“Austinites’ ACL Fest 2009 Picks: Alt-Indie Music Blog Austin Town Hall”

With so many stages and bands, ACL Fest can be overwhelming.  That’s why we’ve asked some of our favorite musicians, music bloggers, venue owners and other folks related to the Austin music scene for their ACL Fest 2009 Picks.  Each day for the next two weeks, we’ll be featuring their ACL 2009 selections.  Sure, you could just wait for the mainstream media to publish their picks, but would it be as fun.

Y’all know I’m horrible with labels. Whether food or music, I’m not ever sure if it’s right. Suffice to say, I don’t know the subtle nuances that make something either alternative or indie.  Regardless, I can say that music magazine Austin Town Hall does a great job at covering alt- and indie news from Austin and beyond.

Gotta tell ya: Austin Town Hall’s new site redesign is pretty slick, but don’t let the pretty face fool you: this site is smart, too.  In addition to show recommendations, editor Ryan Ray also publishes album reviews and interviews for national and local acts.  He also has a nice stream of MP3′s available for download.  You also gotta check out their very-witty, sometimes snarky Friday Top 5 which span the gamut from Top 5 Music Venues to Top 5 Party Ending Albums and Top 5 Gay Dudes That Rock.

Since Ryan’s coverage of ACL 2008 was OTC intense, we’re really looking forward to seeing what he’s got planned for this years ACL Fest.  I mean, he has already dropped a sweet interview with Phoenix!  Oh, and contrary to our last two guests, Ryan *loves* Pearl Jam.

Here’s what Ryan has to say about ACL Fest 2009:

RoA: What band are you looking forward to seeing most, and why?

RR: Looking forward to: Pearl Jam.  Hands down.  That’s really who it’s all about for me at ACL this year.  They were probably one of the first bands I really fell in love with as a kid and I’ve followed them ever since.  Plus they haven’t come to Texas in years.  After PJ, Phoenix would be second on my list.  And who isn’t pumped about the two super groups: Dead Weather and Them Crooked Vultures?  I’m just curious to see if they are worth a damn or not.

RoA:What’s your fondest (or not so fondest) ACL memory?

RR: Fondest memory: Year one.  2002.  The fest was only a two day event back then and a friend and I went because we had nothing better to do.  The place was empty and we walked right up to the front of the Wilco stage and watched Tweedy work his magic for an hour.  Probably never happen again.

Worst: The year of the Hurricanes.  Not sure of the year [2005] on this one but it was the year with Coldplay.  It was when all the hurricanes were hitting NOLA and we were supposed to get all this bad weather and it ended up being the hottest day of the year.  Temps at 107 and above.  Factor that in with the now famous and dreaded dust bowl that started that year and you have a match made in hell.

RoA: Anything else?
RR: I think the lineup this year is a bit weaker than it has been in years past and it sucked that some quality bands dropped out (Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, etc.).  But you won’t see my crying about it.  ATH will still be on hand working our behinds off with interviews and whatnot.  Oh and have you seen that grass??? I’m going barefoot.

Yeah, the grass is gonna be kick-a! Check out Ryan’s picks programed in the schedule, or scroll down to see a simple list. Print them out and take them with you!

Thanks, Ryan!

Austin Town Hall’s Ryan Ray’s ACL Fest 2009 Picks

Ryan Ray’s Picks, Simple List, by day:

Friday, October 2nd:

• Sound and the Jury
• School of Seven Bells
• Blitzen Trapper
• Avett Brothers
• The Walkmen
• Dr. Dog
• Phoenix
• Thievery Corporation
• Them Crooked Vultures
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Saturday, October 3rd:

• Deer Tick
• The Virgins
• The Raveonettes
• !!!
• Grizzly Bear
• Flogging Molly
• …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
• The Levon Helm Band
• The Decemberists
• Ghostland Observatory

Sunday, October 4th:

• L.A.X.
• Suckers
• The Dodos
• Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
• Here We Go Magic
• The B-52′s
• Heartless Bastards
• Toadies
• Dirty Projectors
• The Dead Weather
• Dan Auerbach
• Pearl Jam