It’s been a long strange trip for Alexander Ebert. Before he formed the much buzzed about new band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, he was the frontman for Ima Robot. But after the band dissolved, nobody would have thought that Ebert would not only reemerge, but also come back with a band that was bigger and brought indie rock/folk into the mainstream. He’s done exactly that.

With the help of 11 of his closest friends, Ebert has made Edward Sharpe a household name. After the release of the outfit’s first album, Up From Below, in 2009, the band toured relentlessly, building a strong following in their home of Los Angeles before breaking through with their acclaimed single, “Home.” The song was everywhere, literally. You couldn’t walk into a department store or even watch TV without hearing it blaring through your screen (it was featured on a NFL commercial).

But after three years of living on the laurels of their debut (and a solo album from Ebert), the band is back with not just one, but two new albums slated for release in 2012. In order to escape the hustle and bustle of L.A., the band decided to head up to Ojai to write and record their new albums. The first of the two, Here, will be released on May 29 and the nine-song record has the familiar brand of indie-folk that is synonymous with the band. However, what makes this effort different is the evolution of the band’s sound. But why two records as opposed to one long one?

“There were a lot of factors that went into it,” Ebert explains. “One was a timing issue. There were some songs that have affinities with others and two albums was sort of becoming apparent. In some ways it was an idea to break them up and put them together later on down the road as a double album or to let people digest them in small bits.”

Easy enough. Some of the songs that were used on the album were culled from the singer’s solo album, which he thought would sound better as full-band version. And he’s right. The band sounds fuller and tighter than their earlier effort, showing their maturity and comfort with each other as musicians, which isn’t easy for a band as big as they are.

Photo: Randal Michelson

As the band is in the midst of a month-long tour to introduce the album, which we caught at the Greek Theatre last week, they demonstrated that they’re more than capable of handling the expectations that come with a sophomore effort. However, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are more than capable of handling the scrutiny and challenges that come with raised expectations. That doesn’t phase them though as the band will continue to go about their business and churn out catchy songs that may not be as epic as “Home,” but nonetheless, will be appreciated in their own right.

For now, the second album is slated to be released in October or November, but until then, enjoy Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros for what they are: the pioneering alt folk group that helped bring indie rock to the mainstream.

With an ode to Gatsby-era debauchery and smoke-filled jazz joints, Leftover Cuties will steal your heart and thrill your soul. In between albums, the band decided to release an EP of covers to serve as an appetizer while they finish recording their sophomore effort. With Departures, the band picked six eclectic songs and put their own twist on them. Though they’re known for “Game Called Life,” the theme song from the Big C, the Shirli McAllen-led outfit is ready to show the world that the Cuties are here to stay. On the eve of the EP’s release, we had a chance to chat with McAllen, and here’s what happened.

What's more fun: playing house parties or venues?

Without a doubt: venues. I think that any artist who writes their own music would take a listening room over playing background music at a house party. My favorites are medium sized theaters. We recently played at the Warfield in San Francisco and at the El Rey in L.A., and we loved every minute of it. The audiences were so engaged and warm and it's so nice, especially as the front person, to know that people are there to listen and appreciate music.

Of the zillions of songs written in the world, how did you decide to cover these few that encompass the Departures EP?

"You are my Sunshine" and "Poker Face" have been a part of our live shows for a while and came to be some of the crowds' favorites. So those two were no-brainers when it came to picking the songs. "Fidelity" by Regina Spektor was actually suggested and voted on by our Facebook fans. When it came to picking the last few songs, it was much harder then we thought. We went through hundreds of songs looking for a one we knew we can make our own. Bob Dylan has been a huge inspiration in my life and I always wanted to sing one of his songs, so we decided to give "Don’t Think Twice, It's All Right" a shot, and it stuck. Coldplay's "Trouble" came up on my iPod one day when I was driving and I thought it would be an interesting choice. We couldn't be happier with the result, we are really proud of it.

How are songs by Bob Dylan and Lady Gaga transformed into Leftover Cuties songs? Is there a common link or was it completely random?

This EP is very eclectic. It's sort of strange to see Dylan's name next to Gaga's, I know, but the one thing linking all these songs is the way they we've transformed them. Our sound and approach is what make them all work together.

Is the EP going to serve as an appetizer to a future full-length that's in the process?

Yes, we are working on our second full length that we are planning to release in the Fall. We've been writing a lot and we just can't wait to get in the studio and lay the new songs down.

Are there plans for any gigs?

We are celebrating the EP release at Hotel Café on 5/16. Next, we are headed to San Diego's Soda Bar and there are a few more dates in the works.

What's more badass: playing the Hotel Cafe or at the Cosmopolitan in Vegas?

These are night and day, but they are both badass for different reasons. We just got back from Vegas and the Cosmopolitan was so fun! We played three nights in a row and we had a blast. It's cool because Vegas is the city of huge productions and it's nice to win a crowd with simply your music. We definitely gained some new fans out there. Hotel Café is a great listening room. It’s intimate and it's a great place for your fans to come see you and really hear you.

 

Which bandmember has the worst driving skills? What happened that led you to decipher this?

That would probably be me. I get nervous when I have people in the car with me and my driving skills go down the drain. Luckily, the guys always drive, so it's a non-issue. Out of the guys, Austin, our ukulele/bass player likes to take the most chances; he's sort of a wild card.

Who wins in a fight: Borat or The Dictator?

I have no idea. But I love Borat.

What do you hope fans get from this EP?

I hope they get a kick out of some songs and I hope they are moved by others. The song selection on the EP is not really a representation of the band's roots; rather the interpretation of the songs is more representative of where we come from and what we like. We hope our fans enjoy that.

Of all the places you have yet to play, what place is number one on your list and why?

Venue-wise, I would absolutely love to play at the Orpheum in LA, simply because its a beautiful old theater and I've seen great shows there. City-wise, we are all dreaming of Barcelona. It's such a beautiful city, and we'd get to eat tapas every day and play for Spanish fans.

For the past half-decade, Silversun Pickups have brought their brand of fuzzed out, droned guitar rock to the masses. The quartet has been one of the best new bands to come from the indie hotbed of Silver Lake in Los Angeles. They’ve garnered legions of fans across the globe with by doing what they do best: writing catchy tunes while remaining true to their core sound.

For those of you who don’t know, the band has sold over 1 million records worldwide. Their first EP, Pikul, was released in 2005. While it hinted at great things to come, no one was quite prepared for the explosion of the band’s debut LP, Carnavas. Released in 2006, the record peaked at #81 on the Billboard Top 200 and was the #1 Alternative and Independent record for four consecutive weeks. Their big single from that record, “Lazy Eye,” peaked at #4 on the Modern Rock charts. In 2009, the band followed up with their breakthrough album, Swoon. That record debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 and was in that chart for over 22 weeks on the strength of “Panic Switch,” which was on #1 on the Modern Rock charts,

Their latest album, Neck of the Woods, is a step forward for the band. After working with producer Dave Cooley on their first two albums, the band took the short trip from their home of Silver Lake to Topanga Canyon to work with Jacknife Lee, whose credits include U2, Weezer and R.E.M. on their new album. On their earlier albums where they’d spend months preparing by writing and working on pre-production for the songs they were going to record, this time around things were a bit different.

“Usually, we as the band would work on the songs for six months or so on our own,” bassist/backing vocalist Nikki Monninger says. “Jacknife’s way of doing things is not to have pre-pro and just to dive right in. Everything felt more spontaneous. We would move forward with things in a certain way and he would introduce new ideas or subtle changes.”

Changes helped the group, but that didn’t necessarily things weren’t a bit tough on the band.

“Working spontaneously was definitely a new thing since I’m the type of person that likes to take things home, take notes and study what we’ve done,” Monninger explains. “And Jacknife literally threw my notes on the ground on the first or second day and said let’s try it more from instinct. And I liked that change.”

Working with L.A.’s Dangerbird Records has provided a refuge for the band. Rather than worrying about the band cranking hits from their first EP, the label was more concerned with the band’s longevity and ability to build a career, which is what makes their relationship a fluid and fruitful one.

The biggest difference between the band’s new album versus their earlier material is the introduction of a degree of electronica. Have no fear, the drone guitars that defined them are still prevalent, but the Silversun Pickups have added another element to their already catchy sound that will not only introduce them to a new audience, but demonstrates their fearlessness and ability to take chances when other bands in their positions would have been complacent and unwilling to evolve.

On their first album in three years, the Silversun Pickups prove why they’re considered one of the pioneering bands in the ever-growing L.A. indie alt rock scene. With a slew of tour dates to be announced, though Monninger says the band will be on the road for an extensive, headlining tour in the States and Canada beginning in September, fans should be excited on what the future holds for this exciting band.

What happens when you’re the hottest new band on the planet, yet haven’t released an album? Then what happens when you do release it and it falls short of the ridiculously high expectation and incredible hype? Easy. You go back to the drawing board, relax, collect your thoughts and write an honest record that goes back to your roots and see what happens from there.

The band we’re talking about here is the supremely talented Chester French. The band’s principals, D.A. Wallach and Max Drummey, formed in 2003 as a five piece at Harvard University, when they were freshmen. A year later, D.A. and Max began working as recording engineers at the school’s student recording studio, and continued writing, producing, and engineering their music as a duo. By their senior year, the indie-pop album that they had made for less than $2,000 was one of the most buzzed about records in the biz, even without being properly released.

Music impresarios like Kanye West and Jermaine Dupri tried to sign the duo, but they ultimately inked with super producer Pharrell Williams and his Star Trak imprint on Interscope Records.

Having seen these fellas back in 2008, you would have thought they were The Beatles. At their showcases at The Cutting Room in New York City and Spaceland (now The Satellite) in Los Angeles, the rooms were packed to above capacity. There was an equal blend of fans, celebs, music biz folk and A-listers wanting to see what the hype was about.

Their first album, Love The Future, performed below expectations and the band subsequently negotiated their way out of their deal with Interscope. They are still close with Pharrell, after all he is their mentor in many ways, but it was time to move on and retake control of the Chester French vision that they conceived at Harvard many years before.

During this time, they toured both the States and Europe as either a headliner or opener with bands you may have heard of like Blink 182, Weezer, N*E*R*D, Common, and a gal named Lady Gaga. Not too shabby for a group with only a mixtape and one album under the belts.

After a couple of years promoting Love The Future, the band went to work on their second album. Like their debut, Chester French wrote, produced and recorded the entire record themselves. However, even though the band thought the album was done, the label had other ideas.

“Interscope is very multi-producer oriented,” D.A. explains. “There was a lot of pressure there, even after finishing the album to go and redo things. We were like nah, so we bought our record back from them, so we own it, which is great.”

Without the pressure, D.A. and Max went back into the studio without any pressure from external sources and are in the midst of carefully crafting their next move. They recently released their first new song in several years. “Black Girls” has the familiar Chester French catchy brand of synth-pop that appealed to so many people in the first place. The video can be seen on the band’s website

“We’ve had a new album that’s done,” D.A. says. “We’re just revising a couple of masters, but we’re looking to put out songs soon.”

Not being linked with a major label suits the band just find. They have no regrets nor ill will towards Interscope, the group is excited continue making music on their terms. In fact, they see their time on a major as a great learning experience, even though it hurt the band in the short term.

“There isn’t a better time to own your own rights,” D.A. continues. “There are millions of music fans and those are the people we want to connect with.”

Regardless of the long, windy detour they’ve taken to get to where they are. Chester French is back to making music on their terms. And their millions of fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

Stay tuned as the band releases more tracks off their soon-to-be released album.

Over the past few months, we’ve touted Icelanic indie/folk rockers Of Monsters of Men as one of our favorite new bands of 2012. So far, it looks like the band has not only heeded, but exceed the hype that’s come with their journey across the pond. After dazzling both industry-types and music junkies at SXSW, the band recently completed their first ever American tour and to much success. Nearly every room they played was sold out (they even had to add an extra show in certain cities) with fans singing along to the band’s alt rock hit, “Little Things.”

Even though the band has had a meteoric rise, there hasn’t always been soldout crowds and radio hits for the sextet. Having formed as a proper outfit in 2010, the group went trhough some of the growing pains associated with becoming a proper group. However, winning the prestigious Músíktilraunir, an annual battle of the bands competition in Iceland changed everything.

Initially a quartet, the band expanded to a sextet after their victory at Músíktilraunir. The arduous climb continued, and the band toured throughout their native Iceland until they their big break when Seattle-based station KEXP saw the band at the 2010 Icelandic Airwaves festival and recorded a version of, you guessed it, “Little Things” and it was off to the races.

Not surprisingly, My Head is an Animal, the band’s debut, was released in Iceland in September 2011 and both it and "Little Talks" hit No. 1 in their native land.

So how did the band come up with this creative title?

It’s in the first sentence of the album,” singer Ragnar ˛Ûrhallsson told us. “The song is called “Dirty Paws” and the first sentence contains the words. We knew early on that was going to be a title and the opening track of the album. I think the sentence sums up the album for us and the feeling while we were making it.”

In late 2011, Philadelphia’s Radio 104.5 caught wind of “Little Things,” and voila, it was off to the races. Raggi, loves the city of Philadelphia for their incredible support of the band, even playing their album release show in the City of Brotherly Love, but as he told us, he’s not too fond of the city’s culinary delight.

“I did have a cheesesteak,” he said. “It wasn’t very good though. I didn’t like it very much.” Regardless, he dedicated a song to Philadelphia’s only contribution to the food community.

The band recently completed a successful with bigger things on the horizon. They’re planning to hit Europe for a brief run, then will head back stateside to play a number of festivals, including the Newport Folk Festival, Outside Lands and Lollapalooza. Despite the hype, Raggi and the rest of the band have remained grounded, knowing how fortune they are for their success.

“We know how lucky we are to be in this situation, which is very, very happy and great,” he said. If they keep writing songs like they have, then they could very well be the best new band of 2012.

Over the past week, we’ve showcased the best new bands to check out at Coachella. Like last week, we’ve dedicated our Artist of the Week feature will again take a look at some of our favorite new bands to play at the festival that we didn’t have a chance to cover last week. Without rambling anymore, here are some more highlights from our Coachella series.

Neon Indian: Much has been said about Alan Palomo. Since rising from obscurity to bandblog sensation, his group, Neon Indian has become one of the de facto emissaries/new bands for a movement popularly known as “chillwave”—I’m guessing you’re familiar. To be sure, there are plenty of bands out there that draw parallels to Neon Indian, with woozy electronic sounds that melt through vintage synthesizers and echoing vocals taking the form of aural acid hits. What sets Neon Indian apart, however, isn’t the perpetuation of stereotypes, but the quality of their music. Their brand of electro-synth music combined with murky guitar fuzz, is sure to keep the bodies moving on Frida – Zach Klassen

Gary Clark Jr.:  Gary Clark Jr. hates the term bluesman. Judging from his brand of music, you would expect this new artist to embrace the label, but being a nasty guitar player is only the tip of the iceberg to this man’s talents.  Sort of like a latter day John Mayer, Clark can play many different types of guitar: jazz, blues to straight up balls-to-the wall rock, making it all sound delightfully good in the process. Though he has one of the earliest timeslots on his Friday performance, he may not get the crowds that he deserves. However, the one thing that is certain is that whoever catches this up-and-comer, won’t be disappoint with the music they hear emanating from the stage and who knows, this could be one of those “I remember where I was when” or “I saw Gary Clark Jr. when he was the first act at Coachella” moments that could go down in music folklore. –Daniel Kohn

Grouplove: As our official Best New Band Of 2011, Grouplove are one of the most promising voices to emerge in indie pop. Grouplove produces poppy, twangy, indie rock, which is nothing new in the world of music. What really makes the quintet stand out in a plethora of similar acts is its sincerity. Blaming the band’s chance meeting on fate, each member plays from the heart, creating large, swelling tracks that hit its listeners directly in the soul.

This passion and devotion translates into the five-piece’s live show. Every band member drips with enthusiasm and genuine love for what he or she is playing. This warm energy floats into the crowd, making a Grouplove show feel like a party hosted by familiar friends. It’s amazing how bands can be playing to crowds of 100 people (if they’re lucky) one day and massive theaters the next. This is the exact case with Grouplove. I remember writing a show preview back in January for the band’s free, month-long residency at Bootleg Theater. I had never even heard the music, so I listened to the self-titled EP, and it was pretty good, but I never got the chance to see the indie troupe during that residency…and I am kicking myself for that right now. - Katrina Nattress

The Vaccines: West London’s The Vaccines are one of the hardest new bands to peg at times.  On first listen, they’ve totally got one of those late ‘50s, early ‘60s pop revivalist things going, except with a little more reverb and maybe a pinch more aggression.  But if you listen a bit more closely, the lines begin to blur.  They’re clearly on their way to becoming (or maybe they’ve already become) something far more interesting than just another pop band. The Vaccines music has all the makings of great pop music; simple, catchy, easy to clap along with, but there’s a little something more that’s enough to send a shrill shiver down your spine. It’s 21st century guitar pop for the kids who like to stay out late and wake up to a few bad decisions. –Chris Castro

Sleeper Agent: You might've heard of Sleeper Agent from their recent hits, "Get It Daddy" and "Get Burned."  "Get It Daddy," an upbeat, dance-around-in-your-room kind of track, was an iTunes free single of the week and was #14 on Rolling Stone's 50 Best Singles of 2011.  Furthermore, they were featured on Rolling Stone last summer as a Band to Watch. The band hails from Bowling Green, Kentucky and made their way up through the rankings by playing loud, noticeable sets at SXSW.  They eventually caught the attention of Matt & Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant and ended up touring the US with the band (not to mention making some hilarious videos). So, with that kind of publicity, it's safe to say that these Kentucky-bred kids are on their way to rock stardom. And the next stop on that road? Playing Coachella, obviously. Lead singer Alex "Kidd" Kandel is a monster on stage, and her vocals fit the music's youthful grunge perfectly.  The album as a whole and the band's presence are so much fun, and I can just imagine how incredible it al will be beneath the daze of the Coachella sun, dancing your ass off before some seriously talented kids. – Claire Gallagher

As we’ve written about over the past few months, Of Monsters and Men are one of the breakout new bands of 2012. During their first proper U.S. tour, they’ve sold out almost every venue they’ve played and their song “Little Talks” has been on radio stations everywhere. Before they played their last show of their tour in Seattle, we caught up with singer Ragnar Ûrhallsson and asked him how the crowds are, what’s his favorite city to play in the States and what’s the first thing he’s going to do when he gets back to Iceland.

How has your time in the States been with all of the promotional appearances and gigs?

It’s been very good. We’ve been very busy but it’s been so good. All of our shows have been sold out and we’ve been doing a lot of radio.

Would you have ever expected this a year and a half ago when you first started out?

No, not at all. This is very different than what we would have thought. It’s so cool that this is all happening and we’re very pleased and grateful.

“Little Talks” seems to have taken on a life of its own and has become a runaway hit. How exciting is that for the band

So crazy and very cool for us.

What’s been your favorite U.S. city to play?

We had a really good concert in Philadelphia. They were one of the first ones to recognize the song and we had two concerts there that sold out very quickly. They welcomed us with open arms. It was a release party as well since our album came out on the 3^rd (of April) and that’s when we played there.

Did you eat any cheese steaks?

Yeah, I had one. It wasn’t very good though. I didn’t like it very much, but I did dedicate a song it.

As long as you won over the crowd, that’s all that counts.

Yes, yes (laughs).

How did you guys come up with the title for your album, My Head is an Animal? What’s the meaning behind it?

It’s in the first sentence of the album. The song is called “Dirty Paws” and the first sentence contains the words. We knew early on that was going to be a title and the opening track of the album. I think the sentence sums up the album for us and the feeling while we were making it.

The vibe and everything like that?

Yes, definitely.

How are the crowds here different than Iceland and Europe?

I really can’t compare them. The people are very open; they come up to you after the show and hug you and stuff like that. In Iceland, we keep more to ourselves. That’s the big difference.

Is there any new material in the works or any B-sides that didn’t make that could make up a new album?

We released this album in Iceland last September and for the international release, we recorded two new songs in January. We have a couple of songs that we’ve been playing that haven’t been on the album.

After you go home, what’s next for the band?

We go home for six days and go straight to Europe and play shows in Amsterdam, Paris, London and Berlin. We’re going to L.A. to play another few shows there. Then we go home and then back to the States. We’re always going back and forth. We’re playing a couple of festivals: the Newport Folk Festival, Outside Lands and a few more.

What’s been the reception back as your international profile has grown?

They seem to be very supportive and happy for us. We know how lucky we are to be in this situation, which is very, very happy and great.

What’s the thing you’re looking forward to the most when you get home?

I would like to hug my girlfriend. That would be nice. Also, seeing my family and resting a bit would be great.

 

 

Photo by Frank Maddock

Gary Clark Jr. hates the term bluesman. Judging from his brand of music, you would expect this new artist to embrace the label, but being a nasty guitar player is only the tip of the iceberg to this man’s talents.  Sort of like a latter day John Mayer, Clark can play many different types of guitar: jazz, blues to straight up balls-to-the wall rock, making it all sound delightfully good in the process.

The Austin-native released a 4-song EP, The Bright Lights EP, last year to much critical acclaim and left many excited about his full-length. Initially slated for release last fall, the rave reviews that accompanied Clark’s EP allowed the label to build upon this success and instead we’re left to wait for the near future to hear what’s to come next.

When we spoke to with the guitarist last year, he was soft-spoken and humble about his early successes. But you can’t judge someone by the way they speak. Clark’s booming, soulful vocals along with a guitar style that’s wowed everyone from Eric Clapton to Alicia Keys show that he’s one of the best gunslingers to play guitar in a while.

“It’s definitely awesome,” he told us last October. “Having all this love is something that’s reassuring.”

In the past, being a guitar virtuoso has appealed to only a small subsection of music fans (think Joe Satriani or Stevie Vai), but Clark’s deft songwriting ability will skyrocket him into the mainstream. Having played Coachella last weekend to rave reviews (which seems to be commonplace these days), he’s slated to play every major festival in the States this summer, including the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Sasquatch and Bonnaroo, all of which ain’t too shabby.

It’s surprising to hear that a musician like Clark has captured the hearts and minds of music critics and fans alike. Though he has one of the earliest timeslots on his Friday performance, he may not get the crowds that he deserves. However, the one thing that is certain is that whoever catches this up-and-comer, won’t be disappoint with the music they hear emanating from the stage and who knows, this could be one of those “I remember where I was when” or “I saw Gary Clark Jr. when he was the first act at Coachella” moments that could go down in music folklore.

 

As we wrote in our Artist of the Week category during SXSW, Los Angeles-based punk rockers FIDLAR are a new band on the rise. Though many outside the City of Angels have yet to familiarize themselves with the quartet, these fellas kick some serious ass, trust me. Finally, after ranting and touting these dudes finally released an EP, Don’t Try (aptly titled) that more than supports the much-deserved hype.

On their 4 song, nearly nine-minute proper debut EP (the longest song clocks at a whopping three minutes even), FIDLAR gives new meaning to the phrase “atomic punks,” which something I’m sure Diamond Dave (David Lee Roth for those of you who don’t know) wasn’t singing about his song of the same title in 1977. In these eight minutes, the band smashes through songs with the ease and swagger of confident veterans. In fact, these songs never feel like they’re that short because there’s so much going on musically in such a short period of time by the time you realize what hit you, it’s time to move onto the next exciting track.

“Don’t Try” is the first track and starts with a splash of surf-punk. It’s a lo-fi gem with a driving guitar solo and the lyrics are simple (example: “I need a new body/I need a new soul/I feel like I need to get drunk”) but that doesn’t take away that this is what garage punk is all about. The song is all about instrumentation, energy and making you feel something, that’s the point of music, right?

“No Ass” is a cross between the Buzzcocks and Pixies. It’s a melodic interpretation of punk (never thought you’d hear those words together I bet), though if you weren’t listening closely, you’d miss it. Another garage-y song with splashes of late ‘70s British punk influences here.

As the longest tune, “Black Out Stout” has a lot going on. This one is a blend between underground ‘80s New York City punk and newer SoCal bands like Waaves. There’s a lot going on here musically. It still retains the lo-fi magic that defines FIDLAR’s sound, but the songs changes gears musically so much in three minutes that you don’t what’s going to happen next. The melody remains similar, yet the band knows how to mix it up enough in order show their musical prowess.

Finally, “Got No Money” is a song that most kids in the band’s age demographic can relate to. A bit Sonic Youth-y at the beginning, the song kicks into gear within the first 15 seconds and has a Black Lips feel to it. The lyrics are funny (“I got no money for school/I got no money for weed”) and reflect a certain Spicoli-esqueness that accurately reflects the band’s slacker persona.

If there’s a band to get on board with, it’s FIDLAR. Only one EP in, the band is releasing their full-length sometime this summer and if it’s anything like this, the group will evolve from a blog favorite into something bigger.

Over the past week, we’ve showcased the best new bands to check out at Coachella. Instead of our usual Artist of the Week, we’ve decided to mix it up a bit in honor of one of the biggest festivals in the world. With the festival rapidly approaching (this weekend and next to be exact), here are some highlights from our running series. Stay tuned, over the next week, there will be more pieces to come.

tUnE-yArDs: Merrill Garbus is both powerful and adorable, relatable and admirable. In her songs, she finds a way to keep it real while being strong and encouraging. Watching her live looping and seeing exactly how she creates these innovative musical puzzles is part of the fun, but there’s just something in her delivery of it all that communicates a genuine, pure joy to be doing what she’s doing. She continuously exchanges glances of glee with bassist Nate Brenner, and the two of them are so in sync it’s enviable.

This is music perfectly conducive to the essential rock concert experience: being surrounded by strangers, but when you look at the person next to you, you have this shared understanding that you are having the same kick ass experience.  – Kelly Knapp

Dawes: When I see Dawes on a list of new bands to check out, I chuckle and have to remind myself that they haven't been a band for all that long, even if they seem like they've been part of my life for years. I remember listening to their debut album, North Hills, on vinyl with a couple friends a few days after I had seem them live for the first time at Lincoln Hall in Chicago. Seeing them perform in all different sorts of venues, I can say that the band excels in any surrounding and will undoubtedly command attention at this festival.

Watching them perform at Lollapalooza and witnessing fellow concert-goers stop in their tracks and instantly become fans is a great indicator of what is sure to be just as amazing performances to come at this years Coachella. I am deeply jealous of anyone that gets to see them at this amazing venue in all their rocking glory. – Daniela Montelongo

Miike Snow: Miike Snow may have fooled you the way they fooled me when I first laid my ears on that catchy electro-pop number Animal back in 2009. I was hooked that very first time. The song’s choruses trance my brain the way their mysterious identity seemed to appeal to me and perhaps others too. It was only after non-stop rotation of their eponymous debut album and a chance to see the band live for the first time in 2010 that made me realize this one fact about Miike Snow has been quite misleading on a first impression basis: Miike Snow is not a person.

If you’re heading to the festival on either weekend, Miike Snow will be performing on 14th and 21st of April (that is on a Saturday) alongside Radiohead, Bon Iver, St. Vincent, just to name a few.Expect an intricate stage set up, a dance party where you’ll be singing along to their catchy numbers (and do cross your fingers for them to play a number or two from the debut. – Nazirah Ashari

Childish Gambino: "Childish Gambino" is a silly name created by a Wu-Tang Clan name generator website. The name itself speaks to Glover's seemingly cavalier approach to the rap game while simultaneously belying the underlying efforts and serious work that he’s been putting in to becoming a solid hip-hop artist. Childish Gambino doesn't really make pop music although his flow is peppered with more pop culture references than a SportsCenter marathon. He makes rap music. His songs aren't radio friendly. They don't have super-catchy hooks. Many don't even have hooks at all. They just have verse after verse of Glover's wit, bite and some very well founded swagger. – Adam Ward

Gotye: If you have not heard “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye, you must live under a rock. It’s the only explanation, really, considering that track transcends genres, making it accessible to alternative rock, pop, and even hip-hop radio stations, which have all given it monstrous airtime. The Australian-based indie outfit has been one of the most talked about new bands this year.

Although it was singer Wouter De Backer’s determination that initially sparked his success, it is his unique brand of experimental yet accessible atmospheric indie rock that propelled it and his breathtaking live show (with a complete band) that will cause it to continue growing. I was lucky enough to attend Gotye’s American television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in February of this year and can say, without a doubt, his performance is a must see at Coachella. – Katrina Nattress