2011 Austin City Limits Day Three Recap

As dark clouds and lightning loomed in the western skies, the Austin Ventures ACL stage crew was battening down equipment and preparing for the worst while singer/songwriter/painter Joseph Arthur finished up his performance. Instead, they got the best from the elements: cooler temperatures with hardly a drop of that wet stuff Austinites have badly needed—ACL or otherwise.

Those who had never seen Arthur play solo soon realized his act is somewhat unique. Live looping with his feet and hands as percussion instruments along with guitar licks and harmonies, Arthur would occasionally let his instant recordings play behind as he would take paint to canvas and create an abstract expression of art on stage—all the while, singing poetic lyrics. Or is it lyrical poetry? It’s not rap, but it is a rap with a non-stop flood of rhymes and thoughts that seemed to mesmerize the mid-afternoon crowd. Even his show-closing “In the Sun” was infused with additional lyrics.

While bands like Fleet Foxes and Manu Chao were entertaining the largest audiences around sunset, a little threesome from Brooklyn was making a noise on the BMI stage that was as bold as their name: We Are Augustines (Think Springsteen/U2/The Clash). If there was a more authentically passionate performance at ACL I didn’t see it as guitarist Billy McCarthy’s almost joyful, almost sorrowful voice cut through an audience that was so into the performance they were contributing with their own percussion on “Chapel Song” with some rapid-fire hand clapping perfectly in time. At the end McCarthy asked for permission to do something different and turned the rocker “Philadelphia” into an anthemic ballad. It was an abrupt change, and it was the perfect ending to a remarkable set and to another exhilarating and exhausting ACL Fest.

Other highlights of the day:
Seth Walker started Sunday off with his powerful take on rock/gospel as he washed his hands “in the river of faith.”

I had a nice conversation with Nick 13, who’s been flying solo in a break from Tiger Army bringing his Bakersfield, Calif.-brand of country while decked out in a purple coat and pants Gram Parsons would have envied. “The country and roots music from the ‘20s to the ’60s is kind of the main inspiration behind where I’m coming from,” explained Nick who believes the Americana movement deserves more attention than it’s been receiving.

Suzanna Choffel didn’t even know she was playing ACL until a week ago when she was chosen to replace the disabled band MONA. Choffel, who lives in Austin and “loved” today’s crowd, had played this same location a couple months ago to an overflowing park in brutally hot weather. “Austin audiences are hardcore,” said Choffel, referring to the ACL fans’ dedication.

Check out Mark C. Austin’s photos from day two at Austin City Limits.

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