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.

Tame Impala: ACL Festival 2013 Preview

I don't want to freak you out or anything but Austin City Limits Music Festival Round 1, is NEXT WEEKEND. I feel like I don't even know where to begin so I'm just going to focus on Tame Impala. Chances are, if you're hip to Austin Bloggy Limits then you are fully aware of, Australian band, Tame Impala but pretend for a moment that you are the typical festival goer. Uh oh, did he just generalize all festival goers? You're damn straight he did. I feel like the typical person who goes to ACL Festival year after year doesn't really care who is playing. They trust the curation skills of C3 Presents and/or they know they are going to have fun regardless of what's happening on stage.

I guess what I'm saying is your typical, non-music-blog reading, festival goer uses an event like ACL Festival for discovery. Jaded, douche-nozzles like me have seen the majority of these bands already by the time they get to the big stage so we're mostly just hoping the people around us will shut the fuck up long enough for us to hear this guitar solo. SPOILER ALERT: They won't.


Tame Impala - Mind Mischief video via YouTube

So, as a jaded douche-nozzle, one of the things I have grown to look forward to is seeing the crowd's reaction (or lack thereof) to artists whom I am already very excited about. For instance, seeing Cults win over a large group of people who had no idea who they were was pretty great.

This year, I feel like Tame Impala will be the discovery story for many a festival attendee. Stop rolling your eyes and hear me out. Tame Impala has only recently been added to many "alt rock" radio stations, which means your parents are only marginally aware of some of their songs. I saw Tame Impala when they played Stubb's but the really cool kids were at their Emo's Inside show when they toured Austin behind their first record. I really kick myself for skipping that show.

If you are unaware, or only marginally aware of, Tame Impala they need to be at the top of your must-see list. These guys are seriously kick-ass musicians and their sound is going to wash over the crowd like a fog of, 'Holy shit this band is fucking awesome!' That's a fog now.

I guess I kind of fucked up by featuring them first since they don't play until 6:30p on Sunday of ACL Festival but that is how important Tame Impala is to me, you, and the greater Austin metro region. So plan to grab something to eat on your way over to the Honda Stage and get yourself a good spot somewhere between the stage and the soundboard and then shut the fuck up for the duration of the set. It's as easy as that. Oh, and if you want, you can have these Aussies sign your tits (allegedly) at the Waterloo Autograph Tent at 4:30p on Sunday.

Review: Bill Callahan's 'Dream River' Boat Show

Sunday evening one of the year's most unique live music experiences was laid forth before an intimate crowd of 70. While slowly drifting down the tranquil waters of Town Lake on a double decker boat, Austin resident and 20+ year Drag City Records veteran Bill Callahan (AKA Smog) performed his new album, Dream River in its entirety.


Bill Callahan - Small Plane video via YouTube

The pensive intensity, foreboding, humanist humor and introspective worldview of his new album matched perfectly with the solemn drift of the boat and the majesty of the setting sun.
And if that wasn't real enough for all you bloggy-ites, I'll go deeper still.
Performing the set interspersed with seldom and awkward banter, Callahan sung through pursed lips with tense gestures, and a quiet intensity that seemed almost anachronistic. As though he may as well have been performing for no one in a dusty saloon a century ago.
Point being that it was a truly special experience to see an artist as honest and natural perform in a setting that matched his style so well.
Worry not though Austinites, if you weren't lucky enough to be on the Boat Show, you should get your ass in gear and grab the new album and grab some FFF fest tickets because Mr. Callahan will be back in his, and our, fair city for some shows that weekend.

Thank you, and good evening

-god1 Jarvis