Well, I may very well be the last person in the
interweb (yes, that was a joke) to post about this years Austin City Limits festival. But hey, it's better late than never you ingrates. I kid to cover the shame of my procrastination, sorry guys.
I need to throw in a disclaimer, and here seems as good a spot as any. I am a fan of music, all types really. But, I am a fan of the music, period. I appreciate the people who make it, but it's the end product I'm interested in. I am not however so fucking
geeked out that I know the name rank and serial number of every member of every band I'm into, my obsession with Jack White aside. I don't have that kind of grey matter to spare. So, forgive me when I refer to so and so as the bass player for whoever, that's just how I roll. In turn, be impressed when I know their names
because that's really something - trust me.
Anyway, husband and I had a blast on our virgin trip to Austin and the festival. I was really sweatin' the heat before we left, but it wasn't too hot this year, only around 92-94 degrees and rarely a cloud in the sky. I say that all sarcastically by the way. I mean, I'm from the north east. I like it cool and cloudy. The sun is not this Irish girls friend and I go from freckled to crispy fried in 3 seconds flat. I found it amusing that every bit of Austin news feed I saw remarked on the 'cool' weather. In years past it had gotten up to 108 degrees, so I understand the angle, but come on people 93 is not cool, it's sub tropic. Add 65,000 people smashed body to body to the mix and things heat up that much more. I knew what I was in for - definitely, and planned accordingly. I now own two pairs of shorts and though it stretched my wardrobe I was able to put together three outfits that didn't involve any black clothing.
For a festival of it's size, it was very well run. With the addition of next year's improved irrigation system (to help with the dust 130,000 feet can stir up) things should be even better. There was an air-conditioned tent where you could cool off and play some Rock Band and make free long distance calls. There were also art projects going on, button making stations etc. With eight stages it got hard to fit all of this stuff in, and if you were lucky enough to have found a corner of shade you weren't doing any of that. You were too busy trying to decide if you wanted to see whatever band was next on your list enough to actually give up your prime piece of real estate. On day three, the shade won out over Silversun Pick-ups for me. I was kind of close to the stage and heard some of their set anyway.
Day One - Friday:
Whenever you're in a new city and relying on taxi's for transport you need to be able to plan ahead. Our hotel was only 7 miles from Zilker Park, but there's no accounting for traffic patterns, especially when there's a city rocking (literally - ha!) event taking place. We got to Zilker way fucking early on Friday, but it was cool because that gave us time to get a lay of the land. We acquainted ourselves with the placement of all eight stages, food venues, restrooms, and beer stands. All the important stuff. Besides, Friday was my biggest day for band viewing. Most of the bands I'm digging right now were playing back to back. It was good we were able to make a plan of attack - we were going to need it.
What Made Milwaukee Famous
WMMF was a great intro to ACL for me. Originally from Austin, I first heard of these guys when I was ordering a Mates of State cd off the Barsuk website. I needed a few more dollars to qualify for free shipping and was sampling bands when I stumbled across their sophomore album 'What Doesn't Kill Us'. I didn't know they played a club show in town the night before or I would have gone. Yes, I like them that much.
The early afternoon spots on the Blue Room stage were easily the worst slots on the schedule. Not because they were at an obscure time, or that the stage was small, but because the sun was literally beating down on the stage as if a mean little seven year old was holding a magnifying glass between us and it. For the artists facing the white hot sun, that much closer to it thanks to the height of the stage, it was brutal. That, and a hang over from the previous nights gig, explain my before and after picture above. This would also be the first time in many I would be baffled by all the black clothing people were wearing. Despite it all these guys played a great, energetic set. The lead singer also had my two favorite quotes of the festival. Once when he called himself "dooshy" and the other when he said "that's not sweat on my shirt, it's a hypercolor". Yeah, the twenty year-olds next to us didn't get that one. My favorite tune was a cover of Delta Spirit's 'Trashcan', but they had me when they opened with 'Blood, Sweat, and Fears' - and no, Lance Armstrong did not make a cameo appearance when they played Sultan. Oh, and the drum kit was really cool - check it out in the pic.
Vampire Weekend
I wasn't sure how VW's mellow sounds would translate to this type of venue. When you're playing an outdoor show, music that is loud and raucous translates best. It wasn't VW's fault they sounded empty, but it didn't matter their front man had more than enough personality to carry them. Do you see that look he's giving in the picture, it killed me, it really did. He confirmed my suspicions that there's a missing 'fuck' in the first chorus of 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa'. I screamed it - loudly and shamelessly - and got looks for it, oh well. I have to admit, while it was hot when he said it, it's sexier when he doesn't, especially now that my suspicions are confirmed. Besides that, they had two very enthusiastic large chested ladies signing during the songs. When they interpreted the line, "take the chap stick put it on your lips" we cracked up, I swear it looked like soft porn. I'm not going to lie, it was distracting, especially when their hands kept getting in the way of all that giggling.
Aside from the side show, I was very happy to see that a stylist hadn't gotten a hold of these guys. They are if nothing else a band of nerds. Not DND types, well maybe, but I was thinking more along the lines of the fresh out of prep school, too smart for their own good variety. They make no bones about it, it's their badge of honor and they wear it proudly. Still they're the kind of boys that would get their asses kicked by the typical city kid I ran with in high school. The kind of boy that I'm secretly drawn to because he's that smart ....and witty. Honorable mention in the fashion department to their drummers white jean cut-offs and black knee socks. Skillfully done my friend.
Gogol Bordelo
Gogol's known for their high energy shows and crazy stage antics. They have dancing girls (one of whom is allegedly dating Elijah Wood) and the works. The Texas heat didn't slow these guys down at all - they totally brought it. High energy as always with that patented stage presence. Their violin player had a really cool instrument. Even though I was pretty sure half the people in the crowd had never heard of these guys before, they were all rocking out. It was that kind of show where the crowd feels a bond, like we're all molecules in the same pot of boiling water. It killed us, but we left half way through to head over to see Mates of State. If I had to do it over again I would have stayed. Gogol is exactly the kind of act that translates easily from smokey hole in the wall to festival stage in front of thousands without missing a beat. Even while we were waiting for the Mates to play we could still hear them wailing in the background. I was surprised at the looks we got as we bopped in place singing "daaaahhhh, da da da da da dah!" while 'American Wedding' played in the background. Really people this is a festival - and I hadn't even started drinking yet. You'll need those disdaining sneers for when I'm actually drunk.
Mates of State
If you read this blog, you know I love me some Mates of State. Power pop isn't normally my thing, and I can't even explain it, but I can get down to the Mates like no other. If I were going to sing karaoke I would need a male counterpart, and I'd choose the Mates. I even get pissed when husband sings the girl parts instead of playing Jason to my Kori. While I prefer to see them in a club, they did well on the outdoor stage. By this time in the afternoon the sun was on it's way to setting and the stage was in the shade. They had three string players with them, a new chic cello player was added to the mix. I like the sounds of the strings, but a lot of their allure for me laid in the fact that all of that sound came from just the two of them. Maybe I'm just a purist. Anyway, they played most of the new album which didn't leave much room for the favorite of my favorites. I guess it was what it was. An obscure band trying to spark interest from potential fans - Cest la vie.
That was it for day one for us. In between we made buttons, ate chicken cones, and sat on one of the chairs in the air-conditioned tent for way too long. We were going to hang out into the night, but decided to head back to the hotel for showers before we met our friends in town for dinner later that evening. It was a good call because we were exhausted.
Day Two - Saturday:
We must have been really exhausted because somewhere between the bar Friday night and Saturday morning we decided to skip seeing the Fratelli's all together. They only had an hour time slot, so it would pretty much have been the new album (which I hate) with a few favorites peppered in if we were lucky. Plus there was a big gap in the next band we wanted to see. Trying to kill four hours in the blistering sun didn't sound fun to either of us. We ate burgers and shakes at Fuddruckers (yummy!) and watched bad movies on HBO all afternoon before heading out. 
Got to Zilker on Saturday and it was insanity! There were so many people there we couldn't even move towards the stage we were aiming for. We had to go away from it to get close to it again, that part of the park was really packed. I knew MGMT had really blown up, but man, they're not that good. I learned early on Friday that people will squat for half an hour ahead of time to see a band only to leave during the second song. I know WMMF noticed this happening, I'm not that perceptive, they mentioned it, and it was a trend throughout the festival. My theory is that people have heard of a band and want to check them out to see if they're to their liking, but then you have to at least check them out. You can't watch a band for one song and decide if you like them or not, but I digress. This kind of thing actually worked in our favor most of the time because once you found a pocket you could easily work your way closer to the stage. Most of the time if you fought your way through the back of the crowd things would open up quite a bit.
MGMT
It took us a while, but we eventually got (kind of) close to the stage. They band was dressed in eye catching ensembles as always, and they played a very amped up set. Once they played the single that's hot right now though, most people left. This was the first time we saw the Clothing Optional Section of the festival. We're avid nudists so we were really happy to find this little island of paradise. I'm kidding. On Friday I couldn't understand why someone would want to carry around one of the many
elaborate flags I was seeing, but now I knew. If you were in a group and you lost your way, needed a beer, or had to pee you'd never find your friends again. People put a lot into their flags and their creativity didn't go
unappreciated. Most of them even lit up at night.
The Black Keys
Due to an oversight I missed The Keys when I went to AE's NAMU in Pittsburgh so I can't say if this guy tours with them or what, but the dude on the left introduced them and I can't think of a better way for a rock band to start the show. So much charisma... so little stage and his look reminded me of vampire Cheech's in 'From Dusk 'till Dawn'. These guys had an awesome stage set up and a nice earthy sound. These were true professionals and man did they wail! The lead singer did this awesome bit where he was working with the guitar player while he riffed and held... something up to the strings. Someone with more musical knowledge than me probably knows what that was and can probably even explain how it works, but from where I was standing it was just plain cool.
Beck
You expect a big show from the closing acts, and Beck didn't disappoint. They had an awesome stage set up. The background was a huge backdrop made of tiny little lights that made all kinds of pictures and designs as they played. I'm not doing my job of describing it very well, but it was kind of like a video brought to life. The ensemble that accompanied him looked like the kinds of people you'd expect to be hanging out with Beck, a veritable mixed bag of hipsters. When you have a number of hits under your belt it makes sense to lead with your most identifiable one and Beck did just that. 'Loser' really got the crowd going and for the first time this weekend people were moving closer to the stage instead of away from it as the show went on.
There was a great flow from song to song with all of the hits sprinkled in. They did a cool song where they abandoned their instruments and played the entire thing with these electronic boxes that looked like large, rudimentary Speak & Spells. His guitar player was beautiful and had that kind of cool girl presence where she came off as understated while giving it her all. I like to think I'm that kind of 'stand a few rows back' kind of cool most of the time, but there were a couple of instances over the weekend where I freaked out in rock and roll glee. This was one of those performances, it just did it for me. I knew Beck's performance wouldn't disappoint, even if his hairdo did. If I can plunk down $20 for a bottle of Fekkai's glossing creme, surely he can too.
Day Three - Sunday:
Today Husband and I would have company at the fest, we were to be joined buy our friends the Texans, otherwise known as Melanie, Jorge, and Jeff. We took it easy on Saturday and it was a good thing, because Sunday was going to be a killer. We wanted to catch Scott Biram at 12:50, that meant an early start and a whole day in the sun. The first thing I noticed when we arrived Sunday was the dust. It was already kicked up and the place was still empty. Today had the potential to be a disaster. I don't think I mentioned it earlier, but I used to dream of moving to Austin. Until I got there and learned that I am extremely allergic to Austin. Our friends told us that Austin has the most allergens of any place on earth and I believe it. At one point on Friday husband thought I was sweating because I had a steady drip pouring off my chin, but it was a stream of tears coming from my left eye. It watered for about 5 hours straight, no exaggeration there at all. Hooray for sunglasses so large they could cover a shiner because I had bags the entire time I was in Austin.
Sunday was the day I'd have my first taste of sweet tea. I used to waitress and every once in a while you'd get some annoying southerner asking you for sweet tea and then treat you like a child if you dared to offer regular old fresh brewed tea instead. Well, guess what southerners I have some new for y'all - sweet tea doesn't taste any fucking different than regular tea with sugar in it. Quite making a stink and trying to feel special, besides, you still have the Alamo.
Oh, and be patient with my beer drinking ass, I was pretty drunk by the time we got back to the hotel on Sunday and it being almost two weeks later I can't read my notes worth a damn. I know there are some witty little gems in there somewhere, I just have to decode them.
Scott Biram
The Texans have been telling us about how great Biram is forever. But when you hear him described as a "dirty old one man band" with drums strapped to one leg and cymbals strapped to the other as well as a guitar and a harmonica it doesn't necessarily give off the right image. For me it evokes images of that yellow and green Fisher Price musical playset, but that's not what you get. He said it best with "believe it or not, I'm a fucking professional. I pretty much know what I'm doing." Great bluesy rythms met his dirty lymerick style lyrics perfectly to keep a spring in my step and a smile on my face. So much so I bought my dad a copy of his cd. And although we were sworn to secrecy, we all saw Biram drinking a Bud Light, but if you were to ask him, I'm sure he'd tell you it was whiskey, and that Jesus loves him.
The Kills
I am in love with The Kills. I love their east village sensibility and everything about them screams rock n roll to me. I need to tell you this because mid afternoon in the hot Texas sun is not rock n roll at all, and it didn't agree with The Kills. I'm not saying that it affected their performance, but I almost wish it would have becuase even though I enjoyed the show emensly, I was praying for them to slow down before fainting. The Kills were the second band I saw fall prey to the magnified rays of the Blue Room stage, (and again wearing black?). VV was litteraly melting onstage. At one point the guy in the kills offered us their managers home phone number to be called between four and five am. They were unhappy with the gig to be played, but they played it none the less. All of this after their tour bus (and belongings) had been absconded with by their now missing driver. No one would have blamed them if they did a sub par job, but they totally brought it home.
I know these two aren't a couple, but there is heat between them none the less. She did a move where she crawled toward him onstage and it was hands down the sexiest thing I saw all festival. Shit, it may have been the sexiest thing I saw all month. This performance gave new meaning to 'fever'.
Silversun Pick-ups
We were wondering around consulting our programs looking for which band to check out next when we not only found a table that would accomodate all five of us - in the shade - also under misters - right next to a bar. That's right, it wasn't a mirage, but it could have been. We stayed there so long we took turns going to get food and using the bathrooms. This shady oasis was too great a find to leave eagerly, that's why I enjoyed most of Silversun's set from afar.
We did eventually split up and venture on. I caught enough of their set to see the lead singer for Silversun is a dude. That's right, a man. I have their albumn so I thought the girl in the band was the singer, the sound is decidedly feminine, but nope, it's a guy. It took me a while for this to sink in, but I was still pleased to hear 'Lazy Eye' while I was in line for the bathroom. This is about when things started to get dicey, people were hot and tired and manors were going out the window a little. Supplies were dwindeld down to nothing, and it was every man for himself so to speak. I was glad to have that packet of tissues and handi wipes in my bag. Really, really glad. Note to the "doctors" in line for the port-a-johns: you were right, we should have worn masks. Yes, that is an (unintentional) picture of the dust. I wasn't so excited about seeing the red southern earth anymore after I was coughing it up for days after I got home.
The Raconteurs
The plan was to pick up some cd's and check out Okkervil River while waiting for The Raconteurs to begin. The stages were set up so we should have been able to hear just fine, but we wouldn't have that kind of luck. Sure we could have gotten up off our lazy asses and walked over to check out Okkervil's set before The Raconteurs started, but that seemed a heck of a lot like work, and I was starting to get nicley drunk. I didn't want to risk sweating out all of that alchohol.
The Raconteurs set was basically the same as when we saw them in Pittsburgh, with less of the Jack White show. He said he was diagnosed with a slipped disk, and it was obvious he was in pain. He had a cool steel guitar he didn't have at the other show though, and that was neat to see. The blonde guy had a beautiful sea green enamel one that had awesome detail, it really was a work of art.
Still, my favorite songs didn't get played - again. It makes me feel like I'm not in sync with a band when the songs they choose to play live aren't my favorites. I guess I shouldn't take it personally though, I mean I'm smart enough to know there are probably politics at play here. Jack did play this cool thing that had these four large keys I guess you would say, that was right under a microphone during one song, and that was awesome to see. Also awesome to see, Jacks belt buckle was round and made out of brass and had that stylized Raconteurs R on it - nice. 
Here's a cool picture of Jack singing while playing the piano. Some girls saw this pic over our shoulders in line for the bathrooms after the show and swooned over his curl. I don't need to tell you that I did too. A lot of these pictures are actually pictures of the images on the jumbo tron. (Didn't mean to insult you, I'm sure you can tell) That was the best we could do with our Kodak Easyshare, sorry guys.
Foo Fighters
The Foo Fighters were the closing act of the festival. We had time to kill so we grabbed beers and made a pit stop on the way. I had an offer from a guy to purchase one of my handi wipes, but was a good samaritan instead of a good capitalist and just gave him one instead. That kindness would pay off. While waiting for the show to start I met a girl name Molly who went to school in the town where I live. We talked and they shared their blanket. That little bit of southern hospitality was very much appreciated, so thanks to Molly, my new Austin connection - you fucking rock girl!
Our asses were parked pretty far away from the stage on a little hill, but as soon as the Fighters took the stage I demanded we move closer. Their energy was magnetic and I was litterally drawn in. It knew it was going to be a great set when he said, "We're scheduled to play here for you tonight for two hours, but I think we'll just stay until they kick us off the stage." Their set was hailed as the best closing to ACL ever and from what I saw I can't imagine a band going out with such flavor. When the Foo Fighters rolled through my neck of the woods this summer I skipped it becuase I'm not a fan of that particular venue, now I'm regretting that decision.
All in all it was a pretty great experience. We're planning on going next year, and knowing what I know now that trip should be even better.
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