"Three days straight I've been sinking
I ain't been doing what I should," - Ray Wylie Hubbard
What I should do is stop going to the Austin City Limits music festival one of these years as I generally loathe these mass events, however, this coming weekend will be the fourth one I've attended as the chance to see a consistently diverse group of bands has proven too hard to resist.
My tentative schedule for the band list includes Queens of the Stone Age, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, The White Stripes, Artic Monkeys, Kelly Willis, The Killers, Wilco, Billy Joe Shaver and Bjork (to see if she'll wear/do anything bizarre). Of course, I'll also catch Bob Dylan, who closes the festivities on Sunday night. 
But this year will be even more brutal than the past ones as I also have two post-festival concerts to attend on Friday and Saturday night.
On Friday, I get to hear Robert Earl Keen, a phenomenal Texas singer-songwriter, at an intimate downtown Austin club where the acoustics are supposed to be the best in town. The following night, I just purchased tickets to see Bob Dylan at Stubb's open-air venue, another small-ish concert house and easily one of the tiniest places that Dylan is ever likely to play. 
I cannot wait to go to both of these concerts, yet the unrelenting days in the sun at ACL will drain the body and then the nights of drinking until the next early morning already has my body warning me that 3 days straight of punishment will cause a rebellion and potential shut-down of vital organs which simply wasn't there during college.
It's a sad state of affairs when you cannot consistently abuse your body, and expect it to rebound. Even if you can stagger onwards, you feel like a truck ran you over and then parked itself on your head which might split wide open if moved too quickly. 
Sheer ugliness.
Sometimes there is a price to pay for late nights and debauchery. Hell, there is always some kind of reckoning, and I only hope that mine is not vengeful and shows a shred of kindness and human decency.
In the interim, I'll be taking a nap under my desk (like George on "Seinfeld") because I must prepare for the onslaught.
-BDS
Sounds like you have mixed emotions about the whole thing! haha
I understand because crowds/drunk people + heat generally make me cringe, but hopefully the music will make it worthwhile. Pace yourself.
Is this the same Stubb's as the open-air venue you're talking about ?
http://www.stubbsbbq.com/
If so, enjoy the BBQ. I drink his sauce a bottle at a time.
Jlee - Pace yourself is definitely a good idea, and we'll see if that theory holds up. It better to a certain degree or things could get ugly.
Tiara Girl - It is one and the same. They do have good barbecue as well, although I prefer the Salt Lick if given the choice.
Carb up, man! Carb up! You can do it.
And, have a blast.
You my friend are braver than I. We just had the Virgin Music Fest in which both Bjork and The Killers performed. It was a 2 day event in a field....guess who stayed home....oh yeah that's right. I love love love Bjork but wasn't keen on the whole 2 day porta potty, hot, sweaty, drunk fest.
Anonymous Boxer - I should carb load and sleep until Friday. Thanks for the advice & pep talk. I'll need it come Sunday morning.
Miss Ash - That should have been on yr. 100 things to do list, and then you might have braved it. The porta pot situation is one of the nastiest around as there's nothing worse than a pool of that when it's stifling hot inside. And women have it far worse.
Why should you stop going? Sounds great to me. Was there once a TV show called Austin City Limits? It sounds familiar.
not sure if you are actually a Bjork fan or just interested in what she might wear, but she is amazing in concert. Seen her years ago and was blown away. The lineup you mentioned sounds great. arctic monkeys...nice! saw Bob Dylan when I was 16...(22 years ago) and he was pretty bad then, but it is Bob Dylan and you have to respect the fact that he is still making music. (I was also 16, and Bob Dylan was very lost on me back then) have fun!! drink lots of water and take pics.
Stephanie - I really shouldn't (and likely won't) as I just felt like bitching ahead of time about how I'm going to feel and even I can't conjure up much sympathy for myself.
Vivavavoom - I honestly am not very familiar with Bjork's music. I know she has a nice voice & that's about it. I got into Dylan a few years ago, and his last CD was very solid. I'll have a full, if scattered, report next week.
Is it just me or is Dyaln sarting to look like Ian McKellan? Enjoy your concerts. Sounds like fun.
oh he does look a little like Ian Mckellan (sp?) but even scarier is that he looks like he has a faux tan. say it ain't so. you know the apocalypse is coming when Bob Dylan is heading to Sunset Tan!
Getoffmylawn - That is a good call, but I don't think McKellan ever sported a dirty, pencil-thin mustache. I could be wrong.
Vivavavoom - I think it's the lighting as I have a very hard time imagining Dylan in a tanning salon with the Oley (sp?) girls. Small favors.