ACL 2025: Pre-festival summary

Here is my ranked schedule from Friday through Sunday in order of appearance. This should make it easier to review each band before they go on stage. Click the name to see the preview. To see the spreadsheet in full-page click here.

ACL 2025: John Summit

Sunday at 8:15pm.  I think this is the first time I didn't recognize a headliner. This is the Sunday headliner to boot.  Per Google AI:

John Summit, whose real name is John Walter Schuster, is a Chicago-born DJ, producer, songwriter, and record label owner who plays house and techno. He's known for his high-energy sets and unique stage design, which can include pyrotechnics, fog, and CO2 machines. 

I don't recall ACL closing out a night with a DJ before.  They definitely have never closed a Sunday night. Usually they are the opener before the big headliner.  ACL goes from Paul McCartney or The Eagles or Radiohead to a DJ. Yes this is the second stage and The Killers are the headliners but it's still a letdown. I guess they figured Doja Cat would attract the whole crowd and decided a DJ would be fine on the other stage.

"Where You Are" is one of his biggest hits.

Here he is live. Exactly what you'd expect. 

ACL 2025: Mk.gee

Sunday 7:30pm. You mentioned wanting to see this band. I'll admit I've never heard of him so I had to do some research.  Per Wikipedia:

Michael Todd Gordon (born September 27, 1996), better known by his stage name Mk.gee, is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist...On February 9, 2024, Gordon released his debut album Two Star & the Dream Police, via R&R, to critical acclaim. Praised by Pitchfork as one of the best albums of the first half of the 2020s, the album was supported by five singles: "Candy", "How Many Miles", "Are You Looking Up", "You Got It", and "Dream Police".

I had to look up the Pitchfork review.  They say:

 the 26-year-old from New Jersey subverts recognizable forms—’80s R&B ballads, Phil Collins-inspired downtempo anthems, Michael Jackson-meets-Arthur Russell pop-rock grooves—with unusual tones, tempos, and textures. His distinctive, distended guitar playing and Prince-indebted singing are pinholed through murky, twitchy mixes that refuse to stay still. 

"Candy" has a Prince feel. 

He performed "Are you Looking Up" on Jimmy Kimmel Live. His guitar is definitely Purple Rain-era Prince sounding.

"Alesis" has gotten lots of airplay on KUTX. It's got that Phil Collins/Sting/Police 80s sound.

This is latest single and biggest hit so far.  This is him performing it on SNL.

ACL 2025: Gregory Alan Isakov

Sunday at 7:30pm on the Beatbox stage. Indie folk. I first mentioned him in 2013 and said "If I Go I'm Goin" sounded like Ryan Adams. He's been on my radar but I've never really listened to his music and we've never seen him live. Not sure how I managed to miss him. He even played Old Settler's in 2017 but I don't remember seeing him.  Did we? He's right up my alley.

"Big Black Car" is a little Andrew Bird.

In the video for "Amsterdam" the most liked comment is from user "titoslounge1946".  The comment is:

I was recruited to play baseball on the east coast. My dad and I took a tour of a few other schools in New England we decided to drive up into the Boston area from Long Island. I was gassed so I feel asleep for an hour while he drove. When I woke up, this song was playing while we drove through Providence in Rhode Island. I had never felt so at peace. There was nothing to say and we just sat and drove through the town on a beautiful sunny day during the summer. I'll always remember that feeling of serenity and genuine happiness. It was a really cool moment with my Dad and I'll remember it for the rest of my life. Thanks Greg.

Nice.

Here a performance at KEXP.

This is with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

 

ACL 2025: Polo & Pan

Sunday at 7:15pm.  According to Wikipedia:

Polo & Pan are a French music duo consisting of Paul Armand-Delille (aka Polocorp or Polo) and Alexandre Grynszpan (aka Peter Pan or Pan).  Their music style incorporates a mixture of house-electronic music influenced by tropical sounds and music from all over the world. The duo has released two studio albums and a number of successful EPs.

"Canopée" is nice.

"Ani Kuni" is good, too. I like the music but I think it's going to be a dance party live. 

Here they are live at Coachella. Definitely for the dance/trance crowd. I like it.