How I Did Not Push My Way To The Front At The Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin City Limits Music Festival
Oct. 8-10, 2010 (this year was Oct. 2-4)
Zilker Park
Austin, Texas
Tickets on sale: Tuesday Oct. 13, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.
For ticket info and mwww.aclfestival.comore:
Blogger’s note: Unlike a previous concert, I was not able to push my way to the front during any show and be a good groupie. There were too many drunk people, college kids with humonguous blankets camped out, old ladies sitting leisurely in their folding chairs, and, oh yeah, Security! The closest I got was at the …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead show and at The Dead Weather show (Jack White of the White Stripes’ side project. He also plays drums in the band.)
Witness mud, mud, and more mud. Add in rain, hugely drunk people, lots ’o time waiting for a shuttle to take you to the parking lot, and a parade of bands. And–my Dear Readers–now you have the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
Next year’s tickets go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m.
There are eight stages and a sea of tempting bands at Austin City Limits (from here on to be known as ACL.) My favorite bands this year were: the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Arctic Monkeys, And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead (Austin band), and The Dead Weather. I also got to see a little bit of The Dave Matthews Band. Since it was getting late, and I was getting wet, I did not see The DMB’s whole show.
The Arctic Monkeys were exuberant, loud and zesty. The Dead Weather (Southern style rock and blues is one way to describe their music) were appropriately cocky, spirited and unforgettable. … And You Will Know Us By the Trail Of Dead (groovin’ rock with various random instruments) were determined and spunky.
The food at ACL is too expensive and I pray that I never have to go into an ACL Port A Potty again. Random sightings: along with hippie-like outfits and skimpy “I Didn’t Plan For the Weather” getups, I spotted a young guy walking around Saturday night in Tighty Whiteys and his bathrobe.
If you do visit Austin (As you should–they don’t say Keep Austin Weird for no reason), some quick tips: there is a Fuddruckers in North Austin (I think it may be the one on West Anderson Lane, but I’m not sure) that is delicious. Also visit The Kettle on I-35, south of downtown. I didn’t have much time to cavort around town on this trip. However, those are my tidbits of advice.
The Heart Dallas Bottom Line: I am prefacing this by saying I am serously thinking of not going to ACL next year, or ever again.
Give Us Just The Facts, Ma’am: Go to ACL if you want to hear the bands and observe what the extended concert is like. Don’t go if you don’t like a huge amount of people, paying the entire contents of your wallet for tator tots, or plunking down $8 for a beer.
Link to Austin Info:
By Alice, blogger babe and tator tot victim.
