Quick Hits, Vol. 371 (Turnstile, Sleep Token, Wet Leg, The Heavy Heavy)

I know I'm about to talk about them and all, but I just really want for you to watch this Tiny Desk concert and not come away from it affected.  I love them, so maybe I am biased, but when they show the actual crowd moshing and he desk dives into them, I got goosebumps all over my body.

So great.  I am deeply sad that I missed their show last night at Moody Amp, but all I could think about the concert was how I would absolutely need to be in the front little section and not in the boring ass seated area, and I missed out on that section to buy tickets.  Oh well.

Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH.  My personal opinion is that this album is not as strong as the last one, but it is still exceedingly enjoyable.  I am in this thing called Music League, wherein the participants are required to nominate two songs per round that they thing match the theme for the round - covers, hip hop, women in country, metal, etc. - with the stated goal of the founder being all about finding new music.  Unfortunately, the old white dudes in this league can't seem to comprehend that, and so, for example, the hip hop week was all 80's/90's classics that are not new to anyone.  But, one week the theme was something like - Best Songs You Have Enjoyed This Week - and I wanted to add a Turnstile song to it because I had been jamming this album.  I chose the title track, and I now think that was a mistake.  I got no (or very few votes), and I think two major things go against the song.  First, there is a long and somewhat uninteresting intro and outro to it that detracts from the fun power of the tune.  Second, there is pretty much just one verse and then he says the title to the song 387 times.  So, while that would be big fun to mosh to, it's not as cool of a song to bring to a pack of music snobs trying to show why it is an excellent new song.  And so then, thinking more about what song I should have used, it dawned on me that these songs jam and make me want to put a fist through the wall, but the lyricism is not going to have them nominated for any Pulitzers.  Like, "Light Design" has four lines and then they just say "Light Design" forty-eight times.  Is he in love with the art director for their stages?  Anyway, top track is that title song, but I'm going to give you "BIRDS" instead, with 12.3 million streams. (this video actually gives you a double shot - "SEEIN' STARS" and "BIRDS"  Lucky you.

Loogit that drummer go to town in the buildup to this song!  I need to go find video of last night's show to see if people stage dove.  I have goose bumps watching these people go crazy during this song.  So rad.  Other odd thing that keeps popping into my head as I listen are some weird throwback items that make me feel like I am hearing things.  "Light Design" and __ both evoke old Police songs to me - not sure if that is a legit feeling, but "SEEIN' STARS" definitely sounds like I've got "When the World is Running Down" vibes.  Maybe I should make "DULL" the theme song of my blog - IM GOING DULL!  IM GOING DULL!  Because there really is a ringing when you talk to me, usually.  My right ear just zings along all the time now.  Wheee!  Love it, and will definitely keep the disc in my playlist!

Sleep Token - Even in Arcadia.  I forget exactly how I came across this one, but I feel like someone on the Internet said that they were like Turnstile or somehow related to the same hardcore scene, or something.  Hell and No.  This is a super weird mashup of, like, Muse and Depeche Mode and Cannibal Corpse and Linkin Park and some nervous British garage rapper I don't know.  It super freaking sucks.  Like, a song will start with some pretty little falsetto thing over piano and plucked acoustic, and then a voice with a lot of effects will start repeating something inane, and then synths will start swirling mysteriously, and then some dork starts rapping, and then the rapper starts going over 58 guitars riffing straight through your head.  I can't tell whether this is metal or pop, maybe they aren't sure either.  One song sounds like Kenny G busts in at the end.  I just know that it feels overwrought and definitely should not be compared to Turnstile.  Time for you to hear some of it.  You should be glad that "Emergence" didn't win first place, instead you get "Caramel" with 113.3 million streams.

There you go, some music box to start that one up and get you ready for the riffagery.  Oh, but with some reggaeton beats introduced first. In addition to the style that can't seem to find itself, I find his quivery voice to be pretty annoying as well.  I definitely do not need to keep this album around for further listens.  Yuck.

Wet Leg - moisturizer.  These guys freaking JAMMED at ACL.  Top tier show (even if the wife likely disagrees).  The cover of the disc is slightly unsettling, as the lead singer is crouched in an empty room like some sort of zombie spider monster person, and her face looks like a cross between Leeloo from The Fifth Element and that scary cover art for that Aphex Twin album.   The guitar in "catch these fists" reminds me of Franz Ferdinand.  The "is it love?" they keep saying in "CPR" is making me think of the Primus song "Is it Luck?" where Les Claypool yelps that phrase repeatedly.  "CPR" also has a nugget of an old 80's song that won't come back to me, when she gets shrill to sing the chorus.  "pillow talk" is kinda nasty (in a fun way) and has thick riffs, beating drums, and then a piano riff combined with winding guitars that brings Queens of the Stone Age to mind.  The bassline in "11:21" makes me think of the Beatles and the folks who copy them like Jet.  "mangetout" has vocals that sound like Gwen Stefani getting cutesy.  "pokemon" is just purely pretty.  If you can't tell, the album is a little chameleonic, but I also think it is great.  The top track is "catch these fists," with only 12.2 million streams.

"i just wanna dance with my friends...."  Great stuff.

A few years back, my younger brother told me about a fun activity that he will get in to on a night after going out for dinner and drinks.  He'll fire up YouTube on his TV and just watch the old videos from our teenage years - grunge, hair metal, West Coast rap - and just revel in the nostalgia and pleasure.  I love it.  But the other thing I have integrated into there is to watch some of the eighty-million Tiny Desk concerts that are available on there.  Very good fun.  And these ladies do an excellent Tiny Desk (even if the lead singer now sort of looks terrifying even in real life).

Sure makes it seem like the band has shifted from two ladies making music together to one lady fronting a band of five.  I read a thing saying this is because the non-front woman has anxiety and never expected to be the face of a massive rock band.  But that version of "CPR" is fantastic.  Her vocals on "mangetout" are better in that version than on the album.  Excellent album.  Truly.

The Heavy Heavy - One of a Kind.  Another band that jammed at ACL - these guys were really good.  They played a tight cover of Father John Misty and also brought out Adrian Quesada to play "Texas Sun."  Good times.  Funny thing, I categorized them as kind of a soul rock throwback band, but my wife was like "dammit, Jack, you brought me to a jam band!"  Not on purpose!  Sometimes musicians just like to solo and rock out when they are on stage, man!  This is actually a 2024 album, but I had not heard of them prior to the Fest.  The opener and title track is a jam for sure.  I love it.  But "Happiness" is the hit so far.  Just over 2 million streams.

See?!  That is the classic soul/rock combo thing.  Killer harmonies and a bright and shiny sound.  Love it for sure.  Whole disc is a good time.

Quick Hits, Vol. 370 (Goose, Wednesday, Arcade Fire, Garbage)

Man, this morning the cooler weather was like a lifeline.  The dog has a spring in his step to walk a little farther, I don't sweat the second I step out of the door, and I could drive to work with the sunroof open.  Small thing but I am so pleased by it.  Now, if only that can happen three weeks earlier next year for the cold ACL experience!

Goose - Everything Must Go.  Gooooooooose!  I'm still mad at myself for skipping their ACL show a few years ago.  They hook up exactly what I want to hear in a live show, with inventive and interesting jams based on catchy grooves.  My jam band era is here.  I was actually really hoping that they would appear on the ACL lineup this year, but no such luck.  I've actually turned into a little weirdo for them since this disc came out pre-ACL time.  When I sit down to read in the evening, while waiting for dinner or in between errands for the kids, this is what I keep reaching for.  Also, they have an epic, 4 hour-long Madison Square Garden concert that was recently added to YouTube and I've been slowly rolling through that as well.  This disc just feels like joy to me.  And we sure could use a little joy in our lives right now.  Like, as an example, listen to "Give It Time," which builds and builds until just after 3:30 when the guitar solo takes flight and the song soars into the sky.  I know that this is one of the reasons my wife can't stand jam bands, but it is giving me goosebumps hearing it again right now for the 43rd time.  That rules.  And listen, if you jump in here and start listening, and you get to "Animal," and you roll your eyes because this is so cheesy and obvious, I hear you.  I'm not saying this should be the next Sgt. Peppers.  All I am defending here is that the music is funky and fun and I want it to soundtrack my day.  I have to say that I am a little disappointed in these stream counts.  RISE UP GOOSE GAGGLE!  Top track is "Your Direction" with 2.4 million streams.

Laaaaaaaid back.  Also, I own that same little scooter that goober is riding down the highway.  Well, and then into the sky and everywhere.  Pretty sure he is over the weight limit.  Also, a tragically awful video.  Nice little tune though!  Much less jam-forward.  Anyway, whole thing is worth a stream!

Wednesday - Bleeds.  What a schizophrenic album.  If I were to bring two offerings from this same disc to my wife, I could make her very happy and very angry in the course of two songs.  She is not a fan of dissonance or screaming, and so if I presented her with "Elderberry Wine" on one hand, and then "Wasp" on the other, we could really see her transform.  Odd though, for this band to have such things in their quiver and be able to play a lovely little country-flecked Americana beauty just a few tracks before a throat-shredding swirl of unhappiness.  Which, in my opinion, is unfortunate.  I don't mind them going louder/harder/noisier, but some moments in here just take me out of the pleasure side of it all and are jarring to the listening experience.  Looks like the world agrees with me (and I swear I had not previously looked at this before writing the above) as "Elderberry Wine" is the most streamed tune on the disc and "Wasp" the least.  4.2 million streams for the former.

Little observations in there - driving all the way to the airport with the emergency brake on - are sweet.  Sounds very much like a Courtney Barnett tune.  And that steel pedal is freaking money.  So, you can see what they can do when they go with a pretty sound.  "Phish Pepsi" is a shambling little groove.  "Candy Breath" is more 90's alt-rock crunch.  But meanwhile, I am not trying to say that the harder edged pieces are all bad.  The opening track has a delicious 90's alt-rock buzz bin fuzzbox chug to it that is also exceedingly rad.  Maybe this will be like the otherwise excellent QOTSA album Songs for the Deaf, where I feel the need to skip "Six Shooter" each time.  Also, can I go to that bar and play cards with those dudes in the alley?  I need to go to more dive bars...

Arcade Fire - Pink Elephant.  There are multiple bands like this out there right now, where I just find myself chasing their first few albums and never finding them.  Neon Bible was my jam for a while, and I also loved The Suburbs and Funeral.  But nothing since then has lasted.  This one has a nice enough little collection of indie rock tunes in between some weirdo dreck, but I've heard it at least twenty times by now and I don't think I could sing a single snippet for you.  I do like the introductory song, with its expansive instrumentals that make you feel like a new Blade Runner movie is about to start.  I really don't think I could tell you what the lead single would have been without looking it up.  Nothing in here feels singular.  Looks like it is "Year of the Snake."  5.4 million streams.

It isn't a bad song by any means, but it feels like something that would have been in The Suburbs to bridge the gap between some top tier songs about disillusionment.  WILLIE!  Okay, well, if Willie is in the video, I guess the song must be great.  But really though, it is a nice little tune.  But then go to "Alein Nation" and you get a completely different, jarringly annoying thing.  I'll let it go and hope that the next one finds some traction in my brain.

Garbage - Let All That We Imagine Be Light.  As these songs have popped up during my shuffle of new songs, while on the road or doing work around the house, I have usually either stopped what I was doing to see what this garbage was, or just skipped the track immediately.  To me, definitely has the feel of a generic, inoffensive attempt to get their name back into pop culture without working too hard at it.  And much like the album above, it just glides by without any noticeable, singular tune that would lodge in the brain.  Some of the guitar is kinda cool, some of the underlying grooves and nice, but there is no catch.  You can see it in the play count as well, where the first song is the only one with more than a million streams, and then the second song doesn't even crack 300k.  People are trying this out and then heading for the exits.  I'll give you the second-most streamed, in part because the name is so whack that you need to see it.  "Get Out My Face AKA Bad Kitty" has 537k streams.

Someone in the comments said this has "Only Happy When It Rains" vibes.  Yeah, I'm not seeing this as any fraction as catchy as the OG hits.  I'm good!  Thanks for the memories!

Quick Hits, Vol. 369 (Alison Krauss & Union Station, Destroyer, Momma, Bon Iver)

I actually wrote this set like six months ago, before the ACL poster was released.  That poster swallows up my music listening experience for a while!  Good year of fun music though!

Alison Krauss & Union Station - Arcadia.  I have to say, I am definitely not a fan of how she spells her name.  I don't think I have ever correctly typed the proper combination of single and double-letters throughout her name, and it always ends up annoying me.  Beyond that, this album is great!  I've loved her schtick since her 1995 greatest hits collection and her versions of "Baby, Now That I've Found You" and "When You Say Nothing at All," and this keeps right in that same slipstream with a great combination of Americana, bluegrass, and vocal features from the guys in the band.  And usually, those songs helmed by the man (not sure if it is old friend Jerry Douglas or new friend Russell Moore) are some of those great rootsy, traditional tunes about like, a fire in a mine or a hangman coming for his victims.  Love it.  Low on the streaming numbers here, so the top track (other than the opener) is "Granite Mills," one of those story tunes.  339k.

"They were all burned up and killed" is a great line.  Classic sound, good lyrics, great vocals.  And the girl trying to escape the burning mill on a rope that ends up burning, that is some graphic Final Destination stuff.  Nothing to dislike here!  Short album, which is too bad, but enjoyable!

Destroyer - Dan's Boogie.  A friend pinged me the other day to see what I thought of this band, and I hadn't known that they released a new disc.  They put one out right at the start of the pandemic, and I generally liked it.  This one feels about the same.  I'm not in love with it, but it is enjoyable.  Trying to think of what to compare it to.  It is almost conversational, like he's lounging on a velvet couch in a dark bar, with a cocktail in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other, with him just saying things like "women fill out and men crumble inwards" or "God is famous for punishing" or something about how he was mistaken for a Houston Rocket.  Just a stream of consciousness meandering around in my ears.  Sometimes, the pianos take over and the guitars disappear, but other times the guitar is at the forefront.  It is honestly a confusing record, just as to what he is trying to say, if anything.  "Bologna" is the top track, with 705k streams.

The underlying tune is weird and trippy, but also kind of a fresh-sounding cruise up a beach with a little funk twisted in.  That lady singer is apparently someone named Fiver.  That video is whacky too - how to fake your own death tutorial and then the fire... I haven't disliked listening to this, but it also hasn't just fired me up.  Will probably let it go.

Momma - Welcome to my Blue Sky.  But here, here is where I want my ears to exist.  I really liked their 2022 album Household Name (especially "Medicine") and this disc gives me another jolt of 90's era grungy rock tangled up with some shoegaze flourishes and tasty riffs.  "I Want You (Fever)" is the perfect encapsulation of that jam, but the guitar riffs in "Rodeo" and "Last Kiss" nail me each time.  Give me that grimy, thick sludge all day.  And the bright, shiny, but also a little nostalgically soft, beginning to "My Old Street," that then launches into more riffage is also tight.  This album just brings me places.  Somewhat surprisingly, the streaming winner is not "I Want You (Fever)" but is instead "Ohio All The Time."  1.7 million streams.

Man, that looks really fun to jam in a field and then drink beer in the bed of a truck.  I just love the melodies and guitar tone - nothing about it is especially original, but it just feels essential nonetheless.  Funny thought for a song too, being that the band is from L.A. and now in NY.  Why are they repping gross ass Ohio?  Whatevs.  I really enjoy this one back and forth.

Bon Iver - SABLE/fABLE.  Just that album name is already so pretentious that it gets me on edge.  But it is hard to complain about the majority of these tunes.  As usual, lots of falsetto and pretty melodies weaving around under some lyrics about fear and wary curiosity.  The disc is split into two discs (well, they are labeled that way despite not actually being physical discs) with the first four songs making up SABLE, and the last nine songs comprising fABLE.  Well, the actual first song is a 12 second noise, so really SABLE is just three songs.  Mostly solo-sounding, with Justin Vernon playing guitar and singing something lovely by himself.  The top track is on that half, "S P E Y S I D E" has 37.5 million streams and sounds like classic Bon Iver.

Just beautiful guitar work to start that tune out.  So damn pretty.  And then deeply sorrowful lyrics about everything becoming soot.  I don't know why, but watching those dark cloud roll by as I listen is making me tearful.  Damn you, Justin.  And then the back half of the album goes into a more electronic direction with an experimental and expansive sound.  I don't like it as much, to be honest.  "Walk Home" is pretty good until the weird voice pops in midway through to make tweaked phrases.  "From" has a Springsteen in the 80's vibe to me.  I don't think I'll keep the whole album, but I just tucked SPEYSIDE into a mix tape.

ACL 2025: Weekend TWO: Sunday Schedule and Thoughts

I have tried to reduce some of the bloat in these schedule posts so that you can just get the goods.  Once I have these schedules ready for weekend one, I'll try to type of a few posts about the food and the drinks and the map and logistics.  As usual, you can click the name link for each artist below to see my full post on them and find out more about each artist.

Here we go - Sunday, Weekend TWO:

12:15/12:45/1:00

T-Mobile (12:45)	Hans Williams: Yummy, vibey Noah Kahan-esque tunes
BMI (12:15)	Alex Amen: Absolutely beautiful folk like a young John Denver
AmEx (1)	Case Oats: Alt country made by a poet and Jeff Tweedy's son

What an amazing hour.  Not even joking.  All three of these artists sound amazing in my opinion - I know that most would not get there this early, but such good music.  Dealer's choice.

1:30/1:45

Miller Lite (1:30)	Chezile: Smeary bedroom pop that is really bothering me more than it should
BMI (1:30)	Ally Salort: Good voice and songwriting giving me Midnights vibes
Beatbox (1:45)	The Point.: Funky world grooves from local dudes

Tito's (1:30)	THTUJC: The Huston-Tillotson University Jazz Collective
Lady Bird (1:45)	Flowerovlove: Unremarkable synth pop

I want to see The Point.  I won't be there, but I dig their groove.

2:15/2:30/2:45 (they got the times tighter today)

T-Mobile (2:15)	Anderson East: Powerful white boy soul
Tito's (2:45)	Hey, Nothing: Truly great emo-indie by two younguns who harmonize with feeling
AmEx (2:30)	Julie: I guess maybe I am a shoegaze guy now?

Hey, Nothing sounds really great to me, but if I am being honest about my tastes, I would likely head to the fuzzy guitars and bashing drums and let them mash me.

3:15/3:30

Miller Lite (3:15)	The Dare: LCD Soundsystem-esque party pop
BMI (3:15)	Supertaste: Another disco-ey Daft Punk-ey with Chic thing for this poster
Beatbox (3:30)	Lucius: Harmonies for dayyyyyys, over the top of good indie pop
Lady Bird (3:30)	Royal & the Serpent: Gothy, unpleasant electropop with some heavy metal snips

I was pumped up to see Lucius, but in all honesty, they were a little underwhelming.  I'd probably go do one of the two party bands instead.

4:15/4:30

T-Mobile (4:15)	Rainbow Kitten Surprise: One of the worst names in rock makes great rock like old Kings of Leon
Tito's (4:30)	Midnight Generation: Disco-fied Daft Punk electronic pop from Mexico
AmEx (4:30)	Wet Leg: Excellent indie rock ladies with some danceable jams

Freaking rude, man.  You give us just hours of dreck all morning long, and then the two rock shows are stacked against each other?  WTF.  Wet Leg wins the contest for me - loving the new disc - but I would have enjoyed RKS as well.

Also, WET LEG WAS AWESOME LAST WEEKEND!  Super freaking good - loud as hell, and the song where they scream like crazy people might have made my wife wish for death - but this is why I listen to rock and roll music.

5:15/5:30

Miller Lite (5:15)	Disco Lines: EDM
BMI (5:15)	The Bends: Kings of Leon-esque rock and roll from LSU Tigers
Beatbox (5:30)	Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso: Argentinian Spanish TrapPop
Lady Bird (5:30)	Gigi Perez: Excellent indie rock lyrics with a surprising voice

The hit song from Gigi (Sailor Song) is pretty damn good and I could hear a little of her set last weekend and it was nice.  But I'd probably enjoy The Bends the most.  For what its worth, my girls said Disco Lines was a ton of fun.

6:15/6:30

T-Mobile (6:15)	Feid: Reggaeton/Urbano in Spanish
Tito's (6:30)	Passion Pit: Synth pop falsetto guy with two big hits from last decade
AmEx (6:30)	T-Pain: The King of Auto-Tune

What a great hour for there to be a rock and roll show!  Too bad they are all at 4! 

Public Service Announcement - THIS HOUR IS HELL!  If you go to Passion Pit early, then that may be the right move.  But trying to get to a very popular show in the Tito's tent at the same time as dinner in the food area was truly awful.  But also be warned that the T-Pain crowd felt as big as the Chappel Roan one or something - just an absolute sea of people shoved on that end of the park.  I think the lack of interest in Feid is driving crowds to these other two shows to either see the washed up rapper or the washed up electronica guy.

I will say, if you don't care about seeing someone actually doing the rapping, the T-Pain show was pretty fun to just dance and party.

7:15/7:30

Miller Lite (7:15)	Polo & Pan: Very French electronic music
Beatbox (7:30)	Gregory Alan Isakov: Perfect folky beauty
Lady Bird (7:30)	Mk.Gee: Hard-to-compartmentalize guitarist experimenting in woozy alien vibes

I've gone back and listened more to Mk.Gee recently, and am more on board.  Isakov is lovely, but I'm not sure about that being your show in between T-Pain and The Killers.  You might go to sleep and wake up Monday morning in a pile of dirt.  I'd be down with either of those here.

HEADLINERS:

T-Mobile (8:15)	John Summit: EDM
Tito's	Silent Disco
AmEx (8:30)	The Killers: Massively popular alternative dance rock in the Oughts, even with no new music they ought to be fun

Killers.  All day.  Every day.  I know that almost all of the kids are just going to pivot from Doja Cat to Summit, but to me that is a huge downgrade.  At least Doja Cat does something!  If she can be bothered to attend, at least.  Should be fun to sing along to the Killers classics again.

ACL 2025: Weekend TWO: Saturday Schedule and Thoughts

I have tried to reduce some of the bloat in these schedule posts so that you can just get the goods.  Once I have these schedules ready for weekend one, I'll try to type of a few posts about the food and the drinks and the map and logistics.  As usual, you can click the name link for each artist below to see my full post on them and find out more about each artist.

Saturday we get the fun of college football at the same time as the musical action.  Well, fun if you aren't a fan of Texas I suppose.  The Red River Shootout could be a bummer this year.  I hope not!  

Here we go - Saturday, Weekend TWO:

12:15/12:45/1:15

T-Mobile (12:45)	Shallowater: WEST TEXAS DIRTGAZE
BMI (12:15)	Eric Slick: Dr. Dog's drummer making uninspiring indie rock on the side
Tito's (1)	Ted Hammig & the Campaign: Like a college town bar band broke loose to bring old school rock and roll back
AmEx (1)	Sydney Rose: If Phoebe Bridgers only did whispered confessionals

If you would make it to the park this early, I dig the vibe of the Houston boys from Shallowater.

1:30/1:45/2:00

Miller Lite (1:30)	Yoke Lore: Unremarkable indie synth pop by a former member of Walk the Moon
BMI (1:30)	South Arcade: Very catchy pop punk action
Beatbox (1:45)	TOPS: Spot on indie rock sound

Lady Bird (1:45)	Alemeda: Supposedly rock, but more like alternative R&B to me

I think TOPS is the best thing in this hour, but the teenager who still lives in my head would likely want to pick the raucous shred of South Arcade just because my brain works that way.

2:15/2:30/3:00

T-Mobile (2:15)	Leisure: Chill funky grooves from a pack of Kiwis
Tito's (3)	Odeal:  Afrobeats R&B from a genre shifting Brit
AmEx (2:30)	Olivia Dean:  Powerful neo-soul singer winning awards back in London

Honestly, all three of these hold some appeal.  I think my initial lean would be to Leisure, although Olivia Dean feels like someone who could actually become huge because of her voice.

3:15/3:30

Miller Lite (3:!5)	Ocean Alley: Reggae-tinged rock grooves from Down Under
BMI (3:15)	Dizzy Fae: Oddball R&B gal from Minnesota
Beatbox (3:30)	Joey Valence & Brae: Wanna-be Beastie Boys sound like fun
Lady Bird (3:30)	Spacey Jane:

I watched Ocean Alley last weekend and came away uninspired.  Joey Valence & Bray are funny and whack (but also deeply stupid).  Neither of the good choices from weekend one made it here, so just decide what moves you.

4:15/4:30

T-Mobile (4:15)	Car Seat Headrest: Solo-ish guy dropped the DIY and now makes the best kind of confessional rock and roll.
Tito's (4:30)	La Lom:  Instrumental bongo rock for days
AmEx (4:30)	Marina: Bad British Pop

Now the choices get easy - Car Seat Headrest jams.  Duh.

5:15/5:30

Miller Lite (5:15)	Latin Mafia: Spanish indie pop, which, I guess I knew had to exist, but somehow didn't expect
BMI (5:15)	Southall: Pretty great southern rock/red dirt country in the vein of Turnpike/Flatland
Beatbox (5:30)	Fujii Kaze: Japanese R&B and pop with a huge TikTok hit and then some other catchy bits
Lady Bird (5:30)	Magdalena Bay: More synth pop that loves the 80's and the Eilish bedroom pop sound.

Yuck.  Gotta go Southall with this setup.

6:15/6:30

T-Mobile (6:15)	Pierce the Veil: Screamy emo post hardcore freakout music
Tito's (6:30)	LP Giobbi: Local EDM lady growing in stature
AmEx (6:30)	Doechii: Interesting new rapper with Grammy under her belt without a single proper album

I am telling you now - go see Doechii.  If you get your sensibilities hurt by bad words or sexual talk, then maybe go hear the Pierce your eardrums people, but Doechii is flat out entertaining as hell.

Today's music all lines up a little better because Sabrina Carpenter, the main headliner of this whole dang thing, is apparently just doing to do an 1:20 minute show.  What is happening?

7:15/7:30

Miller Lite (7:15)	Zeds Dead: Electronic Dance Music
Beatbox (7:30)	Japanese Breakfast: Great melodic indie rock to go with thoughts of sushi pancakes
Lady Bird (7:30)	DJO: One of the Stranger Things actors making good psych and indie rock.

Okay, I lied earlier, this is a hard choice.  My initial reaction was JB for sure, but I also really enjoy some of those DJO tracks.  We chose Djo last weekend and it was a good show.

HEADLINERS:

T-Mobile (8:15)	The Strokes: Always better than I remember rock and roll
Tito's	Silent Disco
AmEx (8:35)	Sabrina Carpenter: Insanely popular pop with zero traction in my brain

My take last week was: Strokes.  All day.  Every day.  But after witnessing the relatively uninteresting show, and hearing my kids say that it was fun to see Carpenter do an over-the-top dance spectacular, maybe that would have been more fun.  Shania Twain was the guest by the way, not TayTay.

I cannot believe that Carpenter is doing an eighty minute show.  Maybe I just don't remember the past, but I definitely remember throwing a fit when the Chilis cut off their set by 15 minutes a few years ago.  But to just publish beforehand that you are playing a partial set as the main headliner is a bummer.  

ACL 2025: Weekend TWO: Friday Schedule and Thoughts

I have tried to reduce some of the bloat in these schedule posts so that you can just get the goods.  Once I have these schedules ready for weekend one, I'll try to type of a few posts about the food and the drinks and the map and logistics.  As usual, you can click the name link for each artist below to see my full post on them and find out more about each artist.

would be very rad if the Wednesday singer showed up in Austin.

Here we go - Friday, Weekend Two:

12:45/1:15/1:30 (feels like the start gets later and later)

T-Mobile (12:45)	Aiden Bissett: Earnest pop rock that I liked more than expected
Miller Lite (1:30)	Spill Tab: Bedroom pop gal who can do lite rock, but seems to be heading back to the bedroom
BMI (1:30)	Judy Blank: (just added)
Tito's (1:15)	Farmer's Wife: Really tasty buzz bin offerings with a hint of shoegaze
AmEx (1:15)	Johnny Stimson: What I imagine a Justin Beiber b-side would sound like

My norm would be to go for the rock and roll goodness of Farmer's Wife, but right now I am trying out Judy Blank's top song for the first time - "Tangled Up In You" - and it is a purely beautiful acoustic little tune that has me sucked right in.  Maybe a nice way to start your day!

2:00/ 2:15

T-Mobile (2:15)	Good Neighbours: Extra poppy indie rock with all of the falsettos and that "Home" song
Beatbox (2)	Crowe Boys: Actual brothers making pretty fun folky rock
Lady Bird (2)	Girl Tones: A White Stripes inspired rock duo of sisters jamming out

Sibling party!  If you go read my write-up of the Crowe Boys, you are going to get way more history about Casis Elementary than you ever wanted, so I expected they would be my choice, but I'd probably pick the crunch of Girl Tones since I already saw Good Neighbours.  That being said, GN is really a fun band.

2:45/3:00 (they really don't line up the bands anymore...)

Miller Lite (3)	Jensen McRae: Fantastic folky pop with clever lyrics
BMI (3)	Maggie Antone: Varied selection of cover tunes turned into a nice little country set
Tito's (2:45)	Amble: Fresh and lovely Irish folk
American Express (2:45)	Tanner Usrey: Really great, low-key Americana guy in the vein of Zach Bryan with a lively show

Great hour.  McRae really seems like a future star, and Usrey puts on an excellent live show (that I just saw at Two Step Inn).  But, we caught Amble in the tent last weekend and it is so nice.  A less bombastic Mumford.

3:30/4:00

T-Mobile (4)	King Princess: Gritty pop music reminds me of cleaner Billie Eilish, dirtier Maggie Rogers
Beatbox (3:30)	Panda Bear: Influential indie/chillwave piece of Animal Collective
Lady Bird (3:30)	Bilmuri: Whack ass combination of metal, country, and emo

I forgot about that Bilmuri mess...  BTW, have you seen the new season of Nine Perfect Strangers?  We were wrapping it up (fine, not great, uneven throughout) the other night when it dawned on me that the whiny piano prodigy girl in it is King Princess.  Weird.  Anyway, we say about two songs last weekend and then ran away.  Nope.  Panda Bear feels like the one I should like the most, but as you can read if you go check out the full preview, he also is very uneven between tracks.  Good luck to you.

4:30/5:00

Miller Lite (5)	The Favors: Unknown band from Finneas and Ashe
BMI (5)	Skrilla: Has a rap track named "blahdahdahdahdah."
Tito's (4:30)	Vincent Lima: Bombastically large indie rock songs about loss and grief and Greek myths
American Express (4:30)	Dylan Gossett: Another Zach Bryan acolyte, from Austin, making good acoustic tunes

Probably Dylan Gossett?  Either way, I'm only going to any of these for a portion, as the 5:30 show has a 100% hit rate.

5:30/6:00

T-Mobile (6)	Role Model: Mac Miller-ish rapper turned pop rock rocker
Beatbox (5:30)	MJ Lenderman: One of my favorite albums of 2024 full of indie rock/alt country beauty
Lady Bird (5:30)	Sam Barber: Funny to think that Zach Bryan has been around long enough to have artists following in his footsteps, but this guy is right there

I pumped up MJL to anyone and everyone who would listen, and was profoundly disappointed last weekend.  He just comes off as sloppy and sort of uninterested (which matches his slacker rock vibe but was less fun to watch live).  Role Model will be a fun show (he brought out Hillary Duff last weekend to be his "Sally"), and Barber sounded good at Two Step.  You can't go wrong here.

6:30/7:00/7:30

Miller Lite (7)	Empire of the Sun: Falsetto laced-synth pop behind that huge "Walking on a Dream" track
Beatbox (7:30)	Rilo Kiley: Reunion show for a seminal indie rock band featuring Jenny Lewis
Tito's (6:30)	Confidence Man: Techno stuff with tons of top end sounds and not enough bass for me

Lady Bird (7:30)	Dr. Dog:  Very enjoyably shaggy indie rock
American Express (6:30)	Cage the Elephant: Great, straight-forward rock and roll with some pop cross-over success and massive singles

What a mess.  Not sure that it makes sense to list these bands all together, but no start times line up anymore.  I think my girls are most excited about Empire, but for me this hour is brutal!  Rilo Kiley would be really fun to see now that they are back together.  Cage is one of the best things on this whole poster (and were awesome last weekend).  Dog is something I've wanted to see for a while and were super fun last weekend.  Maybe the move is just a little sprinkling of each from a mile away.

HEADLINERS:

T-Mobile (8:15)	Hozier: Massively popular Irish blues rock with "Take Me To Church" and "Too Sweet"
Tito's	Silent Disco
AmEx (8:30)	Luke Combs: Nashville country tropes but with some enjoyable tunes nonetheless

Bummer of a headliner duo.  Also, and I know I have already harped on this, but neither of these dudes can give us a full two hour headliner show?  Really?  Hozier's end time isn't marked, but it looks like he can't make it to ten.  I know they close the pubs early over there, but you don't have to leave early, bud!  If only Hozier hadn't been here 14 times in the last five years, this might seem more exciting...