Live Bloggin' ACL: day 1

Word is the bird, y'all. y'heard?


So, wicked that I am, I scored us some Tix to the Austin City Limits music fest yesterday. We waited too late & it looked like they were gone, but a little CL action, and turns out we got 2, and SAVED 50$ off the Regular price! So . . . for 90 bones -the price of 2 pussycat dolls shows- we got to see this.

The good & bad:

last year, this festival was a small piece of hell as a massive dustbowl erupted on the crowd within mere minutes of the start. This year, the have (*gasp*) real grass! So, no lung disorders. . . yet. (Tom & Jill almost got to come last year . . . but barely missed it.- the lung disorders, I mean).

We didn't realize we could get tix till Thursday- and that kind of blew Friday's plans out of the water- I couldn't exactly drop things, and get up to Austin in time, & meet for tickets, and nina couldn't drop work, and go to the show. So, the PROBLEM: this is a very urban, city type of show. It's in Zilker Park in downtown austin. Most of the people come from the local Hill Country, and surrounding cities. But, for some reason, this year, unlike ANY other year, they Completely Fucking Front-End loaded the show on Friday early afternoon!

Why, you might ask? Why, to sell more tickets for the slowest day. The freaking capitalist pigs. So, lost while we (and thousands of other locals) were in transit: Ted Leo @ 1:30, Wolf Parade (!) & Stars both @3:30, and Cat Power @5:30.



We just missed CP, and what a blooody bloody tragedy about the others. Three Fucking Thirty! It makes me so angry. Luckily, nina and I are just glad to have tickets for the next 2 days, but damnnit, this is a little harsh, considering there's NOTHING worth seeing until 4 fucking thirty on Saturday. Those assholes! (And yes, the do purposely make you choose between your favourite bands- see Kings of leon vs. Iron & Wine tomorrow).

Any help in choosing bands is appreciated.

Other than those gripes,

We were really glad to see: Ray Lamontagne (who was great, but wayyy too low key for us)
The Tragically Hip! Who played a GREAT show, and we could get up close to. They dedicated 'Ahead by a Century' to the newly deceased former Gov. of Tx. Ann Richards, who was a pretty amazing lady. Finally, we caught some John Mayer (who's pretty solid live, but didn't seem to get in the groove), and ended it off with Van Morrison(!) who was also way too low-key, but wins you over in the long run. He did play 'Moondance' which was a nice touch. And he plays Sax too.

So, that's day 1.

It's freaking hot, but nowhere like last year's melting pot. I had the best beer in my entire life- I was so Goddamn thirsty. We found a free place to park, and the walk back wasn't too rough- maybe a c ouple o' miles. Met a guy named Scott from Sunyside Newfoundland. MMM, then gelato to cool down, and a pint to sent the juices flowing through my evil feet again. good times.