Coachella 2007

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I've heard of (or heard of sufficiently that I recognize their name) exactly four of those acts.

So just out of curiosity are those mostly reasonably well known bands or a few big names with a lot of essentially unknowns?

There are about 5 categories that the bands fall into.

* There are about a dozen or so that would be considered big names that most people have heard of whether they're into music/that genre or not (Bjork, RHCP, Decemberists, Rage, Willie Nelson...)

* There's a large chunk that are considered big-if-you're-into-it, but not surprising that people who don't listen to music much or don't get exposure to a particular genre haven't heard of them.

* The names that, if you're paying attention and listening to a lot of public radio you might have heard them.

* This group really gained traction last year - the My Space bands. I still haven't really delved into that world, but it's where a lot of new bands are getting exposure.

* Unknowns/Little knowns.

There's also the special bonus category of reunited old bands that WERE big but may only be known by those of us who are a good bit above the mean attendee age. This year, that includes Sonic Youth, Crowded House, and The Jesus and Mary Chain.