The Hold Steady, Atmosphere in good company on new Coachella lineup

There's something special about the Coachella festival, officially celebrating its 10th birthday this year with it's April 17 weekend lineup. Having attended in 2006 (deservedly known as "The Daft Punk year") and normally prone to festival anxiety, I can personally attest to the near tangible do-what-you-wanna vibe in the sweat-soaked desert air that many repeat Coachella goers say is what keeps them coming back year after year to the sprawling super-green acres of the Empire Polo Field. But Coachella's 3-day lineup of often-throwback headliners and its massive supporting cast of what's now in music makes Coachella unmissable to music lovers, last year seeing a most noteworthy performance by Prince (the "Purple Rain" Prince, not the "312" Prince).

Speaking of Minneapolis natives, this year's lineup features a couple more: The Hold Steady and Atmosphere, both touring late last year and making stops at First Avenue. Preceding them on the 2009 10th anniversary lineup are solo Beatle Paul McCartney (is it just me or is this a weird choice for this fest?), The Killers (meh) and The Cure (repeat Coachella performers). Could also quite do without Amy 'No really, I'm totally sober now' Winehouse. But wait! Look deeper inside the lineup at the artists sentenced to a smaller font and you'll find better things to be excited about: The Presets, Roni Size, Antony & the Johnsons (as well as his other project, Hercules & Love Affair), DJ Craze and DJ Klever, Fleet Foxes, Blitzen Trapper, Felix Da Housecat, Public Enemy, Bloody Beetroots and more. All of this begs the question: Who wouldn't want to dance themselves into a wicked sun stroke for three days on end in Indo? That's what we thought.

Feel free to share your opinions of the new lineup below.