hunter::gathering

another spring and summer arrive, another crop of big and expensive music concerts to attend.  i know, i'm too old for these things, but i can rest when i'm dead.  and i've spent all fall and winter in small sweaty clubs, so it's time to get some fresh air.  and blow all my money.

• coachella - yep, making my way back to the indio desert for this three-day megafest.  ahh, i know, it's too crowded, hard to get close to the bands you want to see, someone lame like madonna or the red hot chili peppers always show up, it's expensive, the people suck, it's too hot, blah blah blah.  but whatever.  you can't dispute the music lineup.  three days of non-stop grade-a audio pleasure.  and forget the headliners, coachella is all about the smaller stages.  plus, it's just a nice getaway to warmer climes.  tix are sold out, but there's always a way.  let me know if you're heading this year. 

my must-sees: bjork, jesus and mary chain, arcade fire, lcd soundsystem, blonde redhead, hot chip, mstrkrft, gotan project, air, happy mondays, soulwax, lily allen, jose gonzalez, ratatat, konono no. 1, amy winehouse, gogol bordello, sonic youth.  oh yeah, and interpol, peaches, tilly and the wall, the new pornographers, the rapture, ghostface killah, cocorosie, justice, girl talk, manu chao, rage against the machine, the roots, richie hawtin, spank rock, css, klaxons, and junior boys.  see what i mean?

• arcade fire - greek theater, berkeley.  june 1. already told you about that one. 

• the police - key arena, seattle.  june 7.  been waiting for this one for a long time.  and i think it will be well worth it.  say what you want about sting, the police were pioneers.  this will be one of those sing-a-long shows… 

• sonic youth - berkeley community theater, july 19.  sonic youth can do no wrong in my book.  and i'm happy to see them anytime i get the chance.  but this one is a can't miss.  in celebration of their re-mastered release of their classic album daydream nation, sonic youth is playing three shows (new york, los angeles, berkeley) where they'll be covering the album from start to finish.  a seminal show for a seminal band.  i've got some extra tickets to this one for anyone that wants to come with.  third row center! 

• daft punk, the rapture, sebastian, kavinsky - greek theater, berkeley.  july 27.  haven't bought this one yet, namely because of the absurd ticket price ($55!!!).  wtf is going on these days???  i guess this is the downloading backlash.  looking at it that way, alright, i guess i'll suck it up.  but my soulseeking will continue henceforth.  and as for this show, well, it may actually be worth it to see these legends live.  daft punk played one of the best sets at coachella last year.  this'll be a rare opportunity to see them doing their live pa, plus the rest of the lineup is smoking.  who wants to go?

plus, i hope to get down to la to my old haunt the hollywood bowl to catch dj shadow and cut chemist doing brainfreeze live.  or perhaps hall and oates…