ACL 2016: Luke Winslow-King

Sunday at 12:15pm.  The 4th choice is a musician out of New Orleans.  His Wikipedia cites influences from New Orleans jazz, Delta blues, ragtime, and pre-war American folk.  Last year he was named New Orleans best blues guitarist but he's also known for his slide guitar.  This song is more mellow.  I've liked his other songs, too.  A good Old Settler's choice.

You Don't Know Better than Me

ACL 2016: Jai Malano

Sunday at 12:15 in the tent.  Old school R&B in the vein of Leon Bridges but with some blues mixed in.  She describes herself as "Texas native.  Florida born with Louisiana roots."  Now in Austin, she regularly plays C-Boys.

This song is more traditional blues.

Edit: She's opening for Ben Harper tonight so we'll get to see her sooner than I thought.

Never Look Down

ACL 2016: The Shelters

Sunday at 11:30am.  This band out of L.A. is playing opposite July Talk so I didn't even think to preview them.  However, I just pulled up this song and it's pretty good.  The ACL page has nothing about them so after further research it turns out they were discovered by Tom Petty, who co-produced both their EP and their first album and are they opening for him on tour.  The music has a roots-rock sound like Petty but I hear some Strokes in there as well.

Why does ACL book such good bands in the A.M. on Sundays? This year they booked these two and local band Shane Smith & the Saints.  Crazy.

Rebel Heart

ACL 2016: Lizzo

Sunday at 12:15.  Here is the R&B morning option.  It's a singer originally from Houston but now in Minneapolis.  She's labeled hip/hop but the songs I heard are more R&B/soul.  She's got a good voice.  I've liked the songs I've heard.  Here are two selections that would sound good on a Sunday morning.  Fresh Air likes her.  Prince liked her and asked her to sing on his song "Boy Trouble".  Here's what she said about working with him.

Her album was recorded at Justin Vernon's studio in Wisc.


My Skin

Humanize

ACL 2016: Brett Dennen

Sunday at 12:15.  There are 4 bands at this time and I'm not sure which one to see.  The first choice is a singer/songwriter from Northern California that has released 6 albums since 2004, gets airplay on KUTX, and has come through Austin quite a few times.  I've never put much thought into his music, though.  We may have seen him before for all I know.  It's nice Sunday morning music.

His latest album was produced by Dave Cobb so he's got that going for him, which is nice.

Comeback Kid

ACL 2016: July Talk

Sunday at 11:30am.  This post is for the Canadian readers who always show up at 3pm.  We caught this Toronto band at SXSW in 2015 and they put on one hell of a show.  We also saw them at Cheer Up Charlie's last June in a way too-short set.  Their last record won a Juno for best Alternative Album and their second album just came out.

Get a good night's sleep Saturday and make it to this early show.

Paper Girl

Summer Dress

ACL 2016: New Madrid

Saturday at 6:30pm on the BMI stage.  This is probably our best bet at this time.  We saw them at Gingerman during SXSW in 2015 and I recall liking them.  I'm not sure how they came up with the name but perhaps it's from the Uncle Tupelo song.

They're from Athens, GA.  This song has a guitar sound and tempo similar to "Murmur"-era R.E.M. but their sound is more psychedelic.



Don't Hold Me Now

ACL 2016: NAO

Saturday at 5:15 in the tent.  This is more like it.  NAO is Neo Jessica Joshua, a singer from East London.  She's nominated for the BBC's "Sound of 2016."  R&B/Funk/Soul.  Has a Prince feel to it.  Especially "Get to Know Ya".  I'd like to see this.

Bad Blood

ACL 2016: AlunaGeorge

Saturday at 5:30pm.  The other option is this duo out of London.  More pop.  ACL sure has changed.  I think I'm beginning to realize why I haven't heard of any of these bands.  I'm obviously in the minority as this song has over 215M plays on Spotify.

You Know You Like It

ACL 2016: Melanie Martinez

Saturday at 5:30pm.  We know the 4:30pm shows: "garage country" Aubrie Sellers who just came through for SXSW, indie-rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen who played the small BMI stage at ACL in 2014, and LL Cool J.  All the Ladies Love Cool James so I may have to join them.

At 5:30 we could see The Naked and Famous again.  They've come a long way since opening for Edward Sharpe.  I'm surprised they're on the Zilker (formerly Austin Ventures) stage.  I think I read that they've moved that stage away from the rock to ease traffic congestion around the food/beer tent.  I'm not sure where they could put it.

Another option is this 20yo from Queens.  Rolling Stone describes her music as "twisted lullabies about love, danger and madness".  She's compared to Lorde and Lana del Rey.  All her songs on Soundcloud have over 4M listens each.  I guess she's a big deal with the kids.  She was on "The Voice" so that probably helped.

Very poppy.  This song reminds me of another band but I can't recall it now.  We saw them at Parish, I think.

Cry Baby

ACL 2016: NAWAS

Saturday at 4pm in the tent.  It's very hard to find any info online about this band.  It took some expert Google searching to discover it's composed of Jake Nawas who is originally from Louisiana but now lives in Nashville.  It appears to be a duo but the picture below shows a trio.  Something is going on since they are playing ACL with only two songs online.  Hmm.  File under "Expect big things soon."

Really good song.  R&B/Soul with some electronic and hip/hop mixed in.  Their website sites Prince as an influence.  I'll just let you listen.  It may be worth checking out a bit of their set to see what's going on.

So Low

ACL 2016: Andra Day

Saturday at 3:30pm.  Her first album came out in 2015 but this singer from San Diego has already played the White House, the Grammys, and just did an ACL taping.  Her music is getting played on KUTX as well.  Quite a voice.

Rise Up is her big song but here's the one being played on KUTX.  I thought it was Amy Winehouse when I first heard it.

Forever Mine

ACL 2016: Jack Garratt

Saturday at 3:30.  I profiled this British musician before SXSW last year.  Since then he has played Conan, Colbert, and won the BBC's Sound of 2016 award.  I'd like to check him out.

This is the song he played on Colbert.

Worry

ACL 2016: City and Colour

Friday Saturday at 2:30pm.  This is probably the biggest band in this slot.  It's the moniker of Toronto-based Dallas Green but he always brings the same band on tour, including guitarist and Texan Dante Schwebel (also co-founder of Spanish Gold).  The band is big in Canada: his last three albums all went to #1 there.

I previewed "The Girl" when they played SXSW back in 2011.  It's a nice mellow song so I'll also put up one that is a little more rocking.

The related artists according to their page on Spotify are Bon Iver and Iron and Wine.  I'm not sure I agree with that but I can't come up with any comparisons right now.

The Girl

Wasted Love

ACL 2016: Lucy Dacus

Friday Saturday at 2:30pm on the BMI stage.  This is a 21yo from Richmond, VA.  A young female indie-rocker with clever lyrics.  I guess the success of Courtney Barnett has encouraged labels to find more like her.  Her first album was originally released on a small label but has been picked up by Matador and re-released.

I Don't Want to Be Funny Anymore

ACL 2016: Luisa Maita

Friday Saturday at 2:30 pm.  This is the option in the tent.  It's a singer from Sao Paolo that has been called "The New Voice of Brazil."  Nice mellow sound.  I liked this song the best. She has been profiled on NPR and KCRW over the years.  A good band for the tent.

Lero-Lero

ACL 2016: Saint Motel

Friday Saturday at 2:30pm.  Lots of choices at this time but none really stick out.  The first option is this band out of L.A. that has been around for a few years.  I listened to a few songs and am not sure how to categorize them.  The first link is straight-up indie pop that reminds me a little of Matt and Kim.   The video below is of a song that was used in a trailer for "Boardwalk Empire".  It's more prog-rock like Muse.  Another song reminded me of The Strokes.  Who knows how they'll be live.

Cold Cold Man

Dear Dictator

ACL 2016: Gallant

Saturday at 1:30pm.  I'm skipping the 12:45pm slot as Haelos is playing then.  The other choices then are  alt-rock band Nothing But Thieves and rock band The Gills.  Neither are my cup of tea.  Despite KUTX running that one Haelos song into the ground I still want to see them again.

This slot has three good choices: Caveman, Lewis Del Mar, and this soul singer originally from D.C/Maryland but now in NYC.  He's already played The Tonight Show and got a standing ovation for this song.   Jimmy Fallon's comment was: “Oh my goodness! I told you… Watch out for this guy!"  He also played Coachella and had Seal join him on stage.

I'd say expect very big things.

Weight in Gold

ACL 2016: HONNE

Saturday at Noon. I think it's going to take a good band at this time to lure us away from the breakfast tacos and Bloody Mary's.  We saw a bit of Israel Nash at Old Settler's.  This is a duo out of London that just released their first album in July.  They're described as old-school soul with an electronica beat.  Lots of hype online for them.

Nice mellow stuff to start out the day.

Warm on a Cold Night

ACL 2016: Flume

Friday at 7pm.  We'll have to decide between M83 and Band of Horses at this time but all the kids will be on the other side of the park watching this producer/DJ.  We'll get to hear some depending on how early we want to try and grab a space for Radiohead.

This is a kid from Australia that has blown up.  This song has 180M plays on Spotify in less than 8 months.

By the way, for Spotify links via computer you can click on the link and it will open in a browser vs. clicking the Play button below, which will open the Spotify app.

Never Be Like You

ACL 2016: Corinne Bailey Rae

Friday at 6pm.  It's slim pickings at this time slot.  The best choice happens to be the only artist at ACL that is on Obama's Summer playlist.  She's playing the tent opposite Die Antwoord and Flying Lotus.

Green Aphrodisiac 

ACL 2016: St. Lucia

Friday at 5pm.  I'm skipping the 4pm bands as it's a guarantee I'll be at Foals.  At 5pm we have Cold War Kids and this band I previewed back in 2013 for SXSW.  80s-era pop.

Here's a song from a few years ago.

Elevate

ACL 2016: Chairlift

Friday at 3pm.  The third option at this time is a band we saw in 2009 at Flamingo Cantina during SXSW.  They were touring off their big hit at the time, "Bruises".    I still like that song.

They finally made it to ACL but I haven't followed them much since 2009.  After listening to some of their songs on Spotify it sounds like they've moved into dance pop.  Reminds me a little of Bird and the Bee, or Tennis.

I liked this one the best.

Moth to a Flame

ACL 2016: Flight Facilities

Friday at 3pm.  Three options at this time.  Strumbellas, a Canadian band that is getting lots of airplay with their song "Spirits", which I highlighted before SXSW.  I saw them at Lambert's and thought they put on a good show.  Kind of a mix between the Lumineers and Head and the Heart.

The next option is this producer duo from Australia.  Apparently they're pretty big in the dance scene in the UK and Australia.  Maybe here, too.

They have guest vocalists on all their songs so I'm not sure how this will go down live.  Probably them behind turntables with a big screen showing videos.  Live music!


Down to Earth

ACL 2016: Welshly Arms

Friday at 2pm on the BMI stage.  The last choice at this time is a band out of Cleveland that plays blues/R&B/Rock.  This song is pretty good.  The rest of their stuff is pretty straight-forward blues rock.

Legendary

ACL 2016: Banks & Steelz

Friday at 2pm.  Wu-Tang Clan and Interpol meet in a bar... I guess they did, hence this collaboration between RZA and Paul Banks.  An unlikely pairing but apparently they're good friends and decided to record together.  This is the result.  The album comes out August 28th. Below are two quite different songs.

I know where the crowds will be at 2pm.

Anything but Words- This sounds like "Bark at the Moon"-era Ozzy.



Giant

ACL 2016: Prinze George

Friday at 2:15 in the tent.  This is a trio originally from Prince George, Maryland but now in Brooklyn.  More up my alley these days.  Ambient synth-pop. Another song to check out is Freeze.

Their album was recorded in Minneapolis and produced by Evan Bakke who worked with Prince.

Victor

ACL 2016: The Front Bottoms

Friday at 2pm.  Another band that's been around for a few years that I've never heard of.  They're out of New Jersey and have been compared to Cake for their humorous/off-kilter lyrics.  I'd say they're definitely in that quirky rock-geek sound like the Mountain Goats or Decemberists.  Somebody else compared them to Frightened Rabbit, who plays right before them.

Not really my thing.

Help

ACL 2016: Ron Gallo

Friday at 1:15pm in the tent.  In summary: our options at this time are brit-pop, hip-hop/R&B, melodic rock, or this.  It's a guy originally from Philadelphia that just relocated to Nashville.  Garage rock/punk/rock. Depending on our mood this could be incredible or way too loud.  Reminds me of the True Believers.

Should be a hit with the old-school Austinites.  He apparently puts on a hell of a show.

Young Lady, You're Scaring Me

ACL 2016: Frightened Rabbit

Friday at 1pm.  Another option during this time slot is a band that has been around for over 10 years but has always been on the periphery for me.  They get played on KUTX and come through town but I've never really had much interest in seeing them.  However, their latest album was produced by Aaron Dessner of The National so maybe it's worth checking them out.

Get Out

ACL 2016: Jess Glynne

Friday at 1pm.  Slight rant: the artist bios on the official ACL website are completely useless.  Take this one for Jess Glynne.    11 paragraphs that say absolutely nothing.  Pure PR junk that could be said about any artist.  One snippet:  "'I needed to believe in it,' she says. 'I needed the record to tell a story. I needed it to feel like me.' By looking inwards she hopes to reach out. " WTF.

The skinny: Jess Glynne is a 26yo from England that exploded in the UK last year. 5 singles from her album went to #1 and the album debuted at #1 when it came out. She reminds me of a mix between Adele and Amy Winehouse but more oriented to brit-pop like Ellie Goulding. Again, not really our genre but I doubt she'll be in an early Friday time slot at ACL for long.

Hold My Hand

ACL 2016: Raury

Friday at 1pm.  There are 4 choices in this time slot.  This is probably the biggest draw.  It's a 20 year-old projected phenom from Atlanta.  He's already collaborated with Lorde and Jaden Smith and was tapped as the Sound of 2015 by the BBC.  Not really our genre but this is probably the only chance we'll get to see him live before he explodes.

Factoid: His Wikipedia entry says he's a vegan.

Loyal

ACL 2016: Liza Anne

Friday at 12:15pm.  The other band playing in this slot is in the tent.  She's from Atlanta but lives in Nashville.  I listened to her music while previewing SXSW bands but didn't post about her.  My notes say: "folk.  mellow singer/songwriter."  This song is a little more poppy.  She reminds me of Sharon Van Etten.

Take It Back

ACL 2016: Los Coast

Friday at 12:15pm.  This time slot also has Eliot Sumner who we saw at SXSW.  I've seen this local band's name in the music listings but never listened to them.  They played SXSW, opened for Lawrence at 3Ten recently, and have a residency at CBoy's this month.  It looks like they've been playing constantly all over town.  We need to get out more.

Their sound is compared to a mix between Alabama Shakes and Leon Bridges.  Interesting.

Summer Samaritan

ACL 2016: VHS Collection

Friday 11:30am.  This is a band out of NYC.  A retro-80s synth dance/rock sound.  They're compared to Phoenix, MGMT.  I listened to 4 songs and they're all ok but nothing blew me away.  This one was good:

The Longest Drive

ACL 2016: Corbu

Friday 11:30am.  The schedule has finally been released.  I thought I was a music aficionado but ACL has booked a lot of bands I don't know.  I guess I better get busy.

This is a band out of Brooklyn that released their first full-length a few months ago.  Their big song is "Polygon Forest" but I like this song better.  Very mellow stuff.  They are up against Austin's own Bayonne in this timeslot.

Through Emptiness