Svetlana
Beliakova
on
Oct 22, 2013
Here at Gotransverse, our team consists of a mix of many different cultures. However diverse, one thing unites us all: a universal love of music. Originally from Moscow, I was drawn to the Austin area by its vibrant live music scene. Even though I’ve lived here for several years, I finally attended my first Austin City Limits Music Festival earlier this month and I loved it! I had a great time and enjoyed seeing many bands, all representing a wide variety of musical genres. I can’t help but wonder, was it really that awesome or was I just overwhelmed by my first music festival in the U.S.? I asked my teammates about their experiences this year and I learned that—in spite of being cut short by an epic storm and flash floods—ACL 2013 was a huge success. Here are some highlights:
Michael Prince, VP Sales - “Friday afternoons at ACL are still my favorite as the crowd is very manageable. It’s always fun to see the annual Friday opening act from Austin, Asleep at the Wheel. The best shows I caught were Muse (twice), The Shouting Matches, White Denim (from Austin), The Cure, Shovels & Rope and Blind Boys of Alabama. Fun stuff!”
James Messer, CEO - “I watched Jordon Cook, aka Reignwolf, from the side of the stage as he ripped up the Austin Ventures (AV) stage during his two dark, metal-blues daytime sets. This young Canuck, operating mostly as a one-man band, inspired the crowd with Black-Keys-meets-the-White-Stripes howling music. At one point in the show, as Cook jumped into the crowd to solo, he jerked his guitar back and clocked a fan in the forehead, splitting it open to the approval of the crowd. Reignwolf was a bit surprised to see the blood, so he rubbed it into the man’s forehead and handed him his guitar while he continued the solo.
I wasn’t familiar with Vintage Trouble before they hit the AV stage on Saturday afternoon, but that soon changed with I saw that front man Ty Tyler had more electricity than the fast approaching thunderstorm that shut down the festival. He channeled James Brown, Wilson Pickett and oddly enough, Doug Pinnick of King’s X, to put on the most exciting hard rockin’ R&B set I’ve witnessed in a while. With a killer band behind him, Tyler was shimmying and sliding around the stage in his suit and ascot, commanding the crowd like a Sunday preacher with his flock. To everyone’s surprise, he brought up Austin-favorite guitar-goddess Carolyn Wonderland for a crowd-pleasing duet and then closed down the show by running deep into the crowd, demanding the audience dance, sing and finally lay down at his command.
Who would have figured that Broken Arrow, Oklahoma could produce a white Little Richard who plays top-notch rockabilly? Former punk rocking rancher JD McPherson lit up the Zilker Tent working through his Signs and Signifiers album like a man possessed. Judging by the appreciation given him by the largely local crowd, I’d wager you’ll see this man on your local PBS station in the near future playing on an episode of Austin City Limits.”
Vincent Kavanagh, VP Sales Operations-- “Highlights: The Arctic Monkeys, just sublime. Lying in the shade of a walnut tree listening to Silversun Pickups. The amazing composure and capabilities of a 12-year-old-looking Jake Bugg. And dancing to the Cure in the torrential rain.
Lowlight: When the lead singer of Electric Six asked, ‘Anyone here from England?’ and I raised my hand, only to hear him respond, ‘And that's what's wrong with free trade!’ Ouch.
Best snackage: Rabbit and rattlesnake sausage (second year in a row winner in this category).”
Personally, I thought that Kings of Leon, the Black Angels and Depeche Mode were great. And where else but ACL can you see a music festival with a flight of bats doing an aerial show for a backdrop? If you didn't attend the festival, ask your friends. You missed a great experience. If you did, then you're probably like me - already looking forward to next year!