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Encore Broadcast Featured News

Encore: Radiohead

The day after we recorded Radiohead  back in March 2012, our reaction was, “Radiohead taped Austin City Limits last night. It almost feels like that’s all we need to say.” Even now we still feel the same sense of met anticipation. It was a happening that fans and we had personally been waiting for and it finally came to fruition. A band like Radiohead, (well, let’s be honest – there really isn’t a band out there like Radiohead) that can constantly challenge themselves and evolve to change their sound to continue to make beautiful and inspiring music is a rare gift. We are incredibly grateful to encore an episode featuring such progressive rock icons and modern day musical legends.

Radiohead open their set with “Bloom,” the busy and fitting song for the occasion that opens their 2011 self-released album The King of Limbs. From there the group goes to the piano-heavy and melodic “Daily Mail,” another new song from that year. The rest of the set features a collective mix of tracks from TKOL, Hail to the Thief, Kid A, OK Computer, and new singles. One highlight of the night is when they played a forgotten B-side, “The Amazing Sounds of Orgy.” Of course the essence of the night was captured at the very end when the band played the big hits and crowd favorites, “Idioteque” and “Paranoid Android.”

photo by Scott Newton

For those that missed seeing the taping live or the original broadcast last October, this is your opportunity to see what many described as being a passionate and “life-changing” performance. You can truly feel the energy of the band and the audience in this episode, and Thom Yorke’s dancing may even inspire you to flail around in your living room. (Seriously, if you don’t dance during “Idioteque” then there may be something wrong with your well-being.)

Don’t miss this weekend’s episode with Radiohead! And don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for updates about ACL. Tune in next week for Randy Newman.

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Featured News Taping Announcement

New taping: Michael Kiwanuka

Michael Kiwanuka may not be a household name – yet. But we predict that, following his debut taping on June 10 for Austin City Limits, the British singer/songwriter will become a fast favorite. He’s bringing his distinctively lush folk/soul/pop sound to our stage for a taping that will also be streamed live. Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel – http://www.youtube.com/austincitylimitstv so you’ll be notified not only when we schedule this stream, but also whenever we post anything. Watch online, wherever you are.

Growing up in London, Kiwanuka was exposed to a huge variety of music, becoming a fan of everyone from Radiohead to Nirvana to Jimi Hendrix. But it was his discovery of Bob Dylan and Otis Redding’s “Sitting On the Dock of the Bay” that put him on the path to his true voice, one comparable to soulful folk visionaries Bill Withers, Terry Callier and John Martyn. Starting as a session guitarist when he was just a teenager, Kiwanuka began writing songs at home for his own entertainment, eventually passing demos around in hopes of convincing someone to record them. But it was his voice that listeners connected with, which encouraged him to play shows, and eventually led him to a record contract and the Isle of Wight studio owned by British pop band the Bees. His debut LP Home Again reached #4 on the British charts and went top 10 around the world, earning him a gig opening for Adele’s 2011 tour and a slot at the 2012 ACL Fest.

 

 

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Encore Broadcast News

Encore: Arcade Fire

The first time Arcade Fire appeared on the ACL stage, their much-anticipated second album Neon Bible had hit number 2 on the Billboard chart and the band was poised to become superstars. Four years later The Suburbs, the Montreal band’s highly acclaimed third LP, had debuted at number 1 on the album charts and won a Grammy for Album of the Year, and the group had solidified their position as a major festival headliner. What better way to celebrate Arcade Fire’s ascendancy than a triumphant return to Austin City Limits? Find out this Saturday, as we encore one of 2012 most celebrated episodes.

With The Suburbs at the heart of their performance, Arcade Fire take the stage with the singalong pop single “Ready to Start.” Within moments the crowd is in the palm of bandleader Win Butler’s hand, rolling through new classics like “Month of May,” “Rococo” and the Regine Chassagne showcase “Sprawl II,” pushing the studio to a fever pitch. Never fear, Arcade Fire standards “Haiti,” “Keep the Car Running” and, of course, “Wake Up” also make appearances. With nearly every tune an audience-energizing anthem, the passion never flags – this is truly one of the most exciting shows we’ve ever recorded.

photo by Scott Newton

You can, of course, find out for yourself on Saturday – check your local listings for the time your PBS station will broadcast this awesome episode. You can also go here for biographical info, pictures and the setlist. Don’t forget to visit our Facebook and Twitter pages and to sign up for our newsletter for more ACL TV sweet stuff. Next week: Radiohead.

 

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Encore Broadcast News

Encore: The Shins and Dr. Dog

The first time Albuquerque-to-Portland band the Shins appeared on ACL was in 2004. Now singer/songwriter James Mercer brings a brand new crew in support of the group’s acclaimed fourth LP Ports of Morrow. The quintet samples the latest record with “September,” “It’s Only LIfe,” “The Rifle’s Spiral” and the appropriately catchy single “Simple Song,” hitting a real sweet spot between rich, melodic hooks and Mercer’s clever, literate lyrics. But the band also digs deep into the Shins catalog, bouncing through “So Says I,” from breakthrough record Chutes Too Narrow, and reaching all the way back to its debut by closing the set with “New Slang.” It’s a masterful performance by a band hitting the peak of its powers.

For its first appearance on ACL, Dr. Dog proves why it’s a favorite on the live circuit. Adding a dash of jam band spice to its psychedelic indie rock batter, the Philadelphia sextet knows how to have a good time playing, while still keeping its songs catchy and concise. The band opens this episode with “Lonesome,” the tune that begins its much-heralded seventh LP Be the Void, kicking off the show to rollicking effect. “Jackie Wants a Black Eye” and “Vampire” keep the party going, and by the time the Dog hits a trio of tunes from its fan-favorite LP Fate, ending with “The Rabbit, the Bat and the Reindeer,” Dr. Dog lets us know just why it’s been such a popular concert draw in its decade of existence. As executive producer Terry Lickona says at the beginning of the show, “Great songs and live energy make for a winning combination.”

photo by Scott Newton

To get info on when and where to tune in to this excellent episode, check here for local listings. Also, don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter orsign up for our newsletter for more updates. Next week: Arcade Fire.

 

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News Taping Recap

Phoenix: fans share pinnacle moment

“When you’re on tour, you play places where bands have been before, and you feel part of a tradition, and tonight it’s sort of the ultimate, the pinnacle moment,” declared Phoenix singer Thomas Mars from the stage during the French band’s debut ACL taping. “We’re very proud to be doing this ACL TV show, and we’re proud that you’re doing this with us – we feel like we’re keeping Austin weird.”

Phoenix opened its stellar performance with “Entertainment,” the radio hit off its new LP Bankrupt! Tone set, the sextet ripped through an energetic set, drawn mostly from the new record and its breakthrough predecessor Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. “Lasso,” “Armistice” and “Fences” got both band and crowd up and moving, with the massive hit “Lisztomania” getting a rave response. Connecting the dots of its decade-plus career, Phoenix put “Too Young,” a tune from its debut, into a seamless medley with the more recent “Girlfriend.” The group explored moodier territory as well, with the more midtempo “Long Distance Call” and the lush “The Real Thing” proving that the band knows how to vary its approach. Phoenix also brought an epic feel to some tunes, creating a trilogy with “Trying to Be Cool, “Drakkar Noir” and “Chloroform” and an anthemic medley from “Love Like a Sunset Pt. 1 & 2” and “Bankrupt,” cheekily titled “Sunskrupt!”

Phoenix ended the main set with its other smash – the opening synth notes of “1901” drew the loudest cheers of the night. But the band wasn’t done. Guitarist Christian Mazzalai returned to the stage, while Mars ensconced himself comfortably in the crowd to sing intimate versions of “Countdown” and “Playground Love,” the Air song from the soundtrack to The Virgin Suicides for which Mars provided lyrics and vocals. When the rest of the band came back to the stage, Phoenix ripped through “Don’t” and “Rome,” the latter ending with an instrumental vamp as Mars climbed the bleachers to the studio’s second level, taking the band’s perfect pop directly to the fans. One breathless “Good night!” later, and a glorious night of ACL recording was over.

The energy rolled off the stage in waves, and we can’t wait for you to experience it for yourselves when the episode hits PBS this fall. Stay tuned for dates.

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News Taping Recap

Jim James: new sonics and spiritual love songs

Tonight marks Jim James’ sixth appearance on our stage as he showcased his new solo album Regions of Light and Sound of God. In his new solo work James and his band explored new sounds. Based on the spiritual journey of God’s Man, Lynd Ward’s woodcut graphic novel from the 1920s, James’ music floated more than drove. Exchanging the guitar-heavy rock bombast he is known for from his band My Morning Jacket for a more atmospheric sound, his music seemed to invite us to listen rather than demand our attention. James stayed close to  the microphone adding some sliding dance steps here and there and playing as much saxophone as guitar.

“State of the Art,” “Know Til Now” and “Of the Mother Again” incorporated 70s soul grooves into the mystic textures, letting Dan Dorff’s acid electric piano and Alana Rocklin’s rubbery bass keep the clouds moving. The electronica-infused pop of “Dear One” and “A New Life,” both spiritual love songs of sorts, moved from sedate to theatrical, the melodies working in tandem with arrangements meant to draw out the soul. Perhaps most impressive was the celebratory “All is Forgiven,” which incorporated an Arabic melody, jazzy grooves, multiple tempos and an expansive instrumental arrangement  to convey its near-gospel message. “God’s Love to Deliver” was even more eclectic, starting as a dreamy waltz, moving through Rocklin’s MIDI bass solo and ending in a hailstorm of thrashing drums from Dave Givan and distorted guitar feedback from James and sideman Kevin Ratterman.

Jim James © KLRU photo by Scott Newton

For the encore, James dipped into his back catalog, with a lovely solo acoustic version of MMJ’s “Wonderful (The Way I Feel)” and a take on Monsters of Folk’s “His Master’s Voice” that fit with his solo work both texturally and thematically. James ended with a widescreen take on “Changing World,” a track from the New Multitudes project with Jay Farrar, Anders Parker and Will Johnson that puts unrecorded Woody Guthrie lyrics in a modern context – a perfect capper to James’ fusion of traditional and modern.

This experimental performance showed yet another side to Jim James’ talent, and we’re pleased he chose to document it with us. We’re anxious for everyone to see it in the fall – keep an eye on this space.