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Austin City Limits

By Sarah Vasquez

Published September 22, 2011

The tenth annual Austin City Limits Music Festival has come and gone. Let’s hope you’ve nursed those hangovers and sunburns and caught up on sleep by now. Here are the highlights in case you missed anything.

Rain, rain, don’t go away.

Of course, rain finally made a much-needed appearance, but that didn’t make the crowd miss a beat. There was a huge cheer when Young the Giant announced during their Saturday afternoon set that it was raining in Austin. Some people brought out the umbrellas and ponchos, but the majority of the crowd just soaked in all the rain.

Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown

This 20-year-old set the bar high for Saturday performances early on. Those that have seen the documentary Rock Prophecies about rock photographer Robert M. Knight got a brief introduction to the young guitar prodigy. He showed off his mad guitar skills whenever he had the chance, but never crossed the eye-rolling, ok-we-get-it territory, which is how it should be done. I’m looking at you Mars Volta.

Fresh Millions

Representing the homegrown talent, these three guys brought the funk. Funk usually gets a bad name because there’s a fine line that divides the good and the straight-up cheese. This band was named “Best New Band” at this year’s Austin Music Awards, so obviously they are doing something right.

Helping those in need

According to Fresh and Clean Media, ACL attendees and the Do Good Bus raised $15,426 for the Red Cross and the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund on Friday. However, ACL producers C3 Presents are matching those funds bringing the total to $30,852 that will assist those affected by the central Texas wildfires. Good job team.

Fitz and the Tantrums

This band woke up at 5 a.m. in Colorado so they could perform 12 hours later in Austin, and they showed no signs of exhaustion. Definitely one of the highlights of the weekend as they made everyone move their money-makers to their Motown-inspired grooves including their own renditions of “Steady As She Goes” and “Sweet Dreams.”

Cee Lo

Oh Cee Lo. Watching the all-female band walk on stage in their curve-hugging space outfits, I just threw my hands in the air and just thought “of course.” This judge for The Voice certainly put on a more PG-13 show than the rest of the festival, proclaiming that he’s 323 lbs. of raw sexuality and proving that it’s possible to make Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha” (which he wrote and produced) raunchier. Of course, Austin’s own Nakia, who was on Team Cee Lo on The Voice, joined him on stage to perform the song that brought attention to both of them, “F*ck You,” which became one giant sing-along with the entire crowd.

WAX

This guy attracted people from the other stages with his hip-hop skills discussing topics that a lot of people can relate to: being broke and regretting those purchases that probably would have prevented you from being broke in the first place, as well as the website everyone has a love/hate relationship with, Facebook.

Mariachi El Bronx

You have to give props to the band that will still wear their black mariachi garb during their 12:30 p.m. set in the Texas heat. Every time I’ve seen this band, it seems the songs just get better, mixing their hardcore foundation with the traditional Mexican styling. This was already proclaimed on Twitter, but if I ever get married, I want this band to perform at my wedding.

The Head and the Heart

Singer/guitarist/percussionist Josiah Johnson informed everyone at the beginning of The Head and the Heart’s set that “whatever you give us, we’ll give you back,” and that about did it. Each member danced all over the stage with smiles on their faces as the crowd clapped and sang along. This band has been compared to Fleet Foxes in the press, probably because they’re label-mates and incorporate amazing vocal harmonies in their folksy songs, but that’s where the similarities end.

Stevie Wonder

What can be said about Stevie Wonder? It’s freaking Stevie Wonder. Sadly the complaint of the night was that no one could hear him unless you were super close, but again, it’s Stevie Wonder. How many chances will you get to see Stevie Wonder perform live?

For those that couldn’t attend the festival, don’t frown. You can check out some selected performances on YouTube at youtube.com/aclfestival.

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