ACL Fest is Upon Us

9/14/20067:32:37 PM Link |  | Add comment

Around Austin, Music, Uniquely Austin

Ahhhhh, time for the Austin City Limits Music Festival.  The great music.  The good times.  The massive crowds walking from parking far, far away to stand in sweltering heat while dirt swirls around.  Just kidding!  That was last year.  I've heard there has been a concerted effort to 'green up' Zilker so that there will not be the dirt/dust issues that caused issues last year.  Of course last year we were baked crispy by the 110 degree weather.  This year it's milder (to us locals, in the 90s is milder!).  You also have to hand it to the organizers of ACL as every year they do a great job of analyzing and taking care of issues from prior years.

There is definitely a different feel to the lineup this year as compared to last year.  Austin had what amounted to a 3 day British invasion of sorts in 2005.  Additionally, many of the other bands who came were from other countries.  I think I saw a few of the melt.  Black crushed velvet pants and a heavy long sleeve shirt don't do well in an Austin summer.  It was a great time though and the music was absolutely fantastic.

This year ACL has a much more local feel.  In some ways it actually reminds me of the music of the old Austin Aqua Festivals.  Man, those were good times growing up.  Skipper pins.  Czech night.  The Thunderbirds at Aero Fest (held in conjunction with Aqua Fest at Bergstrom AFB, now Austin's airport).  It was great to be a kid during AquaFest's hayday of the late 70s through the mid 80s.  Then the 90s came and AquaFest started changing its identity - bringing in more 'name' acts and doing away with a lot of the quirkly things that made it what it was.

Looking over the schedule for ACL this year you can see the change in direction.  Trish Murphy, Sara Hickman, Del Castillo, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Los Lonely Boys - and that's just Friday after 6PM.  Of course you have Willie Nelson headlining on Saturday, a complete throwback to AquaFest.  Even many of the non-local acts are more related to the roots-rock and blues that Austin is famous for. 

My picks, in no particular order - Muse, The Tragically Hip, The Raconteurs, The Shins, Thievery Corporation, The Flaming Lips, Guster, Gomez, John Mayer, Sparklehorse, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, Calexico, Ben Kweller, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Nada Surf, The Stills and, of course, Patrice Pike.  There are several local bands that I would recommend as well, but a good idea for the ACL Fest is to lock down who you really want to see, figure out which stages they are on and when, and then as you pass stages from one destination to another just stop and listen to the various stages as you go.  More than anything though, it's good not to get too tied in to a schedule.  If you leave yourself open to hearing new music, you just might discover some great music!

It's a Beautiful Thing

8/23/20069:45:27 PM Link |  | Add comment

Around Austin, Music, Uniquely Austin

I have to admit, I have been watching Rockstar Supernova.  Being a musician and having my own band I love to watch other musicians to see what I can learn from them.  Sometimes we call it stealing but I think we all have influences.  The other reason, the main reason, I have been following this year's version of Rockstar is because of Patrice Pike.  I tuned in originally just to find out who the 'band' would be this year only to see Patrice's face flash across the screen.  I turned to my wife and said, 'I think that was Patrice Pike!'  Sure enough, it was.

I have some of Patrice's cds from previous incarnations including the Sister7 days and more recently the Patrice Pike & The Black Box Rebellion and have always enjoyed her music.  I've also been fortunate enough to catch a few of her shows.  She's a fantastic live performer - I'm not sure that ever came completely through on the Rockstar Supernova show.

Tonight was her last night on the show but it was good to see her go out blazing with her new song last night:  'Beautiful Thing' .  I always dig her lyrics, and 'Beautiful Thing' definitely had some nice hooks and great vocal melodies.  I found myself humming today and it took me a second to realize what I was singing.

Official Site of Patrice Pike - You can find more about her new album here.

Patrice's My Space - There is a version of 'Beautiful Thing' on the site, as well as some older songs.

Hopefully this new exposure from Rockstar Supernova, and the new cd, will take her to new heights.  You go get em Patrice.  You've made Austin proud.

(as an aside - I also actually have a real estate/Patrice Pike story - kind of off topic.  I was at a house off South Congress one time that a client had under contract.  I had finished up with my client and was looking at something on the home when up walked Patrice.  She asked how much they were asking for the home, I told her and that my client had it under contract.  I remember I blanked on her name, though I did say - Sister7 - but I felt a little silly.  She was super cool about everything though. lol)