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Encore Broadcast News

Encore: Pearl Jam

With one foot in the punk energy and political consciousness of alternative and the other in the big hooks and stage presence of classic rock, Pearl Jam is one of the titans of the rock landscape. So we were pleased to host the band in 2009, the day before its headlining appearance at the ACL Music Festival. Armed with a set of tunes from its then-new album Backspacer, plus back catalog gems, the Seattle quintet ripped through fierce rockers (“The Fixer,” “Porch”) and laid down tender ballads (“The End,” “Just Breathe”) with its legendary passion and power. The band invited a few friends along as well, including ACL vet Ben Harper for “Red Mosquito” and Austin’s own Will Taylor & Strings Attached, who provided some cool string arrangements. This is an episode that’s already become a favorite in ACL history, and we’re pleased to broadcast it once again.

Check out the episode page for more information and our Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr pages for further ACL goodness. Next week: more rock with Wilco.

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Encore Broadcast News

Encore: Dave Matthews Band

When the Dave Matthews Band took the ACL stage three years ago, it was the culmination of a long courtship process that finally allowed producer Terry Lickona to put a check mark on his wishlist. The long-running pop/jam band was touring its acclaimed record Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, its first following the death of founding member LeRoi Moore, and was ready to prove it wasn’t going to let tragedy slow it down.  Firing on all cylinders, the band turned in a triumphant set including the raucous “Shake Me Like a Monkey,” the whimsical “Funny the Way It Is” and the life-affirming anthem “Why I Am,” a direct tribute to Moore. But don’t take our word for it – check your local PBS listings and see for yourself.

You can go here for more information on this episode. Don’t forget to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr pages for more cool stuff. Next week: Pearl Jam.

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Encore Broadcast News

Encore: Florence + the Machine/Lykke Li

Austin City Limits made its name by showcasing the best American music, but over the past several years we’ve hardly limited ourselves to North American borders. This Saturday you can see some of the best music coming out of Europe, as we present Florence + the Machine and Lykke Li.

Exploding out of the U.K., Florence + the Machine bring their unique vision of rock – incorporating everything from gutsy vocals to ethereal harp to raging guitars – to our stage for an electrifying show. Twin anthems “Dog Days Are Over” and “What the Water Gave to Me” raise the roof as Florence Welch twirls across the stage like a beat-besotted ballerina. Florence fans know the score – this band is a force of nature.

The music of Lykke Li is more difficult to pin down, but that makes her work all the more enticing. The Swedish chanteuse (ACL’s first Scandinavian artist) deftly mixes elements of girl group pop, steamy soul and stately torch song for an otherworldly sound all her own. “Get Some,” “I Follow Rivers” and the gorgeous “Sadness is a Blessing” highlight this heavenly half-hour – tune in to hear Lykke Li’s distinctive sonic signature for yourself.

photo by Scott Newton

It’s a night of refreshingly unique indie rock this Saturday – check the episode page for more goodies, and your local listings for exact airtimes. Keep up with ACL on Facebook,Twitter and Tumblr pages. Next week: the Dave Matthews Band.

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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.