We then headed over to get a little jazzy with University of North Texas alum Norah Jones on the Honda Stage. Jones’ sultry vocals weren’t the only thing on display as she showed off her talent as a multi-instrumentalist during her hour-long performance. The thing about Jones is she makes the riffs look so cool and effortless in the Texas heat, as her fingers glide across the keys on her beautiful white piano. We know it’s not effortless, and the fact that she can pull that off is just a testament to her artistry. With her vast catalog of songs, Jones' set felt way too short as she ended with a lovely cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”
Electronic artist Elderbrook was next. He was reminiscent of Gotye, beating on his electronic drum pad with a multi-instrument setup. Elderbrook’s songs had some nice beats and good vocals, though these were sadly drowned out by an excessive bass. This was a consistent issue during his set and made it a slog to listen to, which was the biggest letdown because he had great energy.
Fort Worth native Leon Bridges emerged on the AMEX stage to "Texas Sun," donning a Longhorns jersey. Bridges' latest album, Leon, was released Oct. 4, so it felt special getting to see him perform a number of those tracks live that same evening. The singer has evolved quite a bit since his 2015 debut Coming Home, but he has maintained his buttery smooth vocals and vibrant stage presence. Like the finest of wines, he's only getting better. Bridges made good use of the entire Amex Stage — we remember the days when he would stick to his microphone stand pretty heavily. The biggest draw for Friday were easily headliners Blink 182 on the Honda stage. It will surprise no one that they were quick to make the joke that the fest should instead be called Austin Titty Limits. Time has passed for us all, yet they're still embodying the sentiment behind the song "What's My Age Again?" But fans wouldn't want it any other way. The set was stacked with the hit songs you would want and expect to hear, the guys initially hitting the stage to “Feeling It.”
But having seen Blink in their prime, I would be wrong not to point out that it felt like Tom DeLonge really didn’t want to be performing those old tunes. Right from the jump, he sang every verse from an older song by slurring the words together, not bothering to enunciate anything. It was as if he heard the memes of how people think he sings, and really leaned into the joke. It was only on the old music, and we get it: He might've outgrown those songs. But it’s a mixed message when DeLonge is still making dick and butt jokes. Meanwhile, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker performed their asses off at full throttle for the full catalog.
Blink 182 performed a hit-packed set to all the 40-somethings at ACL Fest Friday night.
Rachel Parker
Midday at the Honda stage, we checked out the much-buzzed-about Teddy Swims. It was a set we didn’t think we would get to catch originally because he was up against Chappell Roan on the original schedule. But the fest organizers ultimately made the right call to move her set to Sunday. His stage presence was infectious and joyful, and his vocals lived up to all expectations. It was a groove-filled hour full of fantastic soul music. Swims repeatedly thanked the audience for allowing him to do a job he loves. We love seeing humility and gratitude from such a talented musician. If you want to dance and get down, his show is a must-see.
Teddy Swims looks like he should be hanging out with Posty, but sounds like he should be singing with Adele.
Rachel Parker
Saturday's big headliner was Dua Lipa. The British pop sensation was absolutely electric as she hit the stage to "Training Season." Surrounded by dancers, she strutted down the runway, doing some of the best choreography in concert history. Many signature tracks, such as “One Kiss,” were extended to include extra time for dance breaks, letting everyone on stage shine.
Dua’s vocal chops and presence are truly unrivaled right now in pop music, and she might just be the best pop performer of her generation. There’s still a bit of humility underneath the glam facade, though; it was clear she was in awe of the massive crowd that showed up to see her. There is something magical about a sea of flashlights illuminating Zilker Park while an artist plays. The singer commented that she was trying to live in the moment that night instead of worrying about what was next — a sentiment that resonated with the crowd. She ended the night with a bang as fireworks were launched from behind the stage as she wrapped up with "Houdini." If this is any preview of her tour for next year, Dallas is in for a big treat when she visits next October.
By Sunday, the heat of the weekend was wearing on us and the dust being kicked up was taking its toll. It felt like a battlefield, but nothing would stop us from seeing Misterwives put on a banger set on the Honda stage early in the afternoon. Singer Mandy Lee had a charismatic presence as she bounced around the stage, melting faces with songs such as “Superbloom” and tossing in a fun cover of “Dancing on My Own.” Festivals are a great place to try out a good cover, and the audience vibed with that.
We then caught a little bit of Orville Peck's set. The artist was donning a fashionable red cowboy outfit, complete with fringe down the pants. His deep voice, paired with true country stylings, makes for a timeless sound that has been missing from the genre. He’s pushing the boundaries and stigmas that come within the country scene, and the crowd was there for it. Pair that up with his high bursts of energy and charm, and there were plenty of cowboys in attendance who weren’t just secretly fond of Peck.
Orville Peck brought energy and vulnerability to his performance on the Honda stage at ACL Fest. Crying was encouraged.
Rachel Parker
Roan emerged on stage to "Femininomenon" right on schedule, and the energy for that set was unmatched. The audience, who had been camped out since the gates opened that day, was wearing pink hats and bandanas, and they ate up every lyric. The closest thing that can compare is Beatlemania.
Roan gave the audience everything: She ran around on stage for most of an hour, sounding flawless. This was not a simple task either, as she was dressed in a leather or faux leather outfit. She deserves mad respect for her dedication to the look. The hype is real, and it’s deserved. Our advice to anyone attending next week: Get there early if you want a good spot, get out your sunscreen, and most important stay hydrated. If there was any question who the real headliner of the day was, the mass exodus after she finished her set with "Pink Pony Club" was the defining factor. Next time you see Chappell Roan, it will likely be in stadiums, at the very least arenas.
Ending the fest, Tyler, The Creator took over the Amex Stage. In true Tyler fashion, it was a spectacle complete with a massive set piece of a huge canyon. He even included fine details such as wooden spoke wheels, wooden barrels and cacti. He brought the West to Austin with him.
Tyler appeared to effortlessly groove from one song to the next, climbing up and down the set, before hopping into the audience at one point. He's so well seasoned he designs his shows with a fairly seamless flow, stopping briefly here and there to catch his breath. One minute he had the most mellow vibes with a blue stage wash, the next he was throwing out the song "Deathcamp" and jumping around like a madman.
He is a masterclass type of artist. Though this isn’t a surprise at this point, it's always a treat to see what kind of tricks he will pull out of his bag.
The biggest thing we heard all weekend from multiple people was how the full lineup was kind of weak, even though there were several strong offerings. But it's hard not to agree with the sentiment the lineup as a whole this year did feel lackluster.
The silver lining of this year's ACL Festival was that the amazing acts the festival did get are pretty fantastic. It just wasn’t diverse enough to please everyone. The pop crowd is being utterly spoiled, the country crowd has some decent offerings, but the rockers got left out in the cold. There’s always next year maybe?
