Just Like Heaven 2025: How To Navigate Set Time Conflicts
When Just Like Heaven Festival lands at Pasadena’s Brookside at the Rose Bowl on May 10th, 2025, it’ll mark another chapter in the indie rock love affair that Southern California can’t quit. Curated as a nostalgic-yet-fresh homage to the golden age of blog-era indie, synth-pop, and art rock, the festival’s always been a haven for those who came of age soundtracking their lives with the likes of MGMT, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Phoenix.
This year’s lineup is as dreamy as ever. The stacked bill promises a full day of shimmering hooks, moody shoegaze, and cathartic dance parties under the sun-soaked skies of Pasadena. But, like any great festival, the true challenge lies not in getting there, but in making the impossible choices between overlapping set times.
The most agonizing conflicts of the day? Of Montreal vs. Wild Nothing, Perfume Genius vs. Grouplove, and Bloc Party vs. Slowdive. Here’s your breakdown on why each act is worth your precious festival minutes, and how to make the call depending on your vibe.
The Set Time Clashes
Of Montreal vs. Wild Nothing
Why You Should See Of Montreal:
Kevin Barnes and company have been delivering eccentric, psychedelic indie pop for over two decades, and their live shows are the stuff of legend: surreal, costume-laden fever dreams packed with theatricality and danceable bizarro-pop. If you crave a set that feels like a joyous, unhinged acid trip scored by glam-funk grooves and existential lyrics, this is your pick. Expect deep cuts, fan favorites, and glorious weirdness.
Why You Should See Wild Nothing:
On the other side of the coin, Jack Tatum’s Wild Nothing is indie dream-pop at its most shimmering and melancholic. Where Of Montreal is brash and theatrical, Wild Nothing offers crystalline guitars, airy synths, and nostalgia-soaked tracks like “Chinatown” and “Shadow” that beg to be heard as the sun starts to dip. If you’re looking for a swooning, sunset soundtrack — this is it.
Verdict:
Go Of Montreal if you want to dance your face off; Wild Nothing if you want to float away on a pastel cloud of dreamy indie pop.
Perfume Genius vs. Grouplove
Why You Should See Perfume Genius:
Mike Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius, crafts heart-wrenching, avant-garde pop that defies easy categorization. His live shows are deeply emotional, theatrical affairs — a mix of tender piano ballads, sensual art pop, and gut-punch vocals. Expect moments of silence, slow-burn crescendos, and one of the festival’s most genuinely moving performances.
Why You Should See Grouplove:
If catharsis via dance party is more your thing, Grouplove is indie’s answer to unrestrained, sun-soaked joy. From “Tongue Tied” to “Ways to Go,” their anthemic hooks and buoyant energy make them one of the most reliably euphoric live acts on any festival bill. A Grouplove set is basically group therapy, shouted through megaphone choruses and glitter cannons.
Verdict:
Catch Perfume Genius for goosebumps and tears; Grouplove if you need a serotonin-fueled singalong.
Bloc Party vs. Slowdive
Why You Should See Bloc Party:
For anyone who came of age in the early-2000s indie-rock revival, Bloc Party’s Silent Alarm is a sacred text. Their frantic, post-punk revivalist anthems like “Banquet” and “Helicopter” still hit like a jolt of pure adrenaline. The band’s high-octane sets are made for festivals — blistering, tense, and full of shout-along moments.
Why You Should See Slowdive:
Conversely, if you prefer to be swallowed by a wall of glimmering guitars and otherworldly reverb, Slowdive are shoegaze icons. Their reunion-era sets have been nothing short of transcendent, with tracks like “Alison” and “Sugar for the Pill” offering shimmering bliss-outs that feel tailor-made for golden-hour listening.
Verdict:
Bloc Party if you want to mosh and scream; Slowdive if you want to close your eyes and float.
However you slice it, Just Like Heaven 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most special indie festivals of the year — and a shining example of how a niche idea can blossom into an annual institution. Whether you’re a longtime indie kid reliving your Tumblr-era glory days or a newcomer discovering the legends of the genre, Pasadena’s going to be the place to be on May 10th.
Pack your sunscreen, sort your conflicts, and prepare to feel everything. If you haven’t grabbed tickets yet, they’re still available HERE
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