Best of the Fest

Our critics give the lowdown on must see acts from ACL Fest 2006

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Best of the Fest

Our critics give the low down on must see acts from ACL Fest 2006

Friday, September 15

Ted Leo + Pharmacists. (1:30 p.m., Heineken Stage.) A explosive combination of the Jam's punk energy, Thin Lizzy's open-hearted melodicism and plenty of D.C. hardcore leftism, Leo has forged this band into an absolute jackhammer of politics, pop and punk. —Joe Gross | Web site

Gnarls Barkley. (4:30 p.m., AT&T Stage) Obsessed with disguises, masks and poorly hidden identities like a coupe of kids on Halloween, the hip-hop phenomenon of 2006 is a duo of DJ Danger Mouse and rapper Cee-Lo Green, complete with a hit song in "Crazy." —J.G. | Web site

Cat Power and the Memphis Rhythm Band. (5:30 p.m., AT&T blue room) Her live show is legendary for its inconsistency, but rumor has it she's been killing it lately, and the combination of indie rock navel-gaze mumble and Southern soul she created on tis year's ?The Greatest? made it, well, easily her most compelling album.—J.G. | Web site

Ray Lamontagne. (7:30 p.m., Heineken Stage.) His albums have a tendency towards the singer-songwriter snoozy (probably to be expected from a guy who says his life was changed by a Stephen Stills solo cut) but live, this Mainer exudes a fragile charisma and intensity that could win you over to snooze-folk. —J.G. | Web site

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Saturday, September 16

Calexico. (5:30 p.m., AT&T stage) While everyone was getting into the voice and words of Johnny Cash, these former members of Giant Sand and friends were digging the horns on "Ring Of Fire." This group from Arizona can go from a tumbleweed orchestra and sunstarched Mariachi pop to a more desolate duo sound. And don't be surprised if Iron & Wine doesn't join them. In fact, expect it. —Michael Corcoran | Web site

Aimee Mann. (5:30 p.m., Heineken stage) The former Til Tuesday leader ("Voices Carry") has carved out a solo career that's the model of integrity. when the scattershooting 1999 film "Magnolia" called out "Save Me" to Mann, the Bostonian came through with a soundtrack that gave much-needed gentle elegance to the film about.... What the heck was "Magnolia" about? —M.C. | Web site

The Raconteurs. (6:30 p.m., AT&T stage) Although much of Jack White's new band sounds like a reaction to the White Stripes, with debut LP "Broken Boy Soldiers" so full, so chiming and powerchord-driven, where the Stripes were primal and naked, there's no mistaking that "Steady As She Goes" is one of the best rock singles since, well, "Seven Nation Army." White remains his generation's guitar hero. —M.C. | Web site

Brazilian Girls. (7:15 p.m., Washington Mutual stage) Sounding like the girls from Ipanema, thanks to sly, sulytry multi-lingual vocalist Sabrina Sciubba, this 3/4 male quartet actually formed in New York City, where they were signed to Verve and released the EP "Lazy Love" in 2004, followed by the self-titled debut. Look for new songs at ACL Fest, as the band's second album "Talk To La Bomb" hits stores Sept. 12. —M.C. | Web site

Kings of Leon. (7:30 p.m., AT&T Blue Room) The three Followill brothers and their cousin were just a toss-in booking, suggested by a local critic, when they opened the very first ACL Fest in 2002. This year the Southern artrockers, superstars in the U.K., are one of the most anticipated acts. —M.C. | Web site

Massive Attack. (8:30 p.m., AT&T stage) Perhaps the hippest ACL booking of them all, these trip-hop pioneers, whose proteges included Tricky, don't forget, have recorded only four studio albums in its 16-year history, but they're one of the most influential bands of the '90s. If you bought "Blue Lines" in high school, you were one of the cool kids. Will the core duo bring out a guest vocalist as they did at Coachella in May with Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins? It'll be a surprise- they're not saying. —M.C. | Web site

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Sunday, September 17

Damian Marley. (2:30 p.m., AMD stage) The youngest son of reggae legend Bob Marley is also the heir apparent to his musical throne. He sports a fierce vocal style and music that blends elements of dancehall and hip-hop with more traditional reggae sounds. His live performances are marked for their energy and instensity. —Deborah Sengupta | Web site

Ween. (4:30 p.m., AMD stage) With a huge back catalog and a reputation for eclecticism, no two Ween shows are ever alike. So if you've seen 'em before, don't worry: you'll get different songs, different patter and a new appreciation for Dean and Gene. —Karen Hinojosa | Web site

Matisyahu. (4:30 p.m., AT&T stage) There's a reason this Hasidic reggae-influenced rapper chose Stubb's as the venue for his live CD. Expect the crowd to be groovin' hard for his energetic, only slightly political show. —K.H. | Web site

New Pornographers. (5:30 p.m., AT&T blue room) Canada's best music export has made ACL their only Austin date this year. And if Neko Case doesn't make the show, don't worry, frontman Carl Newman's niece does a great job filling in. —K.H. | Web site

Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals. (6:30 p.m., AMD stage) Festival fave Harper, a latter-day jam nation leader, returns with his Innocent Criminals, his gorgeous Weissenborn lap steels and his thought-provoking electro-acoustic-funk-soul-blues-rock. You'll hear lots from his latest, 'Both Sides of the Gun.' —Lynne Margolis | Web site