Austin City Limits: Lots of Music and Mud

Prelude: “Muddy Waters”

This year, Austin City Limits moved its date back a couple of weeks to October 2-4, and fest-goers were thrilled at the prospects of cooler temperatures. It was lovely out, not too hot at all. And the new sod in Zilker Park was lush and soft enough to be nap-worthy. That was Friday.

On Saturday, tropical storm Olaf pummeled through and fest folks got drenched despite their ponchos. By Sunday, after some 60,000+ people trekked on the wet sod, the entire park was a muddy mess. But this mud smelled really bad. Upon returning, I learned why: “Dillo Dirt.” Austin, big on recycling, has a program that recycles sewage and yard trimmings, bakes the stuff to (hopefully) remove pathogens, and then uses it as fertilizer. This stuff provided a thick layer under the new Zilker Park sod. The heavy rain and many footsteps brought up the muck, and we were ankle deep in it. So, yeah, we were walking through sewage. Some folks sat and rolled in it, even. At least the music was good…

The Music by Day:

Friday

The Avett Brothers were outstanding. Their alt-country sound was complemented by banjo, two upright basses, and great vocal harmonies. It turns out their hit “I And Love And You” is equally beautiful and haunting live.

Another great first-day act was Blitzen Trapper, a tight rock band who seem to have a strong Tom Petty influence.

Two Saras played great sets. Sarah Siskind from Nashville had a gorgeous voice. Her songs were soulful and pretty. One song she performed gained her some attention when it was re-recorded by Bon Iver. He was on the schedule later in the weekend. The other Sara, well known as the lead singer of Nickel Creek, played with special guest David Garza on guitar. This one, Sara Watkins, also sounded lovely, a bit more on the rocking side. Rumor has it, staying till the end of her set would’ve revealed another special guest: John Paul Jones.

It was eclectic day of music. Mishka performed some great reggae. New Orleans bluesman Walter Wolfman Washington tore it up in the Wildflower Center tent. Poi Dog Pondering, a Chicago band by way of Honolulu, let loose in that same tent with a sound that crosses every musical genre. Always fantastic is the quintessential Texas group Asleep at the Wheel who played earlier in the day. It’s bluegrass. It’s swing. One can’t help but two-step to these guys.

Folks voted in advance and Austin’s own The Bright Light Social Hour won the Sound & the Jury contest, gaining a spot at the fest (and a night playing Antone’s too). They were bluesy, folksy, rockin’, dance fun. One amazing act who got a little swallowed up in the large fest setting was Andrew Bird. He sings, whistles, plays a mean violin and is best appreciated in a club setting.

Sorry I missed: The Walkmen, Phoenix (the French band with a punk song that graces a Cadillac commercial).

Saturday

And then came the rain. Early in the day, two bands rocked my world and were among the best highlights of my weekend. !!! (“chk chk chk”) had me in a dancing frenzy as rain beat against my poncho. Only stayed for 20 minutes or so, bouncing around and beaming, but had to then hit a nearby stage to check out the new Irish rock band BellX1 (pictured here) who sound quite a bit like Talking Heads, particularly their breakout hit, “The Great Defector.”

Another band who got a bit swallowed up in the large fest setting (and the torrential downpour was in full swing at this point) was Grizzly Bear. Very mellow and lovely. Halway into their set, I escaped the rain to hear my New Orleans music love Henry Butler w/ the Game Band. It was jump blues at its finest.

Other great acts that day included The Decemberists (outstanding!) and the Felice Brothers, and the Levon Helm Band.

Sorry I missed: Alberta Cross (but I’ll get a chance when these Brit rockers come through DC in February), Papa Mali, Bon Iver, Flogging Molly.

Sunday

Austin’s Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears started the day off with energy and soul. Lewis sounds like a young James Brown and together with his horn section had us all dancing in the mud. After them, the B-52s played a stellar set. I take back any past criticism. Live, they are musically tight, feisty, and wonderfully eccentric.

Here We Go Magic offered up some tight Brooklyn, New York indie-pop.

A couple of Brit bands rocked out that day. Arctic Monkeys were brilliant, though I still prefer their debut album material and they gave us a healthy sampling of it. And, although I only heard two songs by White Lies, they were incredible, evoking a sound reminiscent of classic post-punk bands. Why oh why didn’t I stay for their whole set? Loved this band.

One nice surprise that day was Dirty Projectors, a newish New York indie rock band. Excellent. Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans sounded infectious as ever, and opened their set with “Don’t Stop Til Ya Get Enough” in tribute to Michael Jackson who had recently passed.

We stayed for half of Pearl Jam’s closing, unopposed, two-hour set. The new album was not quite out yet but sounded as good as the classics.

Sorry I missed: Brett Dennen (changed his schedule so he could fly out and do Letterman the next day); Preservation Hall Jazz (but I ran into one of them at the airport the next day and professed my undying love for them).

Please see next entry: ACL: Music of the Night.