The Evens perform at Coachella April 13. (Getty Images)
By contributor Jessica Garson
A few months ago the Coachella lineup was released and I quickly rushed to take a glance. I spent about 15 minutes at my desk daydreaming about spending a weekend dancing with young, vacant, scantily clad beautiful people in California and seeing the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sigur Ros, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. And then I spotted The Evens.
The Evens are the project of the husband-and-wife duo of Ian MacKaye and Amy Farina. The Evens play a politically charged, but subdued, blend of punk and folk. MacKaye has been known throughout his career for his do-it-yourself ethics, and while fronting Fugazi, famously turned down a headline spot at Lollapalooza. For much of his career, MacKaye’s shows have been all-ages sets with suggested donation of $5. And usually included in the price of admission is a political rant about a disturbing issue of the day. (Lately, it’s been drone strikes.)
When I saw the The Evens on lineup and the Stereogum story about the organizers of Coachella offering to go vegetarian for the possibility of a reunion between Johnny Marr and Morrissey performing as the Smiths, I started to wonder what they offered to Ian MacKaye to get him to say yes to a show that seems so outside of his comfort zone.
Because Deathfix, the danceable post-punk band featuring D.C. legends Rich Morel (co-host of the dance party Blow Off) and Brandan Canty (the former Fugazi drummer) was also playing, I started to conjure up crazy Fugazi reunion conspiracy theories, something my better judgment tells me would never happen.
But MacKaye is hardly a new face at Coachella. He did a question-and-answer session in 2001, and The Evens played the 2004 edition.
“I was not sure how the it would work with the Evens playing an event like Coachella,” Canty told me. “There was something with quietness and control of sound they have that made it work well.”
In many ways Deathfix is the perfect fit for Coachella with a sound that is emblematic of the feelings associated with spring and getting away.
“I love playing big stages, even if it’s antithetical to the way we were raised,” Canty said. “We are a relatively young band so for us it’s about getting up there on the big stage, feeling confident enough to work and making the most of the moment.”
Deathfix and The Evens were not the only D.C. bands to play this year. The Make-Up also had a slot on the Coachella lineup. The Make-Up’s reunion show at the Black Cat last year was by far one of the most electrifying shows I’ve seen in years. They are a highly influential band that set the foundation for the indie rock genre with their soulful rock sound.
At one point during the Coachella set Ian Svenonius paid homage to the horrors of being jammed into a festival crowd. “You guys have suffered through so much indignity to be here,” he said. “You’ve pissed in plastic, waited in lines, ate pizza all to see the Make-Up, so we will suffer for you.”
Canty, who said he has seen The Make-Up perform many times, called it the best set he’s seen from this of Svenonius’ many bands.
Whenever I look at the line up of a major festival I am usually disappointed with the lack of D.C. bands, but this year, Coachella’s organizers picked three of the greatest bands D.C. has to offer.
Jessica Garson writes the D.C. music blog I Am Your Joey Ramone.
