Coachella! Thou hulking beast of Indio! We salute thy overflowing Port-O-Lets, they searing heat, and thy overpriced water bottles! We even salute the misguided fashion choices of thy attendees!
We salute you, especially, because this year's line-up is so tempting we'd be willing to brave all of the above for a chance to drive ourselves crazy deciding which stages to prioritize. Dr. Dre? Pulp? Jeff Mangum? Are you messing with us?
At least this year the festival will be April 13-15 and 20-22, so festival goers have double the opportunity to try to see it all. (Someone run the numbers and see if that's even possible.)
For those who will take the plunge into that undulating ocean of unwashed music enthusiasts, but find themselves overwhelmed by the panoply of stage-shy musical legends and white-hot rising stars, we understand. That's why we made you a handy list of our top picks from around the world -- drawn from both the big and small print on the bill. Now, If you only see ten artists at Coachella, see these.
If you feel like thanking us, you can bring us back a hippie. Let's start with
#10 Keep Shelly in Athens
#10 Keep Shelly in Athens
Slightly mysterious, putatively Athenian duo Keep Shelly in Athens will be drawn into the open for the festival.They needn't worry, though. Whatever secrets they are keeping will surely remain hidden in plain sight. All anyone will be interested in is moving to the downtempo Mediterranean jams. It'll be just the thing for that sunny California weather.
Photo Credit: Maarten Schuth Next #9 Hello Seahorse!
#9 Hello Seahorse!
When you hear Lo Blondo's silvery voice floating above the atmospheric avant-pop of Hello Seahorse! you'll understand why the Latin Grammy-nominated Mexican quartet has an exclamation mark at the end of their name. They're in the small print on the bill, but we promise if you check them out the set will loom large in your memory.
Photo Credit: MTV Iggy/Dylan Hess Next #8 First Aid Kit
#8 First Aid Kit
The Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit play pitch-perfect alt-country with the power to heal old wounds and they're bringing it to the masses in April. With reverberating ballads like "Lion's Roar," these two up-and-comers are ready to hold their own amid the festival chaos.
Photo Credit: Neil Krugg Next #7 Araabmuzik
#7 Araabmuzik
Araabmuzik and his trusty MPC are heading to Indio. The American producer is known for his work with Dipset members such as Cam'ron, but his Coachella invite is no doubt due to his ability to thrill audiences by making beats in real time. Go and be thrilled.
Photo Credit: David Gordon Oppenheimer/Getty Images Next #6 Le Butcherettes
#6 Le Butcherettes
Another Mexican artist poised to become a major export, Le Butcherettes's Teri Gender Bender fronts her garage rock trio with soul and savagery. She might be cutting back on the props and fake blood, but the live show is still certain to be electrifying. For a preview, check out our exclusive Le Butcherettes performance video.
Photo Credit: MTV Iggy Next #5 SBTRKT
#5 SBTRKT
Coachella 2012 will feature the masked Londoner known as SBTRKT, and that means moody nu-disco grooves and a tent-full of kids wigging out to "Wildfire." Seriously consider being there.
Photo Credit: Getty Images Next #4 Ximena Sariñana
#4 Ximena Sariñana
Ximena Sariñana is one of the many members of this year's Coachella class who are poised for an international break out. The massively cute alt-pop songstress holds Mexico's heart in the palm of her hand -- and, while her Coachella dates might not be geographically far from home, they will expose her to highly susceptible pop fans from all over the world.
Photo Credit: MTV Iggy/Nichole McCall Next #3 Azealia Banks
#3 Azealia Banks
New York City rapper Azealia Banks is already breaking out internationally on the strength of a few shock-the-world singles. They love her in the UK, but we think her upcoming Indio, CA performances will give the whole rap world something to talk about, like how the game is all changed now.
Photo Credit: Robin Little/Redferns/Getty Images Next #2 M83
#2 M83
Synthpop stalwart M83 is one of the boldface names scheduled to play Coachella, and for good reason. The Antibes, France project — the brainchild of vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Anthony Gonzalez — was formed in 2001, and named after the galaxy, Messier 83. Young dreamers have been dancing to his retro electropop for a decade and Coachella will be a prime venue for hearing celestial jams like "Midnight City" from his latest, Hurry Up We're Dreaming.
Photo Courtesy of M83 Next #1 At the Drive-In
#1 At the Drive-In
Coachella 2012 has a pretty obvious crush on the '90s. But then, don't we all? And on innovative '90s post-hardcore in particular? Yeah, you do. For those who think of The Mars Volta as guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López's project after At the Drive-In, the original line-up reunion of his earlier band at Coachella will be a punk rock pipe-dream come true. For those who tuned in to the saga around the time Mars Volta released De-Loused in the Comatorium, this is your chance to witness the roots of that insanity live.
Photo Credit: Mick Hutson/Redferns/Getty Images More Lists
