Coachella has set the standard pretty high when it comes to shocking music fans with surprise artists, collaborations and band reunions. Even though it’s tough to predict things like holographic Tupac and Pheonix playing with R. Kelly, we always have fun guessing what will happen.
Every year there’s the inevitable Daft Punk rumor, which is actually heightened this year by the fact that Pharrell and a number of other Daft Punk connections will be close by. So it’s easy to consider that they might pop their helmets out from behind the curtain to do a little ditty. But barring the potential robotic takeover and a fallen rapper rising from the dead in holographic form, we’ve chosen five of the more anticipated moments of this year’s festival.
5) The Replacements’ biggest (and maybe last) reunion show
The reunions this year are top-notch with Neutral Milk Hotel and Motörhead making their way to the California scene. But punks everywhere will rejoice when 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees The Replacements will take the Outdoor Theater stage Friday night. The band’s live performances in the past have been part of their main appeal: Sometimes they are too intoxicated to even play. Other times they play entire sets of cover songs. The band’s first shows were for Riot Fest, which hit May Farms just outside of Denver in September 2013. To date, the Replacements have only played three replacement shows (Denver included). The performance at Coachella 2014 will be its fourth, its biggest and the only show it has planned right now this year.
4) Chance the Rapper (and friends?)
The 20-year-old Chicago rapper will be performing on Sunday. His mixtape “Acid Rap” made huge waves last year, which featured artists Action Bronson, Vic Mensa and Noname Gypsy, so we can reasonably expect some collaboration when he does his thing at Coachella. Kid Cudi, Nas and ASAP Ferg will all be in close proximity, so the possibilities here are tantalizing. Not to mention Pharrell, who has more than proved himself as a good person to work alongside. Chance’s buddy Childish Gambino has a clear schedule this weekend. Even though he isn’t playing Coachella, maybe he’ll pop in to perform with Chance —
3) Will Muse debut new material?
Muse’s last album was… a bit strange… But the British rockers have promised us their next album will be more reminiscent of the heavier, progressive rock songs that put them in the limelight. Even though their new album is slated for 2015, Coachella seems like the perfect place to debut some new material – and who wouldn’t like to be there to see that? The band has always been able to A) draw a massive crowd and B) leave that crowd astonished and wanting more.
2) Who will be Arcade Fire’s guest?
Arcade Fire is hot after their hit record “Reflektor.” While the band has always been fascinating to watch live, with their goofy antics and energetic stage presence, the possibility of a surprise guest collaboration here is hard to ignore. Strokes singer Julian Casablancas was just announced to have been added to the lineup and after pulling a jokey stunt with Arcade Fire during their Lolapalooza set in Argentina, the stage is set for a Strokes cover with Arcade Fire or a classic Arcade Fire tune sung by Casablancas. Either way, we’re super into it. The Pixies were added to the lineup as well. Just throwing that out there.
1) OutKast’s first reunion show … of many
This will be the first time an audience will see Outkast together in six years – but it won’t be the last. The legendary hip-hop group did well to predict such excitement for its long-awaited return to the stage. And before OutKast has played one reunion show it has been booked at more than 40 festivals this summer — mostly as the headliner. Coachella 2014 will answer the question: Are they worthy of such demand? The folks in Indio, Calif. and music fans everywhere are dying to find out, as the festival’s most highly anticipated act goes on Friday night.
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James Garcia is a community reporter at the Loveland Reporter-Herald and a new blogger at Reverb. Follow him on Twitter @JamesGarciaRH.
