ACL Countdown: Sunday

Saturday: Less is More Day

So Saturday the chances of rain were 60%, so of course it started raining before we got there. I have nothing against rain at a concert---it weeds out some people and can be fun, especially like yesterday when the temp was around 65 and it was a warm rain.

We got there late, around 3, and saw Grizzly Bear first. This about sums of that show. I don't know if it was the weather, but they were out of tune, hanging out in the back of the stage to stay dry, and not very exciting. It could have been that it was our first stop--we needed something to get us going in the dreary weather, and they totally killed our buzz.

Citizen Cope was next. Great show. We got this nice spot in front of the sound stage and he was amazing and didn't even seem to care his leather pearl snap shirt was getting ruined by the rain. The downpour started around now, but we didn't care---his music made up for it.

We were too late to really get a spot for Bon Iver, but his music sounded great from far away. He also has kinda a low-key repertoire, but his music was so beautiful it pick up your spirits better than anything else.

After a quick gyro, we nabbed amazing center spots for the Decemberists and hunkered down for 90 minutes while they set up the stage. Worth every minute. This would be the second reason I bought my ACL ticket, and I was definitely into it. Also, they are one group where a dreary afternoon only adds to the atmosphere: they played Hazards of Love in its entirety—the folk opera I've been harassing all my friends to listen to—and managed to get the entire album into their hour set. Margaret was impressive, singing high notes in the crappy weather, and Colin Meloy was swapping instruments every song with ease, not really losing the breaks. They've been doing this all summer, the band definitely had the switches down. The show stealer, however, was Shara Worden, playing the Queen. The crowd was totally behind her, and she was getting into it on stage that made her vocals more powerful than on the record, which is saying something.

Having put up with about five hours of rain, we skipped out on Dave and Ghostland Observatory, although the light show for Ghostland looked awesome as we left. Leaving after Hazards was a good move, though, because it psyched me up enough to go out in the warehouse district later, instead of crashing like the night before.

Here's a great shot of my feet when I took my Chacos off--I don't have the Z tan line promised, but a mud tan line is still pretty funny.

Here's what I'm looking forward to today:

• Passion Pit/Girl Talk: My feet will hate me tomorrow, but I plan to get my dance on this afternoon.
• Pearl Jam, they are my mother's favorite band, and should be a fun closing act
• The Toadies. Can't come to Texas without hearing them. It'll be sing-along party three today.

ACL Countdown: Saturday

Friday Summary:

Of course I didn't get there as early as I planned, but we still got to see Asleep at the Wheel. They've been to every ACL since it began---and play old-time country music. It was a perfect 'welcome back to Texas' opener.

Then I split up to see Blitzen Trapper, while my friends saw the Knux. I felt so old in the crowd---lots of high schoolers hanging around this one---but the band was pretty amusing. I thought the drummer--with a Z.Z. Top beard--was intriguing, but after about 30 minutes the energy in the crowd died. A lot of people left to get good spots for the Avett Brothers and I soon followed.

I've been looking forward to the Avett Brothers, and have been listening to their album religiously for the past week, but in concert they weren't the star-powered act I was hoping for. I think the biggest thing was they have this country sound, and look country---and unfortunately in Austin, that's what every college group looks and tries to sound like. Their music was still amazing, but it just generate any strong desire to stick around.

Dr. Dog was next, and well worth trying to get to the front. This is the group I know the most songs to, and was a pretty awesome time. My friend made fun of me for dancing so much---I was like the ONLY one around me---but it was totally worth the near dehydration that followed. I still think my favorite song is "The Rabbit, the Bat, and the Reindeer," although I keep getting those animals out of order when I talked about it. That was their closer--I had a blast at this one.

We wandered over the Phoenix, and tried to meet up with our friends, but the crowd was insane. Not sure why they weren't playing later in the day. The lead singer said he'd never played to a crowd this large before, and was all teary-eyed. We eventually forced our way up to the sound booth, but people were packed in. I need to hear more of their stuff before I get into the band, but it was definitely a nice way to be introduced.

We grabbed dinner and listened to Robin Hitchcock and the Venus 3, that guy is bizzare. He looks like a fatter David Bowie---with the white comb over--and would interrupt songs to go on these (drug-induced?) monologues about how one must 'keep vampirism in the family' and crazier stuff. His music was actually fine, apparently he produced his last album with REM's people, but for some reason I felt ACL wasn't weird enough for him--odd?

We made the decision around now to change up the plan. After Phoenix, and how far away we were, I really wanted to plan ahead a little more for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the end of the night. Instead of going to watch Andrew Bird, we decided to camp out early for the YYYs, and it was totally worth it. Granted, I was behind the three tallest guys who in turn were dating tall women!, but i was next to the railing and could see her really well from where I stood. A fun way to end the night--she's insane and it made for a great closer. They did play "Maps" without any drum, and my friend Stephen was pissed. I agree, the song was missing one of the best elements.

I heard Kings of Leon as we were walking home, they sounded just like they did on the radio, so I'm guessing I didn't miss much.

Saturday's Plan:

• I'm definitely looking forward to the Decemberists the most. They should be playing Hazards of Love in its entirety, something I love--so this is the one I want to get close for today.
• I'll be around the Livestrong/Dell stages most of the day---Grizzly Bear, Bon Iver, Citizen Cope, are all on my list. Will I get there in time to see Deer Tick? Crap--that's in two hours...
• Ending the night with Ghostland Observatory. I was all convinced Austin folks would folk to Dave Matthews, leaving Ghostland exactly that, but according to Stephen they are huge here. Should be a good closer.

ACL Countdown: Friday

First, to appease all of you who aren't at the festival, I found this link on Hulu: Looks like they are streaming the concerts live, so you'll probably have a better view than me!

Now for my day:

• First act I'll see: Asleep at the Wheel, though I might try to see a little of Prescott Curlywolf, just cuz his name garners intrigue.
• Definitely the biggest highlight is the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the end of the day, along with Andrew Bird, Dr. Dog, and the Avett Brothers.
• My first Sophie's Choice moment comes when Coheed and Cambria, who I've been waiting to see, is playing the same time as Phoenix. Phoenix will win, I've heard too many good things about them.
• Other acts: K'nann, Theivery Corporation, and possibly both the Knux and Blitzen Trapper, playing at the same time across the field from each other.

I'll post a run down later, hopefully tonight, to let you know what I loved best, and hopefully some shots of the T-shit and poster designs.

ACL Countdown: The Music

I've been really impressed so far with ACL's social media campaign on Facebook, etc, leading up to the event. They've been doing giveaways, posting maps, FAQs, and even a sampler of music you can download here.

I listened to the sampler and then wondered how many of the 130 bands I have on my own computer so I created my own ACL Playlist of acts from the lineup: 25 bands and 130 songs. Obviously the openers--Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs---were all already on my iPod, plus the groups that made me want to come in the first place--The Decemberists, Andrew Bird, Dr. Dog.

The funny thing was the acts I had no idea i owned in the first place. These were songs I either grabbed from Paste or Amazon samplers, and listened to as a collection of indie rock without ever registering the artists. Bret Dennen's "There is So Much More" was grabbed after it appeared on Grey's Anatomy a million years ago; Blitzen Trapper's "Furr" is a Bob-Dylan-esque folk ballad; plus Michael Franti, Heartless Bastards, and a few others.

So my own Top 5 ACL songs based on play count:

1. Gold Lion, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2. Amen Omen, Ben Harper

3. There Is So Much More, Brett Dennen

4. The Rake Song, The Decemberists

5. Like This, Girl Talk

I love analyzing play counts. The rest of the Top 10 is all Decemberists and Girl Talk, because those two albums I play on repeat a ton. Who knew I loved Gold Lion so much--another Grey's Anatomy throwback--and of course Amen Omen will forever be one of my favorite Ballads, going back to college.

ACL Countdown: the shopping

So I am going to Austin City Limits next week. After a year and then some working in a music environment, I've definitely found my interests slipping from movies/TV to concerts/podcasts. As the days get shorter to the most anticipated vacation I've ever taken (I decided to go last October, and bought my ticket this March) I present to you my preparation:

Part 1: Shopping

What do you buy for a three-day grubby music festival set under the Texas sun? Definitely nothing designer. I have officially spent a lot of money (read: over $50) on the ugliest shoes I'll ever own. Chacos sandals with the toe strap. I cringed as I hit purchase, but upon seeing them tonight, feel a little more confident. The ugly plastic soles not only have the comfort I was promised in the price, but they are also mostly hidden, and the strap alone is fairly tolerable. I just have a week to wear them in before walking all over Austin in them.

Fun times are sure to ensure--so check back as I actually get into the music and food and all the other things that make Austin weird (and just perfect for me).