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Austin City Limits festival offerings worthwhile
Asleep at the Wheel To tell someone Asleep at the Wheel plays Western swing is misleading, since people usually think of crazy kids in the 1940s dancing to big brass numbers. While Western swing is still about crazy kids and dancing, it is actually a fusion of country music with jazz, blues and pop. This rousing but not overwhelming style of music is the perfect start to any Austinite's ACL experience, especially when played by masters such as Asleep at the Wheel. Jam a little, sing along to a few covers, and learn to embrace a new style of swing music that involves cowboy hats galore. Pete Yorn By this time in September, the temperature will be nearly unbearable. The mellow music of Pete Yorn is the perfect complement to a nice, cold water bottle - mellow and relaxing. Pete Yorn knows how to mix rock 'n' roll sensibilities with yearning, folksy lyrics. Don't judge Yorn by his cover - this pretty boy is a musical talent, writing and playing nearly all of the instruments on every song. - Vanessa Orr SATURDAY Kevin Devine Directly after Conor Oberst and Brand New's Jesse Lacey, Brooklyn singer-songwriter Kevin Devine is this country's foremost whiny, melancholy folk-but-not-quite-folky-enough-to-be-labeled-folk performer. Upon recording "Noose Dressed Like a Necklace" back in 2003, Kevin Devine became a premier conveyor for the mood of his politically discontent nation. "My songs stem from an emotional dissatisfaction," Devine told the Texan during South by Southwest '06. "It's that feeling of 'Dude, what the fuck?'" Split the Country, Split the Streets was an angry and stirring protest record but also a textbook illustration of gentle songwriting exemplified on numbers like the climaxing, defiant "Cotton Crush." The Triple Crown Records release crowned him as an indie king, and the big leagues came knocking. "I don't write abstract expressionist German techno, so hopefully Capitol finds something to work with," said Devine. "But so many strange things would have to happen for me to be famous that I can't even really think about it." Sound Team Speaking of Capitol Records, Austin indie heavyweight Sound Team landed on the big-shot label's roster after the successive release of two bad-to-the-bone independent works. Unfortunately, last year's Movie Monster went nowhere commercially and Capitol quickly cut their losses. The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely.
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