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Austin City Limits Music Festival, Day 1
My column follows people, not music, per se. So my assignment for the three days of Austin City Limits Music Festival this year is to find out why people bond with their bands.
The afternoon began with a stop at the Austin Music Lounge at the American Legion House across the lake from the fest. The mood among the VIPs was profoundly relaxing as musicians, actors and promoters strolled from the lawn games to the product booths, some ascending the stairs for a last-minute massage or comb through. I ran into entertainment promoters Kevin Williamson and Clif Loftin, also Daniella Alonso from the sadly canceled Austin TV show, “My Generation.” “Just taking the week off to soak up Austin,” she says. We shared rumors who might pick up the show, if anyone.
Daniella Alonso and Sally Breer
Because of the cooler, clearer weather this year, the drumbeats to and from Zilker Park felt more lively. Yet entering from the Lady Bird Lake gate dismayed. The fans for the AMD and Honda stages had merged, creating a people wall, blocking all who entered.
Jake Stokes, 24, bailiff, Austin: “Fall into groove between two stages. Then you can pull out. More people are camping this year.” Mark Alexander, Fort Worth: “You can really feel the extra 10,000. Especially between the stages. You’re stuck. Then a corridor suddenly opens up.”
The field is not a place for low body esteem. The number of cut torsos overwhelms personal morale. G3 Never really worked at Zilker. WiFi best at TV tent behind Rock Island, but even that petered out. Texting best for anything essential.
Kevin Williamson and Clif Loftin
On bonding socially with bands: Black Keys fan Blair Renner, 36, Austin: “I follow them on Facebook. Not so much to learn, but to keep up with friends who are fans.” Alan Boyd, 38, Dallas: “Black Keys are part of indie scene, and you just find out about like-minded bands from those in the scene.”
Nancy, Arlington, on Band of Heathens: “They opened for the Black Crowes in Dallas. I follow them on Facebook & MySpace to see what they are doing,” she says. “You have to hit our area, too. The Heathens have. So they’ve gained status in DFW.”
Alvaro Cantu, 30, Dallas, on Band of Heathens: “Never seen them, but if good enough to open for Black Crowes. Found out more about them on ACL website.” Emily Williamson, Corpus Christi: Band of Heathens opened for bands in CC. So we checked website, follow on Facebook.” Matt McCauley, 31, Corpus: “I go to Amazon to get their music. We have very selective venues in Corpus. Meaning two.”
Clearly we in Austin have it good. We can see the bands live rather than just follow them digitally.
Austin hospital techs Jill Reyes & Stephanie Ayala on Spoon: “Someone says: You gotta hear Spoon. Who’s Spoon? You check YouTube, iTunes and the ACL site” Randy and Barbara, OK City: “I know people who are into music and I ask questions. Don’t like Facebook. Review the music online though.” Julia Ranger, Marble Falls: “I used to follow Spoon. Didn’t like the last album. I go to Amazon.com for the music. Or to their website” Richard Patterson, Dallas, 28, banker: “I use HypeMachine. I used to be obsessive. As you grown older, you just consume the music.”
Jill Reyes and Stephanie Ayala
Waiting for Ryan Bingham: Deb Crowell, San Antonio loves ACL Web site. Sampled every song. Mocked up her schedule with digital tool. Her ote to bands: “No songs, no clicks” Robert Gardere, Texas State student (related to form UT QB Peter): He’s new to Ryan Bingham. Friend recommended. Relies on iTunes to sample. Sally Allin, Austin: Saw the movie “Crazy Heart.” Fell in love with Bingham’s tunes. Wanted to see him in New Braunfels. Finally a chance … Al and Sandy Sawicki, Austin, also saw “Crazy Heart.” Downloaded Bingham’s songs on iTunes. “He’s awesome.” Also liked ACL site as an overall guide.
Why not MySpace? Momo’s owner Paul Oveisi: “MySpace is not a functioning community. Good for a quick glimpse of music. So cumbersome. I’ve abandoned it altogether.”
Livestrong’s Doug Ulman: “I’m a novice. Lance (Armstrong) sent me a link through Twitter to Charlie Mars. Said ‘You’ve got to hear them.’”
On my way out, I waved to the vast masses for Phish. From the hill, the undulating crowd resembles one of those post-Soviet soft revolutions. Flags, swaying, smiles.
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By Chris
October 9, 2010 9:33 PM | Link to this
So good to see Clif back in Austin! I have hope that the TV show will get picked up.. BTW, Happy Belated Birthday Michael!!
-Chris