A few things I learned recently watching Austin City Limits
My DVR is picking up ACL whenever it comes on, and I’ve had a chance to catch some bands that I’ve listened to for a long time, but have never seen live. Here are a few observations I have made:
1) Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) does not appear to be very good at singing and playing the guitar at the same time. (Which, hey, I can’t do either one separately, so I feel for Isaac.) Also, Modest Mouse opened with the worst version of “Float On” imaginable. Either they’ve grown to completely hate their one hit song, or it’s not a song that they are capable of reproducing well outside of the studio. Or the band members were wasted. Hey, speaking of wasted …
2) Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices) was certainly very drunk during his set, and the rest of the band might have been too. But they still sounded fantastic. (Or, as fantastic as they could sound with the sub-par audio signal that my local PBS station puts out.) I didn’t realize that Pollard doesn’t play guitar when the band performs on stage. Maybe Brock should take note.
3) Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips) sure does seem to be enjoying himself on stage, even when most of his songs are about death. The puppets, toys and props seem to help. Also, the Flaming Lips and Cat Power do a really good version of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” Who knew?
4) Despite being a very talented song writer, James Mercer (The Shins) might be one of the least charismatic stage performers I’ve seen since I went to see New Order in the ’80s. When the bassist has to handle the between-song banter because the lead singer is too busy wincing the night away, you know something’s not right.
5) ACL gets some good acts. When I was younger, I thought it was mostly boring folk and country.
I should set up my DVR to record ACL. I’ve never even seen it before. There’s a good show on my local PBS station on Sundays called Breakfast with the Arts, or something like that, with some good bands on. They perform live in the studio and usually do a short interview.
Comment by Susan M — August 23, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
PS I’m gonna try to get the radio.blog moved and updated so it’ll work again.
Comment by Susan M — August 23, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
I downloaded from who know’s where quite a while back a video of “Float on” played live on Craig Kilborn’s show and I think its wonderful… though I think the recording happened not too long after the songs release so that may have something to do with why its so freaking awesome.
But forget about Float on, check out the youtube videos of Brock cutting himself on stage…now that is what I call a performance!
btw, ACL is must see tv in my house except when the Dixie Chicks are on.
Comment by Andres — August 23, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
I saw Robert Pollard live in San Francisco.
Not only did he drink constantly, but someone gave him a joint, requesting “Glad Girls” - it was one of two or three GBV songs he did.
Comment by Jennifer — August 23, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
There’s been some great performance on ACL over the years. In the last couple of years there’s been Neko Case, Wilco, Ryan Adams, Sufjan Stevens, Calexico. I also remember a great performance by Lucinda Williams a few years back.
Jennifer, I missed Bob’s solo show, but I saw GBV’s “Electrifying Conclusion” at the Fillmore — great show. The drunken stage banter alone was worth the price of admission.
Comment by Greg — August 23, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Agreed re: Mercer. I’ve seen him live and was decidedly unimpressed, even though he sounds great.
Comment by Supergenius — August 23, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
I’ve always thought Mercer was lacking charisma on their records, too. It sometimes sounds like he’s holding back. Not so much on their latest, though.
I saw the Shins on ACL and I think the only frontman with less live charisma that I’ve seen is Dan Bejar of Destroyer, which was surprising since on his records he sounds like the type that would preen and pose. But all he did was stand still and grimace with his eyes closed. But like Mercer, he sounded great.
I really liked the Flaming Lips’ and Sufjan Stevens’ appearances on ACL. And of course Wilco. I only wish they all played longer sets.
Comment by Tom — August 24, 2007 @ 3:55 am
The Flaming Lips ACL was a little surreal–I had never seen a live performance of there’s before.
Damien Rice was fantastic. I think he was on the same episode with the Shins.
Comment by Tim J — August 24, 2007 @ 7:00 am
On which network does ACL air? I want to set my DVR too…
Comment by Geoff J — August 26, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
PBS, I think.
Comment by Allison — August 27, 2007 @ 9:35 am