Live music review: Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson revisit 90s at ACL Live

It seems as though everything 90s is cool again. Electronic music, flannel, Dave Grohl and a legacy act tour featuring two of the most popular bands of the era,Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson. Musically the groups have little in common apart from topping the Billboard charts around the same time. Both acts chose stage designs true to their personas. Shock rocker, Manson went with an uninspired but theatrical production while the Pumpkins' Billy Corganopted for a simple stage design choosing to allow his music to be the centerpiece of the performance at ACL Live on Sunday evening.

Manson opened his set with... continue reading

Live music preview: The inimitable Buddy Guy returns to ACL Live Friday

Photo: Matt Roberts / Getty Images

Blues guitar legend Buddy Guy returns to ACL Live this Friday, July 17 for his only Texas stop on the current leg of his tour in support of "Born to Play Guitar" which drops July 31. The new material has some Texas connections with collaborations from Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds) and Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top). The album will be released on Silvertone/RCA Records. The record follows Guy's most successful release in recent years, 2013's "Rhythm and Blues" that reached number one on the Billboard Blues Album Chart.

Guy's shows are... Continue reading

Live music review: Spoon shines at sold-out KGSR 24th anniversary show

Indie rockers Spoon let music fans know guitar rock is still relevant despite media claims to the contrary last Friday at their sold-out KGSR 24th Anniversary show at ACL Live.  The tour kick-off performance highlighted a several songs from their acclaimed recent release, They Want My Soul. It is no surprise Spoon is still a leading Austin rock band. What is surprising is the band appears to have hit a new peak 20 years into their career when most bands are playing album anniversary shows. Instead, Britt Daniel and company put out what may be their best... Continue reading at axs.com

Live music review: Duran Duran performs exclusive set for F1 Grand Prix Saturday

 the eve of the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) Grand Prix race in Austin Sunday, legendary '80s rockers, Duran Duran performed an exclusive set at ACL Live at the Moody Theater for race fans. The VIP-style event featured open bars, cocktail tables and buffets of food offerings. The two-time Grammy winners ran through a hit-filled 90-minute set while shrieking female fans voiced their excitement at seeing the Englishmen in the flesh.

While the band rests largely on the laurels of their first five albums (all released in the '80s), Duran Duran have admirably continued to record new albums releasing their 13th studio album, All You Need is Now in 2011 when they could have easily slid into being a retro-act like so many other aging bands. Also laudable was the absence of backing tracks which the synth-heavy act could have easily employed without complaint from their rabid fanbase. Instead, with ...Continue reading at Axs.com

Live music review: Nick Cave taped first Austin City Limits TV show Sunday

Since last Sunday we have been mulling over the first Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (NCBS) episode taping at Austin City Limits TV. Even if you are not a rabid Nick Cave fan, one thing is certain, the man will make you feel something. For most of the audience members, seeing the Australian impresario live was the zenith of a cult-like reverence for the singer. Cave sold-out the same room the previous evening for an ACL Live performance that had fans filling our Twitter feed with over the top superlatives. Judging from an informal survey we conducted, the tv taping was a bit more... Continue reading at Examiner.com

Live music review: rare Hardcore Devo performance thrilled Austin fans

Photo: Suzanne Cordeiro

Pioneering new wave act Devo has enjoyed cult status since breaking through with commercial hit, "Whip It" in 1980. When founding member Bob Cassale (Bob2) passed away unexpectedly this year the surviving members decided to embark on a ten city tour featuring music from 1974-77 when the band first formed in Ohio. Proceeds from the tour were donated to Cassale's family. It is telling the band chose Austin to finish their tour at the award-winning ACL Live at the Moody they sold-out when they last played the venue. Gerald Cassale has mentioned how much the group likes... Continue reading at Examiner.com

Win VIP tickets to Myspace Holy Ghost! show after X Games downtown kick off June 5

The official kick-off for X Games Austin will take place in the 2nd Street District on Thursday, June 5 where Myspace will be hosting a free Holy Ghost  performance at ACL Live. Myspace is giving away a pair of VIP tickets with guaranteed express entry to the concert which will likely reach capacity. Music fans may RSVP and should arrive early to ensure entry to the... Continue Reading at Examiner.com

Live music review: After 15 year absence Neutral Milk Hotel reappear at ACL Live

In 1998 Neutral Milk Hotel released an iconic album, "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" that many Generation Xers latched onto instantly. A year after the cult hit dropped (it was not an immediate commercial success), lead singer Jeff Mangumvanished from the stage citing disillusionment with fame and the music press. The band even turned down an opportunity to tour with R.E.M. 16 years later, Mangum has resurfaced from his epic hiatus and last April Neutral Milk Hotel announced a ....Continue reading at Examiner.com

5 Live Music shows in Austin you should see Valentine's Day

Now that the Super Bowl is over your significant other is probably asking you where you will be celebrating Valentine's Day. Currently single or on the market? No problem. We recommended some shows you can rock out to solo or with a friend. Actually, we feel this short list of great live shows in Austin has something for everyone from sit down performances by Bob Schneider and Dana Falconberry to rocking shows by... Continue reading at Examiner.com

Food Network star Alton Brown brought humor and music to ACL Live

The show review below is a guest post from life long Texan, foodie and internet security expert, Jon Marler. Jon's enthusiasm for Alton Brown's many food-related television programs is evident in this entertaining recap of last night's Edible Inevitable Tour show which took place at ACL Live. You can find Jon surfing the interwebs on Facebook and Twitter.

After finding our seats we were greeted with what sounded like the music track from Looney Tunes cartoons, setting the tone early. About fifteen minutes before showtime, the lights came down, the big screens came on, and some piano music started playing. Then … something … interesting happened. Sock puppets appeared on the screens. But not just any sock puppets … Continue reading at Examiner.com

Live music slideshow: Rancid 20th Anniversary concert at ACL Live

While we promised a complete review of Rancid's stop at ACL Live for their 20th Anniversary tour to another publication, we did not say anything about photographs. Monday's 28-song show included all the hits; "Roots Radicals", "Time Bomb", "Olympia, WA" and Ruby Soho all appeared in the set list. The show was epic. Lot of mohawks, tattoos, Doc Marten's and crowd surfing dominated a fun night. Find the complete set list is below.

In the slideshow, you will find photos generously provided to Examiner by photographer Jac Malloy. There are even ...View slideshow at Examiner.com

Live music review: Dawes Austin City Limits TV taping

Examiner has seen Los Angeles quartet Dawes perform live three times and the band has grown in stature with each performance. The most recent was an Austin City Limits Television (ACL TV) taping at the Moody Theater Sunday evening. Our first encounter with Dawes was a ...Continue reading at Examiner.com

Live music review: Jim James thrills fans at Austin City Limits TV taping

Watching Jim James record his sixth Austin City Limits TV taping Sunday at ACL Live at the Moody Theater brought to mind his spellbinding set at the Heartbreaker Banquet during SXSW last March. In fact, if you attended SXSW, you likely saw James performing music from his new album, "Regions of Light and Sound of God" as.... Continue reading at Examiner.com

Weekend music preview: Psych Light & Sound Fest, Wild Frontier Fest, GrulkeFest

Wild Frontier Fest 3

We may have to re-brand Austin "The Live Music FESTIVAL Capital of the World" with three music festivals planned this weekendand Austin City Limits Festival and Fun Fun Fun Fest still ahead. Friday, The Psychedelic Light and Sound Festival hits 29th Street Ballroom at Spider House while on Saturday Wild Frontier Fest and... Continue reading at Examiner.com

Live music preview: Dwight Yoakam slated for ACL Live performance Thursday

Dwight Yoakam is not your typical country music performer. Like Johnny Cash who was recently memorialized at ACL Live, Yoakam gravitated towards the rock n' roll, punk attitude while many of his contemporaries were singing urban pop country. One could safely say that the headliner at ACL Live at the Moody Theater Thursday (and Friday) is an indie artist at heart who cut his teeth on the organic punk scene in Los Angeles of the 1980s.


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Live music review: Wilco taped Austin City Limits TV, sold out ACL Live

Wilco appeared at The Moody Theater at ACL Live on consecutive nights this week. Wednesday evening was an Austin City Limits TV taping. Lead singer, Jeff Tweedy mentioned it was the band's fourth appearance on the show. The alternative rock band from Chicago followed up an elegant performance in front of the TV cameras with a rocking, sold-out ACL Live show last night that appropriately included a number of songs from "Summerteenth" (1999) an album primarily recorded at Willie Nelson's Spicewood Studios near Austin. 

Continue reading on Examiner.com Live music review: Wilco taped Austin City Limits TV, sold out ACL Live - Austin Concerts | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/concerts-in-austin/live-music-review-wilco-taped-austin-city-limits-tv-sold-out-acl-live-review#ixzz1fPsRgB2J

Live music review: jazz fusion supergroup Return to Forever IV at ACL Live

If you have marginally followed avant-garde jazz, then the names Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, Jean-Luc Ponty and Frank Gambale otherwise known as Return to Forever (RTO) IV are familiar names. The jazz fusion supergroup visited ACL Live at the Moody Theater Wednesday evening with an extra member (Ponty) than previous incarnations.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Live music review: jazz fusion supergroup Return to Forever IV at ACL Live - Austin Concerts | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/concerts-in-austin/live-music-review-jazz-fusion-supergroup-return-to-forever-iv-at-acl-live-review#ixzz1Y8N18f16

Live music review: Guitar legend, Carlos Santana at ACL Live Monday

The folks at ACL Live have done a fine job of booking world-class acts in the new venue. First, Steve Miller recorded a taping. Then blues guitar god, Buddy Guy and Monday, music legend, Carlos Santana graced the stage for the first of two shows this week. Santana brought his all-star band which included his wife and former Lenny Kravitz drummer, Cindy Blackman.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Live music review: Guitar legend, Carlos Santana at ACL Live Monday - Austin Concerts | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/concerts-in-austin/live-music-review-guitar-legend-carlos-santana-at-acl-live-monday-review#ixzz1XwSqvILR

Live music review: Buena Vista Social Club with Omara Portuando at ACL Live

"In the name of the Mambo, the Rumba, and the Cha cha cha." - Cesar Castillo (The Mambo Kings, 1992)

Americans may not realize the impact Cuban music has had on our popular culture until they are reminded Ricky Ricardo of I Love Lucy was Cuban. Cuban music stars of the past still influence present day artists like Grupo Fantasma. The Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club's appearance at Austin's Moody Theater at ACL Live Friday represents the best of both Cuban music's past and present.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Live music review: Buena Vista Social Club with Omara Portuando at ACL Live - Austin Concerts | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/concerts-in-austin/live-music-review-buena-vista-social-club-with-omara-portuando-at-acl-live-review#ixzz1WQJNqCnM

Live music review: Stone Temple Pilots rocked sold-out Austin City Limits Live

When Stone Temple Pilots (STP) announced their tour date at Austin City Limits Live (ACL  Live) we were ecstatic then aprehensive remembering vocalist, Scott Weiland's past issues with drugs and his myriad of stage mishaps including falling off the stage last time STP played Austin. Thankfully, Weiland kept those events unfortunate memories as he and the DeLeo brothers delivered a nearly flawless set...
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