Acoustic guitar, I'll make you a star

I've been quite busy with work and haven't had much time to do anything else. In fact, I'm in Northern California right now in my hotel room relaxing before I go to bed, but I figured that since I'm the only person who still posts that went to Coachella (I saw Bridget on the first day), I'd better write about it.

Here is the complete list of bands I listened to at least 2 songs: Coldplay, Weezer, Wilco, Keane, Snow Patrol, Rilo Kiley, Bloc Party, Spoon, M83, The Secret Machines, Boom Bip, Radio 4, Gratitude, Nine Inch Nails, New Order, Gang of Four, Arcade Fire, Pinback, Thrice, M.I.A., the Fiery Furnaces, Autolux, Tegan and Sara, and the Futureheads.

Best Headliner: Nine Inch Nails. Interestingly, I didn't really watch either set. Christina and I left Coldplay three songs into the set because Coldplay kind of sucks live. As for Nine Inch Nails, Christina and I went to see Pinback for about half of their set, but came back just in time to hear about five of their best songs. NIN kind of wins by default.

Worst Band: tie, Autolux, Keane. Autolux had an amazing, amazing drummer. Perhaps the finest female drummer I've ever seen, but that doesn't save them from sounding like lame copycats of My Bloody Valentine. Come on, Kevin Shields perfected that stuff 14 years ago. And Keane, you're not Ben Folds Five, so stop trying. That stuff was perfected 8 years ago.

Best Surprisingly Good Live Act: Weezer. I think this was the eighth or ninth time I've seen Weezer, and this was the second best time I've seen them (the first being at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento in 2001). Rivers was on fire, and the whole group actually was caught rocking out instead of just standing there, playing music. And the new songs were pretty damn good.

Best Use of Old Hit Songs: New Order. I knew I liked New Order, but I never thought they'd be this good live. Their second song was "Regret," perhaps my favorite song of theirs. The next song was Joy Division's "Transmission." Their last four songs were in this order: "Bizarre Love Triangle," Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart," "Crystal," and finished with "Blue Monday" (which included an intro mash-up of "Can't Get You Out of My Head"). Amazing set.

Best Drummer: Bloc Party. Seriously, have you heard this guy? Best drummer I've heard in a while. Best record of the year so far. They played my four favorite tracks from that record to start out the set ("Like Eating Glass," "Positive Tension," "Banquet," and "This Modern Love," in that order) and still had excellent songs to spare. Well worth missing Bauhaus for these guys.

Craziest Live Act: Arcade Fire. Banging, clapping, swinging, and screaming at anything and everything in sight and still sounded amazing.

Best Beeps and Boops: Pinback: This should have gone to some electro band, but I'm not really a fan of that crap, and only saw one band during the weekend that would have qualified (Boom Bip). Pinback wins because they have this great song called "Loro" from their first album that Christina fell in love with when we saw Pinback open for Slint a while back. Thankfully, they played it again (but still no "Tripoli" damn you!).

Most Overly Dramatic Lead Singer: Gratitude. I've loved Jonah since he was in Far, and I've followed him through Onelinedrawing and New End Original, but man, give the guy a guitar because he's way too into being a rock star these days. He needs to be stationary.

Best Four Part Harmonies: the Futureheads. Really, was their any other competition in this catergory? Probably my 3rd favorite set all weekend.

Single Best Song of Coachella: Wilco, "I Am Trying to Break You're Heart". I've been waiting a long long time to hear this live. It was everything I hoped it would be.

Best Day at Coachella: Day Two. Better weather, less people, and better acts.

Now, any rumors about who's playing next year?