“Austinites’ ACL Fest 2009 Picks: The Parish Room’s Sound Engineer Chris Payeur”

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.

Without sound engineers, this city’s music venues probably wouldn’t be the cathedrals to sound that they are.  One of the best sound engineers in the city (if not the state) is the Parish Room‘s “Sound Girl” Chris Payeur.  Oh, and before she joined the Parish Room in 2000, she rocked Emo’s from ’89-’99.  She also gets flown around the country for acts like Spoon, Explosions in the Sky, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Sebadoh, and Tortoise.

Judging by her list, Chris LOVES music. Rumor has it she also used to have a music column for a Houston-based paper (or zine?) back in the dizzay!

Here’s what Chris has to say about ACL:

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

CP: I actually have a few “do not miss shows” to recommend:

K’Naan absolutley blew me out of the water during SXSW. Took me totally by surprise. Spreading the good word and changing the world with beats and amazing delivery—several people I saw at the show were brought to tears it affected them so much. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss this show—it will make your life better.

Same goes for Thievery Corporation—can’t stand still—biggest, baddest, electronic world, dub fusion of pure goodness. They never fail to deliver and will keep you a shakin’ for the whole show, leaving with a big ol’ smile wanting more.

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

CP: I have 3 best ACL memories:  One was watching Pong release a bunch of silver mylar baloons at the beginning of their set, and watching them float off into the sky, making the sky shimmer. Another was mixing Explosions in the Sky as the sun set—perfect soundtrack to an amazing day. And best, was dancing, I mean rocking OUT, with my 11-year-old son to Beck, then watching him walk up to shake his hand in a rare moment when noone was around. Yes.

RoA: Anything else?

CP: In what seems to be a first-time occurance, the Friday line-up seems to be the strongest for the more diverse set—a really stong day of music, worth braving the crowds—and it might not be too crazy that early in the weekend. A great day to have your mind blown by really amazing music. Might even be the best full day of music to date I think.

The Parish Room’s Chris Payeur’s ACL Fest 2009 Picks

Chris Payeur’s Picks, Simple List, by day:

Friday, October 2nd:

• School of Seven Bells
• Blitzen Trapper
• Avett Brothers
• Medeski Martin and Wood
• Poi Dog Pondering
• Todd Snider
• The Walkment
• Dr. Dog
• K’Naan
• Bassnectar
• The Greencards
• Thievery Corporation
• Los Amigos Invisibles
• Andrew Bird
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• Kings of Leon

Saturday, October 3rd:

• Deer Tick
• The Felice Brothers
• The Ravonettes
• !!!
• Grizzly Bear
• Mute Math
• Federico Aubele
• …And You Know Us by the Trail of Dead
• Bon Iver
• Eek-A-Mouse
• The Levon Helm Band
• Mos Def
• John Vanderslice
• Devotchka
• The Decemberists
• Ghostland Observatory

Sunday, October 4th

• The Dodos
• Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
• Here We Go Magic
• David Garza
• Clutch
• The B52s
• Heartless Bastards
• State Radio
• Rebirth Brass Band
• Toadies
• Brett Dennen
• Michael Franti & Spearhead
• The Dead Weather
• Ben Harper and the Relentless 7
• Raul Malo
• Girl Talk
• Dan Aurbach
• Pearl Jam.

Related posts:

1. “Austinites’ ACL Fest 2009 Picks: Austin Emerging Music Blog TwoGroove”
2. “Austinites’ ACL Fest 2009 Picks: Nightlife Party Bloggers The Peen Scene”
3. “Austinites’ ACL Fest 2009 Picks: Alt-Indie Music Blog Austin Town Hall”
4. “Austinites’ ACL Fest 2009 Picks: Jan Mirkin, General Manager of Justice Records”
5. Chris Apollo Lynn [Blogger Intro]