The line-up was announced a while back, but the official schedule has now been released … at least “official” until some big name suddenly pulls out due to a sketchy medical excuse there by resulting in me traveling to Austin to see my boy Jack White only to be disappointed. I’m staring at you Meg White. You freakin’ hussy. But that was last year. And I’ve moved on. Obviously.
The good news is that Jack White is back this year, albeit with the Raconteurs rather than the Stripes, but I’ll take what I can get.
Vampire Weekend and The Mars Volta are both slotted for Friday and both are currently on the “would like to see” list, so it will be nice to knock those out. My man David Byrne only gets an hour on Friday, which is kind of disappointing since he’s probably the funkiest white man alive. But I’ve seen him before. And it’s a festival set, so it’s not like he was going to throw down an epic two hour bonanza anyway … and hopefully my boys behind the scenes are locking him down for a Stubb’s after-festival-show. Much like the Jazz Fest late night sets, you can make or break your ACL weekend depending on the after shows you catch.
On Saturday, there are a few conflicts that will help break up the crowd. The Black Keys, Iron & Wine and YMSB are slated to go on around 7:30. Beck and Robert Plant/Alison Krauss are scheduled to play at nearly the exact same time (8:15 and 8:30, respectively), so this will be a big divider, as well. Beck can give David Byrne a run for his money in the funk department, but I’ve seen him a number of times and I’ve never had the opportunity to check out Mr. Plant … that being said, when the time comes I really don’t see myself passing on Beck. If the rest of Zep was in the house it wouldn’t be an issue … but Alison Kruass, talented as she is, might not be enough to drag me away.
Sunday afternoon will feature a nice little run of The Raconteurs > Band of Horses > Foo Fighters. Am I the only one surprised by the Fighters of Foo getting the Sunday closing spot with all the names that are playing? I’ve never seen them, so I’m down for the show … but the closing set of the festival just seems a little aggressive to this guy.
So there you have it…the Brahkowski Breakdown. If you’ve never been to the ACL Festival you should definitely try to make it down to Austin and check it out. If you’ve been before then you are well aware of the awesomeness and I’m sure I’ll see you there.
Mucho take it easy.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
blues traveler > gnarles barkley > boh. whatup?
someone will have to hold my hand during jacob dylans set because i don’t know if I can maintain emotional stability seeing him sans the wallflowers. he’s gotta play “one headlight”, right? right? ! ? ! ?
You should probably point out that you can make your own custom skeddy.
http://acl08.sched.org/
Oh and I would freak if I had to make these choices. I would fill out the schedule ahead of time and just pretend like nothing else was going on, otherwise I would F-A-I-L.
man I want to go. Kyle, The Raconteurs are sick…You will be satisfied…but that is coming from somenone who caught the Stripes HOB Myrtle Beach show right before the stoppage. I love Byrne too..the show in Durham @ Carolina Theater a few years back was SICK>
Yeah, I totally back the Raconteurs…my love for JW doesn’t discriminate … but last year it was a double bill at Stubbs with the Cold War Kids/White Stripes for an after show and when it got cancelled i was pretty crushed. I can’t wait to see any JW vehicle I can.
I’ve heard that HOB show was pretty sick.
You should definitely try to get down there…a festival right in the city as opposed to camping in a cow pasture (the ‘roo) is a lot of fun.
some sleeperz:
jamie lidell, iron and wine, heartless bastards
chappy, jamie lidell a sleeper? nice try. the guy is probably the most innovative on the acl line up. and seeing how early he is on saturday i’m curious who you would be seeing instead? perhaps something more provincial would please you.
c’mon brah..
sleeper picks are defined as underrated gems….
you can get provincial on these balls when you see chappy front row-center of jamie lidell on saturday..