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1. Robyn 2. Thom Yorke 3. The Cure 4. James Blake 5. James Blake (After show) 6. Lizzo 7. The Raconteurs 8. Tame Impala 9. IDLES 10. Denzel Curry 11. Julia Jacklin 12. Tierra Whack 13. Brittany Howard 14. BANKS 15. Shura 16. Taylor Bennett 17. Cherry Glazerr 18. King Princess
Ranking these is pretty pointless for me because a lot of it had to do with who we saw in better venues, my mood, who I like the most, our spot,the crowd around us, etc. But, Robyn really exceeded all expectations, and those first three were all my favorite shows and could be in any order. Disappointed I missed Rosalia, but I needed to eat and we wanted a good spot for BANKS>Lizzo. Also, we did half sets of Kaytranada and Jenny Lewis, who were both amazing, but I didn't rank them. I honestly can say we didn't see a bad set, and I am just so happy there was a festival that fit with our tastes, was such a joy to attend, and still had some surprises/acts I wasn't familiar with and hadn't seen before. Only 2nd time at ACL, and I would definitely come back. The Cure was my partner's favorite show.
How different was the Blake after show?
The setlists were suprisingly different with him playing more of Assume Form at the after show. The talkers were almost unbearable at the after show, and we got there after the opening act because we stayed for all of Tame, but I really enjoyed that set but was distracted by the crowd that I expected to be more into the show. The shape of Stubb's kind of took me by surprise too. We were right up front on the second row at the fest show though, which made it better immediately. He played a Joni Mitchell song, A Case of You at the after show, and he didn't play Retrograde and The Wilhelm Scream. I want to say, if my memory serves me right, this is almost identical to the setlist he played at Stubb's: www.setlist.fm/setlist/james-blake/2019/fillmore-auditorium-denver-co-339da899.html
Ok yeah, I saw that he had been playing the Joni song and was pretty sure I didn't hear it at the fest, bummer.
I was thinking during the set that ACL can't handle Blake during the quieter parts, I had to move around a bunch but found a good spot with quieter people towards the end.
I got nothing to do right now so here's my review of the fest. Because of school, I only ended up being able to go on Saturday.
I got to the park at 1:15 so I could get my group a spot for Billie (we're all in high school after all). I knew Denzel was gonna be nuts but holy shiz. I've never had so much fun in a pit before, getting to jump and mosh with all these random strangers was fun as hell. It was also obvious that the kids knew pit etiquette as I saw two wallets and a shoe saved before the pits would close. Denzel had great energy and I'll definitely see him again. Kinda bummed he didn't play "Bulls on Parade" though.
I really enjoyed Britney Howard's set. It was obvious that not everyone was there for her and everyone in my group didn't like her but I dug it. That girl has pipes and it was a nice, chill set after Zel.
After she finished, nobody moved, everybody stayed put for their queen. Billie wasn't a bad performer, the production/light show was great, and Finneas and Andrew behind her are awesome musicians. Her set was super polished and she left everyone wanting more. My only complaints are the mix and the crowd. For as quiet as she is, her voice was WAAAYY too low in the mix and the bass was WAAAYY too high. Do I really need to explain my issue with the crowd?
Saw a little bit of 21 Savage but quickly left to go get merch. I love his music but he is a god awful live performer and his voice was terrible.
Gambino? Well, where do I start? I think the best thing to say is that Donald Glover has ruined rap concerts for me because no rap show I go to after this will be as good as the show I saw Saturday night. Even with high expectations, his set was unbelievable. The lasers, the visuals, his quacking dance moves. Everything about his show was amazing. His encore was one for the ages. Even in my spot behind the sound board, it was fun screaming "WHITE HOOD WHITE HOOD, O KKK!!" during Sweatpants. God damn I'm gonna miss him.
After his show finished, I ran to Honda to go see the end of The Cure. One song into their encore and I realized I made a grave mistake. I really hope The Cure goes on tour again soon because I need to see one of their shows in full. Robert still sounds like he does on the records and the band was super tight. The last 4 songs of their encore were fantastic and just like that, Saturday was over.
Really looking forward to next year. Can't wait to be in Zilker with all of you weirdos again.
Got me thinking of other just legendary hip hop shows of Gambinos caliber Saturday and I can only think of Outkast and NERD. Wu Tang, Chance and RTJ not too far behind but they dont have the theatrical prowess of the other group.
I still kick myself for missing Janelle last year. I think I saw A R I Z O N A because I hadn't heard of Janelle at the time. Left after them because my mom and I were tired.
Got me thinking of other just legendary hip hop shows of Gambinos caliber Saturday and I can only think of Outkast and NERD. Wu Tang, Chance and RTJ not too far behind but they dont have the theatrical prowess of the other group.
Edit: Gravely forgetting Janelle Monae.
Jay-Z In 2017. Ice Cube was even better than Jay-Z I thought. Both were better than Childish, but I’m not hating. ,
Great fest - 4th year going and it’s always great. Just a quick top 10:
1. The Cure - in great form even with Simon Gallup’s son on bass. He even slings the bass low like his dad (but doesn’t have his dad’s OG goth look however). 2. Robyn - most joyous set - great way to end the fest 3. Idles - great songs and energy - I think they were in the crowd more than on stage 4. Caroline Rose - great early set - charming and funny 5. Metric - personally, a huge release for me after being smooshed in Billie Eilish crowd and such great songs that rock harder live. Danced like a loony 6. Raconteurs - first time seeing and I left wanting a full set 7. G n’ R - solid 8. Orville Peck - hope to hear more from him. Great (funny) banter too 9. Billlie Eilish - sorry - I just really like her songs - vocals too quiet 10. GoGo Penguin - pure mellow bliss
HM: Saw Lizzo from the next county but enjoyed myself in the crowd. Could barely hear her but amazingly the crowd was quietly listening or singing. Also James Blake aftershow but was also far back after staying to end of GnR
The setlists were suprisingly different with him playing more of Assume Form at the after show. The talkers were almost unbearable at the after show, and we got there after the opening act because we stayed for all of Tame, but I really enjoyed that set but was distracted by the crowd that I expected to be more into the show. The shape of Stubb's kind of took me by surprise too. We were right up front on the second row at the fest show though, which made it better immediately. He played a Joni Mitchell song, A Case of You at the after show, and he didn't play Retrograde and The Wilhelm Scream. I want to say, if my memory serves me right, this is almost identical to the setlist he played at Stubb's: www.setlist.fm/setlist/james-blake/2019/fillmore-auditorium-denver-co-339da899.html
He did play Retrograde at the aftershow, I have a video. Right before the Joni Mitchell cover I believe. Show was a similar (if not identical) to the setlist you linked. Maybe he didn’t play it at the fest? I totally agree that the crowd at aftershow was oddly indifferent and I experienced more talkers there than anywhere at the actual fest.
The setlists were suprisingly different with him playing more of Assume Form at the after show. The talkers were almost unbearable at the after show, and we got there after the opening act because we stayed for all of Tame, but I really enjoyed that set but was distracted by the crowd that I expected to be more into the show. The shape of Stubb's kind of took me by surprise too. We were right up front on the second row at the fest show though, which made it better immediately. He played a Joni Mitchell song, A Case of You at the after show, and he didn't play Retrograde and The Wilhelm Scream. I want to say, if my memory serves me right, this is almost identical to the setlist he played at Stubb's: www.setlist.fm/setlist/james-blake/2019/fillmore-auditorium-denver-co-339da899.html
He did play Retrograde at the aftershow, I have a video. Right before the Joni Mitchell cover I believe. Show was a similar (if not identical) to the setlist you linked. Maybe he didn’t play it at the fest? I totally agree that the crowd at aftershow was oddly indifferent and I experienced more talkers there than anywhere at the actual fest.
My fault. You're right. I do think it is identical to that setlist then.
I think this was my favorite ACL of the 6* I've been to. All three days were full of stuff I wanted to see, good headliners with more difficult choices than usual, rare shows, stuff I'm glad I caught that I normally wouldn't (Billie, Rosalia, Lafourcade, Daigle), weather was great, and we found free parking (although they screwed us by closing off the path just on Sunday night).
Alright Alright Alright! After a good night sleep at home here’s my updates. Day 2 woke up and rode the bus downtown. Got off and the wife and I walked to Terry Blacks for BBQ. Man was it good. Ended up getting g the jalapeño cheese sausage, Brisket, and Pork ribs with beans and Mac n cheese. Worth the $26 for sure. Wanted to get the beef rib but at $33 by itself I passed. We walked in down Barton Springs and in to the festival. Hot up the vendors and then back to the beer hall for another blood orange cider. First set of the day was about the last 15 minutes of Sigrid. She was good and fun to dance to. Definitely would like to catch her full set next time. Headed over to Honda to catch the first little bit of Brittany Howard. Watched from afar the big crowd for Hippie Sabotage. The crowd was big and was enjoying themselves. Hippie sabotage had their background video on, and it was literally one of them smoking weed or lighting up or weed plants for the entire 15 mins we watched. The front hype man didn’t do anything the entire time we watched them. I want that job! Brittany was good for the 4 songs we watched! Had seen here before with Alabama Shakes. This set had some of the same blues sound but more gospel and soul mixed in.
After that we grabbed some Juiceland and headed over to get a good spot for Judah and the Lion. It got crowded and we stayed for about 30 mins of their set. They were really good and the crowd around us was in to it just as much as we were. We left and worked our way over to Billie and her MASSIVE crowd. We made it up to the end of the chair zone behind the second speaker section. We looked and decided ain’t no way we are getting closer without getting a upper body workout. We stayed for 5 songs before camping out for Gambino. Thought Billie was good. Great energy and the crowd was loud. We didn’t have any issues in under standing her lyrics from where we were. I was surprised in how loud her crowd was while singing. They were loud and I was like damn! We left and headed over to Gambino. We caught the last 15 minutes of Gary Clark Jr. His band was tight and he always shreds. He had two rappers come out and seemed to freestyle over his rifts which was awesome. He ended his set with Come Together. He was awesome! Saw Matthew McConaughey and he walked by where we were so that was cool.
Since we saw Gambino at Roo we knew where he would come up to start the show. Wife got side rail and I was just beside her. About 5 minutes before Gambino started McConaughey came back out with a few other people. The wife quickly turned around and was like holy shit I think that was Marcus Mumford with that crew. Sure enough it was. He had a hat on and a bandana covering his nose and mouth. My stalker ass wife recognized him by his pudginess and his eyes. Lord she is a keeper! Anyways Gambino killed it just as he did at Roo. Was an amazing set. It is said that this was his last show before retiring the Childish Gambino name. If so what a way to end it! Mumford and McConaughey exited and the show ended. We left the festival and rode the shuttle out. Hit up P Terry’s for burgers and fries and then Voodoo Doughnuts for the second night in a row! Man them doughnuts are baller. Line was out the door and 6th street was rocking. Day 3 review which is our long day coming soon!
Well.. we were way up in the crowd for the first thirty minutes, then went to the bathroom, then hung out in the beer tent and watched the Astros where I could hear it in the distance. So I could have seen more but I was distracted by the game. It's stupid, I know, but also I was pretty pooped from the weekend and didn't have the dancing energy I wanted for that show.
Definitely one of the best crowds I was in all weekend, along with Thom. Everyone was a fan and very into it.
I was really disappointed in not being able to see Robyn last Sunday, having been a fan of hers since she popped on in 1995. Unfortunately, we could only situate weekend One in our plans. Speaking of...
Sunday, Weekend One
Arrived just in time for IDLES, slithered my way right up to the rail, where I discovered Cardi B campers sitting on their blankets miserably in the sun. Well, they were certainly in for a surprise. Kept reading about these Brit bastards on this very message board - and many thanks to you guys. This was definitely top 5 set of the weekend for me, and one of the best early sets I ever seen. Same probably can't be said for the Cardi B campers. They came out strong and fast - the guitarist jumped into the crowd almost immediately after the first song began, right over the rail to the side of me. I knew I was in for it right then. I was amused by their special style of progressive 'punk' - for with their anarchy attitude also comes with a considerate, inclusive message. The lead singer would address the mad moshers telling them to be aware and avoid those who are avoiding the pit.
After that was a deadzone for me, which I planned to hop around, but circumstances came up to where I missed a 1.5 hours of music. Next act I got to see was GoGo Penguin. These mild Manchester mensches were quite a contrast from the previous act. Very professional, focused on their crafts. Good instrumental jams.
Leaving the tent, the next hour I split, starting at BANKS, who was fine, but as someone else said, her show probably has a better more intimate effect in the dark, like when she was at Day for Night, and not in the Texas day heat. The crowd was fairly large, but easy to get through, which the same could not be said for later on at that stage.....
Other half hour wandered over for some shade at BMI, seeing this bluegrass prodigy Billy Strings, and he could certainly pick'em, but not much personality to go along with it.
Returned to the Tent for the odd act out on this whole line-up - Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers. Chill, improvisational jazz, played a lot of his new stuff along with his collaborations with Justin Vernon. A funny bit was when he meandered one of his songs into a cover of "California" by Troutman/Dre/2Pac.
I left a little bit early to go scout a good spot for Lizzo. Boy, was that a debacle. Hit density right at the corner of the Beer Gardens. Previous to this, the largest, thickest crowd I had ever been through was Kendrick Lamar at the very same stage in 2013 ACL. Well this blew that out of the water. It was the most massive crowd for one act I had seen in my 10 years of festing so far.
So many teenagers, kids, couldn't move, fought to move an inch, drunk, dehydrated, agitated. They eventually had to just resign themselves and try to enjoy the show, which Lizzo is such a talented performer, she got them to forget their uncomfortable situations for precious increments of time.
I was mentally and physically drained after that set. As everyone was scattering in all directions, I made the trek up to the main stage. All for naught. I had already witnessed C.B.'s tendency for not showing up on time at Day For Night, when she at least had a DJ hype man on for half the set. Well the curtains were black for literally 27 minutes. 27 minutes late - wonder what those Cardi B campers were thinking? - "I sat through IDLES in the Texas heat for this???" People were flooding out. After that Lizzo set, who would stay? Guess they weren't the true fans anyway, right. I ended up meeting my buddies at the fest flag poles, then she started. We stayed for about 5 segments of songs before we jetted to beat the final rush out. Easy exit. My main headliner of the night was Homeslice pizza on Congress - some of the best I ever had. Dat cheese tho. Mozzarella.
I didn’t end up going Sunday. My whole vibe was supposed to be power women Sunday with kacey-lizzo-Robyn, but after hearing how ridiculous the lizzo crowd was I got lazy and couldn’t justify the money/time for that. I’m very lucky I’ve seen all three of them at least once before but I was definitely bummed.
That Lizzo crowd was probably the most dense crowd I've been a part of, and Billie was probably up there too. Free Kendrick show at a smallish park for Final Four was probably the biggest until this weekend.
