never said I wasn't a nerd), check out some of the best dance tracks released this month:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Zero" (disabled)




Okay, so know how I said that, despite it being my favorite song of '09 so far, I wasn't gonna post this one, since it's flooded the internet so thoroughly? Well, apparently, my friends are not the hype machine geeks that I am, as a couple complained that I only posted the video link. So here it is.

Phoenix - "1901" (disabled)




Moving on, here's the first single off Phoenix's new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The French electropop group made waves in the US a few years ago with the single, "Everything is Everything", but have since re-appeared with an album brimming with artistry that, quite frankly, I wouldn't have pegged them with. Every track that's leaked so far has been a breath of fresh air, but the official first single remains my favorite of the bunch.

Roy G and the Biv - "Runnin"





So yes, I do occasionally check my e-mail. Not often, but it happens. I've been burned too many times by PR folks shoving mediocrity down my throat, and as a result, I've become painfully lazy at posting new artists who get directly pitched to the site. The cleverly named Roy G and the Biv (look it up), who hail from deep down in the heart of Texas are proof enough that I should change this practice. Their music recalls fellow Texan dance duo Ghostland Observatory, except they're decidedly more accessible. They also recall Australian duo Empire of the Sun, except they're decidedly grittier, with a host of rock and soul vibes spicing up the bleeps and bloops. By all accounts, their SXSW sets were a damn good time, so I'm looking forward to seeing them venture out West. For a look at their greater catalogue, check out their Myspace HERE. In the meantime, enjoy the new single.

----------------------------Song of the Week---------------------------

Asher Roth - "Lark on My Go Kart"< (disabled)/a>




So Mr. Roth becomes the first artist to get "Song of the Week" status twice on the site, and it's actually for good reason. True, since I posted "The Reading" a couple months ago, he's blown the fuck up with the omnipresent (and yeah, kind of obnoxious) "I Love College", but lest any true hip hop fan doubt his skills, he returns now with some of the best rhymes I've heard in a long time, referencing Mario Kart, 30 Rock and lonely MILFs in one casual breath, backed by equally inventive
production. If his debut LP veers in this direction, and away from fluff like "College" (not that there's not a place for that too), we could have a serious contender on our hands. PS: he locked this shit up for me as soon as he mentioned Razor Ramon.
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Under Construction (In Real Life, That Is)

Still no working computer............still settling into the new place........but nontheless, Shark Party continues. Hopefully in a couple weeks the dust will officially settle, but until then, enjoy some of the best new tracks on the net that aren't Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Royksopp or Grizzly Bear. All three bands have had albums leak in the last month, and all three are fucking amazing, specifically Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Of course, every blogger and their mother has already pillaged them, and posted the tracks up for all to hear, so there's no need for me to join the fray.


Instead, simply click HERE to check out the best track of '09 so far. Now, onto other stuff....

Kid Cudi - Dat New New (VIKING remix)





Kid Cudi capitolized off his 808s & Heartbreak spot with more Kanye-approved solo stuff in 09, quickly building a cult following. More than that, he's effortlessly crossed over to the indie rock crowd by writing songs that don't sound complete until they get slick electro-remixes. Such was the case with Crooker's version of "Day & Night", and such is even more the case with his second "net single", as remixed by VIKING. Here a spare, simple beat gets transformed into a monster of a club banger.

Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone



Speaking of bangers, Mr. Calvin Harris is back with a track that's suddenly competing with Royksopp for most played club track around. By all accounts, I should already be sick of it, but I actually find myself enjoying it more with each listen.

------------------------Song of the Week---------------------------------


Kelly Clarkson - "I Do Not Hook Up"





I know what you're thinking. First post in weeks, and my song of the week is a Kelly Clarkson track? Well, whatever. It's easily Clarkson's best pop ditty since "Since U Been Gone", which means in a few months (when it's undoubtedly released as the second single), it'll be the pop song that's cool for all the hipsters to say they "secretly love". I'm just getting a head start on that love. And for the American Idol fans on here (and I know there's a cross-section....), the song is co-written by new judge Kara DioGuardi, in case you were starting to doubt her credentials (I'll ignore the fact that she originally penned it for a Katy Perry demo). Not only is this a great pop song on its own, but with Clarkson at the helm, the power chorus gets lifted into the stratusphere, and the ra-ra-girl-power message is infectious, rather than obnoxious. And again, hate all you want in the comments, but I know this is going to get twice as many downloads as anything else I posted today.

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Cryptacize - "Tail & Mane"





Chris Cohen, ex-guitarist of Party faves Deerhoof, has been brought on board the new band Cryptacize, recently approved by Mr. Sufjan Stevens and signed to his Asthmatic Kitty record label. Suf's praise is well warrented: just when you thought Gypsy pop was a dead trend, they revive it anew in a thoroughly untrendy way. Get ready to hear a lot more of these guys.

Dropkick Murphys - State of Massachusetts



Finally, here's the theme song to my new television guilty pleasure, MTV's Nitro Circus. If you haven't seen it, it's basically the de-evolution of Jackass, but watching it will undoubtedly make you feel better about your own life. And the theme song is fucking awesome, brah!

Hot Covers 2: Guilty Pleasure Edition

A whole lot of music news has gone down in the past week, most notably the Coachella line-up, which panned out pretty much like everyone thought it would (including headlining slots from The Killers and Sir Paul), minus an unnecessary reunion or two, and plus the inexplicable addition of Amy Winehouse, which at the very least is a major gamble on the part of the promoters. Overall, it's a great opportunity for me to see a bunch of major bands that I've missed seeing live so far: like TV On the Radio, Fleet Foxes, White Lies and Hercules & Love Affair Between now and April, expect to see lots of the lesser known acts featured here, but for now........I'm in the mood for some covers. And some slightly guilty ones at that.

Corin Joel - "I Kissed A Girl"




First up is a spectacular, soulful re-working of one of 2008's most souless corporate creations. Virtually nothing is known about Delaware's Corin Joel. He has no website, no wiki, and a grand total of about 370 friends on Myspace. But after churning out a magic trick like this, it's doubtful this is the last we'll hear from him, especially if that magic carries over into songwriting.

John Mayer - "Kid A"





On the flip side, we have the case of a generally mediocre talent spinning a classic song.....and (blasphemy!) actually improving it. I know, I know: let the hate mail pour in, but if John Mayer's done one good thing with his spotty, fame-whorish career, it's this cover right here. How does he improve it? Well, you can finally make out Thom Yorke's lyrics, for one. And somehow, by stripping away the reverb and fancy sound effects, and leaving a voice and guitar, the song sounds even bleaker. Most shocking of all is the fact that once it's over, you realize Mayer does in fact have a spark of talent inside him. If it ever gets re-ignited, I promise I'll post notice right here. **NOTE: Apparently you'll have to put even more faith into this than I first thought. For some (coughbloggercodesucksafatcockcough) reason, you can't preview this one on the player, so you'll have to click the link & download it to hear for yourself.

Jukebox the Ghost - "Beautiful Life"





Friday night, Jukebox the Ghost plays a very special show at the Natural History Museum with The Bird and the Bee. If you weren't at their very first LA show a few months ago, make sure to catch them, as they're one hell of a live act. And if you were there, then I probably don't have to convince you very hard. If nothing else, go there just to tell your friends and family you spent your Friday night at a museum, lest they think you're growing uncultured. Of course, if you enjoy drinking alcohol while watching live music, you might prefer to see them tomorrow night at Three of Clubs. The Hollywood lounge should serve as a pretty small venue for a band that just got done headlining an East Coast tour, so check 'em out then if creepy intimacy is your thing. (shoot me an email before tomorrow to get pointed towards the guestlist). Of course, in fitting with the theme today, the band's been known to bust out a great cover or two.

Hot Chip - "Transmission"




Hot Chip is awesome, and so is this cover, especially on repeat listens. Where does the whole "guilty pleasure" thing play into this, you ask? Well I suppose it doesn't really, except that in my book, Joy Division is sacred ground, and anyone who tries to cover them is generally doomed from the start. But add this to Tiger Baby's far guiltier cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (they turn it into a dance track, after all) as one of the few to succeed. It's slower, muted, and even more isolating than the original, and while it certainly can't top Ian Curtis' classic, it's a fine new take, and another notch in Hot Chip's already impressive belt.

Andrew WK - "Never Let Down"





Finally, here's one that's not a cover, but certainly anks up with my favorite "guilty pleasure" tracks of all time. In honor of his new television show, here's my good friend and yours, Mr. Andrew WK. Oh, and I put "guilty pleasure" in quotes, because when a song's this fucking awesome, how much guilt can you really feel about liking it? Also, Mr. WK once wrote me a very special letter to guide me on my journey through NYU. True story. This guy is awesome.