ACL 2018 - THE END

Got in late really only caught a few full acts. Paul was the best. Just a monumental performance all around. Split Byrne and golden dawn because GDA had a tent. Caught most of jungle. Sat n relaxed during most of the national, holier.

Gonna try for 2pm tomorrow.

A R I Z O N A performing at Chipotle tonight lol.

Back at the hotel. Great hanging with Fred and Jake J at Byrne. Since last post, I Caught NONAME, Byrne, GVF, the last Jungle song, most of the National, Brockhampton, 5 minutes of FJM, 10 minutes of Odesza and then Paul McCartney. That’s the most packed headliner I have ever seen at ACL. We tried to roll up the left side but it was clusterfuck after clusterfuck but eventually there were some spots by the bar you could watch from. We went to the back to catch the end but got led out the wrong way. Haha. We climbed hills and eventually found an Uber back to Bee Cave Rd. Got to Deep South and drive home. Sun was radiant, and it was hot. Top sets for me:

Sir Paul (also seconding I’ve got a feeling among other songs)
David Byrne
Greta Van Fleet
The National
NONAME

Legs and feet are gonna be hurting a little tomorrow. See y’all there.

There were about 15 people to the left of me and 2 people in front of me from both gates for Paul. That show from that close was definitely a religious experience. Let It Be > Live & Let Die > Hey Jude. What a perfect trio. Live & Let Die may have been the best single song performance i've ever seen live.

Paul McCartney: One of the best shows of my life.
David Byrne: This set was everything i'd hope it would be but holy fuck was it hot. Major props to them for sticking with the suits. The bare-feet shoes were dope.
The National: First time seeing them. Sounded amazing. Matt Berninger is kind of a funny dude. Loved the Beto shoutout.
Greta Van Fleet: The frontman can wail, the band can really play well, but only 7 songs? I know theyre newish but c'mon. Should've been on the main stage instead of Bishop Briggs.

Also saw Topaz Jones, Natalie Prass, Cuco, and Bishop Briggs from a distance during my volunteering shift. Wish i could've been in the crowd for Topaz, Natalie, and Cuco. The 3 of them sounded great. New fan of Prass. She was the perfect stage opener for the Byrne/National/Paul run.

How was Cuco? Heard them a bunch walking around and they almost sounded like Tame at some points and there was rapping at other points. Seemed interesting

Oh and as to fest itself, bathrooms weren’t bad though the back, as usual, never had lines. Many bars were hit but you could walk 3-4 minutes to a different one with no lines. You wonder why some people will wait 20 minutes when you could cut 75% off that time. Cashless and credit cards slows the fuck out of lines. Cash is fast. I tried a few things. Wholly Cow’s burgers were below average for them but the prime brisket sandwiches at Mickthelwait’s were bomb as fuck. They had some great pickles they’d throw in if you asked. That place has been great since the food truck opened several years ago. Highly recommended.

Haha. I have to. About 3 years ago the dermatologist told me stay the fuck out the sun and gave me some chemo-face cream shit that kills cells that divide at the wrong speed. Usually you’ll get a spot that scabs up, but my entire face reacted. I can only imagine if I would have used it on my arms. Haha. No jeans because that would be too hot but I gotta minimize exposure since I was a kid who lived for being outside.

I’ll be there for the second half. We will likely try to get front left perimeter.

Opening delayed due to tstorm in the area. Looks like after that heaviest rain will come up on the east side of town. I’m not wasting time and have decided to start partying at the hotel. Looks like a mixed bag day of sun and showers.

Super jacked up for the Deftones tonight. 60
minutes ain’t enough, but I’ll be ready for that since the compressed time will probably mean way more songs I know the lyrics to. \m/.

I'm pulling for y'all to get Minerva

Yo Jake. I fucked up. I’ll be there for the first half of St. Vincent not the second and moving in after the end of CHVRCHES. it’s going to be hard to leave but Metallica is 1A/1AA with Paul. So if you see us rolling up, punch me in the shoulder.

Jake and Esteban, I’ll be watching St Vincent from Craft Beer tent. If you don’t wanna be directly in the crowd, it’s a great spot. I watched Brockhampton from there, and it was very easy to move to Paul after

Had a pretty solid first day of ACL. Made it for the end of Børns, then did Jungle, then Khalid (already saw The National this year, at night nonetheless), then Hozier the Macca. He was excellent as ways, all the others were pretty good too (Jungle was probably best non-Macca act I saw).

Also I was originally supposed to go weekend 2 but couldn't at the last minute. This means I have one extra ticket to The National after party at Stubbs on Thursday. If anyone is interested, I'd be happy to meet you at the fest today or tomorrow to sell it. Just looking for what I paid ($70 since I had a physical ticket shipped to me)

They are playing at Threadgills right now.

Unfortunately got in a little late. Saw some Sir Sly, perfect timing to see the dude start climbing the side rafters.



Went to go find a good spot for David Byrne. This would be my second time seeing this incredible show, first time was in a much more ideal situation. Early May in Memphis - AT NIGHT. Man did I feel sorry for this crew during this set. Sweating like stole the sun, and still jamming around the stage like the badasses they've proven to be on this crazy long tour. They even committed to laying their already soaked and sunburnt bodies down on that hot as hell stage! They still kill't it all the way to the end. Glad I had the chance to see them on opposite ends of summer and in opposite conditions.




Afterwards, the already loose crowd started to thin out, and we were able to work our way up to about 7-people rows from the rail in near center stage. We debated whether to go check out one of Manchester Orchestra / Jungle / Greta van Fleet - or camp it out for The Living Legend. We were worried about losing such a prime spot, but we decided to go for it (also to empty some body waste) - except one of our friends, who stayed to hold the spot down best they could. We passed by some of Man-O rockin' out and headed toward Jungle. I didn't bother with Greta because it was too far and I assumed the crowd was ridiculous, which it sounds like it was worse than that according to you guys. Jungle seemed like another act that would greatly benefit being at night. Groovy stuff. Stayed for about 3 songs then headed back. The National crowd started filling up - Also why the hell is the invisible chair zone line SO CLOSE to the stage??? I do not remember it being that close the other 3 years I've been.


We squeezed our way not fair behind where our friend had been planted, ready for the long haul. First, The National. I know how beloved they are to a lot of folks here and in the indie darling critical community, but I could never get into them. I tried way back in 2007, and that acclaimed album did not move my meter. I always kept hearing "they're great live!" - the classic convincer to any band. Well this was my chance. It didn't change much. Their songs do little for me, and Berninger only kept reminding me of a more forceful, stoic and less entertaining Father John Misty. Same kind of attitude, same bursts of aggression and jumping into the crowd. I was ready to move on - sry!





Paul McCartney was everything I could ever hoped for and more. The man has IT. Amazing songs, one hit after another. The last 8 songs were fucking killer. The power of "Live and Let Die" coulda matched the ODESZA show alone, especially with how close we were to the stage. "Helter Skelter" rocked so hard. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End - man! Can't express how that set made me and the people around me feel. As someone else said earlier, a 'religious experience.'