Countdown to Coachella - 9 Days...

SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS, Bushwick, Brooklyn


Honestly, I think this is the act that I'm most excited to see. Not only have Ms. Jones and her Dap King's recorded all three of their amazing records just around the corner from my humble apartment in Bushwick, but these records have grown on me in a way I can't use words to express. When I listen to these records I feel like I'm 14 years old again, rediscovering the passion that music can convey.

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights (music video)


YO MAJESTY, Tampa, Florida


Yo Majesty first rocked my world when they opened for CSS last summer at the Fillmore East in New York. These chicks from Tampa, Florida know how to move a crowd. They have been known to strip off their tops on stage, prance around with Beth Ditto, and most importantly, make jams that recall the 2LiveCrew era of hip-hop. Do not play the following video at work or around right wing relatives...but be there for their performance at Coachella. No one will tell.

Yo Majesty - Club Action (music video) - NSFW!!!


SPANK ROCK, Philadelphia, PA


Spank Rock has been very busy the last year. When not remixing or opening for Bjork, getting nasty with Bangers & Cash, or helping a sister out, Spank Rock has a vital career of his own. Check out his 2006 debut LP YoYoYoYoYo. This should be off the hook.

Spank Rock - Rick Rubin (music video)'

BONDE DO ROLE, Sao Paulo, Brazil


This one should be really interesting. I may be biased (I do have a photo of Marina framed over my desk), but how can this group go on without its lead woman? Marina left the band recently and has been replaced by not one, but two new lead females. I saw these guys almost two years ago in San Francisco and they were fantastic. But I have no idea how the recent shake up of the band will effect its sound and overall show. I'll be there to find out.

Bonde do Role (w/ Marina) - Salta O Frango (music video)

STEVE AOKI - "Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles" CD Giveaway

Steve Aoki's bangin' debut mix album "Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles" is about to explode onto the scene. The electro-slam rock mix features hot tracks from Justice, Peaches, Datarock, MSTRKRFT, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand and others, with guest vocal drops from Santogold, Spank Rock, Uffie, Kid Sister, Pase Rock, Amanda Blank and Mickey Avalon. This mix is out of control!

For a chance to win a copy of the CD, write to theskyreport@yahoo.com and briefly explain why you would like to add this mix to your collection. See the full tracklisting below.

"Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles" will be released January 22 via Thrive Records.

For tour itinerary and remix streams, go to Steve Aoki's Myspace page.

Tracklisting:

1. Refused - New Noise
2. Justice - Waters of Nazereth (Erol Alkan's Durr Durrrrrr Re-Edit) w/ Pase Rock's Guest Drop
3. Does It Offend You, Yeah? - We Are Rockstars w/ Spank Rock & Amanda Blank's Guest Drop
4. Services - Element of Danger (MSTRKRFT Remix) w/ Har Mar Superstar's Guest Drop
5. Goose - Bring It On w/ Todd Fink's Guest Drop
6. Larry Tee & Princess Superstar - Licky (Work It Out) [Herve Goes Low Remix] w/Santogold Guest Drop
7. Green Velvet - Shake and Pop w/ Kid Sister's Guest Drop
8. Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (Soulwax Remix)
9. The Mystery Jets - The Boy Who Ran Away (Riton Re-Dub)
10. Peaches - Boys Wanna Be Her (Weird Science Remix)
11. Datarock - Fa-Fa-Fa w/ Steve Bays' Guest Drop
12. Yelle - Je Veux Te Voir
13. Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To (Erol Alkan's Glam Racket Remix)
14. KIM - Wet 'N Wild w/ Mickey Avalon's Guest Drop
15. Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT Remix)
17. Scanners - Low Life (L.A. Riots Remix) w/ Uffie's Guest Drop

Countdown to Coachella part 8 - 2 Days...

Can you feel the heat yet? It's gonna be a hot one at Coachella this year.

Friday - high 99, low 71
Saturday - high 101, low 73
Sunday - high 97, low 71

Have fun and stay hydrated.


SPANK ROCK
To be honest, I don't know a ton about SPANK ROCK. But I do know that the beats are dirty, the rhymes are nasty, and everyone freaks out whenever they hear the "Lindsay Lohan" song.

DOWNLOAD Spank Rock - Lindsay Lohan

*****


LILY ALLEN
Lily canceled the majority of her current tour, but chose to still do Coachella. So I guess that makes this a rare appearance for the young British pop/reggae star. I would totally stroll by to catch part of her set. The music is the perfect fun-lite that hot summer days were made for.

DOWNLOAD Lily Allen - U Killed It (Sunday Morning)

*****


AMY WINEHOUSE
I would totally be up on this shit if I was at Coachella this year. Her voice is fantastic when she's not too drunk. She is backed by a large band that really helps with the Phil Spector-like sound. But most of all, Amy is a walking drama waiting to unfold. Even if she is drunk it would make for great entertainment. My guess is that she will be amazing and a highlight of the weekend.

DOWNLOAD Amy Winehouse - Back to Black