Coachella 2012: Six acts that are giving us desert fever (and a bunch more you won’t want to miss)

Kevin Bronson on
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[The Buzz Bands LA crew will be in Indio for the first weekend of the doubleheader in the desert, scribbling notes and taking photographs between predictable attacks of nostalgia, next-big-thing giddiness and dehydration. Coachella 2012 offers a mind-boggling array of current and past favorites to suit just about any palette – no whining about the lineup or debating reward-vs.-cost here. Here are 6 acts we won’t miss, and a bunch more we recommend:]

Reunions, Returns and Resurgences

Pulp – The Britpop icons return on their first U.S. tour in 14 years – and 11 years after their last studio album. To hear people talk, you’d think Jarvis Cocker was the Second Coming. Compared to many of today’s frontmen, he might be. (Friday on the main stage)

See also: Jimmy Cliff & Tim Armstrong, Madness, Mazzy Star, James and Refused (Friday); Jeff Mangum, fIREHOSE, the Buzzcocks and Squeeze (Saturday); At the Drive-In and the Hives (Sunday).

Because They Might Blow the Roof Off the Place, If It Had a Roof

Amon Tobin – The Brazilian electro guru’s new album “ISAM” won’t be out until May 24, but his 3D live show promises to blow your hair back. (Friday in the Mojave Tent)

See also: Explosions in the Sky, M83 and Madeon (Friday); A$AP Rocky, Flying Lotus, Martin Solveig and Kaskade (Saturday); Justice, Le Butcherettes and Porter Robinson (Sunday).

Currently Fashionable and Fashionably Brilliant

Bon Iver – If Justin Vernon and crew put on a show anywhere near as great as last year’s L.A. dates at the Shrine and Gibson, the desert will indeed be a magical place. [That said, I still liked Other Lives’ opening set better.] (Saturday on the main stage)

See also: Yuck, Girls and Afrojack (Friday); Andrew Bird, Azealia Banks, Laura Marling and Tune-Yards (Saturday), Metronomy, Wild Flag and Real Estate (Sunday).

Tomorrow’s Main-Stagers Today

Gary Clark Jr. – Even saddled with comparisons to the likes of Hendrix, the Austin guitar hero is the real deal. (Friday in the Gobi Tent)

See also: Other Lives (Friday); Spector, Destroyer and We Were Promised Jetpacks (Saturday); the Weeknd, Band of Skulls, Lissie and Morgan Page (Sunday).

Because You Should Show Up Wherever They Play

Radiohead – They are, after all, Radiohead. (Saturday on the main stage)

See also: M83 (Friday); Feist (Saturday); Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg and Beirut (Sunday).

To Get Some SoCal Flavor

Fitz & the Tantrums – Yes, Flying Lotus will amaze. And Dawes will make you swoon. Fitz & the Tantrums’ danceable indie-soul will tickle your happy place, though, and by Sunday evening we might need a little of that. (Sunday on the main stage)

See also: Dawes, Abe Vigoda, Honeyhoney, Ximena Sarinana, LA Riots and Grouplove (Friday); Flying Lotus, Tijuana Panthers, AWOLNATION and Destructo (Saturday); the Growlers, Gaslamp Killer and Gardens & Villa (Sunday)

||| Also: Your set times.

Photos: Gary Clark Jr. by Frank Maddox. Bon Iver by Debi Del Grande. Fitz & the Tantrums by Laurie Scavo