Wow.

First of all I'd like to compliment the staff of the festival. Everything was organized and great.
A series of unfortunate events (mostly involving having to switch rental cars and losing three hours of music), caused me to be racing to the media tent to pick up my pass just fifteen minutes before they closed for the day. If I would have missed the cut-off time I'm sure would have sat on the sidewalk and sobbed.

Once my wristband was safely around my wrist, I calmed down and looked around the media area. It just happened to be happy hour. I tried my first and last Red Bull and vodka, I ditched it and grabbed a water instead. The media corner is tucked in the shade. All of the radio stations have areas for interviews and live broadcasts. There is a stage for interviews and such. In the middle there is a tent with tables, power and internet access for us Web folks. After taking advantage of the air-conditioned, big-as-my-bathroom at home porta-potty I launched myself out in to the fray.

I started by walking around the parameter and checking out all of the stages.
[I literally fell asleep sitting up typing that last sentence at 1:30 in the morning. When I woke up with the computer still thankfully on my lap, I went straight to bed]. Anyway...I couldn't believe how many people were there. The food area was full of local vendors and the art section was full of art, clothes and jewelry. I bought a bag of the best kettle popcorn I've ever eaten, and trust me when I say that. I consider kettle corn a food group. The other side of the venue had an autograph tent (Patty Griffin had a long line when I walked by), Waterloo records tent and a giant tee shirt and merch tent.

David Byrne was playing and he had a huge crowd. I stood at the back of the crowd, and when I say back of the crowd I mean that I was behind thousands of people. ACLF has giant screens that project the sets. Byrne played a great mix of Talking Head tunes and songs from his collaboration with Brian Eno. And let me tell you, Byrne and his band can get away with white after Labor Day. They looked and sounded great!

I'm a huge Ryan Bingham fan. I wrote about him here and here and here. Ryan and the Dead Horses had a big crowd also. I discovered the 'back stage' entrance and the guy watching the door let me through with my media wristband. And then another guy waved me up the stairs to the stage. Suddenly I was standing next to the guitar tech just a few feet away from Ryan and the band. Holy crap. It was wild to look out on the sea of thousands of faces dancing also to the music. I can't imagine what it must be like to play for all of those folks.

Ryan invited Doug Moreland, who it turned out was standing right beside me, to join the band to play violin. They rocked though two songs with Doug and then Ryan said they were going to "turn it up," I thought they were already at 11. I was wrong! The stage was shaking with the intense playing and stomping. I peeked around a stack of amps and the crowd was matching the band's force with dancing and clapping. I stood there like a proud Aunt, grinning from ear-to-ear at Ryan's success.

We were hustled off stage for the last song. I stood at a table next to the stage stairs, jotted some notes and watched the hospitality area action. There was plenty of fun to be had and the drinks were flowing. I hung back, munching popcorn like I was watching a movie.

Ryan and the band came flying down the stairs after the show and Ryan barely made it to the last step before people swarmed over him to congratulate him on the great set. I hung around for a few minutes, hoping to chat with Ryan. I talked to his bass player, Elijah Ford for a minute, reminding him of the Birdy's show and how they had to drive through torrential rains to get there. I snuck in to shake Ryan's hand and geekily told him that was a big fan and had written about him and his Indianapolis show. I reminded him that we couldn't connect for a phone interview since he was performing on Conan O'Brien instead. He apologized with a very charming "I'm sorry ma'am." I told him that I was sure he'd made the right decision. I mentioned that I thought there were more people watching him from the stage than were at the Birdy's show. He laughed and said the thought today was the most people he'd played for. I slipped out of the backstage area before I was tempted to grab a beer.

I was hoping to catch up with Indianapolis to Austin transplant Cameron Smith. In Indianapolis Cameron booked national acts at Verizon, the Murat and Birdy's. Cameron was the one who clued me in on the festival in the first place, which started the ball rolling for me to attend. He teaches a course at the University of Texas, Austin on artist and venue management. I know from our Facebook friendship that he is a huge Alejandro Escovedo fan. I had a feeling that if I hung around the opening to the backstage area when Alejandro was playing I'd run in to Cameron. Pretty bold plan considering the thousands of people packed around the stage. It worked! Cameron actually found me and soon we were standing on the stage. I think my favorite part of the festival will be watching Cameron watch Alejandro.

Cameron told me lots of great stuff while we were watching. Susan Voelz, the violin player was part of Melloncamp's band and in Poi Dog Pondering. The cello player, Brian Standefe is an I.U. grad. Alejandro Escovedo had a residency at the Continental Club and Cameron said that it was so cool to see the songs unfolding each week. The result of the residency was the new album "Real Animal."

Alejandro played the Democratic National Convention. He is very political and vocal about it. It was great to hear thousands of people cheering when he mentioned that. Cameron pointed out the waitresses from the Continental Club dancing next to the band, like they do when Alejandro plays the club. The band played songs that were shout-outs to Iggy Pop and Joe Strummer. Not only are the band members great instrumentalists, but they harmonize beautifully.

I was honored to hear Alejandro Escovedo from such a great vantage point and to be standing next to Cameron. After the set Cameron and his friend Kyle and I toasted the festival with a yummy back-stage beer.

We walked over to hear a bit of Manu Chao. His music mixes several languages and genres - Latin, pop, reggae and techno. Hearing just few songs was enough for me, I parted from the guys and started the trek home. Which I true Nora fashion included walking the wrong direction for what seemed like forever. I was too pooped for any after-party shows.

Okay, that's it for now, I can't wait to get back to the festival!


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The car is rented, the venue is mapquested and my bag is packed with water, camera, notebook, sunscreen and schedules.
My only worry is getting there without getting lost too many times. I have the sense of direction of a doughnut. I rarely go anywhere with out making at least two u-turns.
Wish me luck!


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I'm in Austin and happily ensconced in my wonderful cousin Sheila's lovely house.

I love how the whole town seems to be excited about the festival - from the welcome banners at the airport to my 84 year-old uncle chatting about it. The buzz around the festival is all positive. I sat next to a guy on the plane (hi John) that was coming in from Cleveland for his third ACLF. He was commenting on the great lineup, the shuttle busses and local food vendors. The festival is bumped back by two weeks this year hoping to avoid the crazy hot days of September here.

I grabbed a copy of The Austin Chronicle , the NUVO-esque weekly paper. The paper has a rundown/review of the street food around Zilker Park (ACLF venue) and a great pullout guide to the festival. A note in the front of the paper made me laugh, "Hydrate, Y'all The Austin Chronicle offices will close Friday, September 26 at 1 pm. We will resume regular business hours on Monday, September 29. We'll assume you know why."

Wheeee!
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...here I come!

I'll be blogging about the Austin City Limits Festival. 103 bands in 3 days.

This will be my first official visit to Austin (I'm not counting the 36 hours I spent there for my aunt's funeral).

Wheeeee!
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