Ahh blogging. I'm new to this so bear with me people as I attempt to go about this tactfully. I feel way behind the times as I am just starting one of these. Didn't I see Lizzie McGuire blogging in Raise Your Voice back in the early 2000's? Is it sad that I know that? I recently marveled as I listened to the students in my Visual Communications class speak to the professor about their blogs in class. One was a comedic look at celebrity life and occurrences, another on travel, one on music... where have I been?! I'm supposed to know about these things since I'm in PR I guess. Oh well, all I know is that my favorite ring that I never take off my finger chipped today and I feel naked without it as I type. For my first post, I feel it necessary to discuss one of the most memorable events in my recent life, ACL (Austin City Limits music festival). At some point I'll have to discuss my spontaneous summer in NYC with my sister Erin, but that might take a collaborative effort between the two of us, which proposes a problem because she lives in Plano, thank goodness for the holidays!!
Ahhh ACL. Where do I even start? The musical talent exhibited at this wonderful festival is almost unfathomable. Thus making it hard to write about my experience all in one post. Alas, I shall try.
Well, let's start with my top three. Matt and Kim, Vampire Weekend, and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros (worst band name ever). Don't peg me as strictly a fan of fast paced, upbeat, happy music. It just so happened that the three best performances in my opinion were in a similar genre, in a miniscule but significant way. Matt and Kim very well might've been the happiest concert I've ever been to. Imagine yourself posted up right behind the steal fence just feet from the talented duo. From the ecstatic smile that never left Kim's face (as you can see above), to Matt's distinguishable voice heard over her incessant drum beating, the overall atmosphere of the show was enjoyable to say the least. My favorite part was when they left the stage to come give running high fives to all of us in the front row, and Kim proceeded to stand on top of two fans and booty dance to the crowd... priceless. The little musical butterflies in my stomach swelled as the intro to "Daylight"began, a song that my friends and I insist on putting on every road trip CD we make.
On to Vampire Weekend, aaahhh... Ezra Koenig (the lead singer). His adorable voice and face as he sings songs from their new album, Contra, and old hits from their self-titled debut just captures your heart. I must say this band has mastered the art of making "pretty" music. They have been accurately described as "one of the most unique bands on the planet". This show, much like Matt & Kim, was just exhilarating. The smile never left my face as my friends and I jumped up and down singing every lyric we knew. We got a little treat from Ezra when he went on stage with Miike Snow earlier that day to sing "The kids don't stand a chance" with his band. It was a pleasant surprise. Vampire Weekend was well worth the hour we decided to spend waiting in front for them while the heavy metal Austin-native band, The Sword, played their set. Not to discriminate, just not my type of music. Here's a little something I found funny while reading about the band: "On June 3, 2010 the band was interviewed by Stephen Colbert on the Colbert Report. Colbert argued that the "Oxford Comma" was indeed important despite the band and Ezra's disagreement." If you've heard that song.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, a band you've most likely been hearing on car commercials recently. I'm not a fan of artists selling their music for the sake of advertisements. Then I end up thinking of the Hyundai commercial when I hear that song instead of them performing it! ah, I digress...
I had recently just started really listening to this band after much insistence by my musical genius/ literally knows it all (not in a snobbish way) friend, Lizzie. My interest was sparked after reading in the ACL booklet on the band that said: "Fans are known to be so overcome with emotion at their live shows that tears of euphoric joy are not uncommon." "Hmm this should be interesting..." I thought. Well, My expectations were met and far exceeded. We were fortunately able to be in the front at this show which is always a plus, especially when Alex, the lead singer of the 10 member group, has a knack for getting up close and personal with the crowd (I was practically keeping him from falling down at one point). The band has been described as a cross between Arcade Fire and the Mamas & the Papas by Rolling Stone. The overall hippie-peace-and-love aura of the band kept feelings of happiness and excitement floating about the crowd as they set up. The band delivered. 40 Day Dream, Up From Below, Janglin, Carries on, Home; all my favorites were played. We left the show on a high after greeting Alex and some band members at the end. This was certainly a show I'd go see again and again, I have to admit my eyes did well up with moisture at one point...
Some close second places, mostly because I didn't get to see their full show: Band of Horses (just as good if not better than when I saw them at Grand Central in NY), Muse (The songs I did see them perform were amazing), GIVERS, Lissie, Temper Trap, Miike Snow, The National.
Erin and I were fortunate enough to get after show tickets to see The Black Keys, one of our top favorite bands, and that show was incredible as well. The possibility of us getting close enough to them during their day show was slim to none, so we were pretty stoked we got to see them in a more intimate setting, Stubb's BBQ. Dan Auerbach's voice and raw guitar playing is so attractive to a wide audience I've observed. It's appealing to the indie and alternative rockers as well as people like my dad who sees the influence of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and Robert Plant in their rootsy bluesy style and undisguised guitar sound. I can tell you I have every song they've ever recorded and they are one of those artists you turn to when you don't know what you want to listen to. Because it fits all moods.
My weekend in Austin, Texas was one to remember. And I will forever buy advanced tickets to the ACL festival, it is assuredly one line up you can trust to be magnificent. My hopes are next year Arcade Fire will show up! eek!
