New music: Strawberry Alarm Clock, Ruby James

Beloved 1960s psychedelic rockers Strawberry Alarm Clock and blues-rock songstress Ruby James are back with new albums set for release on Friday, Aug. 7.

Artist: Strawberry Alarm Clock
Title: Where's One? (Big Stir Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Byrds, The Doors, The Turtles, Oingo Boingo
Tell me more: Strawberry Alarm Clock is back with their first new full studio album of new music since 1969! Where's One? (due Aug. 7 courtesy of Big Stir Records) is an outstanding 13-track disc that includes a truly authentic lineup featuring five of the original members of the 1960s psychedelic rock troupe on board for the remarkable return. The album was co-produced by band member and multi-instrumentalist Steve Bartek (also known as a founding member of Oingo Boingo). The first half of the album features a parade of terrific cuts including the a cappella harmonies-aplenty opener "Feel The Love," delightfully melodic rocker "Monsters," a spirited cover of the Beatles' "Day Tripper," the acid garage rocker "Blow Your Mind," and sumptuous single "I'm Not The One." The last half of the album includes an ambitious and euphoric reading of George Harrison's "Within You Without You," the Baroque romantic lament "Since You Have Gone Away," genre-bending "Live Water" (the latter bolstered by jazz and experimental stylings) and instantly-bewitching gem "The Sky Isn't Falling." The album closes out with the psychedelic foray "Galactic Symphony/Persian Skies." In addition to the aforementioned Bartek (guitar, flute, sitar), the lineup includes Mark Stephen Weitz (keyboards), Randy Seol (drums/percussion), George Bunnell (bass), Gene Gunnels (drums/percussion) and Howie Anderson (guitar). Where's One? will be available on deluxe double LP vinyl, audio CD and via streaming services. Information: strawberryalarmclock.com.

Artist: Ruby James
Title: Call It Rock & Roll (Mule Kick Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Sass Jordan, Concrete Blonde, 
Tell me more: Ruby James has a powerful voice, able to masterfully tackle rock, soul, roots and funk genres with artistic ease. She proves that across Call It Rock & Roll (due Aug. 7 via Mule Kick Records). Highlights on the seven-track disc include the rollicking opener "Voodoo Queen," the propulsive rocker "Gasoline," hypnotic "Novocaine," and the dance-minded "Boogiedown Town." Sure to please fans of the Supersuckers, is a track with that band's Eddie Spaghetti joins James for a duet of the Americana ballad "Punk Rock Love Song." Elsewhere, guitar great Rosie Flores adds some stylish fretwork to a fiery cover of LaVern Baker's mid-1950s cut "Bumble Bee." Information: rubyjamesmusic.com.

Robert Kinsler

Walter Trout brings high-powered legacy to The Coach House

Who: Walter Trout, Freeman-Hale

Where: The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA

When: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

Next: Walter Trout will be touring throughout California and the West Coast of the U.S. in March 2023 before heading to Europe in May 2023

Information: WalterTrout.com

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photography by Bob Steshetz

Walter Trout brought his groundbreaking brand of hard hitting blues to The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday night for the first of two shows at the concert venue. A homecoming stop for the 71-year-old Trout — a long-time resident of nearby Huntington Beach — area fans filled The Coach House to catch a two-hour set that highlighted the singer-songwriter/guitar great's original material.

From left, Teddy "Zig Zag" Andreadis, Walter Trout, Michael Leasure and John Avila.

Backed by his incredible three-man band (long-time drummer Michael Leasure, keyboardist Teddy "Zig Zag" Andreadis and bassist John Avila of Oingo Boingo fame), Trout featured material off his 2022 album Ride. His first album since 2020, Ride is notable for its moving material looking at the artist's life — a mix of intoxicating highs and challenging lows. 

Walter Trout at The Coach House.

Bassist John Avila and Walter Trout

A survivor of life-threatening liver disease who spent months in a hospital bed while losing 120 pounds and even the ability to walk, Trout's long recovery began when he had a successful liver transplant in May 2014. Trout's miraculous return to the stage (he had to regain his ability to speak, walk and play guitar following the transplant eight years ago) adds a palpable power every time he performs and that was definitely the case on Saturday night.

Drummer Michael Leasure behind the drum kit.

After an introduction by his wife Marie Trout just after 9 p.m., Trout opened with "I Can Tell," a forceful blues-rocker that played out over eight minutes — the first three minutes or so a blistering display of Trout's masterful fretwork on his electric guitar.

"This is a homecoming for us and it's so great to be back," Trout said after that opener. 

After performing an explosive "Wanna Dance" from his 2020 album Ordinary Madness, Trout noted that Ride is his 30th solo album and "We're going to do a lot of songs from that record."

Keyboardist Teddy "Zig Zag" Andreadis

As part of his performance of the new selections, Trout would often provide details into the genesis of each song. In his introduction of "Waiting for the Dawn," he noted he wrote it in a hotel home at 4 a.m. while unable to sleep, he noted: "I was missing my beautiful wife." A beautiful blues ballad, Trout's signature vocals were positioned amidst artful licks with the exception of a powerful guitar solo that elevated the middle of the track.

Bob Landgraff

The driving "Ride" (a song rooted in Trout's desire to escape a troubled home life when he was a boy growing up in New Jersey), searing "Ghosts" (the latter bolstered by appropriately eerie guitar lines), luxurious "Follow You Back Home" and high octane blues rocker "I Worry Too Much" were other shining songs from Ride. "High Is Low" featured a guest turn from blues harmonica great Bob Landgraff and a blistering solo from Trout. "Destiny" was a gentle ballad, featuring some of Trout's most emotive vocals of the night.

Another standout moment was a performance of "Red Sun," a hard melodic rocker where Trout used cascading waves of feedback to introduce his memorable guitar solo.

This was definitely a homecoming show to remember. 

Freeman-Hale opened the night with a 45-minute set of Chicago blues.

Opening the night was the local quintet Freeman-Hale, featuring singer-harmonica player Tricia Freeman and guitarist Kenny Hale. The troupe delivered a set of Chicago blues-minded material honoring the spirit and stylings of the originals, notably Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Workin'," the blues standard "Sweet Home Chicago," the Big Mama Thornton classic "Hound Dog" and B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby."  

Walter Trout, left, with bassist John Avila.

Danny Elfman at the Hollywood Bowl: From Boingo to Batman to Big Mess and Beyond!

Danny Elfman performing at Coachella on April 16, 2022.
Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella

If you didn't see Danny Elfman's amazing performances at Coachella earlier this year — and even if you did (see my review of his April 23, 2022 performance at Coachellafest HERE) — make plans to be at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 28 or 29, 2022...Robert Kinsler 

Danny Elfman at Coachella on April 23, 2022.
Photo credit: Rachael Polack / Getty
Images for Coachella

DANNY ELFMAN AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL:

FROM BOINGO TO BATMAN TO BIG MESS AND BEYOND!

 

HALLOWEEN WEEKEND:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29

Tickets For Hollywood Bowl Shows On Sale

Friday, August 26 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster

Visionary composer and recording artist DANNY ELFMAN has set two career-spanning concerts - Danny Elfman: From Boingo to Batman to Big Mess and Beyond! - at the Hollywood Bowl this Halloween Weekend: Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29. Tickets go on sale starting Friday, August 26 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster.

 

American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, August 23 at 10 a.m. through Thursday, August 25 at 10 p.m.

 

These live concerts will feature Elfman backed by the same rock band, orchestra, and choir that he played with at this year’s Coachella Music and Arts Festival, as they perform songs from Oingo Boingo; his solo career, including his 2021 album Big Mess; as well as a plethora of his film scores and television themes from Alice in Wonderland, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Simpsons, and more. The audience will be transported into Elfman’s vision and magical world; with his haunting compositions brought to life on stage and enhanced by visuals on the big screen.

 

Elfman first performed his career-spanning set earlier this year at Coachella. These special Halloween weekend concerts will be full-length versions of those highly acclaimed performances plus additional material. Fans who didn’t make it to the Coachella shows or those who were there and want to experience an enhanced version won’t want to miss it.

 

"Danny Elfman delivers wild, weird fun with a career-encapsulating set" - Orange County Register

 

“One of the most delightfully strange sets in Coachella history” - Rolling Stone

 

"Danny Elfman’s set at Coachella might very well go down in history as one of the festival’s all-time defining moments.” - Consequence

 

“Nobody else even came close to bringing that level of chaotic pageantry to Coachella." - Vulture

 

The announcement of these two shows comes on the heels of the release of Elfman’s new album Bigger. Messier. – a new genre-defying collection of remixed and reimagined versions of songs from Big Mess. The 21-track project is comprised of collaborations and guest vocal features from a sprawling array of artists including Trent Reznor, Iggy Pop, HEALTH, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Zach Hill of Death Grips, Xiu Xiu, Squarepusher, Ghostemane and many more.

 

Photo credit: Jonathan Williamson

About Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman, film composer and singer-songwriter for the rock band Oingo Boingo, has garnered international recognition for composing over 100 feature film scores, as well as compositions for television, stage productions, and the concert hall. Elfman has been Tim Burton's composer for more than 35 years, having scored 17 Burton films such as Batman, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, and Big Fish. Elfman has also frequently worked with director Sam Raimi on films such as Spider-Man and this year’s summer blockbuster Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, as well as Gus Van Sant for his Academy Award-winning films Good Will Hunting and Milk. Additionally, he wrote music for all the Men in Black and Fifty Shades of Grey franchise films, the songs and score for Henry Selick and Tim Burton’s animated musical The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the themes for the popular television series Desperate Housewives and The Simpsons. Throughout his career, Elfman has been honored with four Oscar nominations, two Emmy Awards, a GRAMMY Award, six Saturn Awards for Best Music, the 2002 Richard Kirk Award, the 2015 Disney Legend Award, and the Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award in 2017. Most recently, Elfman has been nominated for yet another Saturn Award in the Best Music category for his scoring work on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

 

About Live Nation-Hewitt Silva & Hollywood Bowl

Live Nation-Hewitt Silva (LNHS) is the exclusive promoter of concerts at the Hollywood Bowl outside of the LA Philharmonic summer season. Andrew Hewitt and Bill Silva have produced non-classical concerts at the Hollywood Bowl since 1991, hosting artists such as the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Eagles, Whitney Houston, Fleetwood Mac, Sade, Radiohead, Sting, Andrea Bocelli, Stevie Nicks, Billy Joel, Luciano Pavarotti, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Coldplay, Lauryn Hill, Peter Gabriel, Dead & Company, Lana Del Rey, Depeche Mode, Tame Impala, Roger Waters, The Weeknd, and countless others. With their combined superior talent bookings and music offerings, LNHS has transformed the iconic venue to become L.A.'s premier contemporary concert destination. One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the Hollywood Bowl has been awarded Pollstar's "Outdoor Concert Venue of the Year" 15 times. It was also awarded Billboard's "Top Amphitheater" several times. The summer of 2022 lineup features some of the biggest names in contemporary entertainment, such as 2CELLOS, Dave Chappelle, Haim, Russ, Steely Dan, Rex Orange County, Backstreet Boys, Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, Halsey, Ben Platt, Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Maren Morris, The Who, Zac Brown Band, Matchbox Twenty, and Florence & the Machine.

 livenation-hewittsilva.com   Instagram | Facebook

Coachella Weekend 2 recap: Billie Eilish, Danny Elfman, Phoebe Bridgers, Japanese Breakfast, more!

An art installation at Coachella.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Review by Robert Kinsler

Maria Zardoya of The Marias.
Photo credit: Beth Sarah / Getty Images
For Coachella

Weekend 2 of Coachella 2022 (April 22-24, 2022) offered up so many great performances, it's impossible so soon after the event to proclaim any single performance — or even any day — the best of the event. 

One thing that is clear is how this year's running of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival clearly thrust women into the limelight. In addition to Billie Eilish's incredible headlining set on the Coachella Stage on Saturday night, the parade of top-tier women extended from early-in-the-day emerging acts such as Holly Humberstone, Nilüfer Yanya, The Regrettes, Yola and Giselle Woo & the Night Owls to bona fide favorites Phoebe Bridgers, Japanese Breakfast, The Marias, Beach Bunny and Maggie Rogers. Weekend 2 Coachellagoers even got Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams as a guest during Eilish's turn. 

Here is a recap of my favorite performances I caught at Weekend 2.

Friday, April 22, 2022

The HU performing on the Outdoor Theatre Stage.
Photo: Robert Kinsler

The HU — Mongolian hard rock outfit The HU lived up to their well-deserved buzz with a 40-minute set of electrifying cuts that fused head banging rhythms wrapped in in guttural singing and propelled by undeniable grooves. Founded in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, The HU is unlike any group this writer has ever seen and the use of instruments from their native land like the Morin Khuur (horse head fiddle), Tovshuur (Mongolian guitar), Tumar Khuur (jaw harp) and strong presence made for an unforgettable outing on the Outdoor Theatre Stage. "Wolf Totem" was among the otherworldly tracks the band performed with absolute perfection.

Phoebe Bridgers at Coachella.
Photo credit: Getty Images for Coachella

Phoebe Bridgers — Standing out on a three-day bill featuring more than 150 artists isn't easy, but Los Angeles singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers did that with her bewitching hour-long set Friday night. Launching her showcase with the lovely "Motion Sickness," Bridgers performed a set that showcased her amazing songcraft and ability to use her musical talents — and those of her amazing band members — to create a soundscape that is fully her own. It didn't hurt that the video projection screen would feature a colorful animated book that would flip pages between the songs and twinkling night sky adding additional atmospheric magic to the setting. Her nuanced and artful performance reached a dramatic close with the explosive finale of "I Know The End."

Other Friday highlights included area favorites Giselle Woo & the Night Owls, English rockers Spiritualized, the soul-meets-pop New York-based Lawrence (featuring siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence), rising Los Angeles band The Marias, French singer-DJ Madeon and headliner Harry Styles — the latter who was joined by Lizzo for a version of "I Will Survive." 

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Beach Bunny performing on the Outdoor Theatre stage.
Photo credit: Jacob Mulka / Getty Images for Coachella

Beach Bunny - an early Saturday standout, the Lili Trifilio-led Chicago outfit Beach Bunny offered up a winning mix of melodic punk and power pop on the Outdoor Theatre Stage on Saturday afternoon. Although the quartet was reduced to a trio (the band's guitarist Matt Henkels was not in the lineup for some reason), the group's second-ever appearance at Coachellafest was a success with Trifilio handling all the guitar duties with enough power to help propel their great 45-minute set.

Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast at Coachella.
Photo credit: Julian Bajsel / Getty Images for Coachella

Japanese Breakfast — The moniker for singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Michelle Zauner, Japanese Breakfast was clearly a wonderful discovery for many at the festival. Japanese Breakfast delivered a fully original and joyful set inside a packed Mojave Tent on Saturday afternoon. The diversity of the material included the lovely "Glider" (written for a video game), melodic sortie "Savage Good Boys" and set-ending experimental art rocker "Diving Woman." The yearning "The Body Is a Blade" from her latest album "Jubilee" was one of the most affecting songs this writer heard during the fest.

Danny Elfman at Coachella.
Photo credit: Rachael Polack / Getty
Images for Coachella

Danny Elfman — On Oct. 31, 1995, Danny Elfman said goodbye to his beloved Oingo Boingo via a 3-hour, 40-minute finale at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles (read my review of that legendary concert HERE). With that well-publicized finale, Elfman dove full time into his burgeoning career as a composer and has since written a slew of acclaimed film scores. Fast forward 27 years to Elfman's appearances at Coachella 2022 and the artist has truly come full circle. On Saturday night, Elfman and an amazing band along with an orchestra and choir performed a handful of Boingo classics as well as selections from some of his most beloved film scores along with new material from his 2021 solo album "Big Mess." This was a dazzling and satisfying run through Elfman's singularly rich sonic universe. Standouts included an amped take on the "Simpsons" theme, a medley of songs from "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and gorgeous symphonic run through "Ice Dance / The Grand Finale" (from "Edward Scissorhands"); it was marvelous to hear Elfman and company run through inspired versions of Boingo classics like "Just Another Day," "Only a Lad" and "Dead Man's Party." The new material was compelling too, especially the decidedly dark "Happy."

Billie Eilish performing on the Coachella Stage.
Photo credit: Andy Boyle / Getty Images for Coachella

Hayley Williams, left, with Billie Eilish in Indio, CA.
Photo credit: Andy Boyle / Getty Images for Coachella

Billie Eilish — Although Weekend 2 attendees didn't get the celebrated Damon Albarn (who appeared at Weekend 1) as a guest during the "Bad Guy" singer's highly anticipated set on Saturday night, they did get to enjoy a guest making her first-ever appearance at the famed festival. "Oh, look! An empty seat. Who is that for?" Eilish asked. She then introduced Paramore's Hayley Williams; they joined forces along with Eilish's brother FINNEAS (the latter who handled acoustic guitar duties) for a powerful take on Paramore's 2007 rocker "Misery Business." Make no mistake; 20-year-old Eilish is already a bona fide star. In addition to her unique vocal and musical style, she is a compelling songstress more focused on nuanced songcraft than glitzy bombast. Sure, her set included dance-minded cuts like "NDA" and "My Strange Addiction," but the gorgeous "idontwannabeyouanymore," "Lovely" and "Getting Older" revealed a greater force at play than the majority of her contemporary hitmakers. 

Other Saturday highlights included rising British rock quartet Yard Act, Disclosure and wonderful R&B singer Amber Mark.

Sunday, April 24, 2022

FINNEAS performing on the Outdoor Theatre on Sunday, April 24, 2022.
Photo credit: Rachael Polack / Getty Images for Coachella

FINNEAS — FINNEAS repeated the power of his previous week's solo set with his appearance on the final day of Coachella. Standouts of his 45-minute set on the Outdoor Theatre stage included the soulful piano-anchored "I Lost a Friend," R&B-meets-rock foray "The 90s" and heart-wrenching "Break My Heart Again." He closed out his set with the soaring Americana mining "Till Forever Falls Apart" and breezy acoustic nugget "Let's Fall in Love for the Night."

Maggie Rogers — Appearing on the Coachella Stage, singer Maggie Rogers' emotive "Light On" and soulful follow-up "Falling Water" really showcased her uplifting approach and soaring vocals. She ended her 45-minute appearance with the driving dance track "That's Where I Am." 

For more coverage of Weekend #2 of the festival, read writer George A. Paul's coverage via Rock Cellar Magazine HERE. 

Coachella 2022: Robert Kinsler & George A. Paul preview this year's event

A view of Coachella in April 2019.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Music writers Robert Kinsler and George A. Paul each highlight some of their must-see artists coming to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which returns after a two-year hiatus due to the global pandemic. Taking place over consecutive weekends at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Coachellafest will be held April 15-17 and again April 22-24, 2022. This year's headliners are Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, and the Weeknd with Swedish House Mafia.

Fridays, April 15 and 22

Harry Styles 
Photo credit: Hanna Moon, courtesy of
Columbia Records

Harry Styles – The former One Direction singer’s engaging self-titled solo bow and follow up Fine Line both entered at No. 1 here and were certified platinum-plus. Earlier this month, the charismatic Brit’s propulsive new single “As it Was” (from “Harry’s House,” due in May) broke single-day streaming records on Spotify and will have its live performance debut at Coachella. GP

Arcade Fire performing at the Greek Theatre
in Los Angeles on Sept. 20, 2018.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Arcade Fire — A last minute addition to this year's festival, Coachella favorites Arcade Fire will perform in the relative intimate confines of the Mojave Tent on Friday at 6:45 p.m. If you want to be able to see the Canadian troupe in action, be sure to arrive early! Arcade Fire is one of the most original and successful alternative rock artists to emerge since the turn of the century. This writer has caught singer-guitarist Win Butler and company several times at Coachella in the past, as well as in a headlining turn at the Greek Theatre in 2018, and they are not to be missed. RK 

Phoebe Bridgers — Since bursting on the music scene in September 2017 with her critically-acclaimed album Stranger in the Alps, singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers' ascent has included four Grammy Awards nominations (including for "Best New Artist") and collaborations with a slew of musical ensembles including The National, Fiona Apple, boygenius and Better Oblivion Community Center (the latter with Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame), as well as via the enticing 2021 single "Silk Chiffon" performed with Muna. RK

Mika – No stranger to Coachella, Mika comes across like a pop-leaning Freddie Mercury onstage. He burst onto the international music scene bigtime 15 years ago with Life in Cartoon Motion. The album was a phenomenon, especially at home in Britain, where it topped the charts, spawned five top 20 singles, raked in awards, and went multi-platinum. Mika has gone onto collaborate with Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, RedOne, Kylie Minogue and put out a stately cover of Roxette’s “It Must Have Been Love” last year. GP

Bishop Briggs
Photo courtesy of the
artist

Bishop Briggs — With the release of her debut album Church Of Scars, Scottish-American songstress Bishop Briggs was one of 2018's most notable breakout music artists. She arrives at Coachella in the wake that disc (which featured the memorable singles "White Flag," "River" and "Wild Horses"), as well as her strong 2019 sophomore effort Champion. Among her winning recent tracks Coachella-goers can expect to hear is the yearning "High Water" (which draws favorable comparisons with Florence + the Machine), the inspired "Higher" and dance-minded "Jekyll & Hide." RK

The HU 
Photo: Enkhbat Nyamkhishig

The HU — Hard rocking Mongolian quartet The HU launches their so-called "Black Thunder" North American Tour with their set in Indio on April 15.  The HU will likely debut advance tracks from the band's forthcoming sophomore album that is due later this year from Better Noise Music. That album was reportedly recorded in their native Mongolia over the past few months. The HU's 2019 debut disc The Gereg debuted at #1 on the World Album and Top New Artist Charts.The HU's blend of folk rock and heavy metal is adorned with traditional Mongolian instrumentation including the Morin khuur, the Tovshuur and even Mongolian throat singing! RK

Saturdays, April 16 and 23

Billie Eilish / Photo: Matty Vogel

Billie Eilish — Anticipation was high when Billie Eilish made her debut at Coachella in April 2019, and the young artist fully delivered. Her triumphant return three years later finds her in the headlining spot at the fest performing on Saturday night. Anyone who caught her appearances at the Academy Awards telecast in March (where she performed the title track from the James Bond film "No Time To Die") and more recently at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards (where she performed "Happier Than Ever," the title track from her 2021 album) knows the power of the 20-year-old star. Indeed, Eilish is the youngest artist in Grammy history and second overall to win top honors in four general field categories: "Best New Artist," "Record of the Year," "Song of the Year," and "Album of the Year" — all in the same year. RK

Danny Elfman at the Hollywood Bowl
on Oct. 31, 2015. Photo: Kelly A. Swift

Danny Elfman — Groundbreaking artist Danny Elfman has seemingly done it all, and his upcoming showcase at Coachella should prove it. The leader of the pioneering new wave-meets-rock outfit Oingo Boingo formed in 1979, he has subsequently gone on to even greater fame scoring music for more than 100 films beginning with 1986's "Pee-wee's Big Adventure."  His work writing and singing on the soundtrack for the 1993 animated film "The Nightmare Before Christmas" is truly beloved, and his diverse field of stellar work includes his scores for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Good Will Hunting," "Edward Scissorhands" and "Big Fish" as well as the popular themes on the television shows "Desperate Housewives" and "The Simpsons." It is anticipated that Elfman will perform a wide range of original material at Coachella including his outstanding film music, and songs from his time with Oingo Boingo as well as off his celebrated 2021 solo album Big Mess. RK

Wallows – Dylan Minnette and Braeden Lemasters are singers and multi-instrumentalists who played in various bands with drummer Cole Preston between acting gigs as teenagers. They started Wallows in 2017. The Los Angeles alt-pop trio notched a top 5 alt-radio and TikTok hit with 2019’s enchanting “Are You Bored Yet?” featuring Clairo and just released the solid sophomore full-length, Tell Me That It’s Over. GP

Japanese Breakfast / Photography by Peter Ash Lee

Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee, the alluring Grammy-nominated third effort by this dream pop band, was among 2021’s most critically-acclaimed albums. Singer/author Michelle Zauner, a South Korea native, also wrote a memoir last year that has been optioned for a feature film. She contributed a piano driven “No One Sees Me Like You Do” to Ocean Child, the current Yoko Ono tribute album. GP

Sundays, April 17 and 24

Orville Peck – Doing double duty at Coachella and Stagecoach 2022, this Canada-based LGBTQ Americana singer keeps his identity secret through a fringed mask. Peck has a penchant for crooning in Chris Isaak or Roy Orbison style and has even duetted with Shania Twain. New album Bronco finds the eclectic artist adeptly expanding his sonic palette even further. GP

Skegss / Photo: David Herington

Skegss — Australian trio Skegss blends surf, indie and garage rock powerfully, with the Byron Bay, New South Wales-spawned outfit's inviting sound positioned in the sonic universe where Dinosaur Jr., Weezer and early R.E.M. meet. Their performances at Coachella will mark their first appearances in the U.S. since the start of the pandemic. Among Skegss great cuts are the anthemic "Stranger Days," the punkish and melodically intoxicating "Bunny Man," crunchy gem "Valhalla" and sweeping rocker "Fantasising." The band's line-up consists of Toby Cregan (bass, vocals, guitar), Jonny Lani (drums) and Ben Reed (vocals, guitar, bass). RK

Information: Coachella.com.

Note: This article was originally published in the Desert Star Weekly on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.