This is the first year since Obama was president that I will have Coachella fomo. Maybe it’s the current cultural obsession with 2014, the year I saw Neutral Milk Hotel play right before Lana Del Rey—the 30-year-old NMH fans making snide comments about the flower-crowned teens waiting for their queen as they fled the area after the final theremin flourish. That same year, Debbie Harry crashed the Arcade Fire set to sing a mash-up of "Heart of Glass" and "Sprawl II" (I sobbed). Or maybe it’s just that this year’s line-up is almost enticing enough to get me to camp. It’s a good mix of legacy bands like Blur, Deftones, and No Doubt; nostalgic acts from Coachella’s Tumblr heyday, including Lana, Grimes, and Tyler, The Creator; and the cool-kid artists I’ve missed when they played in New York, like Eartheater, Brutalismus 3000, and Boy Harsher.
To help prepare you for the weekend—or make you regret not springing for a ticket—The Dare (Harrison Patrick Smith) has made a playlist of songs from the artists on the lineup. If you’re there, be sure to check out his DJ set on the Do LaB stage tonight and next Friday.
Coveteur: Who are you most excited to see at Coachella this year? Who should people definitely not miss?
Harrison Patrick Smith: Lana del Rey.
Who are some lesser-known artists people should check out on the lineup?
HPS: Doja Cat.
Are you planning anything special for your Do LaB set?
HPS: Yes I will be wearing a classic black suit and tie.
Looks like Blur, Grimes, Bar Italia, and Oneohtrix Point Never all overlap—who are you choosing?
HPS: I’ve seen the first three so probably Oneohtrix. But Ice Spice is also playing.
What year in Coachella history would you most want to go back and attend?
HPS: 2006 for Daft Punk easily.
The year is 2027, your sophomore album has a Metacritic score of 91, and you’re headlining Coachella. Who are the surprise guests you bring on stage and why?
HPS: Sophomore album? I haven’t even made the first one!
Do you have any festival fashion don’ts?
HPS: I wouldn’t recommend wearing Doc Martens—but I also wouldn’t recommend wearing them outside of a festival.