Sunday, September 21, 2008

ACL 2008: Sunday Preview

Rachel and I seem to agree that Sunday is the day we're looking forward to the least. First off, we don't really have any interest in Sunday's headlining act (Foo Fighters). Also, we've already seen a few of the better Sunday acts. For whatever reason, the organizers decided to put two of the bands most people want to see -- Gnarls Barkley and The Raconteurs -- on at the same time. Feh! Nonetheless, there will still be plenty of good music to close out the festival.

Sunday

Gillian Welch (2:30-3:30)

In 2005, Rachel and I went to the Newport Folk Festival, where Emmylou Harris was in the lineup. She had to pull out due to a family emergency and was replaced at the last minute by Gillian Welch and her longtime collaberator, Dave Rawlings. I didn't know much of her music, other than that she appeared on the popular O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundrack. Turned out to be a lovely set. I can't listen to too much bluegrassy-type music before getting bored, but I like it in small doses. This should be a good way to relax on Sunday afternoon.


Gillian Welch and Allison Krauss: I'll Fly Away

Stars (3:30-4:30)

Canadian group Stars' music has been described as beautiful, eloquent indie pop. Some of the members are also part of the group Broken Social Scene. Influences they have cited include an odd mix of Berlioz, Outkast, Syd Barrett, Paddy McAloon, New Order, The Smiths, Brian Wilson and Momus. I don't know their music too well, but this set should be worth checking out.


Stars: Take Me to the Riot

Neko Case (4:30-5:30)

Neko Case is a country-pop crooner who is also (sometimes) a member of "supergroup" The New Pornographers. We saw The New Pornographers play in Philadelphia a few years ago, but she wasn't there with them. In 2006, they came to ACL, and we weren't expecting Neko to be there with them, but we were pleasantly surprised when she showed up on stage with Carl Newman and co. Never seen her solo, though. Here she is sounding a bit like Grace Slick:


Neko Case: Hold On, Hold On

Okkervil River (5:30-6:30)

Another one of those bands that is mostly just one person. Okkervil River is mostly Will Sheff. They (he) are another band based in Austin, so if we miss them here, we'll have other opportunities to catch them around town. Their popularity has been increasing, so OR should draw a pretty good hometown crowd.


Okkervil River: Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe

The Raconteurs (6:30-7:45) / Gnarls Barkley (6:30-7:30)

Here's a dilemma. We've seen both bands (back at ACL 2006). We've seen The Raconteurs twice (once not long ago at Stubb's BBQ) and Gnarls Barkley once. That would seem to make it more logical for us to go catch Gnarls during this slot. But The Raconteurs rock live! Gnarls puts on a good show, too -- last time we saw them they had horn and string sections there to accompany Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse. We might even have to resort to the coin flip for this one.


The Raconteurs: Steady As She Goes


Gnarls Barkley: Who's Gonna Save My Soul?

Galactic (7:00-8:00)

Galactic's music draws heavily on funk and jazz. They purportedly are good live, but we'll probably only have a chance to catch a song or two after the end of the 6:30 dilemma.


Galactic: Hustle Up

Band of Horses (7:30-8:30)

I don't know much about Band of Horses, but Rachel says they're supposed to be good. I trust her taste (most of the time). According to wikipedia, "the band often draws comparisons to My Morning Jacket, largely due to the vocal similarities between Bridwell and My Morning Jacket lead singer Jim James, as well as the occasional Southern rock tendencies the two groups have in common. Allmusic has compared Bridwell's vocals to early Neil Young and Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips."


Band of Horses: The Funeral

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