It's a Tuesday morning. My alarm goes off for me to get up and get dressed for my 9am, only my feet don't work anymore and I kind of look like I was punched in the face when I look in the mirror. Why is this? Well, obviously it's because I attended Austin City Limits this weekend and had an insane amount of fun. But now that ACL Weekend One is over and I will soon have to face the realities of things like going to class and doing homework, I'm here to help you choose who to see and what to do at ACL Weekend Two!
Who to see:
Although I did the best I could, I unfortunately I couldn’t see everyone I wanted to see because some people were playing at the same time and it’s physically impossible to be in two places at once. I did however manage to see some really great acts that I think everyone should see if they’re going to ACL next weekend, so here they are all compiled together.
Foals: The coolest thing about Foals is that they don’t really look like what you think they would sound like, so it’s a cool surprise when the lead singer, Yannis, starts sing-screaming at the end of some of their songs and you can’t help but get into it. Foals’ music is filled with energetic, emotional, hard-rock guitar playing that it’s really hard not to have a good time, even if you don’t know any songs.
Radiohead: I think it would be illegal for me to be allowed to write this article if I didn’t recommend to everyone going to ACL that they see Radiohead. Even though I’m not the biggest Radiohead fan and only know a few songs, it was probably one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. The audience was so mesmerized by the songs and lights and Thom Yorke’s dancing, that during quieter songs, I had to whisper if I wanted to talk and not be heard. The entire set felt so ethereal that I don’t think I can do it justice by just writing about it. So yeah, go see Radiohead.
Saint Motel: As one of the most energetic bands with some of the catchiest tunes, I’m so glad I started off Day Two seeing Saint Motel. They have a full brass band and a lead singer that likes to run through the audience, so it’s impossible to not get into their set. If you plan on seeing them, I recommend listening to the song “My Type” about five hundred times before you go just so you can fully get into it when the chorus drops during the show.
Catfish and the Bottlemen: Although I may be a little biased because I really like them, Catfish and the Bottlemen put on the best rock show of ACL. The entire audience was so into the set that it was hard to tell who the fans were and who the people who didn’t know them were. They managed to keep up a crazy amount of energy not only playing their instruments, but dancing around and knocking microphone stands over, all while wearing black jeans and black longsleeves because people never seem to understand how to dress for Texas festivals. Overall, they’re one of the best acts I saw all weekend and the amount of ‘Wow I can’t believe I didn’t already like them’s I heard after their set proves that.
Kendrick Lamar: I think it’s pretty obvious that everyone knows they need to see Kendrick, but I just want to make sure to and emphasize how much you need to see him. His show was phenomenal, even though I only know the chorus of like two songs. Just from the hour and a half that I saw him, I could feel the amount of dedication and passion Kendrick Lamar has for his music, and how important the fans and performing are to him. He kept the audience jumping more than half the time, which is quite a feat considering you barely have enough room to breathe, let alone jump around. The way he gets his message across, whether just through his lyrics or the incredible visuals that accompanied his set, was the coolest thing ever and I can tell I had fun because I couldn’t feel my legs the next morning.
HAIM: Considering my greatest wish is to take my rightful place as the fourth Haim sister, there’s no way you can read this article and not see them. This band of sisters is the coolest girl gang around and their album is so full of jams that seeing them live was an experience. The energy they bring is so incredibly cool that I’m so glad I get to see them again at one of the ACL late night shows on Wednesday. Go see them if you love good music, long hair, and also just if you love yourself.
What to do/eat:
Everyone who’s been to ACL knows that the list of food choices is insanely long and insanely good, so I’ve cut it down to a few of my favorites.
Chi’lantro BBQ: Hands down, the best Kimchi fries I’ve ever had. I somehow allowed myself to buy an order of Kimchi fries every single day which, although expensive, was 100% worth it. I also had their tofu tacos on Saturday which were really good too, but the Kimchi fries were honestly filling enough by themselves.
Hat Creek Burger Company: If you’re a big burger fan, then definitely get a burger with a side of sweet potato fries (although a veggie burger from P.Terry’s tastes just as good with their sweet potato fries!) They have their own special “Happy Fry Sauce” that tastes good on anything and everything and I recommend asking for a side of it.
High Brew Coffee: Although, again expensive (but honestly what’s not expensive at a festival), High Brew’s canned, cold brew coffee is some of the best out there, and I always make myself buy at least one while I’m at ACL. Also they give you tons of energy so you can be even more excited about battling sweaty crowds for the sake of music.
Torchy’s Tacos: This is a given, but I had to include it in case anyone was having doubts about not eating Torchy’s while you’re there. They’re serving some of their best tacos and not to mention the best queso in the whole world, so don’t forget to treat yourself.
There aren’t really specific places to do things, although taking a picture in the iconic frame with the city in the background is super cool, but I recommend just walking around the park and looking into anything that looks cool. They have some really awesome ACL merchandise this year, including embroidered “dad” hats that come in every color. They also sell super cool water bottles with ACL stickers on them that you can refill for free to stay hydrated!!! There’s really something for everyone in the park if there’s not a particular artist you’re interested in seeing, so just go around and explore!
This past weekend was filled with fun times and good food and I hope my attempt to capture the highlights can help make this next weekend just as fun for anyone who reads this. Remember to stay safe, stay hydrated, stay hyped, and have the best time ever!
