ACL 2013: Buckshot Sunday Night

By now you're already aware that ACL Fest has disintegrated into a series of pop-up shows happening throughout the downtown area. Here's a quick rundown to help you keep things sorted out.


Atoms for Peace - Ingenue video via YouTube

• Atoms For Peace | ACL Live
• Franz Ferdinand | Infest
• Divine Fits | Parish
• Noah and the Whale | Empire Auto
• The Lone Bellow w/Red Baraat | Belmont
• The Mowglis with Smallpools | Lambert's
• Lance Herbstrong | Amplified Austin

The biggest show of the night (so far) is Atoms for Peace at ACL-Live. It only costs $10 to get in but you can't get in. Basically, I went to a movie that started at 2:00pm without any knowledge of any pop-up shows. When I got out 1000 people were already lined-up for several blocks snaking around the W Hotel building. As I write this wristbands have been strapped to wrists, those people can "come back" at 8pm with a $10 bill and they'll get in the show. It's like that now.

HOWEVER, there is a positive upshot to Atoms for Peace doing their show in the same venue that ACL TV tapings happen because as it turns out, they are streaming tonight's set live! Keep an eye on the ACL Festival YouTube page.

Franz Ferdinand have a similar $10 ticket situation in a club whose name I hate so much I'm just going to call it, the space Antone's occupied most recently before their move to E. Riverside. If you're not reading this from a line with a wristband, you're already not getting in. It is all-ages though, which is worth noting I guess?

Let's talk about some shows I wish were going on. How about White Denim with Tame Impala at Emo's or MS MR at Antone's again? Is it weird that they're not using those spaces to anyone else? How about Neko Case at the Broken Spoke? Shuggie Otis in the Elephant Room? I know beggars can't be choosers but so far none of these pop-up shows have inspired me to do anything other than laundry, Homeland and Ben & Jerry's.

If we're being honest, I wish this scattershot demon child of ACL Fest is how the festival actually was. A ridiculous scavenger hunt where the prize is a special, intimate music moment in a club with a band. Oh, wait, we already have a festival like that...


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Savages: ACL Festival Preview 2013

Savages is not just a clever name. These English ladies are snarling, shoe-gazing rockers whose songs build into guitar orgasms accentuated by banshee wails. If you've heard their name and you checked out the album but decided it wasn't for you, you're not getting the full picture. Until you feel the power of Savages in a live setting, you can't truly judge the songs. I did not worship at the church of Savages until I saw them perform at a SXSW day party. From the moment guitars were strapped on until the moment the house music came back on, I was transfixed. This band has "It". Whatever "It" is, you'll feel it in your bones when you see Savages perform at Austin City Limits Festival.


Savages - Shut Up video via YouTube

If you're attending planning to attend ACL Festival this year you will find Savages on the Honda Stage at 1pm Friday. Since that is such an early set time, I know a lot of people won't have the opportunity to have their lives changed by Savages, which disappoints me. Don't worry my friends, Savages are also playing at the Parish on Friday, October 11th. That's the opening night of the second weekend of ACL Fest. Tickets are still available and believe me when I tell you that it is worth the $16 it costs to get in the door.


Savages - I Am Here (live) video via YouTube

Obviously, if you were already planning to go to ACL Festival then you definitely need to see Savages set on the festival grounds but if we're being honest, the Parish show is going to be a better representation of what I love about this band. The think that is so impactful when you see them live is the band's presence and it's the way the sound overwhelms your senses. It feels like your heart is adjusting to the rhythm of the drums and when things get loud it's almost as if you can feel wind come out of the speakers. It's going to be great to hear theses songs echo across Zilker Park but there is something to be said about the feel of an intimate performance.

Listen to a Spotify Playlist featuring 50 artists to see at ACL Festival 2013.

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Highlight: ACL Fest 2013 Late Night Shows

Since this is the first year that ACL Festival is taking place over the course of two weekends it's the first year that the Late Night Shows are taking place all over Texas. I know, it's a strange correlation but it makes sense. If you're going to ask a touring act to be in the same city two weekends in a row you need to book them some shows for their in between time. As you may know, when you agree to play a festival you agree to NOT play within a certain radius of said festival. That means that most of the bands who have agreed to perform at Austin City Limits Festival this year can't play any unofficial shows within a certain time and/or distance of the fest. Some of the bands who aren't playing official showcases will travel outside of Texas during the week between festivals and then return to play the second weekend, it sounds exhausting to me but I suppose that's the life of a musician.

Personally, I love these bonus shows. I prefer an intimate concert setting to that of a festival but if you're already planning to go to the festival these shows can be a nice bonus. There are lots of great official showcases this year including some really stellar shows in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Below the break you'll find both my highlights and my Highlightiest Highlights. The shows discussed in this post are all official Late Night Shows booked by C3 Presents. Expect lots of counter and competitive shows to be announced by other promoters in the near future. Generally, the folks behind FunFunFun Fest put on free concerts at Mohawk, Red 7 etc. to coincide with ACL Fest. Not really sure if that will happen in the same way this year but that is neither here nor there.

For now, I want to focus on the C3 Concerts Official Late Night Shows featuring artists performing at this year's Austin City Limits Festival. By the way, there are still tickets available for both weekends of the festival. I'll be going the second weekend so, if you want to hang with me that's when you should go too.


Autre Ne Veut - Play by Play video via YouTube

• Friday, October 4th| Haim & MS MR | Antone's
• Friday, October 4th| FIDLAR | Holy Mountain
• Friday, October 4th| Franz Ferdinand | House of Blues (HOUSTON)
• Friday, October 4th| Wild Belle | Lambert's
• Friday, October 4th| Deap Vally | Stubb's (Indoors)
• Friday, October 4th| Shuggie Otis | The Kessler Theater (DALLAS)
• Friday, October 4th| Wild Nothing & Autre Ne Veut | The Parish

• Saturday, October 5th| The Black Angels & Joy Formidable | Emo's
• Saturday, October 5th| Franz Ferdinand | House of Blues (DALLAS)
• Saturday, October 5th| The National | Stubb's (Outdoors)
• Saturday, October 5th| Widowspeak | Stubb's (Indoors)
• Saturday, October 5th| Jake Bugg | The Kessler Theater (DALLAS)
• Saturday, October 5th| Queens of The Stone Age | Verizon Theatre (DALLAS)

• Sunday, October 6th| Silversun Pickups | Trees (DALLAS)

• Monday, October 7th| MS MR | House of Blues (DALLAS)

• Tuesday, October 8th| Local Natives & Wild Nothing | House of Blues (DALLAS)
• Tuesday, October 8th| HAIM & IO ECHO | Trees (DALLAS)

• Wednesday, October 9th| Toro y Moi & Clasixx | Emo's
• Wednesday, October 9th| Local Natives & Wild Nothing | House of Blues (HOUSTON)
• Wednesday, October 9th| Phosphorescent & Shakey Graves | House of Blues (DALLAS)

• Thursday, October 10th| Wavves & King Tuff | Antone's
• Thursday, October 10th| Phosphorescent & Shakey Graves | Emo's
• Thursday, October 10th| Patty Griffin | Stubb's (Outdoors)
• Thursday, October 10th| Vampire Weekend & Sky Ferreira | Verizon Theater (DALLAS)
• Thursday, October 10th| Toro y Moi | House of Blues (HOUSTON)

• Friday, October 11th| Junip | Antone's
• Friday, October 11th| STRFKR | Emo's
• Friday, October 11th| Toro Y Moi & Classixx | House of Blues (DALLAS)
• Friday, October 11th| Silversun Pickups | The White Rabbit (SAN ANTONIO)

• Saturday, October 12th| Noah and the Whale & LP | Brazos Hall
• Saturday, October 12th| Franz Ferdinand | Emo's
• Saturday, October 12th| The National & Tame Impala | South Side Ballroom (DALLAS)
• Saturday, October 12th| The Growlers & Foxygen (Burger Records showcase) | The Parish

MS MR - Hurricane video via YouTube

So, like I said, the above represents the best of the Late Night Shows HOWEVER, I want to pare that list down to the Highlightiest Highlights. These are the shows you buy tickets for if you can only buy tickets for a couple of the aftershows. Since, I live in Austin and the festival takes place in Austin none of those other Texas places make this list. In fact, fuck those other Texas places. Just kidding other Texas places but for the purposes of this list fuck y'all.

Highlightiest Highlights

• Friday, October 4th| HAIM & MS MR | Antone's
• Friday, October 4th| Wild Nothing & Autre Ne Veut | The Parish
• Saturday, October 5th| The National | Stubb's (Outdoors)
• Saturday, October 5th| Widowspeak | Stubb's (Indoors)
• Wednesday, October 9th| Toro y Moi & Clasixx | Emo's
• Saturday, October 12th| The Growlers & Foxygen (Burger Records showcase) | The Parish

You'll notice that a couple of the Highlightiest shows are happening on the same night. For two of these it's a problem, for one of them it's not. Friday, October 4th HAIM & MS MR are performing at Antone's while Wild Nothing & Autre Ne Veut play at The Parish. For me, this is a really tough decision. I've seen three of these four artists before and I know them all to be superb. HAIM & MS MR will be easier to drive to and from, you won't have to deal with downtown and these artists will surely be too large for a venue as small as Antone's the next time they come through town. If you decide to hit The Parish instead, you'll be experiencing Wild Nothing and Autre Ne Veut in the way they should be experienced, in Austin's best sounding room. I love Autre Ne Veut and I LOVE that he was booked for ACL Fest but I can guarantee that what he does won't translate to the festival experience as well as it will in an intimate space. Sophie's choice y'all.

With Widowspeak and The National, since both shows are at Stubb's you should be able to attend both without any overlap and both shows are kick ass. I'm really excited/intrigued with The Growlers' show at The Parish. It seems odd to me that Burger Records is working with C3 rather than booking thos or a similar show at a Transmission venue, or independent venue as an alternative to the fest. However, I like that this show is occuring and it's certainly one of the Highlightiest Higlights.

What are your highlights? If you answered, Dawes I'm judging you.


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ACL Festival Late Night Shows

First of all may I say that I find it "intriguing" that ACL Festival has rebranded their aftershows as Late Night Shows. I'm not going to explain that further, either you see what I'm getting at or you don't. Regardless, the pre-sale tickets went on sale to those of you who are on the e-mail list as of yesterday and some of those pre-sales already sold-out. You can find the full line-up of Late Night Shows here but I'm going to highlight the best according to Bloggy after the break.


The Weeknd - The Party & The After Party video via YouTube

As I mentioned above if you want the full line-up click the link above these are just my personal highlights. If you're interested in going to any of these shows click the name of the artist and do it fast because tickets are flying out the proverbial door.

• Black Lips at Antone's
• Alabama Shakes with Lee Fields at Stubb's
• Wild Child at Wanderlust Live
• Metric w/Polica at Emo's
• The Shins with Bombay Bicycle Club at Stubb's
• The Eastern Sea at Stubb's
• Delta Spirit at The Belmont
• Father John Misty at The Parish
• The Afghan Whigs at Antone's
• The Weeknd at Austin Music Hall
• Crystal Castles with Health at Emo's
• Moon Duo at Holy Mountain (Former Beauty Bar location)
• Kimbra at The Belmont

So there you have it, of the 27 Late Night Shows these are the ones that I approve of. Get your tickets now, they should all be on sale this moment. Afghan Whigs is probably already sold-out by the time you finish this sentence even though they went on sale at 10am. Good luck!

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FunFunFun Fest Nites

As you know, the city of Austin has a strict 10:00pm curfew in all of its parks, regardless of what is taking place in said park. This means that after the final notes are played down at Auditorium Shores for FunFunFun Fest there are still about four hours until last call. Well, now you don't have to wonder what to do after the fest because today the Fun Fest aftershows have been revealed! This year, they are doing things a bit differently. You can't buy tickets to the individual aftershows but if you went to Fun Fest then you already paid admission to the nites events. How cool is that? Furthermore, since the Fest is at Auditorium Shore this year, all you have to do is hop on the number 10 bus headed North and it will take you within block of the Mohawk. No need to worry about parking or drinking and driving or any of that jazz. However, it should be noted that, in typical CapMetro fashion the bus runs on a much different, much less convenient schedule on Sunday so plan accordingly.

Right. So, if you want tickets to the FunFunFun Fest Nites shows, the easiest thing to do, is simply get tickets to the actualy festival. Otherwise, I've got more details below the break.

M83 - Midnight City (Trentemøller Remix video via YouTube

I was kind of thinking we might get a schedule of aftershows today BUT I'm fine with the info we did get. If I were you, I'd keep an eye on the Transmission Entertainment site for ticketing and/or the Fun Fest ticket store just in case individual show tickets end up going on sale. However, what I gather is that the aftershows will definitely be free for FunFunFun Fest attendees and (possibly) cheap for those of you not attending the festival. In the meantime, here's a list of the bands participating in aftershows, which I directly lifted from the official press release:

FUN FUN FUN FEST NITES ARTISTS INCLUDE: The Felice Brothers, Glass Candy, Dead Confederate, Kool Keith, The Thermals, Ty Segall, Dom, Royal Bangs, Grimes, Syd The Kyd DJing (OFWGKTA), Andre Williams, Earth Crisis, Sleepercar, Jesse Malin, Underground Railroad to Candyland, Toxic Holocaust, Coathangers, Babies (2/3 of Vivian Girls), Widowspeak, Cobra Skulls, Nothington, Memoryhouse, Passion Pit DJ set, Inepsy, Hull, The Fucking Wrath, Canon Blue, Old Man Markley, Delicate Steve, ANR, Yellow Ostrich, Pat Jordache, Deafheaven, Tera Melos, Generationals, Front Buttons, Cowboy and Indian, Future Rock, DJ Thiabault, Bearhands, Pujol, Barreracudas, Ch. 24, Neon Indian DJ set, Check Yo Ponytail party, Learning Secrets, Powertrip, Mammoth Grinder, Ghost Knife, Ancient VVisdom, Gill Landry (Old Crowe Medicine Show), David Liebe Hart Band (of Tim and Eric Awesome Show), Ume, The Young, Boris, Ceremony, Russian Circles, Cold Cave, Doomriders, Mates Of State, Thee Oh Sees, Zero Boys, Purity Ring, Total Control, Keep Shelly In Athens, Lemuria, Touche Amore, Big Freedia, Budos Band, Austra DJ set, Trash Talk, Deathgrips and many more to be announced soon!

SOOOO excited that Chapter 24 are doing an aftershow! You may recall, I featured them for SXSW 2011.

Chapter 24 - You Said video via YouTube

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Neon Indian in Austin

Some of you may know that lead Neon Indian, Alan Palomo, once called Texas home. As far as I know the band is now based in Brooklyn but I'm calling Friday's show at the Mohawk a homecoming show. In addition to being a "homecoming" show, it's an album-release party! Neon Indian second LP, Era Extraña was released Tues. the 13th and is already a contender for album of the year lists. It expounds upon the textured, vintage keyboard-driven sounds of Psychic Chasms without simply retreading the same territory. This Friday's show was originally planned for the Mohawk's intimate, inside stage but was moved to the outside stage when the show sold-out in milliseconds. Unfortunately for those of you who didn't get tickets, the outside show is also, now, sold-out. On the bright side, you can still have an intimate performance experience late Friday night as those lil rascals over at Transmission Entertainment have rented out the Blazer Tag in South Austin for a neon-infused afterparty!

Neon Indian - Polish Girl video via YouTube

It only costs $10 for a ticket to the Blazer Tag aftershow, which will feature DJ sets by Alan Palomo as well as, local bad-asses, Learning Secrets. If you ARE interested in the afterparty you better snag a ticket NOW because Blazer Tag isn't a very big space and this is a very cool event. So cool in fact, if you're laser tag skills are on point you MIGHT win yourself passes to this year's FunFunFun Fest. That's right, not only is this a bad-ass show, it's a contest opportunity!

Neon Indian - Mind, Drips video via YouTube

The doors for the afterparty open at 11:45am and they're kicking you out by 4am. There is lots of parking so you should be good on that front but if you're not driving I recommend you order a cab when you buy your tickets. If you're going to both events, you can bus from the Mohawk to Blazer Tag with very little walking. Just hop on the last number 10 bus heading southbound, get out near the 7-11 at Ben White and walk west toward Blazer Tag. It should also be noted that there's a 24 hour Taco Cabana right down the street from Blazer Tag, if you're hungry at 4am.

Neon Indian - Fallout video via YouTube

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Weird Al Tomorrow!! After-Party Choices

Can you believe that FunFunFun Fest kicks off tomorrow night with Mr. Weird Al Yankovic himself?!?! I can't wait to hear what songs he puts into his polka medley, I'm really hoping he manages to work Whip My Hair in there somehow. I'm also excited to see the Apples in Stereo perform live, although I'm not gonna lie I kind of hope they DON'T play the Powerpuff Girls Theme and something tells me they most certainly will.

In an off-festival grounds note, this year seems to have more after-parties than years passed and I am for it. Personally, I am too old to do both the festival AND after-parties but for those of you with more stamina and commitment to parties I thought I would highlight some of the best of the best...after the jump of course.


Apples in Stereo - Dance Floor video via YouTube


Friday night has the least appealing after-parties, no offense party planners and promoters, I understand you don't want to shoot your party wads so early in the weekend. If I were you, I would head to the Mohawk for the Gorilla Vs. Bear party. The headliner is a secret but I trust GvsB to book someone bad-ass. We know for a fact that Memory Tapes will be there and that's good enough for me.


Memory Tapes - Bicycle video via YouTube

My other Friday night choice would be Dâm-Funk's DJ set at Beauty Bar. If you go to this show though, I'd bring a flask those bartenders, while beautiful are slow and full of attitude. That's right I said it!


Dâm-Funk - Mirrors video via YouTube

Saturday night is all about Jean Grae DJing at ND. That show will also feature Devin the Dude amongst others. The other viable option is back at Snooty Bar where Bloggy-favs Delorean will be spinning tunes. You could also just throw-down with some non-marquis names at Scoot Inn where my brethren in blogging Knuckle Rumbler will be co-hosting a party with the Glitoris.


the Herbaliser ft. Jean Grae - Nah'Mean, Nah'm Sayin video via YouTube

Sunday night has slim-pickings for official after-parties but the good news is they'll be half price. All of the parties I've mentioned so far are $5 if you have a FunFunFun Fest wristband or $10 if you're a have-not. On Sunday night it will be $5 for the have-nots and free for those of you with a FFF pass. In all honesty though, the only party that interests me that night is back at Beauty Bar where Yelle will be Djing. Do you like how I insult that venue's bar staff and then I keep telling you to go there? Whadayagonnado?


Yelle - La Musique video via YouTube

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ACL Week Aftershow Picks

Is it me or are the "after-shows" starting earlier and early every year of ACL Fest? They used to happen after the show, now you can catch some of the headline names from the fest as early as Wednesday night. Some of the best after-shows this year are the ones that aren't affiliated with the fest at all. I'm sure the 3 Charlies are loving that. Although, the most pre of all the pre-shows is an official performance by the Strokes happening at Stubb's, which is sold-out incidentally. Don't let that deter you though, the Pavement show I saw last week was also sold-out and if you recall I purchased a scalped ticket for less than half the face value. My advice is to wait until the headliner has begun playing and then offer the scalper a 20 spot, then can take it or leave it but if they give you a hard time just remind them that the show has started and see how they react. Worst-case scenario, you listen from the top deck of that parking structure across the street from Stubb's, ain't nothin' wrong with that.


the Strokes - NYC Cops video via YouTube


Thursday night is the first night with lots of really good official (pre)after-shows including, but not limited to, Spoon, Neon Indian and many, many more. I want to highlight First Aid Kit though, because they are playing the fest but their sound will be much better suited for Stubb's inside stage, which is where you can catch them Thursday night. Tickets for that show are only $10 bucks and are still available as of the writing of this post.


First Aid Kit - Tiger Mountain Peasant Song video via YouTube

Other than that, I'd go unofficial Thursday night and see Talib Kweli at the Scoot Inn. Do I really need to explain why? Kweli is a lyrical genius and any opportunity we have to hear his words live is a blessing. If he never did anything other than the Black Star album with Mos Def he would STILL be a legend. Tickets for Kweli are ALSO available as of the writing of this post. Props to my friends and comrades over at Knuckle Rumbler for that booking.


Blackstar - Definition video via YouTube

Speaking of the KR kids, if you want to run into me Friday night, I'll be kickin it with the Knucks at another great booking for the Scoot, with Miss Amanda Blank. If you don't know who she is, it's time to get schooled, she is one of my favorite female emcee's. Her lyrics, are filthy, nimble and often hilarious to boot. You can still grab tickets for A. Blank at the Scoot Friday night and I recommend you do so.


Santigold - I'm a Lady (Diplo Remix) featuring Amanda Blank video via YouTube

For Saturday I want to highlight another small name from the fest, who you have probably never heard of but you probably will in the future. Beats Antique are playing the festival but they'll be playing very early in the day most likely to a small crowd. Their official after-show at Momo's is a great way to catch the band in a more intimate setting. Plus it will be a great story when they start to take off you can be that guy who saw them way back when, in that little hole in the wall club away from the Red River scene.


Beats Antique - Miss Levine video via YouTube

Sunday night, you tourists need to check out Austin post-rockers Markov, who will be opening for Rival Schools at Red 7. This show starts around the same time as the Eagles' ACL set so feel free to ditch Zilker and head downtown for some youthful rockers who are, shall we say, relevant? Seriously, how did the Eagles end up at ACL? I promise if I run in to them at the festival I will ask them for all of us, "Why are you here Don Henley?"


Markov - Rain Inside video via Nites Blog via YouTube

Holy crapezoid! Can't believe I forgot to mention the unofficial after-party happening Saturday night at Beauty Bar featuring, Bloggy favs, Sleigh Bells. I guess I kind of forgot about this show because it's going to be so effing hard to get into. The deal is, you have to RSVP for a chance to pay at the door. They are not selling tickets ahead of time so it's basically first come, first served. In otherwords this show is basically for the people who WON'T be attending the fest. I think most of us who will be at the fest have a very low probability of getting in the door. Lucky for us I already saw Sleigh Bells in March and shot this video. The downside is I was on stage and the monitor sound was terrible so you can't really hear the vocals. C'est la vie.


Sleigh Bells - Treats video via YouTube

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Chromeo at Stubb's

Well folks, tomorrow night Chromeo hits Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater and as of the writing of this post tickets are still available. The band just played a free show in Brooklyn this past weekend, which was very rainy and they still brought the house down. Get your dancing shoes on and get yourself to Stubb's 'cause these Canadian boys know how to throw down some electro-funk, house-jams. I mean, either Hall or Oates performed with them at Bonnarroo this year and as far as I'm concerned that's the only seal of approval any artist really needs. I can't remember which member of H&O it was but I hope it was the guy with the latino jerry-curl. This song is the first single from Chromeo's latest LP, Business Casual.


Chromeo - Don't Turn the Lights On video via YouTube


Make sure you get to Stubb's early enough to catch Holy Ghost as well. This tour with Chromeo will definitely up their recognition factor and I expect them to slay tomorrow. I may be wrong about this, but I feel like I saw Holy Ghost at FunFunFun Fest last year. If I recall I really liked them, otherwise I'm just shining you on.


Holy Ghost! - I Will Come Back video via YouTube

Furthermore there is an official after-party for the Chromeo gig, it's over at Malverde on 2nd st. You can find full details and a beautiful flyer over Do512 for the after-party.

Also, upon further research, it was not the Hall or Oates with the latino-fro. It's the blonde one.


Live From Daryl's House - Episode 10: Chromeo video via YouTube

You can watch the entire episode that the above video was culled from over at Live at Daryl's House. There, you'll find performances of Tenderoni, as well as, I Can't Go For That.

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