thegazelle
Joined: February 14, 2003 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 65
Re: austin city limits festival
September 22, 2004 at 03:40 PM UTC
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Anyone who went, any reports?
This was my first time in Austin (and Texas for that matter) and I've got to say that ACL was the best-organized festival I've been to. Far better than Coachella or any of the Phish Fests. Everything was clean; lines, while sometimes long, moved fast; and there was never a line for a portopotty, and they always had toilet paper in them that nobody pissed on! I was really impressed with the attendees as well. Everybody was more than happy to give a recommendation of a bar to go to or willing to share a cab.
As for music, Sloan, the Roots (great cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"), and Calexico were three of my favorites. The sound quality was great for most shows except during Cake, whose stage was too close to Madeski, Martin, and Wood. People kept shouting "Turn it up" to no avail. Also if you were too far back, sometimes the sound quality would fade because of the wind. Trey Anastasio was the only performer to do 2 sets and he really got the crowd going. Ben Harper closed out the whole festival with some solid tunes, including "With My Own Two Hands > War (Bob Marley) > Own Two Hands". On the weird side of things, Ryan Adams had some very odd drunken ramblings, and also covered the Dead's "Wharf Rat".
Overall there were no musical disappointments. The heat was brutal and there was little shade, but you got used to it after a while. Admittedly, a great part for me was that the whole trip was free (won it from KEXP!), but I'd definitely consider going back either way.
Rhett Miller
Joined: November 15, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 17762
Re: austin city limits festival
September 22, 2004 at 03:49 PM UTC
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Ah, so you're the lucky DC bastard my Seattle dwelling, KEXP listening brother told me about! Congratulations!
Originally posted by thegazelle:
Anyone who went, any reports?
This was my first time in Austin (and Texas for that matter) and I've got to say that ACL was the best-organized festival I've been to. Far better than Coachella or any of the Phish Fests. Everything was clean; lines, while sometimes long, moved fast; and there was never a line for a portopotty, and they always had toilet paper in them that nobody pissed on! I was really impressed with the attendees as well. Everybody was more than happy to give a recommendation of a bar to go to or willing to share a cab.
As for music, Sloan, the Roots (great cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"), and Calexico were three of my favorites. The sound quality was great for most shows except during Cake, whose stage was too close to Madeski, Martin, and Wood. People kept shouting "Turn it up" to no avail. Also if you were too far back, sometimes the sound quality would fade because of the wind. Trey Anastasio was the only performer to do 2 sets and he really got the crowd going. Ben Harper closed out the whole festival with some solid tunes, including "With My Own Two Hands > War (Bob Marley) > Own Two Hands". On the weird side of things, Ryan Adams had some very odd drunken ramblings, and also covered the Dead's "Wharf Rat".
Overall there were no musical disappointments. The heat was brutal and there was little shade, but you got used to it after a while. Admittedly, a great part for me was that the whole trip was free (won it from KEXP!), but I'd definitely consider going back either way.
imrotten
Joined: February 20, 2002 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 1089
Re: austin city limits festival
September 22, 2004 at 04:18 PM UTC
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Originally posted by sonickteam2:
Originally posted by Suki:
Is anyone else going to Voodoo Music Fest in New Orleans, Oct 16/17?
me and the miss were extremely excited about attending (since we fell in a bad spot last fall) but when the lineup was announced it was just awful
but i look forward to it being better next year so i can go. i love New Orleans, its my favourite city in America!
>>> For day 2 it is pretty bad…..Kid Rock headling day 2……but the first day is stacked and packed!……That's why I'm blowing off day 2 and drinking……
malkmess
Joined: Unknown
Posts: 0
Re: austin city limits festival
September 22, 2004 at 05:32 PM UTC
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i'm glad you considered sloan one of your favorites. they're such a great live band, i wish they'd come back here.
imrotten
Joined: February 20, 2002 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 1089
Re: austin city limits festival
September 22, 2004 at 06:44 PM UTC
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Brand new updated listing for 10/16 at Voodoo…….
Saturday October 16, 2004
Ambulance LTD, Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill, Dropping Daylight, Eisley, Gomez, Gooding, Green Day, John Digweed,
Julliette & the Licks, KillRadio, Lake Trout, Mix Master Mike,
New Found Glory, Northern State, Paul Van Dyk, Phantom Planet, Pixies, Pleasure Club, Snow Patrol, Sonic Youth, Sugarcult,
Talib Kweli, The Killers, The Polyphonic Spree, The Thrills
thegazelle
Joined: February 14, 2003 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 65
Re: austin city limits festival
September 22, 2004 at 07:08 PM UTC
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
[QB] Ah, so you're the lucky DC bastard my Seattle dwelling, KEXP listening brother told me about! Congratulations!
Yes, I'm the guy who won the whole shebang. I actually just beat the deadline by 2 hours (because I didn't know it was open to non-Seattle people). One thing I have to say as well, the concerts are very reasonably priced. A 3-day ticket went for $80 I believe. Not a bad deal any way you cut it.
Your brother is lucky to be able to listen to KEXP all the time, anywhere he wants. What a station.
thegazelle
Joined: February 14, 2003 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 65
Re: austin city limits festival
September 22, 2004 at 07:13 PM UTC
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Originally posted by malkmess:
i'm glad you considered sloan one of your favorites. they're such a great live band, i wish they'd come back here.
Sloan is solid. Having grown up in Buffalo we got our fix of Canadian music. I'm glad they at least come around once in a while down here. At ACL, they did a nice mix of old and new tunes and the crowd was pretty into them, even those who didn't know them.
Sieve-Fisted
Joined: May 29, 2003 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 212
Re: austin city limits festival
September 22, 2004 at 08:19 PM UTC
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I attended all three days. The heat may have slowed me down a little, but it didnâ??t stop me from having a good time. Overall, ACL was very well organized. The lines werenâ??t too long. Food and beverages were priced reasonably ($5 burger, $4 beer, $2 water). The only problem I experienced was with transportation. Our hotel wasnâ??t near the shuttle pick-up spot, so our only option was a taxi (which were in short supply). After Fridayâ??s show, the taxi line was just ridiculous. We eventually gave up waiting and started to ask people in the parking lot for a ride. We finally found a local to give us a ride in the back of his pick-up for $20. The next day we rented a car. Problem solved!
Seeing the Pixies on Saturday was the highlight of the weekend for me. Without an introduction they took to the stage and jumped right into their set. It wasnâ??t till midway through their set that Kim finally said â??Thank Youâ? and then they went right into the next song. Other memorable performances (in no particular order) Franz Ferdinand, Wilco, Broken Social Scene and Drive by Truckers.
To avoid the brutal mid-day sun I spent a lot of time hanging out in the blues and gospel tent. Most the artists performing under the tent were unfamiliar to me. I really enjoyed the Holmes Brothers, Walter â??Wolfmanâ? Washington, & The John Butler Trio. The only disappoint of the weekend was Modes Mouse on Saturday. Maybe my expectations were too high, or I was dizzy from the heat. But, PA problems just added to their uninspiring set.
All in all…..it was a great weekend, despite the 100 degree temperatures. Maybe I'll go back next year.
<img src="
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d703b3127cceb74da7be6af80000001610" alt=" - " /> <img src="
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d703b3127cceb74da7b06af60000001610" alt=" - " />
El Tee
Joined: October 09, 2003 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 3809
Re: austin city limits festival
September 23, 2004 at 03:07 PM UTC
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Thanks for sharing the pictures.
A friend of mine is an amazing photographer. He's uploading his photos in time. First upload: Franz Ferdinand. Tomorrow The Killers and Broken Social Scene.
Franz
Rhett Miller
Joined: November 15, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 17762
Re: austin city limits festival
September 23, 2004 at 03:10 PM UTC
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Long sleeve shirts when it's 100 degrees. What were they thinking? And the collar turned up? Priceless.
Originally posted by Sugartastic Tee Silk:
Thanks for sharing the pictures.
A friend of mine is an amazing photographer. He's uploading his photos in time. First upload: Franz Ferdinand. Tomorrow The Killers and Broken Social Scene.
Franz
bags
Joined: October 30, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 8545
Re: austin city limits festival
September 23, 2004 at 03:58 PM UTC
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Great photos, Sugartastic! I especially love #6…
El Tee
Joined: October 09, 2003 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 3809
Re: austin city limits festival
September 23, 2004 at 04:28 PM UTC
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He's not wearing an undershirt…so he's cool as a clam.
Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Long sleeve shirts when it's 100 degrees. What were they thinking? And the collar turned up? Priceless.
Originally posted by Sugartastic Tee Silk:
Thanks for sharing the pictures.
A friend of mine is an amazing photographer. He's uploading his photos in time. First upload: Franz Ferdinand. Tomorrow The Killers and Broken Social Scene.
Franz