Deep Purple announces release of 'Splat!'; new album coming July 3, 2026

Deep Purple has just announced the release of the hard rock band's forthcoming album Splat!, set for release July 3, 2026. I am really looking forward to this album. Read a review of one of my favorite hard rock shows ever when Deep Purple and Blue Öyster Cult performed on the same bill in Costa Mesa, CA in 2014...Robert Kinsler

ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM OUT JULY 3 ON earMUSIC “MUSIC FOR THE END OF HUMANITY (…BUT NOT AS GRIM AS IT MAY SEEM)”   PRE-SAVE THE NEW ALBUM HERE Pictured above: Album Cover DEEP PURPLE will release their new studio album SPLAT! July 3 on earMUSIC.  The band—Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey, and Simon McBride—has once again teamed up with renowned producer Bob Ezrin (KISS, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper) and together, they have crafted an album that draws on the sound and attitude that has always set DEEP PURPLE apart from the rest. SPLAT! is the heaviest DEEP PURPLE album in many years, with the band playing together in the studio—the way DEEP PURPLE have always recorded. Pre-order starts today; click HERE.   “I have to say, now we are very much back in with material that is compatible with ‘Highway Star,’ ‘Smoke on the Water,’ and ‘Lazy,’ the dynamics, the balance, and the fun of the music we made from ’69 to ’73,” says frontman Ian Gillan. He adds: “Where we are now with this incarnation of DEEP PURPLE feels very much like a very ‘now’ version of DEEP PURPLE as it was in the seventies.”   At the heart of SPLAT! is an idea conceived by Gillan. Rather than treating the end as destruction, the album imagines it as transformation: SPLAT! explores the end of humanity not in any crude apocalyptic sense but as a metamorphosis beyond physical existence. L-R: Ian Paice, Don Airey, Roger Glover, Ian Gillan, Simon McBride   Photo Credit:  Olaf Heine   Additional details about the album concept will be revealed in the weeks leading up to its July 3 release. New music from SPLAT! is on the way and DEEP PURPLE invite fans to follow the journey at DEEP PURPLE and earMUSIC on socials.   To celebrate the release, DEEP PURPLE will continue their extensive 2026 touring schedule with no fewer than 86 shows across 28 countries on three continents.   With more than 120 million albums sold since forming in 1968, DEEP PURPLE have long secured their place in rock history. Rather than simply preserving their legacy, they continue to extend it, driven by the same spirit that defined their earliest work.   Ian Gillan sums it up: “DEEP PURPLE is in a great place right now.”   Track listing (CD/2LP): Side A 1.  Arrogant Boy 2.  Diablo 3.  The Rider 4.  The Lunatic Side B 5.  The Only Horse In Town 6.  Sacred Land 7.  The Beating Of Wings Side C 8.  Guilt Trippin' 9.  Scriblin' Gib'rish 10. Jessica's Bra Side D 11. Third Call 12. My New Movie 13. Splat!   SPLAT! will be available July 3 in multiple formats:   ·      Limited Box Set, containing: o  2LP Gatefold (180g) o  12-page vinyl-sized booklet o  CD Digisleeve o  3 exclusive 10-inch vinyl records featuring live recordings from the DEEP PURPLE Tour 2024 o  Exclusive 7-inch single featuring the bonus track “GUINNESIS” (not included on the studio album and available exclusively in the box set!)   ·      CD (Digisleeve)   ·      2LP Gatefold (black, 180g) + 12-page vinyl-sized booklet   ·      Limited Purple 2LP Gatefold (180g) + 12-page vinyl-sized booklet   ·      Limited Transparent Yellow 2LP (180g) + 12-page vinyl-sized booklet   All LP editions include a rich 12-page LP-sized booklet with illustrations and all song lyrics – available exclusively with the first pressing.   Further exclusive items are available via the official artist store, including:   ·      Limited 2LP Picture Disc + 12-page vinyl-sized booklet   ·      Limited Cassette   ·      A strictly limited canvas signed by all band members and limited to just 199 copies worldwide   ·      Additional apparel and merchandise items   ACCESS THE NEW ALBUM HERE   Follow DEEP PURPLE Facebook   Instagram  YouTube     TikTok       X   Follow earMUSIC Facebook   Instagram  YouTube     TikTok       X   ABOUT DEEP PURPLE There simply aren’t enough superlatives to properly acknowledge the contribution DEEP PURPLE has made to rock music. Having sold more than 120 million albums and filled global arenas for decades, there’s little wonder that the respected British radio station Planet Rock named the group the “5th Most Influential Band Ever.” The band were also presented the “Legend Award” at the 2008 World Music Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. DEEP PURPLE truly are “rock royalty.” With a body of work spanning seven decades, DEEP PURPLE have helped pioneer and define the hard rock genre while progressively moving into new areas, both keeping their sound fresh and attracting new fans to the legions who have remained loyal since the band’s inception. The celebrated MKII line-up of Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore was responsible for creating many of the defining rock albums of the early ’70s, including Made in Japan universally accepted as one of the most important and influential live albums of all time. Known as one of the hardest working bands ever, DEEP PURPLE have continued to release No. 1 albums and tour globally since forming in 1968, with little rest. DEEP PURPLE have stayed true to their musical roots, drawing from an eclectic mix of styles to create a distinctive sound that defines the band today and, in turn, has created a legacy that very few bands could ever hope to replicate. The band has written and produced so many “classic,” well-known songs that its audience ranges widely in age and background—something the band has readily embraced. DEEP PURPLE’s recent studio album =1 (2024) followed their worldwide chart-topping albums Whoosh! (2020), inFinite (2017) and NOW What?! (2013). 2026 sees the release of their brand-new album SPLAT!  On these albums, DEEP PURPLE joined forces with producer Bob Ezrin, who has worked with the likes of KISS, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed and Alice Cooper. Furthering their collaboration with Ezrin, in 2021 and during the pandemic the band recorded a collection of cover songs from their own homes (normal for most bands nowadays, revolutionary for a band that records everything together in the studio), creating an eclectic and celebratory history of their roots in music, in the shape of Turning to Crime.   Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey and Simon McBride continue with renewed vitality, pushing the boundaries of hard rock to audiences around the globe, proving that DEEP PURPLE are very much here to stay.   MAD IN EUROPE TOUR DATES 11 JUN 2026 – Espoo, Finland – Espoo Metro Arena 12 JUN 2026 – Tampere, Finland – Nokia Arena 14 JUN 2026 – Kristiansand, Norway – Dirty Old Town Live – Odderoya Amfi 18 JUN 2026 – Clisson, France – Hellfest – SOLD OUT 20 JUN 2026 – Meppen, Germany – Emsland Open Air 24 JUN 2026 – Mönchengladbach, Germany – SparkassenPark 27 JUN 2026 – Coburg, Germany – HUK Coburg Open Air, Schlossplatz 28 JUN 2026 – Ulm, Germany – Klosterhof Wiblingen 02 JUL 2026 – Vigo, Spain – Conciertos de Castrelos, Auditorio Castrelos 04 JUL 2026 – Gredos, Ávila, Spain – Músicos en la Naturaleza 05 JUL 2026 – Pamplona, Spain – Navarra Arena 07 JUL 2026 – Valencia, Spain – Jardines de Viveros 09 JUL 2026 – Marbella, Spain – Starlite 10 JUL 2026 – Cádiz, Spain – Tío Pepe 13 JUL 2026 – Montreux, Switzerland – Montreux Jazz Festival 16 JUL 2026 – Pisa, Italy – Pisa Summer Knights – Piazza Dei Cavalieri 17 JUL 2026 – Este, Italy – Este Music Festival – Castello Carrarese 19 JUL 2026 – Munich, Germany – Tollwood Festival   SPLAT! WORLD TOUR DATES 04 AUG 2026 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater 06 AUG 2026 – Memphis, TN – Memphis Botanic Garden 08 AUG 2026 – Clearwater, FL – The BayCare Sound 09 AUG 2026 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Casino 12 AUG 2026 – Wantagh, NY – Jones Beach Theater 13 AUG 2026 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center 15 AUG 2026 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre 17 AUG 2026 – Laval, QC – Place Bell 18 AUG 2026 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre 19 AUG 2026 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre 21 AUG 2026 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob 22 AUG 2026 – Salamanca, NY – Seneca Allegany Casino 24 AUG 2026 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheatre 25 AUG 2026 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia 27 AUG 2026 – Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino 29 AUG 2026 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre 31 AUG 2026 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome 02 SEP 2026 – Abbotsford, BC – Abbotsford Centre 04 SEP 2026 – Lincoln, CA – Thunder Valley 05 SEP 2026 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre 06 SEP 2026 – Highland, CA – Yaamava Theatre 08 SEP 2026 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre 10 SEP 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – Planet Hollywood 11 SEP 2026 – Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Amphitheater 12 SEP 2026 – Sparks, NV – Nugget Event Center 29 SEP 2026 – Sofia, Bulgaria – 8888 Arena 01 OCT 2026 – Cluj, Romania – BT Arena 02 OCT 2026 – Budapest, Hungary – Laszlo Papp Arena 04 OCT 2026 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Tipos Arena 05 OCT 2026 – Vienna, Austria – Stadthalle 07 OCT 2026 – Prague, Czechia – O2 Arena 08 OCT 2026 – Lodz, Poland – Atlas Arena 10 OCT 2026 – Belgrade, Serbia – Stark Arena 11 OCT 2026 – Skopje, North Macedonia – Boris Trajkovski Arena 13 OCT 2026 – Athens, Greece – Telekom Centre Arena 16 OCT 2026 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion 17 OCT 2026 – Milan, Italy – Unipol Forum 19 OCT 2026 – Barcelona, Spain – Sant Jordi Club 20 OCT 2026 – Madrid, Spain – Movistar Arena 22 OCT 2026 – Paris, France – Adidas Arena 23 OCT 2026 – Antwerp, Belgium – Lotto Arena 25 OCT 2026 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena 26 OCT 2026 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena 28 OCT 2026 – Oslo, Norway – Spektrum Arena 29 OCT 2026 – Gothenburg, Sweden – Scandinavium 31 OCT 2026 – Leipzig, Germany – QI Arena 01 NOV 2026 – Hamburg, Germany – Sporthalle 03 NOV 2026 – Dortmund, Germany – Westfalenhalle 04 NOV 2026 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena 06 NOV 2026 – Frankfurt, Germany – Festhalle 07 NOV 2026 – Nuremberg, Germany – Arena 09 NOV 2026 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome 10 NOV 2026 – Strasbourg, France – Zénith 12 NOV 2026 – Bordeaux, France – Arkéa Arena 13 NOV 2026 – Nantes, France – Zénith 15 NOV 2026 – Lyon, France – LDLC Arena 18 NOV 2026 – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena 19 NOV 2026 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro 21 NOV 2026 – Birmingham, UK – BP Pulse Arena 22 NOV 2026 – Manchester, UK – AO Arena 24 NOV 2026 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo 25 NOV 2026 – London, UK – Royal Albert Hall 05 DEC 2026 – São Paulo, Brazil – Suhai Hall 08 DEC 2026 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena 10 DEC 2026 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Movistar Arena 13 DEC 2026 – Monterrey, MX – Arena Monterrey 16 DEC 2026 – Guadalajara, MX – Arena Guadalajara 19 DEC 2026 – Mexico City, MX – Estadio Fray Nano Tickets are available at www.deeppurple.com.

The Rolling Stones announce release of 'Foreign Tongues'

The Rolling Stones have just announced the release of a new album, Foreign Tongues (you can see the album cover artwork on the right), set for release on July 10, 2026. 

This will mark the British band's 25th studio album! The album is reportedly set to include guest appearances from Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood and even Robert Smith (The Cure). The lead single "Rough and Twisted" is the lead single from the album and was recently released under the pseudonym The Cockroaches. Another track, "In The Stars," has also been released. Visit the band's website store HERE to learn more.

New music: Ringo Starr, Peter Case, Rick Vito, Wormstew

In this column I showcase four fantastic new audio titles available now.

Artist: Ringo Starr
Title: Long Long Road (Ringo Starr)
You might like if you enjoy: Ringo Starr, The Beatles, Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings

Tell me more: Beloved singer-songwriter/drummer Ringo Starr is back with yet another wonderful studio album, the aptly titled Long Long Road. The 10-track Nashville-mining album features a slew of musical heavyweights who add their talents to bolster the T Bone Burnett-produced LP. Indeed, Sheryl Crow, Sarah Jarosz, Molly Tuttle, St. Vincent and Billy Strings are among the notables featured on Starr's 22nd solo album; the original songs on the disc were co-written by Starr alongside Burnett as well as with Daniel Tashian and Bruce Sugar. Early highlights on the album abound; the breezy Appalachia-tinged "Returning Without Tears" finds Starr's signature vocals a perfect fit with harmony vocals courtesy of Tuttle's lovely soprano (she also plays acoustic guitar on the track). The breezy "Baby Don't Go" (the latter featuring some flashy acoustic guitar work from Strings), the driving "It's Been Too Long" with Starr's masterful drumming front and center (his outstanding lead vocals blend perfectly with backing vocals provided by Tuttle and Jarosz), and the buoyant gem "Why," the latter featuring stellar acoustic guitar work from both Tuttle and Strings are fantastic. The last half of Long Long Road continues to cast its magic via the shimmering "You and I (Wave of Love)," lovely "My Baby Don't Want Nothing" and Beatlesque "Choose Love." Bringing it all home is the pedal-string swept title track that finds a grateful Starr looking back at his incredible life and how — no matter the challenge — he continues to live each day with purpose, love and strength. Long Long Road is available on audio CD, vinyl LP, "Ultraviolet Dream" color vinyl and via all streaming/download services. Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band have a number of upcoming concert dates on the West Coast this spring, including a performance at Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, AZ on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Information: ringostarr.com. 

Artist: Peter Case
Title: My Life To Live: Peter Case At McCabe's (Sunset Blvd Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Peter Case, Bob Dylan, The Nerves, The Plimsouls
Tell me more: Three-time Grammy nominated artist Peter Case's stellar legacy is celebrated across the new commercial concert recording My Life To Live: Peter Case At McCabe's. Recorded during a sold-out two-night stand at McCabe's in Santa Monica, CA, the stellar songwriting and top-tier vocal delivery of Case shines across the recording that highlights material from across his celebrated discography. Highlights include the melodic "Estella Hotel," nuanced "Ain't Gonna Worry No More," blues-folk political sortie "Water From A Stone," poetic "Underneath The Stars," piano-anchored "Oldest Story In The World" and literate thought-provoking cut "Every 24 Hours." Nothing captures the "unplugged" magic of the album's sweep like the authentic take of "Somebody Told The Truth" which features Case's a cappella vocals and blues harmonica blasts perfectly framed by the spot-on clapping accompaniment of the entire audience. Information: petercase.com. 

Artist: Rick Vito
Title: Slidemaster (MoMojo Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Bonnie Raitt, Derek Trucks
Tell me more: If you love slide guitar, you are going to absolutely love Grammy-nominated guitarist Rick Vito's aptly-titled Slidemaster. This truly unique album features Vito's all-instrumental selections played exclusively on slide guitar. Standouts on the dozen-track collection include the fiery opener "Vegas Jump," emotive slow Chicago blues-flavored "Steal Away," the moody '60s-mining "The Danger Zone," and "Soul Shadows," sumptuous reading of Peter Green's "Albatross," a nuanced version of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" and ambitious original "River Of Blues." Information: rickvito.com. 

Artist: Wormstew
Title: The Last Days Of Loma (Big Stir Records)
You might like if you enjoy: They Might Be Giants, Del Amitri, The Kinks, sparkle*jets u.k.
Tell me more: Released on April 24, Wormstew's debut album The Last Days Of Loma is loaded with originals that are artful, melodic, intelligent and never less than alluring. Mike Schnee (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion), Teresa Cowles (bass, vocals, keyboards) and Michael Simmons (drums, vocals, electric guitar, keyboards and more) are a formidable trio, conjuring up past masters while bravely crafting a sonic palette all their own. The melodious jazz-tinged opener "Spinning," tuneful "Sheriff Brody" (a literate look back at the protagonist from the classic movie "Jaws"), shining harmonies sortie "Letters On The Wall," delightfully driving Americana nugget "Movin' Along" and haunting "J.P. McCartney" are among my early faves on the 14-track disc. The exuberant bluegrass gem "Assholes," wistful "Irony At Its Finest," melancholy-filled Kinks-flavored "When Cats Are Sad," soaring "When Our Worlds Collide" and sophisticated "Another Stupid Song" thrill on Side 2 of the masterwork. The Last Days Of Loma is available on vinyl, audio CD and via streaming services worldwide. Information: bigstirrecords.com. 

Robert Kinsler

Coachella Festival 2026 Weekend 2 Recap

"Visage Brut" by the Los Angeles
Design Group

What: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

Who: The xx, Lykke Li, David Byrne, Sombr, Alex G, Foster the People, more 

When: April 17-19, 2026

Where: Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA

Review and photography by Robert Kinsler

Editorial note: You can read coverage on the Desert Local News website that includes writer George A. Paul's favorite performances of Weekend 2 HERE

Additionally, George A. Paul's complete coverage of his experience at Weekend 2 of Coachella is available on his Music Minded blog HERE

Artist Kyriakos Chatziparaskevas' "Starry Eyes" art installation made quite an
impression with Coachellagoers this year.

Friday, April 17

My Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Weekend 2 experience began with a chance to get an authentic flavor of the Coachella Valley's rich history via an outstanding performance by Cahuilla Bird Singers and Dancers (as seen in the image above). While a large group of men stood on stage and sang/chanted and told stories behind the selections sung in their original language, about a dozen women stood in the area in front of the Gobi Stage and danced throughout the 30-minute performance.

Following that, the Bob Baker Marionettes brought bona fide fun to the Gobi Stage. The fast-moving variety show blended a number of musical styles as elaborate string puppets were brought to life by skilled marionettists. What's more, Irish singer CMAT (Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson) joined the Marionettes to singer her own song "Take a Sexy Picture of Me" during the 40-minute set. She joined the principal marionette, "Pink Cat," to sing the song. You can learn more about the Los Angeles area-based Bob Baker Marionette Theater HERE.

 

Lykke Li performing in front of a large crowd gathered in front of the
Outdoor Theatre on Friday afternoon.

One of the genuine joys of my more than 20 years of attending Coachellafest is the discovery of groundbreaking artists new to me. On Friday, April 17, I caught Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li's 50-minute set on the Outdoor Theatre stage. An artist whose ambition is matched equally by her on-stage persona and originality blending electropop, dance pop and indie stylings, her performance was never less than compelling. The songs had strong dynamics and even when the intent may have simply been to get concertgoers to move in rhythm to the music, there was emotional weight to the originals. My favorites included the introspective ballad "Highway To Your Heart," synthesizer-swept "Sick of Love," and romance-minded dance "Little Bit."

The xx thrilled throughout their fast-moving set on April 17. Pictured on the big
screens, from left, are guitarist Romy Bradley Croft and bassist Oliver Sim.

I was no stranger to the magical power of The xx, having previously caught them at the Empire Polo Club grounds in 2017 (you can read my review of that event HERE). The band's appearance this year again proved why the acclaimed British trio is so compelling, with their distinctive approach the perfect fit with the magic of performing on the Coachella Stage at dusk. Atmospheric and dreamy standouts included the lovely opener "Crystalised" and followup "Say Something Loving" (with guitarist Romy Bradley Croft and bassist Oliver Sim sharing lead vocal duties on both tracks), "Angels" and tender "Shelter"; The xx was more forceful on the sweeping "Fiction" and aptly-titled "Loud Places." The soaring masterwork "Intro" closed out the bewitching 55-minute performance.

Saturday, April 18

Kacey Musgraves, lower left, performing in the Mohave Tent on April 18.

Weekend 2 attendees scored a musical jackpot with the addition of Texas country music superstar Kacey Musgraves who performed in a packed (and I mean packed!) Mohave Tent on Saturday afternoon; this also marked her first performance at Coachella in seven years. The beloved songstress made the most impressive entrance of the weekend when she rode a horse to the side entrance of the tent, and then proceeded to kill it with one of the most memorable sets of the weekend. Opening with the wistful title track off her forthcoming album Middle of Nowhere (due May 1, 2026), she treated concertgoers to several other nuggets from the album including the infectious "Uncertain, TX" (complete with country line dancers sharing the stage with Musgraves and her seven-man band), and beautiful pedal steel-swept "Back on the Wagon." Other highlights of the 53-minute set included the romantic kiss-off "Space Cowboy," mid tempo "Slow Burn," shimmering "Golden Hour," a rousing cover of George Strait's "All My Ex's Live in Texas" and playful "Dry Spell."

Alex G photo credit: Anna Downs
Photo courtesy of Coachella

The sonic echoes of Dinosaur Jr., Band of Horses, the Hooters and a slew of other personal faves seemed to emerge during singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Alex G's wide-ranging Saturday 50-minute afternoon set on the Outdoor Theatre stage. Some selections were super dense and heavy (the post-goth opener "Louisiana" comes to mind) or wonderfully melodic ("Gretel"), while others landed in a genre-defying area ("June Guitar" where Alex G played an extended solo on accordion) or even tapped into classic rock and punk territory. 

Sombr photo credit: Alden Bonecutter
Photo courtesy of Coachella

Billy Idol photo credit: E Tantra
Photo courtesy of Coachella

If you have not yet heard of singer-songwriter Sombr (the moniker for New York City native Shane Michael Boose), you can be sure this mini-review will not be the last time you hear about the rising 20-year-old talent. 

Armed with model looks, charisma aplenty and a terrific voice, the rising star impressed at every turn. And it didn't hurt that he brought Billy Idol and guitarist Steve Stevens to the stage to perform a great version of Idol's 1983 hit "Eyes Without a Face" about half way through his 50-minute performance. Other standouts in the set included a moving take on Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees," as we'll as his own "Back to Friends" and "Undressed." Don't be surprised if Sombr returns to Coachella soon.

Saturday night I caught two more great performances at the festival; both The Strokes (performing on the Coachella Stage) and David Byrne (at the Outdoor Theatre) afforded me to check off two artists from my bucket list I hadn't previously seen. New York-spawned quintet The Strokes rocked through a slew of their garage rock revival-styled originals including the speedy opener "Hard to Explain," the favorite "Someday," super catchy "The Adults Are Talking" and haunting "Selfless."

Singer-guitarist David Byrne performing on the Outdoor Theatre Stage.

Byrne brought a mix of beloved fide Talking Heads classics and outstanding solo material for an hour-long set that challenged and rewarded an enthusiastic crowd. Highlights abounded included an exuberant take on "And She Was" and "Psycho Killer," as well as a finale bringing both "Once in a Lifetime" and "Burning Down the House" fully to life via a large ensemble enhancing the '80s hits.

Sunday, April 19

Foster the People delivering a top-tier set of originals at Coachella on April 19.

I caught a handful of great performances on Sunday but my favorite was by Los Angeles-spawned outfit Foster the People. Led by frontman and founder Mark Foster, the band's winning blend of synth-pop, modern rock and indie pop resonated with the large audience gathered in front of the Outdoor Theatre for the fast-moving set. Dynamic state-of-the-art visuals and a modern stage design enhanced the 12-track set. Foster is a terrific singer, and used both his full voice and an expressive falsetto to bring depth to the dance-minded opener "Helena Beat," infectious "Houdini," disco-flavored "Lost in Space," sumptuous "Coming of Age" and tuneful "Sit Next to Me." The troupe had everyone moving (as well as capturing the musical proceedings with their cell phones) on the set-ending hit "Pumped Up Kicks."

Wet Leg singer Rhian Teasdale on the large project screens on the Coachella Stage.

Earlier that day I caught several other strong sets staged on the Coachella Stage, including Tijuana Panthers and an even more powerful turn from the hard rocking English outfit Wet Leg.

Check out a number of other images I captured during Weekend 2 below...Robert Kinsler

Artist Dedo Vabo's ambitious, thought-provoking "Network Operations."

What better way to celebrate Record Store Day than to browse at the Record
Safari that is part of Coachella's shopping options.

Coachella at night brings magic to the Empire Polo Club.

Kacey Musgraves and company during an outstanding performance of the new
song "Uncertain, TX" in the Mojave Tent on April 18.

Another compelling moment during David Byrne's April 18 performance.

What a line to get into Starbucks! No, I couldn't wait that long for my java fix and 
I snagged my Americano elsewhere...

"Balloon Chain" offers Coachellagoers the
perfect photo op!

Music writer George A. Paul, on left, with yours truly on April 19 atop a
hill that overlooks the beautiful Empire Polo Club grounds in Indio, CA.  You can read
George's coverage of this year's event HERE.