ACLMF Day One: A Study in Scope

Very briefly, my first day at ACLMF was shocking in scope alone. The size of Zilker was one of the biggest fields I've been to in my life. The crowds, were easily some of the biggest crowds I've seen barring inauguration. This may have been because Zilker is such an open area and expansive park, but it was if I could see everyone in attendance. Anyways, on with the show:

Blitzen Trapper:


I really didn't know much about Blitzen Trapper when I went to see him and it showed when I finally got there. He had some good moments but nothing really worth writing about. I do recall that the band looked exactly as I imagined them. I ended up leaving after 15 minutes so that I could get to the next band in time.

The Knux:


I had promised my friend Joanna (JoSoPhine of Washglob anonymity) that I would check out the Knux because she liked the free download of their song, Bang! Bang!, provided on the ACLMF e-mails. She was originally going to join us in balmy Austin; but ended up teaching young, svelte Spanish boys English instead. So as Jo's proxy I witnessed the event that was The Knux. I must say I was rather impressed by their energy. I've found that energy is essential at a show where a significant portion of the crowd have only heard one or two of your songs. That being said, The Knux possess a strong stage presence that includes audience participation, demonstrated dance moves, and witty stage banter. The music itself is funky guitar driven rap that I thoroughly enjoyed (I dled the album shortly after returning home).

The Avett Brothers:


The Avett Brothers were the "pleasant surprise" act of Day 1 at ACLMF. Promoting their new album, I and Love and You, The Avett Brothers were a huge contrast to the funky rap of The Knux. The music they played was soulful, wistful, playful and a whole lot of other -fuls. Their music was...full. Their distinct brand of alt country blended seamlessly country, bluegrass, and folk with some indie hooks; but they could also rock when needed. I remember several times being caught off guard by the ability of Scott Avett (vox, banjo, guitar) to scream/sing certain lyrics making you feel the force with which he feels what he's singing. Accompanied by a bassist and occasionally a cellist the two brothers were able to create a sound that filled our part of Zilker completely.

At this point we took a break for lunch because frankly The Walkmen and Dr. Dog while good, were not that high on our priority lists considering that we were starving and ready to devour small children walking without a parental escort. I chowed down on some kebabs from somewhere in the food court and was very impressed with how moist the meat was, although off-put by the addition of potatoes to the kebab. They would have been good were they the texture of roast potatoes, but these chunky tough morsels were fingered to the ground. After we ate and refilled our water bottles, we returned to the music:

Phoenix:
There's not much to be said about the Parisian Alt Rockers that hasn't already been said. Having just seen them not two weeks before in Central Park, I was still impressed. Though their set was dramatically truncated from their Central Park show, the band was able to dole out a generous portion of very danceable rock for all to enjoy. It reinforced my need to inform my little brother to get their music any way he could (only to have him tell me I was right a few months later by thanking the Shazam app and Cadillac). I thought it funny that they refer to the "soul clap" as "the Prince clap", big up to Prince or the Artist or whatever he's calling himself now for managing to stay relevant to someone (I kid, I love Prince). They closed with 1901 and drove the crowd crazy and left them wanting more. I was impressed they got people moving that much in the middle of the day like that. It's hard to do at a festival show, and Phoenix proved themselves to be great showmen.

Raphael Saadiq:


Speaking of showmen, Raphael Saadiq, former frontman to 90's R&B group, Tony! Toni! Toné!, was a close runner up for "rock and roll" band of the day. I understand that it's hard to picture how the newly branded Neo-Soul artist as a rock star just by thinking about the words together. But picture those old soul music shows with their matching costumes, dancing, and spectacle. Raphael Saadiq embodied all these things as he took a small section of Zilker back to a simpler time when people were just concerned about people accidentally stepping on their new shoes as they went to the club for the night. He has fully embraced the Neo-Soul movement and belts out great songs from his new album such as 100 Yard Dash and Love That Girl. He even pulled out a (forgive the pun) "pearl" when he reprised his duet with 90's R&B star, Lucy Pearl, Dance Tonight. And oh, how we did.

John Legend:


The eponymous John Legend did not disappoint for what I was able to see of him. He started his set in the aisle that led from the sound stage to the main stage with an acapella cover of Redemption Song. I stayed for three or four hits off of Let's Get Lifted, which were phenomenal. This man is truly the next Marvin Gaye. That being said, I was hungry and left early to find food.

I found sustenance in a pulled pork sandwich from the famous Stubb's, which as Ryan had warned me, was nothing special. Perhaps it merits a trip to the actual establishment to check if it was just the festival conditions that made for a ho-hum sandwich; but that's for a future trip, and we still had more sets to see:

Andrew Bird:


A one-time member and perennial favorite featured artist for the Squirrel Nut Zippers, Andrew Bird's solo career has really started to take off. Even though he's still referred to as, "That-guy-who-does-that-whistling-song", Andrew Bird's extremely mellow chamber pop is something to behold. I was lucky to catch two or three songs after dinner before running off to get set up for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs set.

Them Crooked Vultures:


As someone who considers himself somewhat savvy when it comes to music, I must admit my complete ignorance of the formation of what can only be called the rock-super-group, Them Crooked Vultures. Comprised of drummer, Dave Grohl; keyboardist and bassist John Paul Jones; and vocalist/lead guitarist Josh Homme, Them Crooked Vultures provided some of the loudest rock I heard throughout the entire festival. I did not actually get to see them, as I was located at a close by stage getting in position for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs; but I heard the entire show and dled the album as soon as I could.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs:


The Yeah Yeah Yeahs were, fittingly, the "rock and roll" band of the day. Instead of seeing Kings of Leon with my friends (I think they sound like the band that kicked Jack Black out in the beginning of School of Rock), I chose to post up by the other stage and watch a band that I had heard a lot about in terms of their live show. I was certainly not disappointed. The stage was decked out in a large hypnotic spiral emanating from a gigantic eye hanging from the middle of the stage. Lead singer, Karen O came out on stage in what I could only describe as a Native American kimono out of the mind of David Bowie. A single light illuminates her from above as she began gently with Runaway off of It's Blitz! which eventually kicked into high gear and revved up into the rest of the show providing its attendees with the heavy danceable rock for which they are known. The concert was complete with costume changes an incredible light show and very "rock star" moments like Karen O swallowing the whole mic and screaming. After their encore, she just repeatedly swung and slammed her mic into the stage...so punk rock...I think I was in love for one hot second.