New Bat for Lashes Songs Debut in Cambridge

Ever have one of those moments where all the magic that a festival has to offer comes together in such a way that it makes all the hardship okay to the point where you declare that you must return next year? For my first Coachella, this happened during the Pixies' big comeback while the sun went down in the massive desert sky. Glastonbury had at least a dozen such moments, but one of the best was witnessing Bat for Lashes captivate the crowd on a muggy Sunday afternoon. It's been over three years since Two Suns, but today Natasha Khan's formal return has been made official. The Haunted Man, Bat for Lashes' third album finally surfaces on October 15, and driving the point home yet again that American festivals will never be as good as their European counterparts, she will be touring that circuit this summer before a fall UK tour. Nothing is currently official or even rumored for the colonies at this time, but she is long overdue to play Coachella. Too soon?

Check out videos of some new songs from tonight's warmup gig at The Junction in Cambridge after the jump. Thanks to YouTube user 0000minuit0000 for the prompt uploads. You might remember "Oh Yeah" from its debut in Sydney last year.

Live Commentary: Bonnaroo 2012, Friday

I'm not in attendance this year, but I will be watching the webcast. Keep reloading this post for my musings as they happen. Watch the webcast here.

25 Acts Due for a Coachella Debut

The Orange County Register recently published an article listing a hundred acts they want to make their Coachella debut. There are some impressive choices on the list, such as Sparks and A Tribe Called Quest, but Simply Fuss Free's take is that it's too focused on big names, many of whom are questionable for America's most popular festival. Here's a list of 25 more acts that would make Coachella, or any festival, one for the ages.

Live Commentary: Coachella 2012 Day 1

I'm not in attendance this year, but I will be watching the webcast. Keep reloading this post for my musings as they happen. Watch the webcast here.

Pulp Invades America

You say you've never been sure,
though it makes good sense for you to be together.
Still you bought a toy that can reach the places he never goes.

The band that inspired this blog's namesake has finally returned to America after 14 years away, starting with a two-song performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Judging from reviews and twitter searches for #pulp, the reception is overwhelmingly positive. If they do, in fact, stay together and release some new music as rumored, will they return to the colonies for another go? The entire midwest still needs some action, as does Canada. An Asian tour seems like a given, but has yet to surface. I hope Japan is still as much fun to tour in 2012 as it was in 1996. Pulp is clearly aware of the popularity of "Like a Friend" here, since it was performed at both Radio City gigs and on Fallon. Go, Team Venture, indeed.

Setlists? So far, excellent. It's good to see "Like a Friend" being played live, because it's one of their finest songs, and also one of the most popular on this side of the water. A Different Class-centric set is no surprise, but to this extent it is, with 11 out of the albums 12 tracks being played each night. Perhaps they don't think American audiences care about We Love Life and This Is Hardcore, which is a shame because "The Fear", "Help the Aged", and "Wickerman" would be the highlights of any set. Notable absence of pre-His 'N' Hers material is likely due to Russell Senior not being a part of this tour. Word is they considered playing "O.U. (Gone, Gone) in New York. California, perhaps? Certainly not Coachella, though.

Night 2 setlist:

Do You Remember the First Time?
Monday Morning
Razzmatazz
Pencil Skirt
Something Changed
Disco 2000
Sorted for E's & Wizz
F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.
I Spy
(a snippet of) Louie Louie (Richard Berry cover)
Babies
Underwear
This Is Hardcore
Sunrise
Bar Italia
Common People
Encore:
Like a Friend
Bad Cover Version
Mis-Shapes

First night's setlist was mostly identical, except "Live Bed Show" and "Party Hard" were performed instead of "Bad Cover Version" and "Monday Morning."

The crowd at their first proper American gig at Radio City Music Hall looks fairly lively for a massive, seated theatre in New York, but completely tame compared to some of the European crowds. Will the rowdiness and singalongs ensue at Coachella or the general admission shows in San Francisco and Pomona? Observe the differences below.

Radio City Music Hall:


Primavera Sound:

Overheard: Conversations at Glastonbury

Welcome to the first in a series called Overheard, which recalls the best conversations had and overheard at destinations all over the world. This installment covers Glastonbury 2009 and 2010. For the uninitiated, everyone around me seemed to indulge in cider, shrooms, laughing gas, and more cider, so these otherwise forgotten gems have been preserved for posterity. I tried to recall exact wording, but expect a lot of paraphrasing. 

Last Minute Coachella Wishlisting

The inevitable revelation the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival lineup became a matter of "sooner" rather than "later" on Wednesday, with an official confirmation of Azealia Banks. Following Azealia Banks' appearance on the festival's homepage were videos of AraabMuzik and Jimmy Cliff yesterday and today, respectively. Although an official release date for the lineup has yet to be announced, months of rumors, fan-made posters crafted with dubious levels of competence, and equally incompetent journalists spreading these fakes as gospel are expected to finally come to an end within the next couple weeks.

Because there has already been near-endless speculation for headliners, reunions, and the obvious critical darlings du jour, here are some videos of artists that have evaded rumor-mongering, but Simply Fuss Free would love to see featured as part of the big reveal.