Oberhofer

Now, I think it is cheating to just copy and paste the text about a band without doing some rewording, but in this case, I have fallen somewhat in love with the bio on Oberhofer's Facebook page (not to mention there is no Wikipedia page for them-- hint, hint to a fan;), and will be copying it entirely. The link for the following "excerpt" is HERE, and states:

"When your songs are too big to be contained: form a band. Maybe call it after your family name because you like the way it sounds (shit, if it worked for Bon Jovi then who's to argue). Record those songs in the basement of your parents house in Tacoma. When that burns down, shake it off and move to New York. Find a new band to play with, start working on a symphony (no really, do it), mix your newfound formal training with the noisy exuberance of youth. Get raucous."

Fairly brilliant if you ask me. Brad Oberhofer, age 21, was not destined for music heaven until he was hit by a car at age 13. This left him with a melody playing over and over in his head, and inspired him to teach himself to play it on the piano. When he first started out, he was playing all the instruments in all the songs, as well as playing the vocal role. Now he has a band, and they still play under the name (his last) Oberhofer. Their lo-fi pop, indie rock, and coincidence pop songs are full of joy and will no doubt put a huge smile on your face and in your mind. Oberhofer will be showing us their stuff at Coachella 2012 on Sunday, April 15th and 22nd!

For more tuneage check out the Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace of the amazing Oberhofer!

Andrew Bird

During the weekends of Coachella you will most certainly encounter some times when you feel exhausted beyond belief. Now, I cannot say this from first-hand Coachella experience, as this year will be my first to attend the festival, but I can say it from first-hand experience with weekends and events like this in general. We will all hit that point where our feet are sore, our legs are rubbery and stuck to the ground, our arms are tired from waving them around like monkeys, and our minds have left us because we haven't been sleeping enough, and have been partying, probably, a little too hard. But fear not festi friends, for when these sorts of feelings begin to take over, don't be afraid to take a break! And in this moment of R&R you should highly consider checking out Andrew Bird! The Chicago native is known for his singing, songwriting, violin and guitar playing, and quite possibly the most impressive of all...his whistling. His indie rock/folk and baroque pop songs are nothing short of euphoric. He brings the right dose of energy to help steer those rainy, and sunny days, right where we want them (a happy, fun, and thoughtful place), and will undoubtedly woo us all. Bird grew up using the Suzuki method starting at age four, which focuses the pupil on their environment so that they may learn from it and learn through it. His first solo album, Music of Hair, was released in 1996, and since he has put out many, many more. He's a sight for sore eyes, and has got the sounds to match, so be prepared to take flight! Bird will be performing at Coachella 2012 on Saturday, April 14th and 21st!

Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, and don't forget to check out his website!

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!

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!

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!

GROUPLOVE

I had the opportunity to see GROUPLOVE at Outside Lands this past year. I had no idea who they were, but my buddy Johnny convinced me they were a must see. He couldn't of been more right. The indie rock group from Los Angeles, played with such a presence and energy that was so positive and vibrant, that in my opinion was one of the best performances of the festival. Hannah Hooper, Christian Zucconi, Sean Gadd, Ryan Rabin, and Andrew Wessen make up the quintet. Watching their performances you can tell that not only do they truly love what they do, but they truly love each other, and come together to make great music. The story of how they came together is even better. Hooper was a painter barely skating by in New York, while Zucconi was a musician and bartender in the same boat. Two days after they met, Hooper received an invite to an artist colony in Crete. Of course Zucconi joined her on the trip, where they slept on a twin bed and bathed in the ocean for 10 weeks. This led them to meet the rest of the band and the rest is history. In an interview with SPIN Magazine, Zucconi said, "We were all at a weird crossroads in our life. We got to know each other with a clean slate" and goes on to refer to his bandmates as soulmates. It was a match made in Heaven. They play on Saturday at Coachella, and you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Love makes the world go around.

Gotye

I hope you are all ready to have your minds and preconceptions BLOWN! Gotye is an Australian-Belgian multi-instrumental musician and singer-songwriter whose talent ranges from vocals, percussion, guitar, keyboard, drums, and the synthesizer!! "Gotye" comes from "Gaultier," and is the French translation of "Wouter;" which is quite fitting since his birth name is Wouter "Wally" De Backer. Not only has he independently released three albums, and one remix album, but he is also part of the Melbourne based band The Basics. His solo-style is classified as indie rock and experimental rock, and his understanding and love for music are apparent in every song. But not only are his songs amazing, his music videos are out of this world! The artistic skills behind his videos are a trip all on their own, and one I highly suggest you taking!

Gotye will be playing at Coachella on Sunday, April 15th and 22nd!

And just because I can't get enough..here's an extra music video to really show the wide scope of digital art used! :) 

For more information check out the Gotye page on Wikipedia or his website! Or follow on Twitter or Facebook! 

The Dear Hunter

The Dear Hunter- "What It Means To Be Alone"

The Dear Hunter is an Indie Rock band that hails from Providence, Rhode Island. They incorporate a solid amount of alternative and progressive rock sounds, but throw in a broad range of instruments that gives them a sound to really elevate the mentals! Originally The Dear Hunter was just a side project for Casey Crescenzo, formly of The Receiving End of Sirens, but Casey had written some songs that wouldn't work with TREOS' sound. So just like that *BAM!,* The Dear Hunter came to head! Their first three albums (Act I: The Lake South, The River North, Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms. Leading, and Act III: Life and Death) are part of a concept/story that Casey developed.He planned out the story so that each "Act" follows the birth, life, and sudden death of a boy in the early 20th century who is known only in the stories as "The Dear Hunter" (hence the band's name). The Dear Hunter is comprised of Casey and Nick Crescenzo, and Maxwell Tousseau who joined the Crescenzo brothers in 2010. When they go on tour, they are also joined by Robert Parr, Connor Doyle, and Nick Sollecito. Their music has that feel-good vibe to it that makes you want to wander around outside with the sun shining down on you, and the universe and the music guiding your way! They create upbeat, catchy, and emotional songs that can suit your every mood. Ever since February 2, 2006, when they played their first show, The Dear Hunter has been pumping out songs adored by music lovers everywhere.

The Dear Hunter will be playing on Friday, the 13th and 20th of Coachella, so get ready our festi friends, because we are in for a musical treat!

The Dear Hunter- "She's Always Singing"

Wanna know more!? Check out their page on Wikipedia or go to their website!