Got to Zilker Park for two-ish, started my afternoon with whiskey and coke. It is handy that I am memorable but is equally awkward as I have a terrible memory for names and faces so I end up chatting to people I've already had the same convos with over the weekend. I'm not being rude, I just have a busy brain! You know you are doing something right when a snapper from the LA Record compliment yer clobber and others papp yer #egoboost These photographers and press guys that I have been hanging with really are a friendly bunch of people. Had a wander around the festival site, checked out the art market and Austin Eats.
First band of the day were Cults on the Austin Ventures stage, they were ok, the singer is real pretty but the music is nothing special.
Next stop, Samsung Galaxy stage for Gaslight Anthem. They are pretty solid.
Back over to Austin Ventures for Jenny Lewis. The sun came out and Jenny looked killer in her suit. I've seen the LA singer over the years as a member of Rilo Kiley and the 'Jenny' in Jenny and Johnny but she is a star who thrives on being at the center as she stood strong in front of her five piece band. It was a real good set filled with top tunes and a cool attitude whilst remaining humbled. My attention was interrupted as a girl came and took a photo of me, then showed it me saying 'super hot', odd behaviour, American chicks don't bother with subtlety. I should have probably asked her she wanted to get hitched so I could have got me'sen a green card. Hindsight, huh! Life is LOLzzz.
A year ago Lorde was relatively unknown, the New Zealand teen has had quite a year, Pure Heroine is a faultless LP full of offbeat pop which has won her plenty of gongs making this performance the most buzz worthy of the weekend. Unlike the majority of acts playing ACL Lorde didn't perform last weekend and this was her last US tour date for sometime so it wasn't a surprise that she attracted a headliner sized crowd.
Lorde was in demand, every photographer at the festival wanted to snap her, with a maximum of 50 allowed in the pit I got in the queue half hour before show time, I was number 40, a lot missed out. For some reason my camera chose to stop working properly as she came on stage, luckily it just about pulled through but it was hit and miss as the singer shook her illustrious curly locks in the air whilst performing hits from her record. The youngster oozed with enthusiasm as she rounded off her tour in the city where she started it off at SXSW in March. She's quite the chatter box, especially before Ribs where she spoke of having to learn acceptance for growing up (she's yet to turn 20 for Christ's sake!). The crowd went wild for Royals, thousands of camera phones filmed it, then they all buggered off as she ended the set with the equally brilliant Team.
I chose the end by first (hopefully not my last) ACL at the Honda stage with Calvin Harris who spun some top tunes with a crazy light show bringing EDM to life.
As festivals go Austin City Limits is wonderful, maybe it's the lovely people of Austin who make it to special but the majority of acts I've seen have aced it too whilst the site, scenery and atmosphere are unique plus the staff have been brilliant, so organised, enthusiastic and friendly. A combination of all these factors make Austin City Limits what it is. Brilliant.
