Results tagged “portishead”

December is list-making season. And for us music journalists, it is a time to look back on scores of albums, reflect upon the music and recapitulate our favorites. But this year, just like the last, we took this opportunity to flip that tradition upside down, asking the artists that influenced us what influenced them. The prompt was not limited to albums that came out in 2008.

December is list-making season. And for us music journalists, it is a time to look back on scores of albums, reflect upon the music and recapitulate our favorites. But this year, just like the last, we took this opportunity to flip that tradition upside down, asking the artists that influenced us what influenced them. The prompt was not limited to albums that came out in 2008.

          

In the previous installations of Coachella there have been some huge headliners. Rage Against the Machine, Radiohead, Bjork, The Beastie Boys but none quite on the level of day two's headliner, the Purple One, Prince. From the moment he hit the stage with Morris Day and Shelia E. it was apparent that the audience was in for a lesson in musicianship and showmanship. As he played through a set mixed of standards and the cover everyone was talking about (more on that in a second) he demonstrated his true mastery of musical performance. Whether it was his virtuoso guitar solos or his dance moves there was never a dull moment in the performance. But the real treat came when Prince played a cover of Radiohead's breakout hit "Creep." There have been many covers of the song but none as dramatic and unique as this cover. The song was given the Prince treatment, a few word changes and an incredible guitar solo. Before leaving the stage he declared "Coachella will always be Prince's house" and after the performance he gave Saturday, it will take alot to prove that statement wrong.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, music festivals are the dim sum of the concert-going experience; try a little of everything and go back for more of what you like (or ditch out on what you don’t). This year’s Coachella was no exception, with acts like country crooner Dwight Yoakam vying for time against dance-rock lovelies Hot Chip, or Prince breaking down the funk for the masses after a particularly breathtaking Portishead set. With the desert heat not as heart-stopping as previous years and the lineup eclectic as it was educational, Coachella brought out all ages and backgrounds of super fans and the uninitiated alike. People-watching was good but people-listening was at an all time high, so I took advantage of all the close quarters on Saturday to do a little eavesdropping.

With the Mayan Theater about half-full and slowly being filled with puffs of pot smoke, Portishead took the stage last night for their super-secret-show, and welcomed the crowd by announcing that it was a rehearsal for Coachella, and that this whole event is just so they can test their instruments.

As mentioned late Friday, Portishead, who seldom comes to the U.S. these days to perform, is holding an exclusive rehearsal on Thursday, April 24th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. before they hit Coachella... and LAist is giving away five pairs of tickets, compliments of the good people at FILTER. It's at a location we cannot disclose yet, but it is in the Los Angeles area.

If waiting until Coachella to see Portishead reunite is causing you to grind your teeth with impatience, then maybe you'll be stoked to find out that you can try and win tickets to see them play a private rehearsal for their upcoming and highly anticipated Coachella performance on April 26.