COACHELLA 2013: 5 Punk bands you can’t miss at Coachella

Punk bands are going to rock Coachella 2013. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

I love all kinds of music, but there’s a special place in my heart for punk and when the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival released its lineup earlier tonight, I was thrilled with the punk representation for this year. Goldenvoice ALWAYS brings together some great classic punk acts (The Buzzcocks, X, etc.), but this year far exceeded my expectations. Here are 5 punk bands you need to see at Coachella 2013:

The Descendents are playing Coachella 2013. (Contributed Image)

1. Descendents
This is the one that made me stop typing the words and scream with delight. I love the Descendents. “Everything Sucks” is one of my favorite records, one I love so much that it would go to a deserted island with me. It’s rare for the band to play live as singer Milo Aukerman is busy being a genius scientist. And when the band has played live, like at FYF in 2011, I haven’t been around. In that case, I was in Boston for my best friend’s wedding. I’ve seen Descendents brother band ALL (and even met ALL/Descendents guitarist Stephen Egerton and drummer Bill Stevenson when I covered Warped Tour in Australia in 2002), but I never had the chance to see the real deal. The only thing I’m sad about is that they’re not playing a 4-hour-long set.

Here is “Thank You,” a song that pretty much expresses how I feel about the band.

Hailing from Orange County, Social Distortion is a SoCal punk institution. (2001/File Photo)

2. Social Distortion
This is a tip for the folks coming from outside Southern California (chances are that if you live in SoCal you’ve Social Distortion repeatedly), GO SEE SOCIAL D.
There will be certain points during Coachella when I forget that I’m working and I’ll just scream along and it’s going to be when Social D plays “Mommy’s Little Monster.”

I’ve seen the band play a festival–HFSTival in D.C., a headlining show at an amphitheater and a club show and Social Distortion NEVER disappoints. My go-to album is the self-titled one and this song is on it. Here’s “Story of My Life.”

The Gaslight Anthem at the 2009 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. (2009/File Photo)

3. The Gaslight Anthem
The Gaslight Anthem is one of the bands I was wishing would land on the Coachella lineup. Straight out of New Jersey, they are the perfect blend of Bruce Springsteen and the Bouncing Souls.

I love everything they’ve put out and 2012’s “Handwritten” was one of my favorite albums of the year. However, if you’re just checking them out, go for “The ’59 Sound.” It’s impeccable. This song is on it.

I interviewed singer Brian Fallon and bassist Alex Levine the last time they came to Coachella. Really great guys and great musicians.

The Dropkick Murphys perform at the Pomona Fox. (2011/File Photo)

4. Dropkick Murphys
The Dropkick Murphys, Boston’s finest, are one of my all-time favorite bands. I went to college in Boston and I’ve seen them a few times during their epic St. Patty’s Day string of shows. I even ended up on stage once during the finale of “Skinhead on the MBTA,” a song I so desperately hope they play at Coachella.

They have a great new record out, “Signed and Sealed in Blood.” Personally, “Sing Loud, Sing Proud” is my go-to studio album from them (and the back cover was shot across the street from my old apartment in Boston), although they’re another band that just doesn’t put out bad music. “Blackout” is another great one from them.

I also feel like there’s a masters’ thesis somewhere examining the band’s music and socioeconomics. And when I write that, “Boys on the Docks” will be part of my evidence.

5. Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine
Oh hi there, Jello Biafra, you only were behind THE DEAD KENNEDYS. Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine have their own songs, but it appears that some DK stuff gets in there, too, like this version of “Holiday in Cambodia.”

MORE COACHELLA COVERAGE: