Getting ready for Stagecoach, Coachella's country cousin

Just when I thought I was out, the polo field pulls me back in: I’ll once again be melting this weekend outside Indio, California, where the organizers of Coachella are debuting the Stagecoach Country Music Festival, a two-day affair featuring what can only be described as “the biggest names in country music coming together to force Whitney into making more tough decisions about where to spend her time.” How else to explain these conflicting set times: George Strait vs. Neko Case? Sugarland vs. Emmylou Harris? Marty Stuart vs. Gary Allan? Or worst of all, Brooks & Dunn vs. Drive By Truckers? (Hint: Saw DBT last fall. Haven’t seen B&D since high school.)

While I won’t be dragging my laptop all over the fields this time, I will be back on Monday with a recap of all the hot hoedown action. The Texan in me is psyched — I sort of feel like I’m getting to go to every night of the rodeo all at once. And I can’t wait to see the difference between 60,000 Rage Against the Machine fans and 60,000 Kenny Chesney fans. A little part of me is afraid there won’t be much difference at all, just replace “righteous anger” with “beer,” and there ya go.

In the meantime, PopWatchers: Who do you think I should see? And do you have questions for any of the acts performing? Never know who I’ll run into at the watering hole.*

*NOTE: Folksy turns of phrase will be largely absent from Monday’s recap.