Wild Belle - Giving Up On You

Playing with fire, I don't wanna burn in flames
Quitting you is so hard, but I finally got away
You's bad boy, can't be tamed
You's bad boy and you never change
I'm not a criminal, but after all that you put me through
I wouldn't mind killing you

Wild Belle, a sister-brother duo with supporting band, got their big start in Austin at SXSW several years ago, and are back right now, at both weekends of ACL, as part of the tour for their second album. If you've heard their break-out hit "Keep You" or the recent "Throw Down Your Guns" then you can quickly recognize most of their songs: Stevie Nicks-esque vocals over the top of modern keys, brassy horns, and calypso beats. So I picked "Giving Up On You" because it is driven a little harder by the guitar (and perhaps a cowbell?) than their usual, while still being delightfully them.

Upcoming Shows

The Front Bottoms - Flying Model Rockets

Flying model rockets own the sky in the backyard next to mine
I get these strange phone calls at night with no one on the other side
My brother's friend explains to me with breathless words and bloody knees
It's a black eyed trust, respect with pain.
A love I'll learn when I've been through the same.

We saw eclectic indie punkers The Front Bottoms last Saturday at ACL and it was a great time, as expected. They've been on my list to see for a little while, and I had a good idea they'd be as entertaining as they were.

Based on their feel good sound and clever, snarky lyrics I had a pretty good idea that Kerri would love them too, and she did. If you're into dark humor meshed with catchy, butt wiggle-inducing music in the vein of Violent Femmes, Saves The Day or The Dead Milkmen, you should check them out. Start anywhere, it's all good. I went with "Flying Model Rockets" as today's Most Important because it's actually different for them in that it's fairly straight-ahead. And also a great song.

Upcoming Shows

Eliot Sumner - Halfway to Hell

There's so much between us
At least we're not alone
We're locked into a secret
That we can never show
There must be a solution
For there was a crime
It ain't no Sunday

I made some calculations
I had to break the law
Had to become an illegal
You had to take that fall
There's always a solution
Always a way out
I'm all alone and I'm far from home

Eliot Sumner is living her complex humanity out loud, if you ask me. At 26, she's already in phase three of her music career: having had a band, and an album released, under her childhood nickname (I Blame Coco), then DJing to much success across Europe semi-anonymously (as Vaal, which I guess she still does occasionally), and now fronting a band with her given name. Oh yeah, and let's not forget her incubation period: she's one of Sting's children. If I hadn't told you, surely you'd have guessed when you listen and heard her very similar voice. And maybe especially when you watch the video, with it's dark love story akin to "Every Breath You Take." And, oh yeah, her face that looks just like Sting (given name: Gordon Sumner, a fact I never bothered to know before). 

Anyway, Eliot & company were on the big stage at ACL early on the first Friday, and I enjoyed rocking out to their set, so that's why they've got today's most important song.
Final fun fact (I am truly holding a bunch back, but just one more): she, like Keith, has no sense of smell. 

Upcoming Shows

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - I Need Never Get Old

Can we be there
Oh just think of the time
Thought of love so strange
Said you never knew
While I try my best
To cover our eyes
It's a common way to blame and hide the truth

I know that some will say
It matters but little babe
Ah but come on and mean it to me
I need it so bad

ACL was a ton of fun. Sunday, the last day, the dancing fun day, was my favorite. There was a ton of variety, and it was all good vibes, booty shaking, foot stomping fun. I kicked my day off with Denver-based Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, who'd been way up on my must see list for quite awhile. They didn't disappoint, no sir! Heartfelt folk, R&B, soul and rock and roll was the order of the day and we left with a smile on our faces and a spring in our step. If you've not heard their self-titled debut, you should check it out. It's honest, well-crafted and heart-warming and the kind of music that will light you up no matter what you're in to.

Upcoming Shows

St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Flow with It (You Got Me Feeling Like)

It started with a kiss, in the back row of the classroom
How could I resist the aroma of your perfume
You and I were inseparable, it was love at first sight
You made me promise to marry you, I made you promise to be my bride
But you were only eight years old and I had just about turned nine
I thought that life was always good, I thought you always would be mine

It started with a kiss, I never thought it would come to this
It started with a kiss, I never thought it would come to this

Day one of ACL is in the books, and the sun is setting on day two. Lots of good stuff still to see. Including St. Paul & The Broken Bones, a neo-soul band that's supremely orchestrated Motown with some killer vocals from frontman Paul Janeway. Never seen them live, but I'm sure their set is going to have people movin' and grovin' on a Sunday afternoon.

Upcoming Shows