By Kimberly Caterino for Live Music Capital Radio (LMCradio.org)
Part 1 of 2
This is a drive-by ACL Festival post, because LMC Radio is moving into its studio space— and the move is not over yet. Writing has had to take a back seat, but ACL was sincerely substantial, and deserves props. What freaks me out after every SXSW and ACL—no two people go to the same concert, yet we were all there.
Traditionally, Austin’s Asleep at the Wheel kicks off the ACL Festival from what was the AMD stage this year—this was year 10 for the festival, and year 10 for Asleep at the Wheel. (And by the way, they’ve been around 40 years.. what?! Yes!!) Bringing Bob Wills’ school of Western Swing alive regularly doesn’t get old for them, or the crowd—because Asleep does it so well. Ray Benson’s and Elizabeth McQueen’s vocals, Jason Roberts’ fiddle and Eddie Rivers’ steel guitar.. the whole band is tight and were anything but asleep this pleasantly lightly-cloudy Friday afternoon. Asleep’s dedication to preserving this genre for decades stirs up nothing but smiles (and the occasional aaaaa-haaaa) in the crowd every year. Asleep is squeaky clean at it, and only make you more excited to discover what other perfection you might witness the rest of the festival.
Laura and Lydia Rogers make up The Secret Sisters, a new country duo from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Their biggest influences are the Everly Brothers, Doc Watson, their grandfather, and The Church of Jesus Christ. Most songs they delivered were either a capella or softly acoustic, and their harmonies are heavenly. The Secret Sisters are a sweet testament to decades long gone past, to Southern culture, family picnics, and life in the country. We heard songs from The Louvin Brothers and Willie, songs like the country tune “Four Walls” and the gospel “In the Sweet By and By”. The sisters were real chatty between songs, explaining their background with the songs (many of which were originals too), and simply brought us to a place of stillness and bliss.
Bobby Long is a guitar-slinging English singer-songwriter-- and a darned immersed performer-- the kind that doesn’t try to perform.. but just gets wrapped up in passionate delivery. Floppy-aired and donning sunglasses, he actively poured out songs from the soul, whether they were about the depths of a relationship or a soldier’s mind. With crisp picking, slightly raspy vocals, and sometimes-aggressive rhythmic strumming, he switched it up between electric and acoustic, and wrapped us all around his bleeding heart.
From this point I got antsy and non-committal, ready to play the field. No pun intended. I caught the first few songs of folky, slightly bluesy sing-songwriter Ray Lamontagne—who adorned the stage with a brown velvet vest, white buttoned shirt, and full band (the Pariah Dogs) including bass, drums, guitar, keys, and pedal steel guitar—not to mention The Secret Sisters as well! I’ve always been lured by Ray’s songs—unfortunately overplayed by mass media, they are but authentic enough to make me not change the channel many times. There’s a weathered, desperate quality to his voice, and sometimes his lyrics, that are only his own. I always wondered if I was a victim of simply great sound production, and that there was no real talent beneath. Well, in person he was exquisite. One of his newer songs “Beg, Steal, or Borrow” has a way of lassoing my heart to the earth, and he played this one early on. He also ventured into Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried”, and the hit “Repo Man”—a little mojo to stir things up.
As much as I appreciated Ray, it was peak sun hours at 4pm and time to run and hide a bit—I traversed the field, passing Beardyman, the electronic-looping beat-boxer who had the crowd kicking. I almost stayed, but was too curious to see Big Boi, who had his own party going on—throw your hands in the air..
Besides Stevie Wonder, the other artist I was all about this year was Charles Bradley. Practicing his moves and pursuing soul singing since he was a teenager, he spent most of his life working in the restaurant industry and elusively pursuing happiness, and part time nightclub gigs, from coast to coast. Charles Bradley did not get a break until recent years, and now, in his 60’s, is making music for a living. True to the style of James Brown, Charles’ band played a long instrumental introduction before Charles took the stage, and when he finally did, he had arms open wide, a sequined vest, purple cumberbun, and what could have been tears in his eyes. (I was planted front and center.) Charles’ R & B and soulful songs are about loving, despair, hard times, and questioning—he even added the surprise cover “Heart of Gold” (Neil Yong). His band, the Menahan Street Band, included a small but full-sounding brass section (sax & trumpet) and guitarist who takes after the likes of Trey Anastasio in sound and style. They backed up Charles perfectly- leisurely, tight, and right on time. And when appropriate—all got funky, and Charles unleashed some of his moves. No he’s not James Brown, nor is he trying to be— he’s older and lived a different life than James. Charles’ style bears a lot of resemblance though- as a teenager, Charles saw James perform at the Apollo in NYC, which had a lasting effect on him. If you want to experience real soul music from the source, Charles Bradley should be on your list. He’s the real deal.
I made my way out of that crowd and scurried over to the BMI stage, arriving just in time for the end of a set by Austin’s Gary Clark Jr. This may have been the most crowded I have ever seen this stage—Gary played us a nice fat rendition of his current hit song “Bright Lights”. That man went to work on a complex and verbose solo in the middle, and left us all a little shredded in a good way. Gary Clark Jr. gets compared to a mix of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix sometimes, and now I see why.
Shuffling quickly back over to the BMI tent, I caught a few gospel number by the legendary Mavis Staples. The lady is a class act and still going strong—belting it out-- at age 72. Nevermind the ACL tent—we were in church. 61 years of making music publicly. Holy sh*t. Saving myself for Stevie and 2 more days of ACL, I called it quits for the day.
Part 2 in next post..
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