Swedish House Mafia

Who's going to save the world Friday night at Coachella? I fully expect it to be these guys. The boys from Swedish House Mafia are taking over Coachella once again. Steve Angello, Axwell, and Sebastian Ingrosso make up the electronic dance music trio from Sweden. All three DJ's/ producers are highly respected in the dance community, which makes it easy to see why their collaborations are so good. And all three members placed in DJ Mag's Top 100, which is even more of a testament to how talented they are. They are playing on Friday of Coachella. You can follow them on Twitter and Facebook. Happy Days!

Justice

We will continue with the Ed Banger theme, and take a look at the heavyweight of the group. Justice was one of the first groups that got me into EDM a few years back. No, I cannot say I have liked EDM for as long as some people, and you can call me a newbie, but these really got me into it. I remember sitting in my college dorm room, and my buddy put on D.A.N.C.E., and it was just this electro-funk orgasm to the ears. Justice stole my heart I guess you could say. Their style is so funky and upbeat, similar to Ed Banger associates Breakbot, and SebastiAn, but on a whole other level. I was able to see Justice in '09, at Hard Haunted Mansion. One of the best nights in my life, I'm sure a few friends can attest to that. So they hold a special place in my music heart. The guys from France really helped pave the way to make EDM what it is in 2012. Everybody wants to talk about how Skrillex won a Grammy (I know he won three, which is awesome, and congrats to him) but everyone fails to realize that Justice won a Grammy in '09 for their remix of "Electric Feel" by MGMT. They will be playing on Sunday, and as with most of the artists, you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Don't forget to D.A.N.C.E.

SebastiAn

Another artist from the Ed Banger Record group is bringing his French electro beats to Coachella. SebastiAn's sounds have that Ed Banger feel to it, but with his own unique style. It almost sounds like a new age disco-funk. Not only does he produce for himself, but he has done production for artists such as Kavinsky, and Uffie. He also has done some acting as well. The man is multi-talented. He will be playing on Friday, so check him out.

Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg

La da da da da, it's the motherfuckin' D-O- Double G. La da da da da you know he's rappin' with the D-R-E, at Coachella that is. The West Coast's rap kings are blessing us with their gangsta beats, and dope rhymes this year, and we couldn't be anymore stoked. These two hip hop legends have defined the game for more than two decades now. Dr. Dre was most notable back in the day, for his work with NWA, but then his solo career took off. Dre brought Snoop into the scene back in the early 90's, when Snoop was still a young buck, crippin' his way through the hood. Ever since then, their collaborations have been musical gold. Dre is also an amazing producer, and the Chronic 2001 is definitely one of the Top 3 rap albums of all time. He has also produced albums for Snoop, Eminem, 50 Cent, and others. The man is a true entrepreneur. Just when we thought Coachella couldn't get any more better, they bring in an act like this. If you like rap, or know anything about rap, pay some respect to the legends. Ain't Nothin' But A G Thang Baby, so break your sticky greens out, and get ready for the top doggs. They will be playing on Sunday, and you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Over and Out.

Pulp

Formed in 1978, Pulp is an alternative rock group hailing from Britain. Their alternative rock, post-punk, and Britpop sound took a while to catch on at first, but then the 1990s came and brought along success and recognition for the band. They continued to release albums and hits until 2002, then decided to take an extended hiatus. When Pulp left the scene they had sold more than 10 million records, and left fans heartbroken around the globe. But in 2010 they announced that Jarvis Cocker, Candida Doyle, Mark Webber, Steve Mackey, Nick Banks, and Russel Senior would be getting back together in 2011 and play an assortment of festivals. Lucky we are once more to be able to see the band performing at Coachella this year, where they will play on Friday, April 13th and 20th. Their songs are full of spunk to keep your body moving and your energy flowing, and their look is one that can't be beat. Hope you're all excited, because Pulp is going to put on one hell of a show!

To learn more check out their website or Wiki page, and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace!

Calvin Harris

Born Adam Richard Wiles in Scotland, Calvin Harris sings, writes, produces, and DJs some of the most popular songs of our time. His first album, I Created Disco, debuted in 2007 and ended up a gold-seller. He since hasn't shown any signs of stopping and has proven to take the EDM world be storm. His electropop, electro house, nudisco, and synthpop songs are party favorites and really get the dance floor packed. His voice is pure and his songs are incredibly fun. Many of them could be considered EDM-style anthems such as "Bounce," "You Used To Hold Me," and "We Found Love." And if you've ever heard one of his mixes on BBC, you know that we are to expect a high-energy and amazing show from him at Coachella. Harris will be gracing us with his skills on Sunday, April 15th and 22nd. Along with creating success of his own, he has also helped Kylie Minogue, Rhianna ("We Found Love"), and Dizzee Rascal.

To learn and listen more go check out his website, page on Wiki, and follow him on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

Amon Tobin

Now I know that watching an almost 14 minute video seems a little over the top, but once you get absorbed into the one above, there's no turning back, or off. Amon Tobin, born Amon Adonai Santos de Araujo Tobin is a Brazilian born musician, composer, and producer, and is the master mind behind the cubic viewing pleasure used to present his latest album, ISAM. He is considered to be one of the most influential people in the EDM scene to date, and has released several albums under the Ninja Tune record label. His accomplishments range from creating music for independent films, major motion pictures, anime, and video games, and the list of instruments he knows how to play is twice as long. A true musical talent is in Amon Tobin, as well as a revolutionary mind for creation and presentation. The prime example being his live show for the ISAM album. If you didn't watch long enough to notice, he is performing from inside one of the cubes! Tobin's goal with the show was to integrate himself literally into the presentation of the music, which he accomplished with great success. Tobin is legendary and is sure to deliver on our expectations at Coachella 2012, where he will be blowing our minds on Friday, April 13th and 20th!

Learn more on his website, Wiki page, and follow on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace!

At The Drive-In

Rockers rejoice!! At The Drive-In, active from 1993-2001, has announced (in January) their long awaited reunion and will be rocking our faces off this year at Coachella! From El Paso, Texas, this post-hardcore rock band is coming back to bring the noise. Known for putting on energetic shows that make you feel like you're in the 80's, ATDI blends unpredictable shifts, rhythms, guitar melodies, and lyrics that make your head spin (in the best way possible, of course). In 2001 the band was involved in a serious car accident, and their tour bus ended up on its roof. While none of the members were seriously injured physically, they were left shaken. Following the accident, the band walked off stage during a show in Sydney after the concert attendees refused to listen when asked to mind the safety rules and stop moshing. From there, things continued to get harder for the band, and their problems surfaced further. They ended up breaking up in February of 2001 due to artistic differences, exhaustion, and the negative impact of drug habits. But now Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Jim Ward, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Paul Hinojos, and Tony Hajjar are older and have put their past differences aside. Which means, once again, we can consider ourselves lucky, since we get to see their first reunion show! (Which is likely to consist of much more than their songs from 11 years ago!) Get ready my festi friends, for we are due to see a show that I doubt anyone will want to forget! ATDI will be performing at Coachella 2012 on Sunday, April 15th and 22nd.

To learn more about ATDI, go to their website, read about them on Wiki, and follow them along on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace!

Nero

Straight out of the UK, Nero offers some heavy dubstep beats, with roots that sound like they come from a hardcore rock band. Consisting of two members, Daniel Stephens and Joseph Ray, they know how to bring the noise. Music have been part of their entire lives, with Ray playing classical guitar, and Stephens playing cello since an early age. When they were 17, they set up a studio in Stephens' bedroom, and the rest is history. Nero is one of my favorites in the dubstep game right now, their beats are full of life, and really get you pumped up. They are playing on Sunday, and you follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Happy Dubsteppin' people!

http://soundcloud.com/nero-essential-mix/nero-essential-mix-bbc-radio-1-sat-11-13-2010

Afrojack

Nick van de Wall is one of the biggest Dutch house producers in the EDM scene right now. From the Netherlands, and only 24 years old, Afrojack came in at number 7 on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJ list. Music seemed to be his destiny since an early age, when he started playing the piano at only 5 years old. When he was only 18 years old, his track "In Your Face" came in at number 3 on the Dutch dance charts. It's pretty amazing to take a look at what he's already accomplished in his life at only 24 years old. It is a testament to how talented he is. The way he uses his different synths and develops his beats, gives his songs a very heavy, energetic, house feel. He also runs his own record label called Wall Recordings, which features R3hab and Sydney Samson. Afrojack is playing Friday of Coachella, so get ready for some dirty Dutch house music, and a great performance. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter. Check out his website also, http://www.afrojack.com/.

M83

Thank goodness for France! Man, what would our lives have been had Antibes, France not given us M83!? Since 2001 this indietronica, ambient, and electropop band has been blessing us with their inspirational and amazing sounds. The name M83 comes from the spiral galaxy, Messier 83, and was started by Anthony Gonzalez and former member Nicolas Fromageau. Gonzalez now records most of the music on his own, but will enlist help from his brother Yann, vocalist/keyboardist Morgan Kibby, and drummer Loic Maurin on many occasions. M83's music makes you feel empowered and that, while we may be young, we can take control and have an influence on the world around us. Nothing feels better than throwing on some M83 and letting they're sexual and uplifting music take you to a plane of higher thinking and feeling. M83 will be rocking our worlds and elevating our mentals at Coachella 2012 on Friday, April 13th and 20th!

To get more information on M83 check out their page on Wiki, their website, or follow them on MySpace, SoundCloud, Twitter, and Facebook!

Neon Indian

Named one of the hottest new bands in 2010 by Rolling Stone magazine, Neon Indian of Denton, Texas brings the good vibes with their indie electro sounds. Their music is composed by Mexican-born Alan Palomo, who moved to Texas at the young and wild age of five. He is joined by Leanne Macomber, Jason Faries, and Lars Larsen to produce synthpop, chillwave, new wave, and noise pop beats to keep your body movin to the groove and your head in a happy place. One of Palomo's ex-girlfriends stemmed the creation of "Should Have Taken Acid With You" after they missed an acid date, and upon her positive response to the song, he continued to produce music as Neon Indian. As sad as it might have been for them to miss that date, we can all consider ourselves lucky. Without that we might not be blessed with the listening pleasure that is Neon Indian. They're another group whose music will keep your shoulders rotating, your head bobbing, and your smile wide. Neon Indian will be performing at Coachella 2012 on Friday, April 13th and 20th, so get ready to dance and smile!

To learn more about Neon Indian read up on their Wiki page, website, or follow along on  Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter!

Kaskade

Coming in at number 30 on the DJ Mag's Top 100 list, the American-born producer, Kaskade, is one of the OG's in the EDM scene. Kaskade was born in Illinois, and is of Mormon faith, which was kind of surprising to me, but to each his own, nobody should ever be judged on their religion, and the man makes great music. His real name is Ryan Raddon, and the guy has been ingrained in the music industry since 1992, when he was attending the University of Utah, and started his own record store. He has also been DJing since then as well. His nickname is "Big City" because he has lived in Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Raddon has released nine albums to date, and a boatload of singles and remixes. He is currently signed to Ultra Records, and playing on Saturday at Coachella. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Happy Days Ya'll.

Beirut

I have a love-hate relationship with Beirut, mostly love though. Originally, I did not like them, because after staying a weekend at my buddy's pad in San Francisco, his roommate would play Beirut every night, all night long, so he could sleep. I'm the lightest sleeper in the world, so it annoyed the shit out of me, but hey to each his own. I decided to give Beirut another shot, because everybody deserves a second chance, and honestly my reasons for not liking them were pretty meek. I'm glad I did, because their sound is so different than any other thing I have ever heard in my life. It's this mix of world music, with American indie rock. They use so many unique sounds that come together to give Beirut their own style. Not to mention, Zach Condon is an amazing vocalist, which makes the dynamic of the band that much better. They are playing on Sunday, who would of known? Be sure to check them out, they are a talented group. Peace and Love ya'll.

Bon Iver

If ever you are feeling a little overly-stressed and like you need to bring a calm and serene element into your life, then throw on some Bon Iver and let them take you there. This indie folk/indie rock/folk rock band from the cheese state (Wisconsin) has been around since 2006, but just last night won the 2012 Grammy for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Album!

Comprised of Justin Vernon, Michael Noyce, Sean Carey, Matthew McCaughan, C.J. Camerieri, Michael Lewis, Colin Stetson, Greg Leisz, Rob Moose, and Reginald Pace, Bon Iver creates some of the most beautiful music my ears have ever had the pleasure of hearing. The name Bon Iver comes from the French "bon hiver," meaning "good winter," which is fitting because their songs are perfect for those chilly winter days spent inside by the fire. Their music can take you to a happy, nostalgic, sad, and excited place, and is sure to take you to a place of wonder at Coachella 2012 where they will be playing on Saturday, April 14th and 21st.

To learn more check out his page on Wikipedia or his website, and don't forget to follow him on MySpace, Twitter, and Facebook!

Martin Solveig

If you were to see Martin Solveig in public, you might think he's going down to the local racquetball club to get a game in with all the high class socialites. But in reality, he's one of the top DJ's in the world right now. Hailing from Paris, this French DJ produces house bangers, that gets the dance floor moving. His biggest hit to date is "Hello" featuring Dragonette, who will also be Coachella. I'm sure most of you have heard this song by now. He will be playing on Saturday for Coachella. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Cheers ya'll.

Porter Robinson

Have you ever wondered what it was like to produce and DJ in front of a packed house when your only 19 years old? Or to be number one on iTunes dance chart? Just ask Porter Robinson, he's living this dream right now. From Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this young producer has taking the EDM scene by storm. Robinson has been producing music since 12 years old, so although young, he knows the trick of the trade.  The year 2011 was a huge year for him, as he played at Ultra, Electric Daisy Carnival, Electric Zoo, Beyond Wonderland, and Nocturnal. He is currently signed to Skrillex's label OWSLA. This is his first year at Coachella, and he will be playing on, wait a minute, let's take a wild guess? Sunday? Ya, another one you don't want to miss on Sunday. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter. Happy Days People!

Flying Lotus

Flying Lotus has his own style, that nobody will be able to recreate. His sounds and visual productions are amazing, and through this you can see just intricate his mind must be. Steve Ellison is an experimental electronic music producer out of Los Angeles. Ellison comes from musical bloodlines. His grandmother is songwriter Marilyn McLeod, he is the great nephew of John Coltrane, and he is the cousin of musician Ravi Coltrane. His video for his song "MmmHmm" won the Independent Music Awards, Short Form category in 2011, as did his album Cosmogramma in the Dance/ Electronic category. He is currently signed with Warp Records, and playing on Saturday at Coachella. If you want mind-altering experience, we suggest you go check him out. Peace.

Feist

Not to be confused with the small hunting dog, almost 36-year old Leslie Feist is a Canadian singer-songwriter with a voice from the music gods. Her musical talents range from vocals, writing, guitar, banjo, piano, and drums, and she also performs with indie rock group Broken Social Science. At Coachella she will be performing for us as her wonderful solo-self, Feist. Her indie pop, folk, baroque pop sound is just beautiful and will have you swaying side to side feeling full of soul, passion, and amazement. When Feist sings it literally makes me shut my eyes and get that "awwww yeahhhh" look on my face as I rock back and forth, and I doubt that it won't do the same for you. Her music makes you feel calm and like you're living in the clouds, and I cannot wait till she makes us float on thin air at Coachella, where she will be playing on Saturday, April 14th and 21st.

For more info check their Wiki page out or their website! And don't forget to follow their Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter!

Kasabian

Since the invention of such websites as SoundCloud, Pandora, 8tracks, and all those other kick-ass music sites out there, I have kinda forgone listening to my iTunes library. Which I am now realizing is quite unfortunate considering that I have an cornucopia (shout-out to all my Boy Meets World fans out there!) of Kasabian tracks! When I first stole these jams from my wonderful Aussie friend, Sam, I didn't realize that I had struck gold. But let me tell you, while writing a post I listen to the music of who I'm writing about, and right now...I. am. STOKED! How I went this long without blasting this English rock band's music is just a disgrace! Comprised of Tom Meighan, Sergio Pizzorno, Chris Edwards, Ian Matthews, and Jay Mehler, this indie rock/rock/space rock/neo-psychedelia/electronica (phew, what a mouth full!) band has been together (for the most part) since 1997. They started out under the name Saracuse, but changed it to Kasabian after Linda Kasabian, Charles Manson's getaway driver. Always good to have an interesting story, right? But enough of that! All you need to know, is they are going to sex up your eardrums and undoubtedly make you  move your body as though we were in the 60's! Kasabian will be performing at Coachella on Saturday, April 14th and 21st.

To learn more information check out their page on Wikipedia or their website. Also, follow them on YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter!

Girl Talk

The king of mashups is coming to Coachella on Sunday to help send the party off with a bang. Gregg Gillis aka Girl Talk, is a mashup producer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Known for taking a bad song and making it into musical gold, Girl Talk knows how to get the crowd pumped up. Music was not always the avenue Gillis thought he would be taking. For a while, he was studying biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University. Gillis describes his music as "a lawsuit waiting to happen" due to the fact that he uses so many samples and mashes them with other beats. Regardless, the man knows how to mash, and he even has a day named after him in Pittsburgh called "Gregg Gillis Day". You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Enjoy.

Kaiser Chiefs

This indie rock group hailing from Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, sings with heart and sends a message through every song they create. They're named after the South African football team, Kaizer Chiefs, and have been throwing out tasteful jams since 1996. They drew inspiration for their first album, Employment, from 1970s and 1980s punk rock and new wave, and worked their way into the indie rock scene with their later albums. Band members Nick Baines, Nick Hodgson, and and Simon Rix first met when they were eleven and attending St. Mary's Catholic High School (not the one my sister went to here in the States, unfortunately), and like all good things in life, the forces of nature brought them back together in later years. Other band members, Ricky Wilson and Andrew White, were brought into Hodgson's life while Rix and Baines went to university. The trio formed the band Runston Parva, which luckily for all of us who will be at Coachella, did not work out, leading to the formation of Kaiser Chiefs. Kaiser Chiefs have that smooth indie Brit sound and draw you into their music with their beautiful and captivating eyes, I mean voices... ;)

Learn more about Kaiser Chiefs by reading their page on Wikipedia or their website! Also, follow them on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter!

Dada Life

Have you had the chance to do the Dada? If not we recommend you take full advantage at Coachella. Olle Corneer and Stefan Engblom make up the Swedish electro-house duo, and they put on one of the highest energy performances you can go to. Known for their love of bananas and champagne, these guys know how to party and make awesome music. They were voted number 38 in DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJ's, and the 2012 outlook is very promising for them. They play on Sunday (wow how epic is Sunday's lineup, just insane) at Coachella. Come "Kick Out The Epic Motherfucker" with them and enjoy a crazy performance. You can follow them on Twitter and Facebook, so check them out.

Radiohead

Probably one of the greatest rock bands in the past two and a half decades, is coming to Coachella to drop a musical masterpiece on us. Radiohead originated in England, and is one of the most influential rock bands in the modern era. With 8 studio albums released to date, Thom Yorke and the crew have an arsenal of music. With a style dubbed as experimental rock, it helps you understand the spectrum of the band's imagination and diversity in their music. The band has sold over 30 million albums worldwide, and was ranked number 73 in Rolling Stones, "The Greatest Artists of All Time", in 2005, as well as number two for artists of the 2000's. I had the opportunity to see them the first year of Outside Lands, and it was such a surreal experience. They are definitely an act you will not want to miss. They play on Saturday at Coachella. You can follow them on Twitter and Facebook. Peace ya'll.

Azealia Banks

HOT DAMN this chick has some mad style. When I first heard "212" pumping through my earphones I thought I was sensing Nicki Minaj, but soon realized I was mistaken. Azealia Banks is a 20-year old American rapper/singer/lyricist from Harlem that pumps out hip hop and electro house jams to keep the partying jumping. Her raps are so tight, with that necessary hint of filth, and when she sings you better not be holding a dish, because you might drop it when her soulful voice hits your eardrums. She started out under the name Miss Bank$, but my guess is she realized how bad she is, and decided to just stick with the name her mama gave her. Banks is sure to put on a good show at the festival, so keep those ears open so you can catch it!

Azealia Banks will be performing at Coachella on Saturday, April 14th and 21st. To learn/hear more check out her page on Wikipedia, her website, or follow her on MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter!

Miike Snow

No Miike Snow is not one person. Let's hope you knew that before reading this, because a lot of people always refer to the band as one person. The trio of Andrew Wyatt, Christian Karlsson, and Pontus Winnberg make up the indie-electro-pop group. Karlsson and Winnberg are from Sweden, while Wyatt hails from New York. The two Swedish song writers met Andrew while working on an album for Britney Spears. With catchy tunes and captivating lyrics, it's hard not to like these guys. To date they only have one album released that is self-titled. They are working on a new album that will be released in March, just in time for Coachella. Miike Snow will be playing on Saturday. Be sure to check them out on Twitter and Facebook. Cheers!