Coachella by the hour

Saturday 2 P.M.

DON’T MISS

MAN MAN Like another MM, Modest Mouse, this Philadelphia five-piece makes heady, eccentric music, keeping its balance as it zips from frenetic cartoon soundtrack to tipsy cabaret. (Mojave, 2:30-3:15)

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CARBON/SILICON (pictured) The Clash’s Mick Jones, teaming with Generation X’s Tony James, remains thoughtful and provocative, but now sounds more gently persuasive than fiery. (Gobi, 1:45-2:35)

ALSO

DREDG Lots of big, prog-leaning, ruminative bands are on the bill -- also see Rogue Wave, Minus the Bear. This veteran San Francisco entry is one of the more faceless. (Outdoor, 2:20-3:10)

KAVINSKY French techno from Vincent Belorgey. (Sahara, 2:20-3:10)  (Jeff Christensen / AP)

Saturday 4 P.M.

DON’T MISS

COLD WAR KIDS (pictured) One of L.A.’s most intense and creative bands, ranging from complex sonic structures to earthy, primal wail. (Coachella, 4-4:50)

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BONDE DO ROLE The group’s Brazil-hop is festive, spare and percussive, heavy on the drums and shakers. Best request to shout: “James Bonde.” (Gobi, 4:05-4:55)

MGMT Prog tendencies jostle with Bowie pop touches in the band’s exotic/psychedelic anthems. Could be something if they can pull off their blend of grandeur and intimacy. (Mojave, 3:40-4:30)

ALSO

BOYZ NOIZE With his monster beats, Berliner Alexander Ridha sounds like the French guys. (Sahara, 4-5)  (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

Saturday, 5 P.M.

DON’T MISS

CAFE TACUBA (pictured) Elusive and enigmatic, the Mexico City band is never predictable but always challenging. “Sino,” its latest album, is straightforward and song-based. (Coachella, 5:15-6:05)

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STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS The indie guitar-rock eminence hits some peaks on his new album, “Real Emotional Trash,” but misses the magic and the hooks of Pavement. (Outdoor, 4:50-5:40)

ST. VINCENT Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens associate Annie Clark mounts ambitious pop symphonies with flavors of jazz, classical and avant-garde. (Gobi, 5:20-6:10)

ALSO

KATE NASH The English singer-songwriter has a way with a melody and a lacerating verse, but she was over her head as a performer when she played the Troubadour in January. (Mojave, 4:55-5:45)

EROL ALKAN (Sahara, 5-6)  (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Saturday 6 P.M.

DON’T MISS

HOT CHIP (pictured)One of the talked-about acts at Coachella ‘07, the synth-rocking Brits have a new album of plaintive, propulsive material to add to their set. (Sahara, 6:10-7)

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE The Seattle band has staked out its turf as the pensive-pop voice of the post-grunge era, but look for signs of a promised harder approach on their upcoming album. (Coachella, 6:30-7:20)

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SCARS ON BROADWAY Following singer Serj Tankian’s set on Friday, here’s the live debut of the new project from System of a Down singer-guitarist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan. (Mojave, 6:10-6:45)

DWIGHT YOAKAM The Kentucky native, who also plays Stagecoach next weekend, got his start in L.A.’s rock clubs before finding success in the country world. His rockabilly and Buck Owens side could be a bridge to the Coachella kids. (Outdoor, 6:05-6:55)

CINEMATIC ORCHESTRA Heidi Vogel will sing the soulful leads in front of the jazz-tinged art-rock ensemble. (Gobi, 6:35-7:20)  (Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)

Saturday 7 P.M.

DON’T MISS

ISLANDS This offshoot of Montreal indie fave the Unicorns has gone through some personnel and presumably directional changes since its 2006 album, which introduced an intriguingly fanciful and philosophical brand of folk-pop. (Mojave, 7:10-8)

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RILO KILEY (pictured) “Under the Blacklight” has become the subject of the great debate among fans of the L.A. band: Is the album an adventurous experiment or a commercial concession? (Outdoor, 7:20-8:10)

YO! MAJESTY Florida alterna-rappers are fun and in-your-face. (Gobi, 7:40-8:20)

ALSO

JUNKIE XL Tom Holkenborg, best known for his hit remix of Elvis Presley’s “A Little Less Conversation,” has a new album called “Booming Back at You.” (Sahara, 7:05-8:05)  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Saturday 9 P.M.

DON’T MISS

PORTISHEAD (pictured) Coachella ‘08’s centerpiece reunion finds the popularizers of trip-hop as ethereally mysterious on their new album as they were in their 1990s prime. (Coachella, 9:15-10:15)

YELLE See Ann Powers’ Picks. (Mojave, 9:30-10:20)

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AKRON/FAMILY The folk-rooted collective from Pennsylvania absorbs a panoply of influences in its tribal psychedelic tapestry. (Gobi, 8:40-9:30)

SASHA & DIGWEED Coachella caps the prominent English DJ team’s first North American tour in more than six years. (Sahara, 9:10-11:10)  (Phillip Guelland AFP/Getty Images)

Saturday 9 P.M.

DON’T MISS

CALVIN HARRIS (pictured) The Scotsman brings a dry deadpan voice, good tunes and a wry attitude to his big, vintage dance-rock sound. (Gobi, 9:55-10:45)

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FLOGGING MOLLY Irish-flavored songs as channeled through the Clash. (Outdoor, 9:50-10:40)  (Lisa Maree Williams / Getty Images)

Saturday 11 P.M.

DON’T MISS

PRINCE (pictured) See Ann Powers’ Picks(Coachella, 10:45-12)

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ABOVE & BEYOND The UK trance trio is the force behind the admired Anjunabeats label. (Sahara, 11:10-12)

ALSO

ENTER SHIKARI Homage or sendup -- or both -- the English band herds metal and prog into a combustible proximity. (Mojave, 10:45-11:35)  (Chris Carlson / AP)

Sunday 2 P.M.

DON’T MISS

THE COOL KIDS (pictured)The Chicago duo’s sly, retro hip-hop has earned a strong following. (Coachella, 2-2:40)

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THE ANNUALS Elegant, reflective chamber-pop from Raleigh, N.C. (Mojave, 1:45-2:25)

PERRY FARRELL Whether with Jane’s Addiction, Satellite Party, or as a DJ, as he is here, the L.A. rock jester is a Coachella perennial. (Sahara, 2-2:45)

SEAN PENN Hey kids, listen up, Mr. Penn has something to say. He’s back later on the main stage. (Gobi, 2:10-2:40)

ALSO

ELECTRIC TOUCH The Austin band’s rock urgency tends to tip into heavy-handedness. (Outdoor, 2:30-3:20)   (Jack Plunkett / AP)

Sunday 3 P.M.

DON’T MISS

I’M FROM BARCELONA Ambitious, clever music and imaginative storytelling combine in a sparkling entertainment. (Mojave, 2:45-3:30)

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HOLY F The Toronto electronic band backed rapper Beans here in ’05. Now their analog gear is front and center in all its duct-taped glory. (Gobi, 2:50-3:35)

SHOUT OUT LOUDS The Swedish band’s yearning, melodic anthems suggest a possible name change: Renew Order. (Coachella, 3-3:50)

ALSO

DIMITRI FROM PARIS (Sahara, 2:45-4)

4 P.M.

DON’T MISS

DUFFY (pictured) A rising force in the UK, the soul-rooted singer has a more interesting take on retro than, say, Joss Stone. (Mojave, 3:55-4:40)

STARS The day’s other Canadian band with a compelling female voice (Amy Millan) and powerful vision (also see Metric). (Coachella, 4:15-5:05)

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MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA Maybe the weekend’s closest thing to emo -- vulnerable, reedy-voiced rock that ranges from forceful to intimate. (Outdoor, 3:45-4:35)

THE FIELD Swedish techno-crat Alex Willner had a winning hit with “From Here We Go Sublime.” (Gobi, 4-4:45)

ALSO

DEADMAU5 (Sahara, 4-5)  (Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images)

Sunday 6 P.M.

DON’T MISS

SPIRITUALIZED See Ann Powers’ Picks. (Mojave, 6:20-7:20)

KID SISTER WITH A-TRAK (pictured) The effervescent Chicago rapper teams with Kanye West’s DJ. (Gobi, 6:20-7:20)

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METRIC Singer Emily Haines provides a riveting focus to the Toronto band’s sinewy rock. (Outdoor, 6:15-7:05)

ALSO

SEAN PENN See 2 p.m. (Coachella, 6:45-7)

DANNY TENAGLIA (Sahara, 5:50-7:50)  (Scott Gries / Getty Images)

Sunday, 8 P.M.

DON’T MISS

ROGER WATERS (pictured)Is his headlining presence the reason for Coachella ‘08’s progressive-rock subtext? His live “Dark Side of the Moon” would have more cachet if he hadn’t toured with it in the past, or if he were joined by the rest of Pink Floyd. But there’s plenty of time to drop by to see what it means for the Coachella aesthetic. (Coachella, 8:30-11)

SONS & DAUGHTERS Singer Adele Bethel fronts a Glasgow quartet whose vibrant, melodic rock evokes girl-group, Brit-pop and the tradition of folk auteurs. (Gobi, 7:40-8:30)

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MODESELEKTOR Thom Yorke guested on the Berlin electronic team’s last album. (Sahara, 8-9)

SIA The Australian’s meticulously controlled, soul-tinged singing is set in a bed of plush, orchestrated pop. (Mojave 7:45-8:35)  (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)