It’s the 10th year anniversary for ACL Festival and this will my 8th. What started in 2004 with me being chaperone for the kids has become my yearly indulgence in what has seen dust, mud, lots of beer, chicken cones, great friends and of course amazing music.
The post is really to help my old self remember the music of the past 8 years. Hopefully it will spur some memories for you.
2004 - The 1st year for us, and another chance to see our beloved Elvis. Highlights: Elvis Costello, Trey Anastasio, Medeski Martin & Wood, Ben Harper, Solomon Burke (wow), The Neville Brothers, The Pixies (what a way to end the weekend!), Butch Hancock, Joe Ely, Spoon, Toots & the Maytals (right after the amazing True Love record), David Garza, Cake, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Trout Fishing in America, Abra Moore, Los Amigos Invisibles, Bob Schneider, Roseanne Cash, Los Lonely Boys, Calexico, Shelby Lynne.
2005 - the Dust Bowl, Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon in the morning, Roky returns, Coldplay’s yellow balls bouncing through the haze, Felicia’s last year (yes, she’s the smarter one). Highlights: Coldplay, Widespread Panic, Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon (amazing record), Roky Erickson (so good to see him healthy), The Allman Brothers Band, Oasis, The Black Crowes, Lyle Lovett, Wilco, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, John Prine, Lucinda Williams, Franz Ferdinand, Buddy Guy, Jet, Thievery Corporation, Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie, Blues Traveler, Kaiser Chiefs, Rilo Kiley, Spoon, The Decemberists, The Bravery, Ruthie Foster, The Fiery Furnaces, Bobby Bare, Jr., Brave Combo, John Butler Trio.
2006 - My first Flaming Lips experience (and I’m a better human being for it), Jimmie Dale Gilmore sang Peace in the Valley for Governor Ann’s passing, Ben Kweller bled, John Mayer rocked, and Willie dialed it in. Highlights: The Flaming Lips, Tom Petty, Gnarls Barkley, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, John Mayer, Andrew Bird, The String Cheese Incident, Ben Harper, The Raconteurs, Ghostland Observatory, Los Lonely Boys, The Shins, Thievery Corporation, Los Lobos, Ben Kweller, Matisyahu, Muse, Damian Jr Gong Marley, The Tragically Hip, Kings of Leon, Iron & Wine, Son Volt, Brazilian Girls, Feist, Jimmie Dale Gilmore (moving), The Stills, Charlie Sexton, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Lou Ann Barton, I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness, Murder by Death.
2007 - Dylan. Björk & MIA. Amy Winehouse and White Stripes cancel. The fire year. Highlights: Bob Dylan, Björk, Andrew Bird, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Arctic Monkeys, Regina Spektor, James Hunter, The Killers, Arcade Fire, Wilco, Joss Stone, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Robert Earl Keen, Lucinda Williams, Jon Dee Graham, Spoon, The Decemberists, Ziggy Marley, M.I.A., STS9, Cold War Kids, Yo La Tengo.
2008 - David Byrne, Fogerty, Mars Volta, Abigail Washburn & Bela Fleck in the morning. Highlights: David Byrne, Abigail Washburn & Bela Fleck, John Fogerty (my first “Credence” experience), M. Ward, The Mars Volta (rockin’), Vampire Weekend (fun), Foo Fighters, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Beck, Eli “Paper Boy” Reed and the True Loves, Man Man, Manu Chao, The Raconteurs, Roky Erickson, Fleet Foxes, Gnarls Barkley, Erykah Badu, Tegan & Sara, Iron & Wine, Neko Case, Band of Horses, Gogol Bordello, Gillian Welch, The Black Keys, Jakob Dylan, Antibalas, Octopus Project, White Denim, Black Joe Lewis & the Honey Bears, Bobby Bare, Jr., Back Door Slam, Slightly Stoopid, Alejandro Escovedo, Blues Traveler, MGMT, Old 97’s, José González.
2009 - The Mud Bowl year. Bird, DMB, Dirty Projectors, Alela Diane in the morning. Highlights: Andrew Bird, Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Ben Harper, The B-52’s, Them Crooked Vultures, Arctic Monkeys, Girl Talk, Dirty Projectors (what a fun, stumble upon find!), Alela Diane (sweet is the melody), Thievery Corporation, Kings of Leon, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Coheed & Cambria, Phoenix, Bassnectar, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Avett Brothers, Robyn Hitchcock, Poi Dog Pondering (hadn’t seen them since college!), DeVotchka, The Scabs, Grizzly Bear, The Raveonettes.
2010 - Phish, my second Flaming Lips experience, First Aid Kit, an amazing Mountain Goats set in the morning, Richard Thompson guitar, Eagles too crowded. Highlights: Phish, The Mountain Goats, The Flaming Lips, M.I.A., First Aid Kit (so sweet), The Strokes, Richard Thompson (wow), The Eagles, Spoon, Vampire Weekend, Givers, Those Darlins, Sonic Youth, Blues Traveler, Angus & Julia Stone, Carolyn Wonderland, Monsters of Folk, Deadmau5, Broken Bells, Matt and Kim, Mayer Hawthorne, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Caitlin Rose, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Devendra Banhart, Ruby Jane.
