ACL 2013 Sun. 7:30pm Shuggie Otis

The big names are out in full force before the final headliner: Atoms for Peace for the Radiohead fans, Phoenix for the dancers, and Neko Case for the Americana fans. Stashed away at the tent stage is the man all those bands would probably rather see.  The saying "music ahead of it's time" is kind of a cliché now but it sure seems to make sense in this case.

Everyone knows "Strawberry Letter 23", a smash-hit when covered by the Brothers Johnson.  I'll post this instead but you really should go listen to all of Inspiration Information.  

Aht Uh Mi Hed

ACL 2013 Sun. 6:15pm Phosphorescent

This band played ACL in 2011 and were at SXSW this year, where we saw them at the Heartbreaker Banquet (one of the best days ever).  Most of his music is pretty mellow but their live show was much more upbeat.  I'm sure they'll be rocking for a late Sunday show.  Worth checking out.

The Mermaid Parade

ACL 2013 Sun. 5pm White Denim

In my opinion this is the best "newish" band out of Austin right now.  Well, their 2011 album "D" is the best recent album by an Austin band not called Spoon.  We just saw them at Blues on the Green but that environment doesn't lend itself to an attentive concert experience.  This may be just what I need in the late afternoon on a Sunday.

I'm going to post 2 songs to show the band's range.  The first is their "hit" and the second is an instrumental that kicks all kinds of ass.  Both are off of "D"

Street Joy

At the Farm

ACL 2013 Sun. 4:30pm JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound

We're hitting the heavy conflict times where ACL books good bands all against each other.  That means there are some tough decisions.  Divine Fits or White Denim or Toro y Moi? Or these guys?  Fortunately, we've seen them all before so we can decide based on the mood of the day.

We saw this band at SXSW last year and I enjoyed their set.  It started out as typical neo-soul like a lot of other bands recreating the James Brown sound.  Just at ACL alone we've got Charles Walker on Friday and Vintage Trouble on Saturday.  However, these guys branch out more and throw some wrinkles in the standard format.  I was especially pleased when they played this song: a cover of another Chicago-based band.

I Am Trying to Break Your Heart

ACL 2013 Sun. 3:45pm The Lone Bellow

Another SXSW 2013 band.  Pretty country.  Good warm-up for the Eric Church fans.  Not sure they're my cup of tea but here's a song so you can judge for yourself.

You Never Need Nobody

ACL 2013 Sun. 3:30pm Grouplove

Here's another SXSW veteran.  We went to see them play Lovejoy's back in 2011 but the schedule was all messed up and they didn't know when they were playing.  The band was just hanging out by their van waiting. So we moved on.  

In my preview back then I compared them to Cracker.  They have a new album out that's more dance-pop. Seems like a departure for a band formed by a bunch of artists on a commune in Crete that named themselves Grouplove.  Gotta pay the bills I guess.

Apparently their song "Tongue Tied" is quite a hit.  I like this song better.

Ways to Go

ACL 2013 Sun. 2:30pm Noah and the Whale

Not a new band, I posted a song of theirs for the 2011 SXSW preview.  We also saw them at Parish in June of that year.  It was a really good show.

Other choices during this time are ACL veterans Dawes (who also put on a great show) and country-ish outfit out of Austin/Nashville Wild Feathers, who I previewed for this year's SXSW.  It's hard to go wrong with any of these options.


Blue Skies

ACL 2013 Sun. 12pm Smallpools

There have been some schedule changes on Sunday due to D'Angelo cancelling his performance.  One band has been added and has taken MS MR's original slot.  They've moved to later in the day.

This is a hot band on Hype Machine right now so I guess ACL wanted to jump on the bandwagon.  It's a band out of L.A.  From the sound of this song I have a bad feeling we're about to be dealing with another Foster the People'esque wholesale hijacking of another band's sound.  I hope Passion Pit is getting royalties off this song.

Dreaming

ACL 2013 Sun. 1pm The Mowgli's

This is an L.A. band that plays happy peace/love music reminiscent of the 60s/70s era.  The schedule is packed around them so not sure I'll make their show.  They're also supposed to play the KGSR ACL broadcast at Threadgill's on Saturday the 5th (1st weekend) at 11:30.  That should be a fun 8 minute set.

This song is fun.

San Francisco

ACL 2013 Sun 1:20pm Roadkill Ghost Choir

Another must-see.  This band is so fucking good.  We saw them at Lambert's during SXSW.  Despite playing in front of about 20 people on a Wednesday at noon they still rocked.  Great band.  Go buy their EP.

Beggar's Guild

ACL 2013 Sun. 12:45pm Typhoon

Haven't really followed these guys but they're an indie orchestra 12-piece ensemble from Portland.  They've been around for a few years and just released their latest album.  Kind of interesting sound.  More rocking and drums than Mother Falcon but I assume the idea is similar.  This song even has a female solo vocal and a group chorus singalong that Mother Falcon likes to use.  Could be worth checking out.

Young Fathers

ACL 2013 Sun 12pm MS MR

I previewed both bands playing at noon for SXSW (MS MR and Foxygen) so click on those links to hear the songs.  I like MS MR as a good option to start the final day of ACL.  They fill the slot held by Zola Jesus  last year.  This is a duo out of NYC.

"Hurricane" is their well-known song so here's another.  I like it.

Bones

ACL 2013 Sun. 11:15am Bear Mountain

Sunday morning is when ACL likes to showcase buzz-worthy indie bands before they break.  Last year it was Alt-J.  This year there are 3 bands that fit that category.  The first up is a duo out of Vancouver that blew up on hype machine when they released their first couple songs.  I expect they'll be playing Stubb's soon so it could be fun to see them in front of 10 hungover people not knowing what to expect (along with a few music blog nerds)

Two Step

ACL 2013 Sat. 6:30pm Cherub

If you don't know the rest of the bands playing from 6-10pm on Saturday you may need to get out more.  The only two that aren't well-known are are Shouting Matches and Cherub.  Shouting Matches is a blues-rock side-project of Justin Vernon (Bon Iver).  Pretty standard blues/rock.

Cherub is playing the tiny BMI stage at 6:30.  It's a duo from Murfreesboro, TN that plays electro-funk/dance-pop.  I've liked what I've heard.  This could be a fun dance party.

I'll throw up two songs to kick off a Monday morning.  This first song is total old-school Prince while the 2nd song could be Prince playing with Empire of the Sun.

Promise

Doses and Mimosas

ACL 2013 Sat. 5pm Grimes

I'm not sure if Saturday at 5pm at ACL is the best place to see Grimes.  A much better place would be Lamberts, which she played in Feb. 2012. She also played Emo's East on my birthday last year.  Rant begins: that place is worse than the Austin Music Hall.  I went to two shows there but never again.  I saw two bands I've seen before who I know put on great shows: Foals and Father John Misty.  The sound was atrocious.  The whole experience was awful: parking, entrance lines, beer prices, beer lines, audience noise, and acoustics.  It takes an extra shitty venue to make a Foals concert seem average.  When they played La Zona Rosa on their last tour it was probably my top live show of that year.  Emo's East needs to die.  Move it back to 6th and Red River.  That place was a shithole but at least it was a great place for live music.  Now it's a shithole that ruins live music.  End rant.

Most people will be ready to rock at 5pm so they'll probably head to Joy Formidable.  I like her ethereal synth-pop so I'd like to check her out.  A good band to see if you're planning on seeing Passion Pit at 6pm.  (I'll be at Wilco of course).

Oblivion

ACL 2013 Sat. 4:30pm Lissie

The next artist is proof that I'm old.  Apparently she's quite popular with the younger crowd.  She's also pretty popular in Europe.  Her songs have been in shows like "Grey's Anatomy", "90210", "One Tree Hill", "Melrose Place", and "So You Think You Can Dance".  Haven't seen any of them.  I like what I've heard so far though.  This song is good.

When I'm Alone

ACL 2013 Sat. 4pm True Believers

There are only a few bands that are a must-see during ACL.  If you're from Austin, this is one of them.  I love this comment off the ACL page:

"I worry about the youth who will bear witness to this relentless onslaught. Seeing the True Believers live can do things to a person that may never be undone...THE BEST LIVE BAND TEXAS HAS EVER PRODUCED"

Originally formed in the early-80s, True Believers included the triple-guitar threat of Alejandro Escovedo, his brother Javier, and Jon Dee Graham.  They were known for their incredible live shows.  Record label issues kept them from greater success but they are legendary in Austin.  They reformed last year for a tribute concert and blew everyone away.  Thankfully for those of us uninitiated, ACL convinced them to play again.

This is going to be at the tent stage.  Bring earplugs.

No Soundcloud links so here's Spotify.

Ring the Bell

ACL 2013 Sat. 4pm Portugal. The Man

After Junip are two ACL veterans and one Austin supergroup.  I'll start with Portland-based (by way of Alaska) Portugal. The Man.  They've got 7 albums out and come through Austin regularly.  They played ACL in 2010, too.  Never did much for me but their latest album was produced by Danger Mouse so it may be worth seeing how that worked out.  This song is pretty good.

Purple, Yellow Red and Blue