It’s only 2 days until the Austin City Limits music festival starts again, and I’ll be roaming the grass at Zilker Park this weekend, much like I have for the past four years running.
The schedules have been set for weeks, and I plan to hear acts such: Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews Band, Todd Snider, The Scabs, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Pearl Jam, Reckless Kelly, Mos Def, and Flogging Molly. 
I might catch up with the Arctic Monkeys, Thievery Corporation, Ben Harper and Relentless 7, Ghostland Observatory, the Decemberists, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs because I’ve heard of these bands even if I’ve never actually heard their music. The rest of the acts are a mystery to me as I get less and less involved with popular music with each passing year.
The weather is even supposed to cooperate as it will be in the mid-80s versus the typical 100 degree heat of past years. I only wish I were more excited about the whole thing, but mainly, I’m getting tired of having things to do on the weekends as I’m in the middle of a six-week long run of scheduled events and even if most have been enjoyable, I still prefer to space out obligatory weekend gobblers versus having them run consecutively. 
This irritation might put me in the minority, however, I tend to go out of my way to avoid back-to-back weekends with planned events much less six week’s worth of filler. It’s hard to bitch when those have been consumed with baseball and football games, visits from friends and family and now an ACL show that will be definitely be fun, although I am already looking forward to the middle of October when I can find a weekend with absolutely no obligations except the ones I impose on myself.
-BDS
Sounds like a great lineup. I love that Kings of Leon song that they play all the time and never get tired of it. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs hold a special place because of a song on Rock Band that I sing called "Maps" ha
Enjoy!
I'd love to see Pearl Jam and Flogging Molly.
You've got a good line up to see, and I'm sure you'll have a great time.
Skip the Yeah Yeah Yeah's. They've lost their cool, and aren't worth the ear assault you'll receive.
Side note: Do you know Ween? They released a country album. Hilarity.
Bribe some yutes into causing a riot of disapproval during Dave Matthew's gig!
Don't think you're in the minority in not wanting 6 week-ends in a row crammed with obligations.
Jlee - It's the first year that every pass is sold out. Strangely enough, this year's lineup excites me the least, and I'm ticked that Beastie Boys had to pull out. But it will definitely be fun. I've heard Yeah Yeahs are good in concert (and probably Guitar hero, ha).
Kmwthay - I've never seen either, so I"m looking forward to those. Beastie Boys would have been on that list too. I have heard the Yeahs are good in concert (they replaced the Beastie Boys), but can't say that I'm excited to hear them. I've heard of Ween, but not about the country album, which sounds like a bold, but bad idea. Ha.
Troll Y2K - Everyone will be too stoned to riot for DMB. Ha. Unless they run out of food at the stands. As for the minority, I know a lot of people who get uncomfortable with open space on their schedule - I am not one of those people.
I was wondering if you were attending this year... what a great lineup. I guess this means there will be ONLY drunken viking posts next week?
I'm having a week when I'm out every night and I'm getting kinda cranky about it. Not sure why, but I guess it has to do with my need to relax and do nothing. Even doing fun things can be exhausting.
Heff - Yeah, ACL gets some really good shows as I've always wanted to a taping, but never have so far. And I think that they hold an open competition for 1 slot for unsigned bands at ACL festival each year, and I think Butlik should start gearing up for a run at next year's showcase. You can rally support in the interim. My feeling is that it would be impossible to get close to Vedder to pass along yr. message. Ha.
Boxer - "Even doing fun things can be exhausting." Exactly. That's what I'm feeling, and even though I feel guilty for complaining, I still want a few weekends with nothing to do as I can amuse myself for hours on end. That looks bad onscreen, but it's true. Ha. And the Viking might make an appearance next week as I'm making the last batch of Sangria Wine this season tomorrow night & have a case of Shiner Bock beer in the garage.
Besides the bands that everyone knows like Kings of Leon & Pearl Jam etc. I think you'll like Phoenix & Bell x 1. Sounds like a great time. Have fun.
I LOVE great big gaping holes in my schedule. I'm a real home body and quite anti social to be honest. Too many fun filled obligations would just make me miserable.
I hope you enjoy the weekend anyway. Sometimes when we don't look forward to something it turns out to be much better than we expected. Always a nice surprise.
I feel the exact same way as my entire summer was spent away every weekend doing something....enjoyable or not it's good to have a break.
As for your 80 degrees, i'm jealous, it's apparently 12 degrees here however feels like 2.
Looks like a great line-up.
My advice: See Arctic Monkeys and Ghostland Observatory if there's nothing else that interferes, but don't pass up another band to see them. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are supposed to be amazing live, but I missed them when they were here b/c I was mountain biking in Utah the day after I defended. Pass on Ben Harper, unless you're a fan of his. I'm not.
Nobich - Thanks for the tip as I had never heard of them. I'll try to check them out.
Gypsy - I'm right there with you on both accounts, and yeah, often times when you are dreading something it turns out to be far better than expected. Ha. I'm not dreading this one, but ready for a break at the same time. It should be fun and it starts in just a few hours.
Miss Ash - If anyone thrived on this, I figured you did based on your summmer. Ha. It made me tired reading about your weekends even if they did sound fun. I've been stuck in that fun rut for a month now and have another 2 - 3 weeks left before it ends. Hopefully. Still, it will be fun and it was actually 90 degrees yesterday, but should slip into the 80s today. :)
Native Minnow - Thanks. Thought you might have an opionion on a few of these. I'm not a Ben Harper fan per se, I've just heard of him. I've heard the same thing about the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, so I'll probably check them out for awhile and then wander over to Kings of Leon.