Always the first big rock fest of the year -- and often the trendsetter among them -- Coachella announced its 2009 lineup this morning with Jay-Z, Gorillaz and the Shakira of the alt-rock world (perenially overhyped), Muse, as its headliners, plus Vampire Weekend, Phoenix, a solo Thom Yorke, Spoon, Dead Weather, MGMT, Them Crooked Vultures, LCD Soundsystem, Grizzly Bear, Avett Brothers, She & Him, Echo & the Bunnymen, Julian Casablancas, De La Soul, the Gossip, Passion Pit, Fever Ray, Tiesto and David Guetta (?!) rounding out the bill so far. In the reunion department, which is a Coachella trademark, Sly & the Family Stone, Pavement and John Lydon's Public Image Limited are also set to play. Tickets to the Indio, Calif., fest go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. (click here for the official Coachella site).
Personally, I was quite excited about Pavement's pending reunion tour, until I remembered that out of the six or seven times I saw Stephen Malkmus with his original band, there was only one show that didn't disappoint me. Malkmus hasn't been much more consistent solo, either. I never actually saw PiL (but did see one of the Sex Pistols reunion shows, so who cares?). As for Sly & the Family Stone, Twin Citians who awaited Sly's recent show at First Ave (only to see it canceled) know that's nowhere near a sure thing, but let's hope so.
Who's going?
