Category: Encore Broadcast

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Encore Broadcast News

Encore: Allen Toussaint

At the risk of bragging, we’ve had a lot of legends on Austin City Limits: Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King. This weekend we present songwriting legend Allen Toussaint. The veteran writer/musician has been the master of modern New Orleans music since the 50s, penning or producing hits for Ernie K-Doe (“Mother in Law”), Lee Dorsey (“Working in the Coal Mine”), Glen Campbell (“Southern Nights”), the Pointer Sisters (“Yes We Can Can”) and LaBelle (“Lady Marmalade”), among many, many others. He’s also cut a series of acclaimed solo records, from Life, Love & Faith and Southern Nights in the 1970s to The River in Reverse, his 2006 collaboration with Elvis Costello. Toussaint came to the ACL stage in support of his 2009 LP The Bright Mississippi, a showcase for both his love of jazz and his formidable piano chops. Tune in this weekend for an impeccable set of jazz standards, R&B chestnuts and possibly the best-dressed artist we’ve ever had in Studio 6A.

Go here for more details on this episode, and don’t forget to check in with our Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr pages. Next week: Florence + the Machine and Lykke Li.

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Encore Broadcast News

Encore: The Head and the Heart/Gomez

The wide (wild?) world of indie rock has so many disparate roads to travel it’s dizzying. But the best indie rock artists, like the best musicians in any genre, have one thing in common: good songs. And on August 4’s encore you can see two of the best song-centric indie rock bands on Austin City Limits – The Head and the Heart and Gomez.

Seattle sextet The Head and the Heart exploded out of the Pacific Northwest with an eponymous debut that sold 10,000 copies as a self-released disk before being picked up by indie label giant Sub Pop. The group’s upbeat, harmony-rich folk pop has garnered a large, deeply dedicated fan base in a surprisingly short amount of time. Come hear why as the band plays fan favorites “Down in the Valley” and “Lost in My Mind,” among others.

photo by Scott Newton

U.K. quintet Gomez have fifteen years of experience behind them and show no signs of slowing down. The band’s eclectic mix of roots rock, pop, psychedelia, electronica and whatever else crosses the members’ radar has gained them a loyal worldwide audience of discerning music fans. Gomez’ seventh LP Whatever’s On Your Mind received the near-universal acclaim all their records earn, and the band shows why with performances of “I Will Take You There” and “Just As Lost As You,” as well as old favorites “Get Miles” and “In Our Gun.”

Want more details? Head over to the episode page for photos, setlists and biographical info. Don’t forget to visit – and visit often – our Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr pages for tidbits on ACL past and present, or to sign up for our e-newsletter. Next week on Austin City Limits: Fleet Foxes and Joanna Newsom.

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Encore Broadcast News

Encore: M. Ward & Okkervil River

Indie rock soaks in every style and sound imaginable, but the best of it always comes back to the other “s” word: songs. We have to two of the best song-based indie rock artists on Austin City Limits this weekend – M. Ward and Okkervil River.

After appearing as a guest with Norah Jones, Spoon and Bright Eyes, M. Ward finally graced the ACL stage under his own name. Supporting his LP Hold Time, the singer/songwriter and his band essayed his distinctive folk/pop vision brilliantly. Besides singing strong tunes like “To Go Home” (written by Austin’s own Daniel Johnston), “Poison Cup” and “Never Had Nobody Like You,” Ward also shows off his six-string skills with the John Faheyesque instrumental “Duet for Guitars #2/Duet for Guitars #3.”

photo by Scott Newton

Appearing in the second half is Austin’s own Okkervil River. Led by singer/songwriter Will Sheff, Okkervil’s unique brand of orchestral indie rock presents multiple instruments and singers, but avoids clutter because it always serves the song at hand. Supporting the band’s companion piece LPs The Stage Names and The Stand-Ins, the band joyfully surveys its career with “Lost Coastlines,” “For Real” and “Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe.”

Go here for more information on this episode, and tune in to your local PBS station this weekend to see these acts in action. Check out our Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr pages for more on all things ACL. Next week: More indie rock goodness with The Head and the Heart and Gomez.

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Encore Broadcast News

Encore: Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel

It goes like this: Willie Nelson starred in the pilot for Austin City Limits in 1975 and has appeared many times since. Asleep at the Wheel kicked the first episode proper in 1976 and is also a multiple headliner. Amazingly, they’ve rarely collaborated, despite being buddies for 40 years. So when these great Texas artists came together to record 2009’s fantastic Western swing tribute Willie and the Wheel, we had to have this explosion of musical chemistry on the show – especially since it coincided with our 35th anniversary.

Featuring great old tunes like “Right Or Wrong, ‘“Hesitation Blues” and “Fan It,” as well as a handful of Willie classics, the resulting episode has since become one of our all-time favorites. It’s a special show to our beloved audience as well, and we’re happy to present this encore episode. Tune in to your local PBS station this weekend, and you might want to push the furniture against the wall in case you’ve the urge to dance.

Go here for more details on this episode, and check in with our Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr pages for more ACL info and ephemera. Next week: M Ward and Okkervil River.

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Encore Broadcast News

Encore: Kenny Chesney

From honkytonks to sold-out arena shows, Kenny Chesney has been an ambassador for modern country music for nearly 20 years. The superstar visited Austin City Limits in Season 35 in celebration of Greatest Hits Vol. 2, which summed up his career to date. The hits just keep comin’ in this episode: “Living in Fast Forward,” “Summertime,” “Me and You,” “Beer in Mexico,” “Never Wanted Nothing More” and the then-brand new “Out Last Night.” Chesney shares the wealth as well, bringing on songwriter Mac McNally to duet on the smash “Down the Road.” With a 14-piece band that includes Ernest “Drummie Zeb” Williams from Bob Marley’s Wailers, Chesney’s widescreen country rocks the house to a fan-packed audience. Tune in this weekend to see the crowd/performer synergy for yourself.

Go here for more details on the Kenny Chesney episode, and remember, you can always hit up the blog and our Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr pages for more on all things ACL. Next week: Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel.

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Encore Broadcast News

Encore: Elvis Costello / The Band of Heathens

Austin City Limits continues its summer celebration of the art of song this weekend, with an encore episode featuring Elvis Costello and the Band of Heathens.

For his second appearance on ACL, master songsmith Elvis Costello featured the acoustic band he worked with on his album Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, including ACL vets Jim Lauderdale and Stuart Duncan. He highlighted album cuts, of course, including “Red Cotton,” “From Sulphur to Sugarcane” and “The Crooked Line,” a duet with ACL fave Patty Griffin. But he also dug deep into the Americana he was then exploring with a cover of Tampa Red’s “Don’t Lie to Me,” and treated us to “Five Small Words,” a then-new song that would appear on his next record National Ransom, interpolated with Texas legend Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.”

Austin-based singer/songwriters Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist used to share a residency at the Austin club Momo’s, but what started as a joint gig quickly became a full-on collaboration, as the three tunesmiths found both common ground and complementary skills. Now a three-headed monster, the Band of Heathens mixes rock, soul, blues, folk, country and gospel into a rich stew that’s found fans across the country. Drawing most of their set from the album One Foot in the Ether, the Heathens kick out the Americana jams on “L.A. Country Blues,” “Jackson Station” and “Golden Calf.”

Go here for more information about this fabulous episode, and check your local listings for showtimes. And remember, you can always hit up Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr for more ACL information. Next week: country superstar Kenny Chesney.