9.29.08 My Top Ten RIGHT NOW

By Jeremy Kotin

ACL EDITION

I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Austin City Limits Festival this past weekend, so I wanted to highlight the best of the best (and I must say, the rest of the rest was really good, so it was difficult to narrow the list down after 3 days and 130 bands, but the top ten must remain ten in number.)

1. Gogol Bordello

True to their subtitle of Gypsy Punks, this band blasts the gypsy tunes with such punk gusto and addictive energy that you don’t even care what you’re listening to, you just have to move your body with the propulsive beats, and it doesn’t hurt that music is amazingly good as well. Between the crazy constant strains of violinist Ryabstev and the charismatic skeletal stage antics of lead singer Hutz (not to mention the feather-necked percussionist) this is the epitome of why I go see live music.

2. Erykah Badu

Combining hypnotic beats with the incredible strength and beauty of her voice, Badu captivates and resonates with equal parts performance and soapbox speech making. She introduced the crowds to her next single, “Soldier,” and her version of Amerykah, getting the audience to respond to her call with “Yes Siree.” One of many political moments throughout the festival, hers is a message of doom for the current system as a whole, and somewhere in all of this there is hope for the future, mainly in her siren call to action.

3. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

This is such an odd pairing that works so well on CD and equally, if not better, live. The mix of her heavenly vocals with his solid wail is shocking and brilliant in its match to the folk-rock song choice. But each left room for the other to solo. Krauss sounded hauntingly angelic on the Sam Phillips penned “Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us” and brought the audience to a hush with “Down in the River to Pray” from the O Brother soundtrack. Even uber-producer T-Bone Burnett, a rare sight on stage, performed the odd opening track from his new album, Tooth of Crime.

4. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Rarely have I seen such energy in the blazing sun at 2:30 in the afternoon. You felt your body pulled toward the stage as the band, lush with horns, started to play. Jones herself appeared and took the audience by storm with her stellar presence and voice, ripping her way through the entire catalog. She even ventured to bring some “white man” dancing onto stage for a hilarious bit of audience participation. But the best was her walk through her own history; a combination of storytelling, singing and dancing that was enchanting.

5. Vampire Weekend

Well, I want to be sick of them now that they’re played in every coffee shop, boutique and Grey’s Anatomy, but the self-dubbed Afro-pop is infectious. There sound is just as fresh and invigorating in person.  The audience, noticeably younger at this than much of the rest of the concerts, sang along to each and every chorus as if the music was just part of them. And the two or three new songs they served up make me think that this band will actually avoid the over-hype and sophomore slump with subsequent release.

6. The Raconteurs

Who knew blues and garage band could meet and make such incredible music? Jack White’s other band busts out tunes that are both heart pumping and lyrically compelling. This band took the late Sunday afternoon by storm, reinvigorating a weary crowd (or a weary me) with its vigorous set. I was completely swayed when they broke out into the repeating chorus and intoxicating rhythms of “Steady, As She Goes,” which they played for a good ten minutes straight.

7. The Swell Season

I fell in love with this act in the movie Once, and then fell in love with it again on stage. The musical chemistry of Hansard and Irglova overcame a performance riddled with technical glitches. Each song was a winner especially Hansard’s cover of Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks” (played while the piano was being fixed) and of course, the Oscar winning duet “Falling Slowly” after which many in the audience left, but eh, that’s their loss. The highlight of the set was Irglova singing “If You Want Me,” sending shivers straight down my back.

8. Tegan and Sara

This is one adorable and talented Canadian, lesbian, identical twin duo (these facts come up repeatedly during the banter between songs). Impressively catchy in their songwriting, they pull out hits that seem so familiar you find yourself singing along even if you don’t know them. Thanks to their twin nature, the vocals move back and forth till you can’t tell who is singing what. They’ve created that perfect mix of intelligence and truly happy dance music that the world needs right now, and even humorously managed to smoothly blend their work into a cover of Rhianna’s “Umbrella.”

9. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

I was never much a fan of Bright Eyes, mainly due to the hype, but I might have to recheck after this incredible solo set. His songwriting is insanely good and backed by an excellent folksy outfit, the combination of which reaches perfection. It’s the type of singer/songwriter you shouldn’t compare, but feel you must, to the likes of Dylan. It’s really the best part of these festivals, when you walk away totally enamored with a new (old) artist.

10. Neko Case

She deserves mention if for nothing other than the shocking and evocative quality of her voice. To be there when that sound emerges, to know that it’s not enhanced by a sound engineer, is beyond thrilling. She might have been the wrong choice for an outdoor venue, battling against larger and louder acts, but I feel honored to have sat in front of her stage as she sang, especially on my favorite number, “I Wish I Was the Moon.”