ACL Music Fest Live Shots

Amy Cook

What better way to start the last day of ACL 2007 than with a watermelon shaved ice, a cool bottle of water, and the Emersonian stylings of Austin (via Marfa via Los Angeles) singer-songwriter Amy Cook? Dressed in a white tee with matching jeans and butch aviator glasses, Cook swung into action with material from her proper local debut, The Sky Observer's Guide, waking up the crowd with her softly rasping voice. Her songs take on a narrative form, often preoccupied with the West and the landscape, as on "Coming Home (The Eclipse)," which tells the story of a woman traveling to her love and leaving behind the old days in Los Feliz for the lights of Las Cruces. The small but devoted crowd clung to every note of "The Answer," "Water Underground," and "Pearl," while guitarist Brad Rice shredded and drummer Nina Singh beat the skins admirably. All told, Cook's friendly, approachable air and nonthreatening music was the best possible way to ease into another scorching Sunday.