ACL 2015: Wolf Alice

Friday at 3pm.  This is one of my must-see bands.  They are playing opposite Albert Hammond, Jr. which is tough but I'd rather see Wolf Alice.  They were at SXSW and are getting lots of airplay.  A four-piece out of North London.  I watched their set on KEXP and was impressed.  They're compared to 90s bands like Elastica, Hole, and Veruca Salt.  I hear some of that but it's more mellow.  A mix of the XX in there.  I usually avoid hype bands but sometimes the hype is justified.  This is one of those times.

Moaning Lisa Smile

Storms

ACL 2015: Con Brio

Friday at 2pm.  Yes, another 2pm option.  This could be the best show in this timeslot.  It's a soul group out of San Francisco though the 22 year-old lead singer, Ziek McCarter, is originally from East Texas.  He's compared to Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, and James Brown.

I'll share a song and a video so you can decide.  We may want to catch some of this.

Give it All


Never Be the Same

ACL 2015: The London Souls

Another Friday 2pm option.  They're playing the small BMI stage.  Despite their name this duo is from NYC.  However, they definitely play British-influenced music.  They are compared to Cream, Led Zeppelin, and the Beatles.  They started in 2011 but had to take a couple years off when one of them was almost killed by a hit-and-run driver.  Self-driving cars can't get here fast enough.

This is very Paul McCartney.

When I'm With You

ACL 2015: Royal Blood

Friday 2pm.  This is a duo out of Brighton that formed in 2013.  They've already played Coachella and are now opening for Foo Fighters on their tour.

As a duo the White Stripes comparisons are inevitable.  If we want to wake up and rock this is the show to see.

Figure it Out

ACL 2015: Alina Baraz & Galimatias

Friday 2pm.  This timeslot has some good choices and one POS.  My first-choice is a mellow/KCRW friendly sound.  I love every song I've heard.  Just really good.  It's a collaboration between a 21yo singer from LA via Cleveland and a Danish electronic musician.  Reminds me of Portishead/Beth Orton/Air.  They're getting love from NPR/the Guardian/Huffington Post.

Unfortunately they're playing the Austin Ventures Stage at the same time as Nate Ruess (lead singer of FUN.!) so the excrement runoff will probably drown out their mellow sound.

Hard to pick one song.  If you like go to their Soundcloud page and listen.  The Guardian link above has a playlist, too. Good office background music.  Probably not good festival listening, though.  They should be in the tent.

Make You Feel

ACL 2015: Ruen Brothers

Friday at 1pm.  This is one of those timeslots where there's not much to offer.  The best option is two brothers from the UK that I don't think are even 18 yet.  Damn.  Jake Bugg/Lorde...they keep getting younger.

The first song sounds a lot like Roy Orbison.  I like the second song below better. Could be a good show.

Aces



Summer Sun

ACL 2015: The Nightowls

12:00 noon Friday:  Playing the Austin Ventures stage is a band based in Austin that plays old-school soul/R&B.   They even recorded their album at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL with some of the original "Swampers".

They play around town and even played Blues on the Green last year.  One that we missed. It was the night before Amanda Shires at the Cactus so I guess we didn't want to go out twice in a row.

Could be a fun set.

Good as Gold 

ACL 2015: Meg Myers

Friday 12:15pm.  Playing opposite Asleep at the Wheel is a singer-songwriter originally from Nashville but now in LA.  She's signed to Atlantic Records so she'll be getting airplay.

She's compared to Sinead/Alanis Morrisette/Fiona Apple/PJ Harvey.  This is a good song.

Sorry

ACL 2015: Whiskey Myers

11:30 AM Friday.  Playing opposite Avers (and local Tameca Jones at 11:15, who always puts on a good show) is a southern country-rock band originally from Elkart, TX who re-located to the big town of Tyler.  It looks like they live in Austin now.

Reminds me of mellow Lynyrd Skynyrd with a little Drive By Truckers mixed in.  Oh, and Reckless Kelly.

Ballad of a Southern Man

ACL 2015: (Avers)

Friday at 11:30am.  The schedules are finally out.  It looks like once again we'll have to deal with multiple choices during some timeslots and no choices in others.  In the tradition of putting the most exciting bands on Sunday morning before anyone shows up, they've decided to do it on Friday as well this year.

This is one of the bands I want to see.  It's a group out of Richmond, VA formed from members of other bands, including the Head and the Heart.  They got a lot of buzz during SXSW for their excellent live shows and are now back for ACL.  They only play the 2nd weekend but maybe they'll do a show during the week.

Reminds me a lot of Dandy Warhols.

Vampire