ACL Wishlist

OK, the lineup for one of the best North American music festivals (and the one I will be attending this year) is coming out Tuesday. I went to Austin City Limits back in 2008, but was on vacation last year, so I didn't get to go (I did, however, get to see The Killers in Miami . . . so, you know). In light of the fact that the lineup comes out soon, I am going to list some bands that I would like to see there this October. Some of them won't happen, but I think some of them will. For example, Muse is already supposedly signed on to close it out Sunday night (October 10). I'm going to reminisce about 2008, though, before I move on to 2010.

First of all, let me say that there is nothing like a live show. And if you can't put on a good show, I am going to stop buying your records, because I just lost all respect for you. Conversely, if you put on a good show and I don't know you, I may buy your records just because you put on such a good show, even though I don't really care that much for your music (i.e., Gogol Bordello). With that in mind, let me go over the highlights and lowlights for me at ACL 2008.

1. The Raconteurs
HIGHLIGHT: Finally seeing Jack White. And I do like The Raconteurs as his best project. I hope he's working on something with them, because this whole Dead Weather thing is not my favorite. Not bad, but I sure do like The Raconteurs.
LOWLIGHT: They didn't sing "Salute Your Solution" due to Jack having a bulging disc. I held a pretty tough grudge against him for that, until I just spent a month in bed due to a bulging disc in my back. All is forgiven.

2. Foo Fighters
HIGHLIGHT: Uh . . . it's Dave Grohl. And Foo Fighters are amazing live.
LOWLIGHT: N/A

3. David Byrne
HIGHLIGHT: I love Talking Heads. I love David Byrne. I have been a fan for a long time, since I was about 12? Really? He's been around that long? He did "Once in a Lifetime" and "Life During Wartime." Is there a lowlight? I submit that there is not.
LOWLIGHT: I didn't get to meet him.

4. Vampire Weekend
HIGHLIGHT: I had never listened to them before I saw them in concert. They sound really good and are a lot of fun.
LOWLIGHT: Pretty sure Ezra Koenig wasn't saying "Do you want some fudge?"

5. Gogol Bordello
HIGHLIGHT: Their live show is full of so much energy. I would recommend seeing them at some point, even if you don't like their music.
LOWLIGHT: I'm not a fan of their music.

Other highlights: Beck was a pleasant surprise, as was What Made Milwaukee Famous. Mars Volta, The Black Keys and MGMT were just aiight for me personally, but I'm glad I saw them. John Fogerty was ok. Against Me! was good, but I had to leave early to get up close for The Raconteurs at another stage. Getting to rest and watch football in the big tent was a plus as well.

Other lowlights: Bands I now love that I didn't see include: Silversun Pickups, Yeasayer, Hot Chip and The Fratellis. And I wish I hadn't seen Plant and Krause. Ugh. They were terrible. Sorry, but it's a fact. I wish I had seen Gnarls Barkley, but I had a choice to make, and I chose Jack White.

This year, I won't make the same mistake. I am going to go see as many bands as I can. I am much more open-minded now than I was then. Here's who I want to see at ACL this year. Some of them will happen, some probably won't. But if I could pick the bands I want to see, these would be the ones. By the way, I've bolded the ones that I think will actually happen, either because they are already confirmed, rumored or have a new CD coming out in 2010.

Muse
Temper Trap
Ra Ra Riot
Cold War Kids
Hockey
Phoenix
Passion Pit
Wolf Parade
Silversun Pickups
Hot Chip
The Fratellis
The Morning Benders
Elvis Costello
Spoon
Vampire Weekend
The xx
The Hold Steady
Grizzly Bear
Yeasayer
The Kooks
The Pixies (or some form of Frank Black)
Matthew Sweet and Susannah Hoffs (you have to watch this and read the highest rated comment below. Classic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRO5ZZuJGYI)
The Thermals
Green Day
The Arcade Fire
Broken Bells
The "She" in She & Him
REM (They have a new CD supposedly out in November. But will they commit this early? They do love Austin. I'm crossing my fingers. Please, ACL people. Make this happen.)

So who am I forgetting that you would like to see if you were going to ACL? What bands would you invite if you were running a music festival?