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Pushing The Limits In Austin
by Tara Bernie
If you have ever wanted to check out a music festival, The Austin City Limits in Texas is the one to attend. Set in the sprawling Zilker Park in the heart of Austin, this music fest sets the stage to showcase new talents and show off established ones. For three days and nights seven stages are filled with amps, guitars, and drums ready to rock, soothe and beat.
Friday night was a treat! John Mayer is without a doubt at the top of his game. He played for over an hour, busting out many songs from his new album "Continuum". The crowd was transfixed on his intense guitar playing and soothing vocals. "Gravity" and "In Repair" were superb. And a treat for old school fans, he did an encore of "High School".
Ray Lamontagne also played. If you like Mayer, you'll dig Ray too. A mountain man with soul. Gnarls Barkley played their set with most people just wanting to her the super popular "Crazy" and they didn't disappoint.
Saturday was sun-kissed with 90 degree weather, but what's a music fest without the hot sun so you can be quenched by cold drinks. Aimee Mann, now has brown hair, not the platinum blond spike doo us over thirty remember. None the less , she put on a great show to a huge crowd. Los Lobos was perfect to see in Texas and Jack White's band The Raconteurs was by far was the biggest draw of the night. But the super star was Willie Nelson. He was the headliner and proved why. Young and old gathered around, thousands deep, to see him. I would never consider myself a Nelson fan, but after seeing him , I "get him". And what a perfect venue to see him at.
Sunday the skies opened up and it poured and because everything is bigger in Texas, it was super sized rainstorm.
When the closing act Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers made their way to the stage, they had a good 30 minutes until the rain came. They returned after a 30 minute break and played for another 50 minutes. True professionals. Sad thing is, Tom said this may have been the last time the band will be together. Stay tuned... and for more information on the festival go to www.aclfestival.com.
By the way, the festival was littered with celebrities. The new "BFF" group of Lance Armstrong, Jake Gyllenhaal and Matthew McConaughey were strolling around. In fact Friday night my husband and I ate dinner at the same local Tex-Mex haunt Chuy's.
I highly recommend taking a road trip next year to Austin for the festival to catch good music and munch nachos with celebrities!
Just browsing through the site and came across your very informative review of Austin City Limits. Sounds great, we love Willy too! If we can't get there soon,we'll wait for your next report. Gwen Warnke