A Taste:

Artic Monkeys, Santigold, Animal Collective, Hercules and Love Affair

“The groups that I think are amazing right now happen to be at Lollapalooza this year,” laughs Perry Farrell with a big smile. “I keep pumping Lollapalooza because I’m excited!”

Perry has every reason to be thrilled. This year’s installment of the festival has an epic lineup including Tool, Kings of Leon, The Killers, Jane’s Addiction, Ben Harper, Lou Reed, Depeche Mode and many more. It goes down in Chicago’s Grant park once more from August 7th until August 9th.

For this exclusive ARTISTdirect.com feature, Perry shared his iTunes playlist. Check it out below and don’t miss Lollapalooza 2009!

Perry Farrell’s Playlist:

1. Gomez

I’ve never seen Gomez. For many years, I wanted to have Gomez perform at Lollapalooza and it never quite worked out. I’m excited about them.

2. Artic Monkeys

They’re playing Lollapalooza for the first time, and I’m excited to see them. They’re a super-cred band.

3. Santigold

She has a voice that I particularly love.

4. Animal Collective

They’re a group that, over the past year, has been the music blogs’ darling. I really love what they do. They have these great harmonies that they play with electronics live. They’re super interesting. Their videos are really fun.

5. Fleet Foxes

I’m really looking forward to seeing them for the first time.

6. MSTRKRFT

In the dance area, I’m excited about playing on a bill with MSTRKRFT and Simian Mobile Disco.

7. Simian Mobile Disco

8. Deadmau5

I’ve tried to get a track going with Deadmau5 over the past few years and I was never able to. I have been recording with Kaskade though.

9. Hercules and Love Affair

Europe is a couple years ahead of us as far as dance music goes. In fact, MTV plays dance music videos all night every weekend. I was able to see people I’ve never seen before while I was over there. I’m looking forward to seeing Hercules and Love Affair. This man has a very interesting voice.

There you go. That’s a pretty good list of people that I’ve been listening to and I’m looking forward to seeing.

—Rick Florino
08.04.09

A Taste:

Santogold, MIA, Cut Copy

Even though Tiësto remains at the top of electronic music, he grew up a metal head! With a smile he laughs, “As a kid, I was a big Iron Maiden fan!”

What was it about hard rock that appealed to the electronica pioneer? Well, believe it or not, it was actually the intelligence and intricacy behind the genre’s more, dare I say, bookish bands.

“I loved the guitar riffs that Iron Maiden used, and their lyrics were always smart,” continues Tiësto. “The songs were like crazy fairy tales. Bruce Dickinson wasn’t just singing, ‘I love you!’ I got to see them at Monsters of Rock with Van Halen, Dio, Whitesnake, Michael Schenker Group and all of my heroes at the time. It was funny because I was into only heavy metal like old Metallica back then. Dickinson has an amazing voice, but I couldn’t imagine putting his voice on a dance record. The guitar melodies, maybe [Laughs].”

Tiësto shared his current playlist with us below. Check it out, and if you’re in Northern California this weekend, be sure to see Tiësto at Sacramento Conventions Center on Saturday May 30th. It’s his first-ever Sacramento show, and it’ll run from 8pm until 1am (18+). For more info on the show click here.

Tiësto ’s Playlist:

1. Sigur Ros

I like Sigur Ros a lot. They really make beautiful music.

2. Santigold

3. Cut Copy

4. MGMT

I love the indie electronic music with a little rock in it.

5. MIA

—Rick Florino
05.28.09

Photo: Stephanie Pistel