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Review: Loretta Lynn at ACL Live
Kelly West AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Friday night at ACL Live, Loretta Lynn had a cold. Based on her sniffling and coughing it was a pretty bad one, but she didn’t let it get to her. Maybe it tired her out a bit, especially toward the end, but for most of the night, the country music legend was just that, a legend, delivering a set to a crowd full of fans that probably would have been satisfied with much less.
One thing that’s clear from last night is that Lynn is tough. Friday’s show was originally supposed to happen last September, but Lynn had to reschedule because of knee surgery. She canceled some shows after that because of illness. Introduced as the first country music star to have a motion picture made about her life, the 76-year-old singer took the stage in a long-sleeve, blue sequined dress after her 9-piece band and her daughter Peggy warmed up the crowd. Lynn stood through nearly the entire hour-long set, something she hasn’t done for every show on her current tour.
Colds and surgery aside, Lynn’s music is tough, too, a picture of resilience and endurance. The don’t-mess-with-my-man “Fist City?” Lynn seemed like she was still ready to make good on that promise. Same goes for “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man).” Stories between the songs drove the point home. Singing on top of Texas bars for $50, struggling to feed her children. A Dallas show canceled because of President Kennedy’s assassination? Loretta just borrowed some money to get back home. Seriously, don’t mess with Loretta Lynn.
Lynn showed that she could still do sad, too, with “She’s Got You,” “When A Tingle Becomes a Chill,” and “Dear Uncle Sam.” “Coal Miner’s Daughter” came at the end of the night, of course. It’s Lynn’s defining song and her most enduring one, made all the more impressive that she’s still belting it out on tour.
- Photos: Loretta Lynn at ACL Live
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Friday music links: Al Green, Willie Nelson, the Hold Steady, more
New shows at ACL Live include Pink Martini (March 26), Al Green (April 26) and Ziggy Marley (May 2).
Pitchfork announced the rest of its showcase with Fiona Apple.
A campaign to have Willie Nelson perform at halftime at the Super Bowl.
The Hold Steady play the Mohawk April 10.
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‘Silent disco’ set for tonight
Disco fever is making a comeback in Austin.
Cedar Street Courtyard, 208 W. Fourth St., is the site of a “silent disco” tonight from 9 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.
What’s a silent disco? Disc jockeys serve up music available only via headphones given to concert-goers.
No headphones, no tunes.
The goal, according to the City of Austin, is to help mitigate sound complaints that have been coming from some downtown residents.
City staffers will be on hand tonight to see how things go. Stay tuned.
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Show review: Trombone Shorty at ACL Live Thursday
Troy Andrews brazenly disregards well-established genre boundaries. As Trombone Shorty, he and his band Orleans Avenue did one set of mostly Latin-influenced tunes at ACL Live Thursday night. After a set break and instrument switch-out, they got into funk, jumping New Orleans jazz, rock, a few bars of ska and a tease of Jimi Hendrix. No respect for borders, I tell you, and the best time you could possibly have had Thursday night. This is what the term “joyful noise is meant to describe.”
Shorty calls the band’s signature blend “supafunkrock,” and rock they most certainly did. Their songs have tricky changes and some offer plenty of solo space, but the band never strayed. Shorty has a more than just-OK bandleader’s voice and a load of natural charisma, but the real fun comes when he’s stretching out on trombone or trumpet, both of which he plays with a cocky but winning vigor.
They slowed down now and then but never lost steam. Shorty himself managed to hold a couple of notes for what must have been two full minutes through circular breathing and somehow didn’t pass out. “Get Your Groove On” was the nod to ska and rock steady. They also ripped through Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman” in a way that surely would have made the old man grin. Before the show Shorty (or someone with his Twitter account) tweeted: “Time for soundcheck! Ready to burn this place down feeling good!!!!” And so they did.
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Weekend picks: Loretta Lynn, Good Field, Scott Kelly and Eugene Robinson
FRIDAY
Loretta Lynn at ACL Live. This show was originally scheduled for Sept. 22, 2011; it was moved so Lynn could have knee surgery. The 76-year-old Lynn has been in the music industry for 52 years and one of the most important singer-songwriters country music ever produced. Again: 76 years old, still touring. You should probably go. Doors at 6:30 p.m. $27.50 to $47.50. 310 W. Second St. acl-live.com — Joe Gross
Also playing:
- Yelawolf at the Beauty Ballroom
- Los Campesinos, Parenthetical Girls at the Parish
- Islands, Idiot Glee at St. David’s Episcopal Church
- KVRX Pledge Drive Benefit with Ringo Deathstarr, Western Ghost House at the 29th St. Ballroom
- Diminished, Disfigured, Scattered Remains at Beerland
- Wiretree at the Mohawk
- Sorne, Boyfrndz at Frank
- Yellow Dubmarine at Flamingo Cantina
- Super Diamond, The Cover Girls at La Zona Rosa
- Anya Marina at Stubb’s
SATURDAY
Good Field at Hole In the Wall.Originally the solo work of Paul Price (of Brazos), Good Field is now a four piece band consisting of Price, Esteban Cruz (Coma in Algiers), Michael McLeod and Kyle Robertson. From the opening of the band’s recently released EP, which begins midtempo drums, low key bass and soft acoustic guitar, one thing that comes to mind is California’s Laurel Canyon music scene of the 1970s, which was home to bands, including Crosby, Stills and Nash, Neil Young, that offered up folkie sounds with a sometimes dark underbelly. Elsewhere on the album the band veers a bit towards a more contemporary indie rock with sparse arrangements filled with fuzzy guitars and distant vocals. With Jack Wilson, Grace Park and the Dear, Darren Hoff and the Hard Times. 2538 Guadalupe St. holeinthewallaustin.com — Peter Mongillo
Also playing:
- Digital Leather, Dead Space, Brain Attack at Beerland
- Jucifer, Tia Carrera at the Mohawk
- Talking Heads Hoot Night with Moving Matter
- The Trim, Jabarvy at Antone’s
- Reed Turner at Lamberts
- Missions, A Sky Jet Black, Knifefight at The Swan Dive
- Wolfgang Gartner at La Zona Rosa
SUNDAY
Scott Kelly and Eugene Robinson at the Mohawk. Both of these fellows are better known as frontmen with big strapping rock bands than as sit-down singer-songwriter types, Kelly with the thunderous Neurosis, Robinson with the powerfully enigmatic Oxbow, yet here we are. High weirdness will likely ensue. With Ancient VVisdom. 10 p.m. $10 advance, $12 door. 912 Red River St. mohawkaustin.com — J.G.
Also playing:
- Harp and Lyre, Set the Sun, A Fight For Life at the Parish
- Andy Grammer, Ryan Star at Stubb’s
- The Wolf, The Dirty Lungs at the Hole in the Wall
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Alabama Shakes to tape ‘Austin City Limits’ March 13
Popular rock band the Alabama Shakes will tape an episode of ACL when they are in town for SXSW, the show announced today. The band is scheduled to play a showcase at Stubb’s the following night. Visit the ACL blog for news about the ticket giveaway.
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SXSW Band of the Day: Nneka
From: Warri, Nigeria
Online: facebook.com/NnekaWorld
In 50 words or fewer: Part of a new generation of African singers who rage against post-colonial injustice in their homelands, Nneka delivers a righteous soul smackdown. With indignation tempered by graceful humility and raw outrage softened by vulnerability, her songs ache with humanity, seethe with pure heart.
Could share a bill with: Erykah Badu, Dead Prez, Damian Marley, The Roots
Transcontinental: The daughter of a Nigerian father and a German mother, Nneka grew up in the troubled, oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Forced to flee as age 19, she relocated to Hamburg, Germany. She currently splits her time between Hamburg and Lagos, Nigeria, where she is very active in the Occupy Nigeria movement.
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SXSW releases music grid
SXSW has released the schedule of bands set to play official showcases during the March 13-18 festival. There are still a few gaps, including Stubb’s, some of the free Auditorium Shores shows and probably a few bigger names that haven’t been announced yet.
Initial observations:
Auditorium Shores: Free shows at Auditorium Shores will feature The Shins, M. Ward and Little Hurricane on Thursday, Counting Crows and Diamond Rugs on Friday. Saturday night’s lineup has not yet been announced.
ACL Live: Nothing is listed for Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday. Friday’s showcase includes Bomba Estereo, Juanes, The Magnetic Fields and the War on Drugs.
Austin Music Awards: Happening at Austin Music Hall on Wednesday, March 14, with performances by Quiet Company, Ruthie Foster and many others.
The White Horse: The new Comal Street venue has Ray Wylie Hubbard and Billy Joe Shaver on March 14.
Emo’s East and the Beauty Ballroom: Not currently listed as official venues.
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Esme Barrera Fan Club Band joins Polyphonic Spree TONIGHT
The Esme Barrera Fan Club Band will be joining The Polyphonic Spree at La Zona Rosa tonight for “She’s A Rainbow.”
The Spree is donating 25% of merch sales to the Girls Camp Rock Austin, where Barrera was a counselor.
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Wednesday music links: Willie Nelson, the Gyspy Kings, the Beach Boys
Willie Nelson will play the Backyard April 21. The Gipsy Kings play May 5. The pre-sale for both shows happens today at 10 a.m., the rest of the tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. Go to thebackyard.net for more info and to purchase tickets.
The Beach Boys 50th anniversary tour, which features Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks, is coming to Grand Prairie and the Woodlands, but not Austin. They are performing at Bonnaroo, however, which means there is a possibility that they’ll be at ACL Fest.
Bonnaroo released its lineup yesterday. Radiohead, Phish, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Beach Boys will play, as well as Austin-area acts Gary Clark Jr., White Denim and Sarah Jarsoz.
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SXSW Band of the Day: Hip Hop Pantsula
From: South Africa
Website: www.myspace.com/hiphoppantsula
In 50 words or fewer: South African rap star Jabulani Tsambo, aka Hip Hop Pantsula or HHP, has collaborated with Nas, Snoop Dog and K’Naan.
Could Fit On A Bill With: All of the above.
Move over Manu Chao: HHP raps in several languages, including South African language Setswana.
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Tonight’s picks: Cut Hands at ND
Cut Hands at ND.William Bennett is best known for his extreme/offensive/hilarious power electronics outfit Whitehouse — hideous distortion, maximum pain. This project involves mixing layers of African percussion with noise blasts, creating new and powerful waves of mind-control. Impressive stuff. 501 Interstate 35, entrance at Fifth and Brushy www.ndvenue.com.
Also playing:
- HarMar Superstar, Marijuana Death Squads at the Mohawk
- Polyphonic Spree at La Zona Rosa
- Omar & the Howlers at Waterloo Records
- The Blistering Speeds at Skinny’s Ballroom
Latest comments
What a wonderful performance by the Queen of Country Music. It just don’t get no better.
... read the full comment by headraccoon | Comment on Review: Loretta Lynn at ACL Live Read Review: Loretta Lynn at ACL Live
An amazing show by a true legend…I’m so glad she made it after canceling last fall…
... read the full comment by gdub | Comment on Review: Loretta Lynn at ACL Live Read Review: Loretta Lynn at ACL Live
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