Austin City Limits 2011
Austin’s other music fest celebrates its 10th anniversary
Death From Above 1979
Published: September 14, 2011
If you can’t make it to Arizona, get an ACL Sunday ticket and see for yourself what the Manu fever is all about. 6:30pm Sun, Sept 18, AMD stage. — EL
J. Roddy Walston & the Business
Unlike so many ’70s throwback bands before him, the frontman and first half of Baltimore’s J. Roddy Walston and the Business has no intention of letting you in on the joke — for them there is no joke. The lack of irony is especially surprising coming from a band that sounds like the fruit of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Queen’s unholy union. Take into account that this bastard child grew up feeding on nothing but Elton John and Led Zeppelin tracks and their sincerity seems almost absurd. As soon as he hits the stage, though, Walston is a blues-belting, boogie-stomping, piano-thrashing minister of rock who’s been steadily building his mass of faithful converts since the band formed in 2002. Finally starting to get the recognition they deserve, the group has been going strong since last year’s release of their eponymous LP, which produced the gospel-rock single “Full Growing Man” that Walston describes as Weezer doing old soul. While the record’s good, the live show is a veritable exorcism of high-energy rock ’n’ roll excess and an earnest religious experience done right. Leave all sarcasm and knowing winks at the gate. 2pm Sat, Sept 17, Bud Light stage, and 3:30pm at the Waterloo Autograph Tent. — AF
Gary Clark Jr.
Gary Clark Jr. is what happens to a bluesman who loves rock, hip-hop, and soul as much as he digs the blues. With a sound neither traditional nor fusion, his Texas blues moves from distorted psychedelia and grunge to fast boogies and intimate acoustic R & B. For the last few years he’s been honing his chops at Antone’s in Austin, and now he’s ready for the big time — his debut four-song EP, Bright Lights, is one of the year’s best releases. Couldn’t find a ticket to ACL? No problem. Clark is so nice, he’ll stop in San Antonio first, bringing local blues heroine Catherine Denise along for the ride. If you can only see one blues show this year, this is it. But forget about genres: this will be one of the year’s best shows, period. $8, 9pm, Wed., Sept 14, Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E Grayson, samsburgerjoint.com. At ACL: 6:30pm Fri, Sept 16, BMI stage. — EL
Francisca Valenzuela
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