ACL 2023: New West

Saturday at 5pm on the BMI stage.  Tanya Tucker is on at this time so that's my first choice. Three other bands playing at this time. We saw Poolside at SXSW in 2013 at Tap Room.  Mellow tunes.

This is a "collective" out of Toronto. Strange name for a band from Eastern Canada. They call themselves a collective instead of a band for some reason. It's just 4 guys.  When I think of collectives I think of New Pornographers or Elephant 6. 

"IYKYK" is a new song. Coldplay vibes.

This was their breakthrough hit.

ACL 2023: Sudan Archives

Saturday at 4pm on the Tito's stage. She's well known and has already taped an Austin City Limits episode but I wanted to listen to more of her songs.  I found a Tiny Desk Concert that is good. In the notes Bob Boilen says he first saw her at Cheer Up Charlie's during SXSW in 2018.  I looked and she played Wednesday at 5:15pm.  We were at Blackheart that day and saw Mt. Joy. What a coincidence. Both bands are now playing in same time slot at ACL.

I like this song.  It's the last song in her Tiny Desk Concert, too.

ACL 2023: Rina Sawayama

Saturday at 4pm.  This time also has Sudan Archives (on the Tito's stage! That will be insane.) and Mt. Joy.  

This singer/model/actress is originally from Japan but grew up in London. She was in the latest John Wick sequel. 

"Hold the Girl" reminds me of Lady Gaga.

Pop. This was the best I heard.

ACL 2023: Snõõper

 Saturday at 3pm on the BMI stage.  Pitchfork has a good introduction:

Before Jack White signed them to Third Man, Snõõper staked their claim in Tennessee’s DIY scene as the sound of egg punk in the 2020s: fast riffs, fun antics, and no-fucks-given misfit pride. While Indiana torchbearers the Coneheads and Liquids played hardcore-inspired weirdo punk in a Hardee’s parking lot, Snõõper raided the arts and crafts closet. At live shows, the Nashville five-piece rip through minute-long songs, perform choreography in matching tracksuits, and march bug-eyed papier mâché puppets around the stage as singer Blair Tramel curls a comically large cardboard dumbbell. The goal, as guitarist Connor Cummins put it: “Go as crazy as possible for 30 minutes.” A band with an insatiable desire to shred and a keen eye for bold visual aesthetics? Of course the guy who co-founded the White Stripes couldn’t call dibs fast enough. Snõõper’s debut, Super Snõõper, is a highlight in the world of “Devo-core,” with unpredictable riffs and voltaic singing that strike just the right balance of delightful and detached.

I think that about sums it up.  "Running" has the Devo-core sound.  Here's another.

 

ACL 2023: Amaarae

Saturday at 3:15 on the Barton Springs stage.  This is the moniker of Ama Serwah Genfi, a Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter. She is known for her fusion of Pop, R&B, Afrobeats, and Alté music according to Wikipedia.   It says she was born in Bronx, New York to Ama Bawuah and Kwadwo Boateng Genfi and was raised between Atlanta and Accra, Ghana.

Here is her Tiny Desk Concert.  Nice sound.  I like the horns. I could be talked into watching her set.

Her latest album, Fountain Baby, is Ranked #2 for the year on Metacritic. Damn. I just listened to the whole thing and it is really good. "Reckless & Sweet" is a great song and so is "Wasted Eyes". There's not a bad track on it. I think this is my first choice now.

This is her big hit.  Kali Uchis joined her in a remix of it.  I wonder if she'll stick around and perform on stage with her.