Seraphina Lotkhamnga on April 11th, 2013

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Set times for 2013’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Annual Festival have been announced, and if you’re like us at BBLA HQ, you’re already mapping out a game plan for whom you want to see. The thing is, every year always presents some conflicts leaving you no choice but to choose one band over another. Conflicts in the desert may vary in degrees from person to person, but here are a few that are causing some hair-pulling …

Friday

Blur vs. Grinderman (Main Stage vs. Mojave Tent) – This year brings a handful of Brit-rock royalty; it’s Damon Albarn and the gang as ’90s heroes Blur up against Nick Cave and his posse in Grinderman. Although Nick Cave is doing double duty both weekends (he’ll be playing with the Bad Seeeds on Sunday), no one can deny that seeing Blur instead of Gorilliaz at a festival can be pretty rare over here in SoCal.

Modest Mouse vs. Sparks (Main Stave vs. Mojave Tent) – Isaac Brock and the rest of the crew have been indie rock favorites long before “Float On” was running through people’s heads, but Sparks have been around since the 1970s and they’ve touched on every single genre imaginable.

Divine Fits vs. Johnny Marr (Outdoor Stage vs. Mojave Tent) – There’s a lot of cred running through both acts. While Divine Fits may be a supergroup comprised of Spoon’s Britt Daniels, Handsome Furs’ Dan Boeckner and New Bomb Turks’ Sam Brown, Johnny Mar has garnered attention for his solo material long after his work in the Smiths.

Poliça vs. Jake Bugg (Gobi Tent vs. Mojave Tent) – Minneapolis’ Poliça and London’s Jake Bugg may not be under the same genre umbrella, but these are two acts that have risen fairly quickly in terms of popularity. You’ve got your choice of electronic R&B or some folk-rock.

Saturday

Phoenix vs. Sigur Ros vs. New Order (Main Stage vs. Outdoor Stage vs. Mojave Tent) – Two big bands here promoting two new albums. Although Phoenix’s album “Bankrupt!” is slated for release just after the second week of Coachella, New Order’s New Wave legacy continues on their current album “Lost Sirens.” Oh yeah, and then there’s Iceland’s leading lights in ambient dream-pop, who have a new album titled “Kveikur,” also make your final moments on Saturday night a tough choice.

The xx vs. Two Door Cinema Club vs. Franz Ferdinand (Main Stage vs. Outdoor Stage vs. Mojave Tent) – It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand but their energy is bound to make a good show – the same goes for Two Door Cinema Club. The xx’s energy may not be as frenetic, but those songs sure are pretty and they’ll be playing songs off their latest album “Coexist.”

Hot Chip vs. Grizzly Bear (Main Stage vs. Mojave Tent) – The zany electronic world of London’s Hot Chip or the rich tapestry of neo-psychedelia of Brooklyn’s Grizzly Bear?

Action Bronson vs. Wild Nothing (Outdoor Stage vs. Mojave Tent) – Hardcore hip-hop or shoegaze-infused dream-pop? There’s not much crossover here but these two acts have been steadily climbing the ladder of credibility within the last few years.

Vintage Trouble vs. The Wombats (Main Stage vs. Mojave Tent) – If you’re looking for some local soul with a James Brown vibe, L.A.’s Vintage Trouble has got you covered, but if you’re looking for some Liverpool-bred post-punk revivalism the Wombats are your guys.

Sunday

Tame Impala vs. Rodriguez (Outdoor stage vs. Gobi Tent) – Rodriguez was the star of an Oscar-winning documentary (“Searching for Sugar Man” – a viewing is highly recommended from your BBLA team) and he’s sold half a million records in South Africa, but plenty have been swept up in Tame Impala’s swirling psychedelia.

Dinosaur Jr vs. Tanlines (Outdoor stage vs. Gobi Tent) – J. Mascis has captured indie rock hearts with his massive guitar solos for nearly two decades, but Tanlines’ experimental electro-pop has had them shooting up all the way to No. 2 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart with the release of “Mixed Emotions.”

The Gaslight Anthem vs. Kurt Vile vs. Jessie Ware (Main Stage vs. Outdoor Stage vs. Mojave Tent) – You don’t just encounter a fork in the road here, there’s three signs and they’re all pointing in very different directions. The Gaslight Anthem will have your fix for punk-rock Americana while Kurt Vile & the Violators will have your psychedelic roots rock and, of course, Jessie Ware will keep it sensual with her R&B pop.

Little Green Cars vs. Robert DeLong (Gobi Tent vs. Mojave Tent) – What’s it gonna be? Gorgeous four-piece harmonies and rockin’ Americana (via Dublin) or joystick and wii remote-manipulated electronica by a whiz kid who runs back and forth from his drum set?

Wild Belle vs. Deap Vally (Gobi Tent vs. Mojave Tent)– Lots of pretty ladies here, but one sings Reggae and sways to the saxophone while the other two sing the blues and rock it out.

Any conflicts you see that aren’t listed here? Let us know what you may be fretting over…