ACL 2014: Links

For a quick rundown of the artists along with a song (if you want to listen), here is a list of the Friday highlights.  Start from the bottom and scroll up:

http://goo.gl/kzZzqc

When you're done with that page click on this for the rest of Saturday and Sunday.  Again, go from bottom to top:

http://goo.gl/6b4gPG

I also created a playlist in Soundcloud of those and many others playing if you want to sample a few:

http://goo.gl/pi06RZ

ACL 2014: Suggested schedule

Here are my first choices for each day.  I'll focus on the 11am-6pm bands since everyone should know Beck and Outkast, etc.   This just means I want to check out the band but doesn't mean I won't wander over to check out another band.  

My plan is to arrive early and leave early.  The early bands are really good and the crowds are thin.  Plus, it hasn't warmed up yet.  Arriving late is for amateurs.

Friday:

11:30 Young and Sick

12:15 Broods

1pm Preatures

1:15 Temples

2pm Robert Ellis

2:15 Jimmy Cliff

3:15 Lake Street Dive

4:15 Chvrches or Paulo Nutini

5:15  St, Vincent probably

Saturday

11:30 Chain Gang of 1974

12:30 Spanish Gold

1:00 Benjamin Booker

1:30 Rosebuds (but Mac DeMarco is supposed to be good)

2:30 ? (wish they moved Mac DeMarco to this slot)

3:30 Polica

4:30 Bully

5:30 Lucius 

Sunday

11:30 Haerts 

12:15 Mo

1pm Reuben and the Dark

2pm Nikki Lane, then some of Parker Millsap.  Both really solid choices.

3pm  Real Estate, but Cults is good, too.

4pm  Imelda May I guess. Again, wish Cults was here.

5pm  Phantogram (since we just saw Jenny Lewis)

ACL 2014: Broods

Friday at 12:15pm.  Hozier cancelled which has caused some schedule changes as well as the addition of a new band.  This is a brother-sister duo from New Zealand that apparently is blowing up everywhere but here.  So far.  Kind of dream/Euro pop.  This song reminds me a little of Chvrches.  They have another one called "Coattails" that is nice, too.  I think this would be my choice for that time slot.

My picks for the weekend coming soon.


Bridges

ACL 2014: The Wans

Sunday at 4pm on the BMI stage.  This is a trio out of Nashville.  They were described as a mix of Led Zeppelin and Nirvana.  Of the few songs I've heard that's a pretty good description.  This one is on the bluesy Led Zep side with a mix of old Black Keys.  The other songs I heard are more on the Nirvana side.

Want You

ACL 2014: Imelda May

Sunday at 4pm in the Zilker tent.  I figure we'll do Real Estate at 3pm (at the RetailMeNot stage!) then we have a few choices at 4pm.  First up is a singer from Ireland that plays rockabilly.  Reminds me of Sarah Borges.

Johnny's Got A Boom Boom

ACL 2014: Parker Millsap

Sunday at 2:15pm.  Playing the Zilker tent is a 21 year-old singer-songwriter from Oklahoma.  He's got quite a PR team as his name was all over before his first album was even out.  He's been on World Cafe and KEXP and is scheduled to perform at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville. Expect big things.

A little bit of a mix between Jason Isbell and Ryan Bingham.

Truck Stop Gospel

ACL 2014: Kongos

Sunday at 2:00.  For informational purposes only.  There's no way I'm missing Nikki Lane.  This is a band of 4 brothers originally from South Africa but now residing in Phoenix.  This was their big hit.  Not my thing.

Come With Me Now

ACL 2014: Miniature Tigers

Sunday at 1:00pm.  Option 2 for this timeslot.  This is a band out of Brooklyn that has 4 albums out and has been around since 2006.  Indie pop/synth.  They've toured with fun. and Ben Folds.

Doesn't do much for me.

Used to Be the Shit

ACL 2014: Reuben and the Dark

Sunday at 1:00pm.  This is the first time I've heard this band.  It's a five-piece from Calgary led by Reuben Bulluck and including his brother Distance.  Their father was a roaming preacher so they moved around a lot.  An interesting childhood I'm sure.

Very similar to Mumford and Sons.  I little more rock in it, though.

Rolling Stone

ACL 2014: Colony House

Also on Sunday at 12:15 is a band from Franklin/Nashville Tennessee.  It's a trio of two brothers and a friend.  They are on Descendant Records which is part of Sony so they have major label backing.  I'm sure we'll hear more from them.

Kind of poppy sound to this one.  Not really my thing but I'm sure it's a mainstay on KGSR.

Silhouettes 

ACL 2014: The Districts

Sunday at 12:15.  Depending on the mood we may want to give these guys another try.  We saw them at SX San Jose during SXSW but I didn't get much out of it.  I think it was because we were at the back and it was packed.  They are getting lots of love from the press.  Read this glowing review from The Guardian that compares them to Little Feat, the Black Keys and Kings of Leon.

Roots Americana rock.  I shared Funeral Beds (which does remind me of Kings of Leon) for the SXSW preview so here's another song that's a little more rocking.

Rocking Chair

ACL 2014: MØ

Sunday 12:15pm.  Danish dance/pop singer.  I saw her at SXSW in 2013 and thought she put on a cool show.  It was only her on stage with an ipod and a projector flashing images and movies on the screen behind her.  Despite the minimalist nature it was entrancing.  She danced all over the stage and probably sweated off 10 pounds.

This is her big song I guess.  Tons of remixes but I can't find the original on Soundcloud so here's the Youtube video.

Don't Wanna Dance




Edit: Found another cool song with video.

Pilgrim

ACL 2014: Nostalghia

Sunday 11:30am.  Playing opposite Haerts on the RetailMeNot stage is a California-Iranian singer that should be a good opener for Lorde.  Whereas Lorde uses Goth-style to sing pop songs, this is the real thing.

She hasn't really put anything out in a couple years but she does sing on a Seven Lions song.  I'd describe this as IDM more than Goth but we're splitting hairs.  Would fit right in on Rocket Radio on KNON.  This would be right up my alley in my younger days.

I'll include one of her own songs as well.  Siouxsie would be proud.

Cool for Chaos That scream is intense.  I dig this one.

Serpent of Old-Seven Lions song

ACL 2014: Haerts

Sunday 11:30am.  I can't believe this band is slotted for the dreaded Sunday morning kickoff.  In 2012 Alt-J was accorded that "honor".  Why hide a great band at a time when nobody will be there?  I guess it's a reward for the die-hard festival people who show up early.  This is great Sunday morning wake-up music, too.

I saw these guys at SXSW in 2013 at Cedar Street and they were excellent.  A throwback 70s/80s sound, with a little ABBA, a little Berlin.  They're based in Brooklyn but members are from Germany, England, and the U.S.  I'm not sure why they haven't taken off yet.  There's certainly lots of buzz about them.

Definitely worth waking up early to see them.  I'm going to post three songs to convince you.

Call My Name

Wings

All the Days

ACL 2014: Beat Connection

Saturday 6:30pm.  Last band preview for Saturday.  This is a Seattle electro-pop band playing on the BMI stage.  This song reminds me a little of Prince but most of their music is more electro from what I've read.

Hesitation

ACL 2014: Bully

Saturday 4:30pm.  We're getting to the big acts now so not much more to cover for Saturday.  Playing in this timeslot is Interpol and Head and the Heart so we'll most likely choose one of them.  If we want to avoid the big crowds there's this trio from Nashville on the BMI stage.

I like this song.  Reminds me a little of Breeders, or a female-led Replacements.  They only have an EP out but have already played Bonnaroo and are now playing ACL.  Not a bad start.

Brainfreeze

ACL 2014: Rey Pila

Saturday at 2:30pm.  Another band from Mexico City but they reside in NYC now.  They are signed to Julian Casablanca's label and just toured with Albert Hammond, Jr.  They've also toured with TV on the Radio.  Here's a longer article on them.

This song is very glam 80s.  Reminds me of Roxy Music mixed with Bowie.  They're playing the small BMI stage at the same time as Trombone Shorty and Rebelution.

Alexander

ACL 2014: Falls

Saturday at 2:00pm.  This is probably my choice.  It's a duo from Sydney.  They've toured with Of Monsters and Men and Lumineers.  This is the only song I could find.  Very sweet.


Home

ACL 2014 Zoé

Saturday at 1:30 opposite Mac DeMarco is an alt-rock band from Mexico City.  Here's a song and a video.  53 Million views! I guess they're pretty popular in Latin America.

Labios Rotos

ACL 2014: Mac DeMarco

Saturday 1:30pm.  The next couple hours are a crapshoot.  I'll throw up some choices but none really stick out until Polica at 3:30.

One option is Canadian singer-songwriter Mac DeMarco.  His latest album has been nominated for the Polaris Prize.  Pitchfork likes him and apparently he's pretty well-regarded.  I think he's going for the John Lennon "Double Fantasy" era sound on this song.

Passing Out Pieces