Beth Stirnaman

"Hello" from Coachella 2009 Day 3

As we noted here, the greedy, heartless, brainless bastards behind Coachella have done away with single-day passes. 

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• Coachella co-headliners Gorillaz debut video for "Stylo"--first single off Plastic Beach album out March 9--starring everybody's favorite action hero Bruce Willis in bad guy role. Click to watch.

Christopher Victorio

Thom Yorke performing with Radiohead at Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood, Jan. 24

​The Coachella poster should now read "Atoms for Peace" rather than "Thom Yorke ????." That's the name Yorke has given to his other band, the one featuring Flea (bass), Nigel Godrich (keyboards, guitar, percussion), Joey Waronker (drums) and Mauro Refosco (percussion). Yorke made the announcement today on Radiohead's Dead Air Space blog: More >>

​Well, the latest Coachella rumor--and what would Coachella be without rumors?--seems to be that Sade has been added to the line-up.

Though there's no official confirmation as of yet by Coachella or Sade, it seems pretty realistic, with Sade's first full-length album released (Soldier of Love) in 10 years coming out just earlier this month.

Sade would be seen as effectively "replacing" the always theatrical Grace Jones, who dropped out of the line-up on Feb. 8, as reported by the OC Register.

Now, all this just begs the question: As much as we love her, how is Sade and her smooooth R&B (which we like calling baby makin' music) going to fair in a desert reaching triple-digit temps, with moist hipsters crawling about? Is this another attempt by Coachella to bring in a whole new sect of fans who won't be willing to pay for three-day passes?

After the jump: The video to Sade's latest single, "Soldier of Love." 
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The Hype: It's only been a month since popular San Diego quartet the Soft Pack released a highly sought-after 12" EP. Now they're giving fans a full bite of their distinctive take on hand-me-down rock & roll. They've also earned a Sunday slot on this year's Coachella Festival. Yay for them!
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As the LA Times reported yesterday, this year's Coachella is doing away with single-day passes. That's right, in order to enjoy (some) of your favorite bands in the sweltering desert with dirty fucking hipsters, you're going to have to shell out $269--that's $305 after tax--and share the same air with Coheed and Cambria fans.

Vickie Chang

The crowd during Arcade Fire's set, Coachella 2007

​Coachella founder, Goldenvoice's Paul Tollett told the Times, "I understand that every time you make a change it's great for some people, and it's not great for others. The other festivals around the world that have camping, you can buy only the pass. You don't buy the single day--Bonnaroo, Glastonbury, any of the super great ones."

Tollett also stressed that Goldenvoice is offering tickets on layaway (at least they're recognizing it's expensive?), camping prices have been decreased and that since 2007, more than 80-percent of attendees have purchased three-day passes.

Hey, and at least the economy's doing great. Thanks for the non-exciting line-up and thanks for the ultimatum, Coachella! Maybe I'll see you next year. 

Let the rumors end--finally. The Coachella roster has been confirmed. Jay-Z ranks as the biggie for the fest that takes place April 16-18 in the desert/aka Empire Polo Field, Indio, but the rad reunions go to Pavement and Faith No More. As for blasts from the past, we're stoked to see Sly and the Family Stone listed but fear we might be setting ourselves up for a serious letdown judging by Sly's few random performances in recent years, all of which pretty much sucked. We're still trying to figure out what the four question marks after Thom Yorke's name mean, since the press release offers no explanation. 

...Without the annual tradition of the fake, overly ambitious Coachella poster? (Actually, we'd venture to say this might be the most realistic fake line-up yet--how many times has it been rumored that the Smiths are reuniting?--but you know: Perchance to dream, etc.)

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Stay tuned for news of the real line-up, which wouldn't be too bad if it looked a whole lot like the above.  

We were so busy seeing sets at Coachella this past weekend that we apparently missed out on some of the real stories--like this naked wizard getting chased around and tased by on-site cops. Everyone wants to have fun at there, but apparently this naked wizard was having a little too much fun. Here's the video that's been making the rounds online, and keep in mind that it is decidedly not safe for work, unless your work is particularly amenable towards copious amount of naked wizard dong. If so, hold on to that job as if it were gold, friend.


 
Naked Wizard Tased By Reality from Tracy Anderson on Vimeo.