Coachella Artist: Silversun Pickups

photo by flickr user thewongway

Past the obvious Smashing Pumpkins comparisons - frontman Brian Aubert sounds like Billy Corgan with more hair, less ego and twice the demonic wit - Silversun Pickups are carving out a melodic-indie-rock niche all their own.

Their 2005 Pikul EP showed fantastic promise, with full-scale freakouts like "Comeback Kid" and the stellar "Kissing Families" even worthy of comparison to Radiohead. Sweet harmonies from bassist Nikki Monninger balanced often-unsettling lyrics.

Debut record Carnavas sounds a little softer but stretches much farther, with gems like "Lazy Eye" entrancing larger audiences daily. I've missed their live show at least twice, so that's added reason to catch their set, sure to be one of the few highlights of star-starved Friday.

MP3: Music Is Art has "Kissing Families", "Lazy Eye" and another Carnavas track here.

Silversun Pickups take the stage Friday, the first day of the festival, for their first Coachella performance.