Earlybird Earworms and the Top 5 Acts You Probably Missed Weekend 1 at ACL
Headliners seem to grab all the attention, but some of the best musicians at this year's Austin City Limits music festival delivered punching performances all before 3 p.m.
Written by Adam Cherian
Photo courtesy of Amy Harris/AP
With talents like Kendrick Lamar, legends like the Foo Fighters, and a stacked headliners lineup for this year’s ACL Fest, most people only think about getting in their Ubers and hopping on their Lime Scooters to Zilker around 3-5 p.m. However, those festival goers missed out on some true gems. Austin hometown heroes and out-of-state mavericks had some killer sets. Here are five acts that stepped up to the occasion and blasted expectations out of the Lady Bird Lake water.
THE NATIONAL PARKS
Photo courtesy of Sara Diggins/American-Statesman
At a bright and early 1:40 p.m. the Utah-based quartet The National Parks adorned a sun-saturated stage with indie folk pop, country-inspired violins, and a striking emerald green button down worn by lead singer and guitarist Brady Parks. The ballad-driven millennial indie-pop act played an unexpectedly high energy set this past Friday. Newcomers to the ACL stage, the band took what little time they had and knocked it out of the literal park. Megan Taylor Parks on the violin brought such soul to the performance, and the surprise drumming moment where keyboardist Sydney Macfarlane and the aforementioned Parks both banged on a tom drum for the breakdown of one of their songs “History Channel,” brought erupting cheers from the crowd. Check out their recent album 8th Wonder if you’d like a nostalgic hit of 2010s indie.
Thee sacred souls
Photo courtesy of Sara Diggins/American-Statesman
“Southern California sweet soul” is the best descriptor that Thee Sacred Souls could use for their music. Somehow, the saccharine melodies and random riffs on their records became even sweeter live.. This past Friday, the three-piece act serenaded the Honda stage with straight from the ‘60s soul songs reminiscent of classics from Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin. In particular, their performance of “Lady Love” had ACL attendants dancing together like they were at their high school prom. The acutely romantic vibes of their discography match perfectly with Sal Samano’s bass skills and Josh Lane’s insanely amazing singing voice. Destined to make you swoon, Thee Sacred Souls have the best music one can listen to at around 2:30 p.m. on a Friday.
Die spitz
Photo courtesy of Jay Janner/American-Statesman
No strangers to the Austin scene, the once co-op basement act Die Spitz brought the most fiery mosh pit to ACL this past Saturday. Playing under brass disco balls and a big white tent at the Tito’s stage, the punk band famous on UT’s campus for playing at house shows now got to share their gusto at ACL. Through technical difficulties, the multi-instrumental group consisting of Ava Schrobilgen, Chloe Andrews, Ellie Livingston, and Kate Halter performed an engagingly electric set that got listeners in the punk spirit. Playing underground hits like “Hair of Dog,” the guttural screams and fuzzy vocals reverberated throughout the tent making every punk fan’s ears perk up in delight. Even including some softer songs from drummer Andrews, the band had a fantastic first ACL set.
katy kirby
Photo courtesy of John Anderson/Austin Chronicle
Ever wanted to listen to a remix of boygenius with the duo vocals of Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers set to the religiously traumatic songwriting of Julien Baker? Then immediately follow the Nashville-based artist Katy Kirby on Spotify, as their set on Sunday at the Miller Lite Stage after noon encapsulated this genius dream. The Spicewood, Texas native and indie singer-songwriter shapes her artistry around growing up in an evangelical household, but she also lends her pen to a wide array of other topics. On track “Cubic Zirconia,” she compares a relationship to the fool’s diamond copy — it has that same exact shine on the outside, but it’s not real no matter how bright it glimmers. Her hushed vocals accompanied by her mellifluous band were reminiscent of Big Thief and other 2020s indie artists. Keeping the same toned down energy all the way through, she ended the set with a meek “bye,” leaving the audience dazzled.
grace sorenson
Photo courtesy of John Anderson/Austin Chronicle
No exaggeration is made when saying Grace Sorensen had one of the best sets of the first weekend. Lighting up the BMI stage and landing herself on the recent cover of The Austin Chronicle, the R&B songstress enchanted her captive audience with sensual choreography, stellar vocals, and a band that sounded ready to do headlining tours. Never boring the watchers, Sorensen went from her impeccable discography to performing a neo-soul reimagining of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.”. She ended the set with “Digits,” bringing out the featured rapper Magna Carda, and not a single unhappy ear drum or still person was left. Leaving to the continued playing of her band, Sorensen’s ethereal sounding set more than made up for the hour shaped hole that was Kali Uchis.
Some people spend hundreds of dollars on their passes just to see one or two major artists, and while this is completely valid, ACL attendees are missing out on dozens of some of the most musically talented acts visiting Austin. From the folk sensibilities of The National Parks, to the mystical and infatuating prowess of Grace Sorenson, make sure to use your wristbands and support artists you may not know!