ACL Music Fest 2014 Sunday Listings
Blurbing Sunday ACL
Fri., Oct. 3, 2014
Legendary Soul Stirrers
1:15pm, Sculpture stage
The Soul Stirrers date back to the Twenties, when the gospel quartet formed in Trinity. The jubilee institution paved the way for soul music as we know it, launched the careers of Sam Cooke, Johnnie Taylor, and Lou Rawls, and eventually earned their way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Led by veteran member Willie Rogers, they're still lifting spirits and stirring souls. – Thomas Fawcett
AFI
2pm, Honda stage
Northern California's AFI have been the heaviest, most gothic of pop-punk outfits since arising from their crypt in 1991. Launched last year, ninth studio LP Burials finds singer Davey Havok, guitarist Jade Puget, drummer Adam Carson, and bassist Hunter Burgan conspiring with producers Joe McGrath and Jackknife Lee to craft the most epic, dramatic bombast of their career, single "17 Crimes" being their best punk anthem yet. – Tim Stegall
Kongos
2pm, Samsung Galaxy stage
You heard Kongos' rock anthem "Come With Me Now" while watching too much TV this summer. From their re-released sophomore effort Lunatic, the song made the rounds on commercials and video game trailers. Behind the glitz and tribal imagery are the South African rocker John Kongos' four sons – Dylan, Daniel, Jesse, and Johnny – who pitch accordion-tinged rock with their continent's native rhythms. – Nina Hernandez
Gramatik
3pm, Miller Lite stage
The Central European nation of Slovenia isn't widely considered a bastion of hip-hop, but that's where producer Gramatik grew up and studied the work of idols RZA, DJ Premier, and J Dilla. The 29-year-old beatsmith now calls NYC home, where he crafts deeply soulful, sample-laden head-nodders. A digital freedom proponent, Gramatik's made all of his music available online gratis, including this year's genre-blurring The Age of Reason. – Thomas Fawcett
Jhené Aiko
3pm, RetailMeNot stage
Gifted a soulful, throaty whisper reminiscent of both Sade and Aaliyah, Jhené Aiko is the go-to girl of the moment for hip-hop love songs. 2013 EP Sail Out found the diminutive L.A. songstress locking lyrics with the likes of Kendrick Lamar ("Stay Ready") and ACL cameo candidate Childish Gambino ("Bed Peace"), while she teamed with Drake on a recent tour and collaboration. Hot off the press, debut Souled Out arrives light on guest verses, setting a super sexy vibe on the solo tip. – Thomas Fawcett
Phantogram
5pm, Miller Lite stage
Phantogram's mega-single "When I'm Small" seduced listeners into millions of spins of debut album Eyelid Movies in 2010. Four-year-delayed follow-up, Voices reintroduced the duo as noir-pop purveyors, still seductive, but this time with a little more edge. Vocalist Sarah Barthel's demure alto leaves you hanging on every word, with dark production work from Josh Carter creating vaguely unsettling beats. – Abby Johnston
The Replacements
6pm, Samsung Galaxy stage
Minneapolis' great Eighties punk hope, a sloppy drunk New York Dolls in flannel, belied frontman Paul Westerberg's heart-on-sleeve ache. Reunited with bassist Tommy Stinson for last year's benefit EP Songs for Slim (for ailing ex-guitarist Slim Dunlap), they're dazzling festival audiences with sober but raucous sets, augmented by drummer Josh Freese and Neighborhoods guitarist Dave Minehan. Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong has already made surprise guest appearances. – Tim Stegall
Spoon
6pm, Honda stage
Back after a three-year hiatus born from Britt Daniel's diversion into Divine Fits, August's They Want My Soul, the Austin quintet's eighth, traverses the full landscape of Spoon's previous exploits. There's the middle-year pop stuff; the Transference synthesizer tendencies; Gimme Fiction's gravelly slapstick; the bludgeoning of A Series of Sneaks. There's not a dud among the 10 tracks. – Chase Hoffberger
The Last Internationale
6pm, BMI stage
Further proof that rock isn't dead comes from this versatile NYC trio. Singer Delilia Paz and guitarist Edgey Pires recruited ex-Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk, which gives them both star power and a slick engine room. The band's new opus We Will Reign turns on righteous melodies, bluesy confidence, and Paz's sonorous charisma. – Michael Toland
Zedd
7pm, Miller Lite stage
There are fewer unlikely pop stars than Zedd. He doesn't sing, he doesn't dance, his last name is Zaslavski. The 25-year-old producer was born in Russia and based in Germany, and has unearthed fortune and fame by sewing together the skyrocketing synths of last year's "Clarity" and this year's Ariana Grande bombshell "Break Free." – Luke Winkie
Turnpike Troubadours
7pm, Austin Ventures stage
Since the release of their breakout third LP, 2012's Goodbye Normal Street, the Turnpike Troubadours toured relentlessly, which makes sense given the Oklahoma quintet's high-octane picking live. Though rooted in the Red Dirt tradition of their home turf, the band's sharp wit, detailed narrative, and ripping strings include a co-write with former Troubadour John Fullbright. – Doug Freeman