This Weakend Planner’s all about Coachella, the hipoisie’s answer to Woodstock out in the Indio, CA, desert, and the start of the Lakers-Spurs playoff on Sunday. The real question is, will Thomas Yorke and Kobe Bryant show up? At presstime, the Radiohead lead singer was in quarantine trying to recover in time for the group’s headlining show on a sold-out Saturday. But if that fails, Kid A, a Radiohead tribute band from nearby San Bernardino, will be waiting in the wings. As for the remarkable Kobe, he’ll certainly be front and center for the opening of that seven-game series in San Antonio, but which Bryant will it be? The crazed one-man band who desperately hoists up three-pointers while double-teamed or the reticent shooter trying to keep his teammates involved? Even with Karl Malone suddenly looking like his old, bad self, the Lake Show will probably need both Kobes to avenge their six-game loss in last year’s second round.

WHAT BE GOIN’ DOWN YO
The weekend kicks off with my band Nimbus for a show at the Malibu Inn Friday night, a pretty nice way to begin things, a concert by the beach featuring a kick ass line-up of groups. Then, on Saturday, I head to Indio for Coachella, psyched to see Radiohead live for the first time. The second night, which will consist of Muse and The Killers, should also be an amazing night, but hey, one night was all my budget would allow. Am also looking forward to seeing underground hip-hoppers Hieroglyphics and Interscope band And You Will Know Us By The Trail of The Dead, supposedly amazing live. It’s all about music, music and more music. It doesn’t look like this weekend holds much sleep for me, but hey, that’s the life of a 22-year-old A&R guy/manager. (Je-C)

LAKERS/SPURS PLAYOFF PREVIEW
Welcome to the semi-finals of the Western Conference...or as true NBA connoisseurs are calling it, the REAL NBA FINALS. The Lakers or Spurs have won the last five NBA rings and it's certainly wise to think that the winner of this showdown will once again reign supreme. So, the question is... Do the Lakes have a shot? Well, I actually think they do. Shaq will once again have a chance to reassert his will against the Spurs and Malone gives us a fighting chance against Duncan for the first time ever. For the Lakes to win it, this monster of a series will come down to three large factors. 1) Can Kobe shake a VERY determined Bruce Bowen, find space in the disciplined Spur D, and display the balanced, passionate attack that has absolutely no peer in this league? 2) Can Shaq raise his play enough, especially defensively, and cause such disruption to the Spurs that they become offensively one dimensional? 3) Can the Lakes find a way to keep Tony Parker out of the lane, especially coming off screen and rolls? He is the undisputed key to their attack. For the Spurs to win, Parker has to both score big and also break down the opposing defense. He is SUCH a tough cover... an incredible ball handler (who btw, gets away with murder palming the ball) and an instinctive wunderkind, who can find spot up shooters who suck the life out of the opposition. There are subplots galore... Ginobili's flash, two great coaches, Malone's elbows and Horry vs. the Purple & Gold, just to name a few. It's a lot to ask. The Spurs are rolling and who knows what the Lakes will look like on Sunday... without home court advantage, game #1 is HUGE. For those of us who suffered through an abysmal regular season, our reward is on the way... Sunday, 12:30 Pacific on ABC. I just wish Chick was still around to talk us through it all.... (Joel Amsterdam)

POPCULT TOP 10
1. Prince, Musicology (Columbia): A most welcome return from the Artist Formerly Known As Commercially Successful, who gets back to funk and soul basics, and most importantly, song structure, on this well-deserved comeback. The title track is an Arthur Conley-style "Sweet Soul Music" tribute to influences like Earth, Wind & Fire, James Brown, Sly, Chuck D and Jam Master Jay, complete with vintage ‘80s-style synth lines, in which the still-sassy 45-year-old asks, "Don’t U miss the feeling/Music gave ya/Back in the day?" Other highlights include "Cinnamon Girl," a psychedelic throwback to his "Raspberry Beret" period, and the classic call-and-response of "Life ‘O’ the Party," his own horny addition to such bump-and-grind standards as "1999" and "Sign of the Times." That famed falsetto, overdubbed so he can sing both parts, is put to good use in "The Marrying Kind," which finds the one-time sexual renegade firmly in a monogamous mode, while "Dear Mr. Man" is Prince at his most Marvin Gaye political as personal. And though hip-hop has helped overshadow Prince’s old-school pre-rap rock-soul fusion through the last decade, as it once did James Brown himself, the Purple One’s recent Hall of Fame nod and sold-out arena tour proves his approach, like all great art, is timeless. (Roy Trakin)

2. www.playerappreciate.com: Pimps have to be the least appreciated people on the face of the earth—and this site (with its Pimp of the Month, Suggested Pimp Moves and merchandise soon to come) is all about re-calibrating the way that Pimp Mind is regarded. The proprietors will tell you pimping is about l-o-v-e & r-e-s-p-e-c-t, and if you take it all the way to the curb, literally, it is! Aside from some deep, rolling laughs—and who doesn’t need more of those these days?!?—where else could you type in your name and get your pimp handle? Because if you’re gonna rule the streets, you better have a fly tag to be addressed by… Score at your own risk, but get ready, because any website that can turn Kenny Chesney into Fine Ass Chezney Skilz can recast your humble moniker in some pretty wide-lapel tones. (Holly Gleason)

3. Aerosmith, Honkin’ on Bobo (Columbia): Before Diane Warren, John David Kalodner in a wedding dress, the sneaking suspicious they were headed to either a Saturday morning cartoon or Disney ride, Aerosmith were howling, yowling, ground-pawing, nostril-flaring blues-slamming rockers who were as nasty and venal as any mere human could be. Drugs, booze, broads—and then came the wake-up call. It’s as if they went back to the crossroads to get their souls back, the ferocity of their attack on classic inspiration, then tearing the moments from history and reigniting them with kerosene and one vicious spark. To understand why they’re the baddest muthas in the valley, and the gold standard of American rock & roll, dig right in! (HG)

4. Beastie Boys, "Ch-Check It Out" (Capitol): The initial offering from the Boys’ forthcoming To the 5 Boroughs album, their first since 1998’s Hello Nasty, breaks no new stylistic ground, but it does reaffirm the band’s place as the greatest white rappers this side of Eminem. The intricate, three-part rap roundelay remains, though the cultural references aren’t quite as extensive as in the past. Still, rhymes like "No I didn’t retire/I’ll snatch you off with the needle-nosed pliers" and "I go by the name of the King Ad Rock/I don’t wear a cup or a jock" are firmly in the Beasties tradition of lyrical flow. (RT)

5. Masked and Anonymous: Not as bad as advertised, especially if you’re a Dylanologist, this glorified home movie features an all-star cast of celebrities, including a scenery-munching John Goodman and a sultry Jessica Lange as promoters in some nameless Latin American country undergoing a revolution, trying to put on a benefit concert "for the people" with a washed-up folk-rocker named Jack Fate, a grizzled veteran who fronts a band called A Simple Twist of Fate (get it?). The screenplay, co-written by Seinfeld director Larry Charles and Bob himself, is filled with the kind of allusive aphorisms and pun-filled imagery that marks some of Zimmy’s own songwriting. The targets include such well-traveled Dylan peeves as media hypocrisy (represented by Jeff Bridges’ smarmy, know-it-all Mr. Jones reporter), religion (parodied by a constantly genuflecting Penelope Cruz), greed, fascism, fame and the like. The grizzled Dylan walks straight-faced through the whole thing, muttering non sequitur asides and basking in the admiration of everyone who gets to share a scene with him, which was probably the inducement for the A-list cast to begin with. Dylan and his band also play about a half-dozen songs throughout, including a stirring version of "Dixie," while an a cappella "The Times They Are A-Changin’," sung by a young African-American girl, is a show-stopper. For those who get the joke, it’s well worth a DVD rental. (RT)

6. www.craigslist.com: "Post of the Week": 2 Sexxee Babes Need Hotel for May 1st-Coachella

Reply to: xVOMITMYHEARTx@hotmail.com
Date: 2004-04-28, 4:03AM PDT
2 Hott & Sexxee young Punk Rock Babes are in desperate need of a hotel room for May 1st (sat). We like to party responsibly and we really really need a place to stay for that night. We dont want to camp or sleep under the star lit skyy or sleep in our rental car. We just want to be able to take a shower together and swim in the pool. If you have 2 HOTEL ROOMS, it would be very cool if you sold one of the rooms to us with love;) So please help us out if you have more than 2 ROOMS RESERVED. We are willing to share, but not if your just a bunch of guys wanting to Fuck us. Are you willing to share a room? Serious Inquiries Only *xoxo*
Bunny & Darla Jean (323)-309-0379 ~or~xVOMITMYHEARTx@hotmail.com (Jill Kushner)

7. Buddy & Julie Miller, the Mercy Lounge, Nashville, TN: It's a whole other kind of soul, ecumenical in the way desire on every level is the ultimate act of self-surrender. Buddy, with that voice of burlap and dirt tempered with the sweat of humanity and Julie, whose singing is a loop-de-loop of ethereal and sparkle soaked in wonder and fragility, offer windows to every aspect of our humanity. On Holy Saturday, it was as much a witness to Revelations as it was the wondrous gift of a band that merges its tautness with grooves loose enough to crawl into. Whether Julie's tear-wrenching "Broken Things," the slung-low rocking of "I Need You" or Buddy's haunted take on the wages of fame, "This Showman's Life," you were moved in ways you couldn't consider. If they play near you, make it required rocking. (HG)

8. Man On Fire: Gotta say, the movie blew me away. Everybody is amazing, especially young Dakota Fanning, who you may remember as Sean Penn’s adorable daughter in I Am Sam and will be a giant star, along with the always-impressive Denzel Washington. This movie is quite intense and although the subject matter (a girl kidnapped by terrorists) might not be too friendly, the film is so well-made and acted that it is worth spending the first-run bucks to see on a big screen. Director Tony Scott has a gnarly way of telling the story, wringing emotion out of the audience. Highly recommended. (Je-C)

9. Mets-Dodgers at Dodger Stadium: I’m not one of those obnoxious New Yorkers who dress up in Mets garb and root loudly for the visitors. I kinda sit quietly and keep my leanings to myself, but I couldn’t resist it as two totally crazed, blue-hair wigged Dodger fans kept a steady bleat of "Piazza sucks!"as the Met superstar batted, less than 50 yards from where we sat in our box seats behind the plate. The chant continued until the Mighty Mike blasted a laser shot into the left-field bleachers, tieing him with Carlton Fisk for most career home runs by a catcher. It was a wonderful moment, as half the crowd booed lustily, while the others, some old Dodger rooters, most Met backers, cheered. I smugly turned to the now-silent pair and smiled, "Yeah, he really sucks, doesn’t he?" For a forlorn Met fan, it doesn’t get any better. (RT)

10. Jessica Simpson’s Dessert: Jessica Simpson has joined a long line of esteemed divas like Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera and Liz Taylor in taking her personality to the make-up counter. The line, which comes in three flavors—Juicy, Dreamy and Creamy—is available online at www.dessertbeauty.com and at Sephora stores nationwide. Who can resist tasty belly button love potion, powdered sugar body shimmers or hot body toppings? Lucky for Jessica, when asked whether her minister father approved of her foray into edibles at the New York launch party last week, she said, "As long as he gets a cut of the profits, he’s happy." (Valerie Nome)

JILL’S WEEKLY 9 (BECAUSE 10 IS SO OBVIOUS)
1. SHOW MY TIVO IS CONVINCED I LOVE THIS WEEK: Still Jag

2. TV SHOW I ACTUALLY LOVE THIS WEEK: Arrested Development

3. SEEN/HEARD THIS WEEK: A tiny white cotton puff of a dog wearing a snug black T that said "Security" (in the HITS office, of course)

4. FAVORITE PICK ON A MENU THIS WEEK: Urth salad with tuna @ Urth Caffe

5. FAVORITE TRADER JOE’S PRODUCT THIS WEEK: TJ’s chorizo & potato taquitos

6. SONG I KEEP LISTENING TO THIS WEEK: Samantha Ronson, "Pull My Hair Out"

7. DRINK I KEEP DRINKING THIS WEEK: Merlot and lots of it

8. COMMERCIAL I AUDITIONED FOR THAT’S AIRING (W/O ME) THIS WEEK: Yoplait Yogurt. STILL running. Kill me.

9. CONCLUSION FOR THIS WEEK: I’ve been wanting to get a tattoo for years. But I’d be in a world of trouble with my people if I did. Which is why I’ve decided to open a cemetery called, Jews With Tattoos. All are welcome. All are welcome. (Please read the previous in the voice of the woman from "Poltergeist" who I’ll totally hire to work at my cemetery as a greeter). (JK)

MY iPOD
I have to say that I am fully addicted to my iPod. My car is wired for it now. I can't go to the gym without it. I don't have but 2000 songs ripped in so far, but, I am working on it. It is a slow process for me because I am making judgment calls on what gets included.

Almost all of the music in my iPod is ripped from my huge CD collection. I have put all kinds of stuff in there so far. All genres. I can't wait until I have 10,000 songs in there. The few things I have bought from the iTunes stores are exclusives like the Stereophonics’ KFOG show.

So, everyday, I let my iPod determine my listening for the first few hours of work. I mean, I HAVE to listen to so many CDs that you all send me the rest of the day. But, early in the morning, my iPod paints the mood. I have different playlists for different things but my favorite is to just shuffle the whole collection.

This morning, the random play came up with the following songs. What is cool is that NONE of these songs played yesterday morning. It might seem like it would be weird to hear some of these songs mixed together, but that is not the case. It is actually a really cool experience because I would not normally go to the CD case and pull any of these songs out specifically. And the coolest thing is that tomorrow morning will be totally different!

Don's iPod Random Play for the morning of 4/28/04:
Jimi Hendrix, "Jelly 292"
Rolling Stones, "Get Off My Cloud"
16B, "In Between Your Choice" (dancemix)
Uncle Tupelo, "Black Eye"
The Verve, "Sonnet"
TEK-9, "7 Dayz" (DJ Spinna remix)
Elvis Presley, "Jailhouse Rock"
Postal Service, "Recycled Air"
Elvis Presley, "Suspicious Minds"
Lucinda Williams, "Greenville"
Steve Winwood, "Phoenix Rising"
Rachel Yamagata, "Under My Skin"
Bob Marley & the Wailers, "Samba"
Brad Mehldau, "Smile"
Smashing Pumpkins, "Crush"
The Byrds, "Pretty Polly"
Ben Harper, "Give a Man a Home"
Mindy Smith, "Hard to Know"
North Mississippi Allstars, "One to Grow On"
Gov’t. Mule, "Sco-Mule"
New Order, "The Perfect Kiss"
Grateful Dead, "Truckin'" (Don VanCleave)

OUR iTUNES PLAYLIST
1. Beastie Boys, "Ch-Check It Out"
2. Velvet Revolver, "Slither"
3. Story of the Year, "Anthem of Our Dying Day"
4. Morrissey, "Irish Blood, English Heart"
5. Sugarcult, "Memory"
6. Lenny Kravitz, "Where Are We Runnin’?"
7. The Vines, "Ride"
8. Melissa Auf der Maur, "Followed the Waves"
9. Bad Religion, "Los Angeles is Burning" (Stephanie)

TIPS AS A RESULT OF WHATEVER DOCTOR APPOINTMENT I HAD THIS WEEK (can include touching up roots, but not mani/pedis)
I had my annual physical yesterday. I was kind of bummed that they didn’t measure my height. Couldn’t I have, maybe, gotten a tiny bit taller since last year? They had no problem weighing me again. Would it kill you to throw a 5’1" girl a bone and do the height thing? I shouldn’t be pissed at my doctor. I’m sure it’s the insurance company that’s decided to no longer pay for this test. While I was there, I had to give a urine sample, too. The lab chick gave me a jar, with the lid and my name scrawled on it. I asked her where I should go, she pointed and said, "Down the hall, last room on the right." And I was like, "Whoa, not so fast little lady! How ‘bout some of those magazines? You know … to help me out a little in there!" She looked fairly horrified and said, "You know you’re giving us a urine sample?" And I was like, "Duh." … By the by, let’s just say, my boys can swim. (JK)

THE POVERTY JET SET WEEKEND GETAWAY
This week's pick: Palm Springs

If you’re one of the many about to head out to the desert for heat stroke and Coachella, then here’s our tips to having a good time.

1. www.sigalert.com: Check it out on your sidekick for up to date traffic details before you head out.

2. Desert Hills Premium Outlets: In Cabazon off the 10. 150+ brand-name discount fashion shops (www.premiumoutlets.com)

3. Frank Sinatra: Who else for your weekend soundtrack but Old Blue Eyes (and while you’re at it, throw a cigar in, too).

4. Hadley Fruit Orchards: Forget In-N-Out. Drop by Hadley’s on your drive down. Try their famous date shake and killer buffalo burger. (www.hadleyfruitorchards.com)

5. Downtown Palm Springs: Got some more time to kill? Wait ’til it’s cooled down and head to the strip for dinner, ice cream , drinks or shopping.

6. Indian Gaming: Keep the party going all night and head over to Casino Morongo: I-10 westbound exit at Cabazon; eastbound exit Apache Trail, 17 minutes west of Palm Springs. (800) 252-4499. Open 24 hours seven days a week (http://www.casinomorongo.com/)

7. The Dinosaurs (rest area/gas station): In the San Gorgonio pass. After you’ve been stuck in traffic for hours on the way home, stop here for a quick rest and take advantage of the giant dinosaur backdrop for pics.(http://www.desertusa.com/windmills/du_ps_windmill.html)

8. BBQs: Fire up the gill and put the shrimp on the barbie. It’s gonna be a hot one! But once it cools down in the evening, the BBQs should be roaring and ready to go.

9. Booze, friends and good music: Nothing beats a weekend away with all of our favorite things. So, don’t forget to pack your digital camera, sunscreen (coming back red like a lobster is so 1980) and enjoy your time away from the city of angels.

10. Check out the line-up: http://www.coachella.com/main.html (Stephanie)

TRAKIN’S PICKS TO FLICK
Envy (DreamWorks)
Premise: Based on an original pitch sold by Larry David (and co-writer Steve Adams) to Castle Rock, the story’s about a guy who gets rich by selling an invention that makes dog poop disappear, making his neighbor and best friend extremely envious. Reminiscent of the plot to David’s flop movie, Sour Grapes.
Stars: Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Rachel Weisz, Amy Poehler, Ving Rhames, Christopher Walken
Director: Barry Levinson, a long way from Rain Man, Wag the Dog, The Natural and Good Morning, Vietnam
Thumbs Up: Black and Stiller should be a masterful comic pair.
Thumbs Down: This movie has been on the shelf for over a year, and the trailers look broader than the side of a barn. Can you say it looks like a piece of, unh, excrement?
Soundtrack: None
Website: www.dreamworks.com/envy/

Godsend (Lions Gate)
Premise: After their young son is killed in a tragic accident, a couple approach an expert in stem cell research to bring him back to life through an experimental (and illegal) cloning and regeneration process, only to have him return… different.
Stars: Robert De Niro, Greg Kinnear, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Cameron Bright, Deborah Odell, Janet Bailey
Director: Nick Hamm (The Hole)
Thumbs Up: Fascinating premise, solid actors, including an apparent star-making turn by young Bright.
Thumbs Down: Trailers look awfully hokey and generic, and this is another film that was on the shelf for reshooting.
Soundtrack: Varese Sarabande album features score by Richard Gibbs
Website: www.godsendthemovie.com

Laws of Attraction (New Line Cinema)
Premise: This homage to the Hepburn-Tracy romantic comedies of the ‘40s and ‘50s features a pair of rival N.Y. divorce attorneys who end up in a relationship as they handle opposite sides in a divorce of a rock star from his wife.
Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Julianne Moore, Nora Dunn, Frances Fisher, Parker Posey, Michael Sheen
Director: Peter Howitt (Sliding Doors, Johnny English)
Thumbs Up: Brosnan and Moore are accomplished performers who look like they’re having a good time.
Thumbs Down: The trailer really makes it look dumb and dumber. Where’s George Cukor when you need him?
Soundtrack: La-La Land Records album features original score by Edward Shearmur, and a track by Dana Glover
Website: www.lawsofattractionmovie.com

Mean Girls (Paramount)
Premise: A teen who’s been away on safari with her family arrives at a new high school in Illinois, where she’s accepted into the A-list clique of girlfriends, though, after attracting the interest of one of their ex-boyfriends, finds herself ostracized from the in crowd.
Stars: Lindsay Lohan, Tina Fey, Lizzy Caplan, Lacey Chabert, Ana Gasteyer, Rachel McAdams, Tim Meadows, Amy Poehler
Director: Mark S. Waters (Freaky Friday), with a screenplay by Saturday Night Live’s "Weekend Update" co-host Fey
Thumbs Up: With Fey’s acerbic sensibility, could this be another Heathers or Clueless? Plenty of SNL stars on hand.
Thumbs Down: Now we’ll see if Friday star Lohan can carry a movie all by herself.
Soundtrack: None
Website: www.meangirlsmovie.com

Thanks to Roy Trakin, Je-C, Jill Kushner, Valerie Nome, Joel Amsterdam, Don VanCleave and Stephanie for replenishing this Weakend Planner at the oasis.