Meet the Sunday ACL bands

Tom Petty, Ben Harper, Patrice Pike and more

By Lynne Margolis
FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Thursday, September 07, 2006

Anathallo. (Sunday, noon. AT&T Blue Room) No, despite the name, heavy metal is not involved — unless you're talking the instruments this self-described 'marching band gone wild' plays while delivering what allmusic.com calls 'trippy neo-psychedelic guitar pop' — with horns.

Lou Ann Barton. (Sunday, 1:50 p.m. Austin Ventures Stage) Early-days Antone's vet Barton sang Texas-twanged roadhouse blues with the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Stevie Ray Vaughan, but 'Dreams Come True,' recorded with fellow vets Marcia Ball and Angela Strehli, was one of many career high points.

The Biscuit Brothers. (Sunday, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Austin Kiddie Limits Stage) KLRU-TV's Buford and Dusty Biscuit, a k a Allen Robertson and Jerome Schoolar, know a little goofiness is good when you're trying to teach music to children — or adults. And the farmer's get-ups? Hey, it worked great for Mr. Green Jeans.

The Black Angels. (Sunday, 12:50 p.m. Austin Ventures Stage) The name, from a Velvet Underground song, says a lot. These Austin-based, self-described psychedelic drone-rockers invoke the ghosts of Nico and Timothy Leary and promise to 'battle for your souls.' You've been warned.

BoDeans (Sunday, 7:45 p.m. Austin Ventures Stage) Co-founders Sam Llanas and Kurt Neumann (now an Austinite, as is bandmate Bukka White), are renowned for the 'Party of Five' theme, 'Closer to Free,' but this Wisconsin-born pop-rock band has a catalog full of great tunes.

Buckwheat Zydeco. (Sunday, 4 p.m. Washington Mutual Stage) After apprenticing with zydeco king Clifton Chenier, this squeezebox-lovin' Louisianian earned himself several Grammy noms – and a mess of fans who can't stop dancing to his funky grooves.

Matt Costa. (Sunday, 5:15 p.m. Austin Ventures Stage) When a shattered leg crushed his skateboarding dreams, Costa fell back on his guitar. The singer-songwriter, mentored by No Doubt's Tony Dumont, has a sunny, SoCal folk-pop sound.

Peter Dawson. (Sunday, 11:20 a.m. BMI Stage) With a song like 'Willie Nelson for President,' he's gotta be a Texan (a Dallas boy, in fact). Maybe a 'Kinky Friedman for Governor' musical campaign contribution is next.

Brett Dennen. (Sunday, noon, Austin Ventures Stage) The raves about this Californian's 'folk nouveau' are pouring in, and his second disc didn't even come out till last Tuesday. An organically spreading phenom, he's got still-unvarnished ideals and youthful energy to match.

The Durdens. (Sunday, 11:30 a.m. Washington Mutual Stage) Church has moved to Zilker Park, brothers and sisters, and Austin's Durdens welcome you — as they've been doing for almost 30 years — with a blend of traditional and modern gospel styles.

Kathleen Edwards. (Sunday, 12:30 p.m. AMD Stage) This Canadian singer-songwriter addressed some bold subjects on 2003's Americana-leaning folk-rocker 'Failer' ('Six O'Clock News,' 'Another Song Radio Won't Like') — and she wasn't afraid to follow it up on 2005's equally well-received 'Back to Me.'

The Flaming Lips. (Sunday, 6:30 p.m. AT&T Stage) Oklahoma's most eccentric export brings its weirdness to Austin with, no doubt, plenty of props in tow — along with frontman Wayne Coyne's strangely melodic warble and even stranger album titles (the latest: 'At War with the Mystics'; before that, 'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots'). Allmusic.com nailed the band's sound with the term 'acid bubblegum.'

G. Love & Special Sauce. (Sunday, 7:45 p.m. Heineken Stage) If you're down with 'Philadelphonic,' you've already tasted the laid-back jam-funk groove of G. Love & Special Sauce. If not, get ready. G. Love helped spread Jack Johnson's sound — with a decidedly hip, East-Coast edge — by recording Johnson's 'Rodeo Clowns' before he did.

José González. (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. AT&T Blue Room) Comparing him to the lofty likes of Nick Drake, Paul Simon and Elliott Smith, allmusic.com describes this Swedish-born, Argentinian-descended troubadour's lovely songs as 'literate, quiet, melancholy and memorable.'

The Greencards. (Sunday, 6:30 p.m. Austin Ventures Stage) Austinites still think of this trio of two Aussies and a British expat as our own, even though they've strummed their way to Nashville (and into many hearts) with their very American bluegrass sound.

Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals. (Sunday, 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.'

Rodney Hayden. (Sunday, 2:40 p.m. BMI Stage) Robert Earl Keen was so impressed with this young Texan's classic honky-tonk country style, Keen became his manager — and started a label to launch Hayden's debut, 'The Real Thing.' Those in the know say it's so.

Husky Rescue. (Sunday, 1:45 p.m. AT&T Blue Room) Where main Rescue man Marko Nyberg's from — Helsinki — they need husky rescues. But his trippy, beautifully hypnotic music is designed to warm frigid air. And if you were anywhere but Austin in mid-September, it just might work.

Imagination Movers. (Sunday, 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Austin Kiddie Limits Stage) 'What would happen if the Beastie Boys collaborated with Mister Rogers?' this quartet asks. Uh, let's not go there. But do consider the healthy concepts contained in their rockin' tunes, which encourage kids to 'reach high, think big, work hard and have fun!'

Jack Ingram. (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. Heineken Stage) This ACL Fest stalwart finally hit country paydirt with last year's No. 1 hit, 'Wherever You Are,' but the Houston-area native has been a Texas favorite for years.

Jones Family Singers. (Sunday, 1 p.m. Washington Mutual Stage) This three-generation Pentecostal family has been heard frequently around Austin since its dynamic debut at last year's ACL Fest. Seems we can't get enough of their move-you-to-groove tempos and soul-elevating harmonies.

Los Amigos Invisibles. (Sunday, 5:30 p.m. Washington Mutual Stage) These Venezuelan groovemeisters moved to New York after David Byrne snatched them up for his Luaka Bop label, but their smooth Latin disco sounds just as sexy in any city.

Robyn Ludwick. (Sunday, 12:55 p.m. BMI Stage) This Texan's lucky to have talent and connections — her brothers are Bruce and Charlie Robison; her in-laws are Kelly Willis and Dixie Chick Emily Robison. But the accolades for 2005's 'For So Long' were all hers.

Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley. (Sunday, 2:30 p.m. AMD Stage) The youngest of reggae hero Bob Marley's many offspring scored a Grammy in 2001, but struck it even bigger last year with two Grammys for the album and single, 'Welcome to Jamrock.'

Matisyahu. (Sunday, 4:30 p.m. AT&T Blue Room) Rastafarians and the children of Israel both can love this dancehall-toasting, rap-rockin' beatbox, a Hasidic Jew who blasted reggae conventions (and went gold) with last year's locally recorded 'Live at Stubb's.'

Muse. (Sunday, 7:45 p.m. AT&T Blue Room) A band since the members were 13, Muse went through names such as Gothic Plague, Fixed Penalty and Rocket Baby Dolls before hitting big. Just don't call their dramatically orchestrated prog-rock Radiohead-like. That's one label they'd rather do without.

New Monsoon. (Sunday, 6:40 p.m. BMI Stage) A trio of percussionists. Multi-culti-influenced jazz-jam band. Founded by a pair of former Penn Staters, now ensconced in San Francisco (aka Santana Central and mecca for Grateful Dead disciples). They also rock, dude.

New Orleans Social Club. (Sunday, 7 p.m. Washington Mutual Stage) Just weeks after Katrina, these native and/or newly displaced Louisiana all-stars gathered in Austin to record their sorrows and joys on 'Sing Me Back Home.' Featuring members of the Meters and others.

The New Pornographers. (Sunday, 5:30 p.m. AT&T Blue Room) An indie power pop-plus side project from Canada's A.C. Newman and friends, including singer Neko Case. Instead of doing his own set, the Kinks' Ray Davies jumped onstage with them after keynoting 2001's South by Southwest.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. (Sunday, 8:30 p.m. AT&T Stage) Could Petty really be acquiring the last of his 'Highway' tales? The man who went way beyond the Byrds as the 30-year heart of the Heartbreakers, added to his legend as a Traveling Wilbury and just released his third solo album, 'Highway Companion,' has hinted he's ready to retire from the road when this tour ends. This could be cause for a 'Breakdown' – and about a zillion other hits and worthy repertoire tunes. OK, Tom, go ahead and give it to us.

Patrice Pike. (Sunday, 4 p.m. Austin Ventures Stage) Fresh from the set of 'Rockstar: Supernova,' this Austin rock chick is bound to get a superstar's welcome when she steps onstage. She's a winner in our hearts, that's for sure.

Randy Rogers Band. (Sunday, 2:50 p.m. Austin Ventures Stage) Radney Foster produced this Texan's breakout album, 'Rollercoaster,' and Kenny Chesney plucked a Rogers-Foster co-write, 'Somebody Take Me Home,' for his latest. Dierks Bentley digs Rogers' just-released major-label debut, the well-named 'Just a Matter of Time.'

Sam Roberts. (Sunday, 1:45 p.m. Heineken Stage) A violinist who switched to guitar, this Canadian revisits classic '70s rock — complete with Yes-worthy artwork — on his 'Chemical City,' which reached No. 3 up north. His previous release, 'We Were Born in a Flame,' hit No. 2.

Sylvia St. James and the Gospel Stars. (Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Washington Mutual Stage) St. James not only books the talent for the House of Blues chain's Sunday gospel brunches, she can belt it out with the best of 'em.

Son Volt. (Sunday, 5:30 p.m. Heineken Stage) Revered as alt-country's co-founder, Uncle Tupelo vet/Son Volt focal point Jay Farrar has been diversifying his dust-bowl sound. But with Midwest blood, his love of Woody Guthrie and that high-lonesome voice, he'll never forsake the Plains completely.

Star Kids Yoga. (Sunday, 11:30 a.m. Austin Kiddie Limits Stage) For the fifth year in a row, instructor Joy Linam will be grooming future Wheatsville customers.

The Stills. (Sunday, 12:30 p.m. AT&T Blue Room) They were post-punk, but on their latest, 'Without Feathers,' this Montreal outfit shifted to 'rootsy, '70s heartland rock.' More melody, more harmony. Turns out not standing still was a very good thing.

KT Tunstall. (Sunday, 2:30 p.m. AT&T Stage) Scottish-born Tunstall's knockout debut, filled with infectious melodies such as 'Black Horse and the Cherry Tree' and 'Suddenly I See,' received much well-earned attention — some of it for her vocal-looping technique (yep, the voices are all hers).

Rocky Votolato. (Sunday, noon, Heineken Stage) The Seattleite calls his latest album, 'Makers,' a return to his Texas roots. It also earns Paul Simon/Elliott Smith comparisons — and we could swear that's Art Garfunkel on the chorus of 'White Daisy Passing.'

Ween. (Sunday, 4:30 p.m. AMD Stage) From pop to prog-rock, sea chanteys to show tunes to country classics, 'brothers' Dean and Gene Ween will try anything, as long as it's irreverent. After 22 years of Ween-iedom, their Zappa-meets-They Might Be Giants schtick still kills.

White Ghost Shivers. (Sunday, 4:40 p.m. BMI Stage) The Austin Music Awards' 2006 titleholder for best 'None of the Above' band, they'll shiver your timbers with bawdy vaudeville, Depression-era jazz-blues, jug-band hoots and a 7-foot-tall banjo-picker named Shorty Borgasm.