ACL Artist: Neil Young

Encore: Wilco

photo by Scott Newton

This Saturday Austin City Limits brings you musical veterans both on and off the screen: the one and only Wilco. After nearly two decades of constantly redefining its sound, the Chicago band’s fourth appearance on the show proves to be one of its most memorable to date, featuring a special guest appearance, leader Jeff Tweedy’s remarkable songs and some electrifying guitar playing from Nels Cline.

Concentrating on its latest release The Whole Love, the Chicago sextet puts such stellar tracks as “Art of Almost,” “Open Mind” and “Dawned On Me” through their paces with near-perfect poise. It’s not all the new album, of course, as the band also drops a few deep cuts like “Bull Black Nova” and “War On War” into the set. As the icing to this already delicious cake, Wilco tourmate Nick Lowe drops by with his classic “Cruel to Be Kind,” backed by the boys themselves.

Tune in this Saturday, September 15th, and find out why Wilco’s music sums up best what Austin City Limits stands for. Check here on the episode page for more info about the episode and here for your local listings and exact air times. Be sure to keep up with your favorite music television show on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr pages. Next week: British rock gods Coldplay.

Reel Rarities: Neil Young goes country

How would you like to experience a bit of music history right in the heart of the Live Music Capital of the World? Well, we at Austin City Limits advise you to look no further.

On Monday night we present Neil Young, our next installment in the series Reel Rarities: Handpicked Gems from the ACL Vault.  Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.  to witness the Godfather of Grunge himself in his ACL debut when we screen this classic episode from 1985. Get tickets on the Alamo Drafthouse’s website

For those of your familiar with his signature rock demeanor, next week’s screening will give you all a separate dose of Young’s musical abilities in his mid-1980s foray towards traditional country. Best of all, the episode features his only full-length performance with the
International Harvesters, an eight-piece band of Nashville session players with whom he toured in support of his country-western album Old Ways. By the time Young and the Harversters hit the stage they are firing with all cylinders from the country blast of “Get Back to the Country” to the rock & roll meltdown of “Down By The River.” Its amazing how much ass a band with a pedal steel and Cajun fiddle can kick. (R.I.P.  BenKeith and Rufus Thibodeaux, respectively.) To top it off, this is the only full-length filmed performance of Young with this particular band.

So, are you ready for some country? Of course you are!

Reel Rarities: Handpicked Gems from the ACL Vault is an ongoing series at the Alamo Drafthouse. Tickets are $5 and the sales benefit our friends over at the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians.

Check out our Facebook page for a chance to win a pair of tickets for this special screening. And don’t forget to check out our cool Tumblr to see Neil on the ACL stage.

See you there!