Pure, untainted groove, the Aces took on ACL Fest once again on Friday, first day of the 2019 Zilker Park annual’s second weekend, graduating from the tiny BMI stage in 2017 to the headlining American Express stage yesterday.
Walking on to a synth-tro, the all-female indie-pop quartet from Utah lit into “Lovin’ Is Bible” from sole full-length When My Heart Felt Volcanic. For three minutes, the fresh-faced group reminded one and all that everyone is capable of love and thus set a heartwarming tone for the rest of the exemplary performance.
Equipped with sunglasses and a leather jacket against the 49-degree chill weather, lead singer Cristal Ramirez crooned of lost loves and finding new hearts, while guitarist Katie Henderson and bassist McKenna Petty lent their heavenly harmonies and unfaltering rhythms.
“Austin, happy National Coming Out Day,” exclaimed the bright-eyed vocalist.
With that, what was already a party became a celebration. Launching into “Bad Love” from the 2018 debut, the band got the audience of glittery-faced young women and smiling young men bouncing to the beat as they shouted the lyrics back to the stage:
“They don’t really need to know our business. They don’t really need to know what we do. They don’t really need to know where we go. When it’s just me and you.”
As the show went on, the drummer and frontwoman’s sister, Alisa Ramirez, graciously thanked the modest assemblage for joining them on the cold, fall morning before launching the Aces into dance-enticing “Last Ones.” From that moment, movement in the crowd never ended, hips swaying side-to-side and arms raised high in the air, fingers splayed.
Even after the last note of “Stuck,” opening track to 2017 EP bow I Don’t Like Being Honest, rang through the lawn, energy crackled with random shouts of joy spread out across the dry grass.
Set-list
“Lovin’ Is Bible” “Holiday” “Strong Enough” “Stay” “Bad Love” “Just Like That” “Last One” “Volcanic Love” “Physical” “Fake Nice” “Stuck”The Aces
Friday, Oct. 11, 1:45pm, American Express stageThis article appears in October 11 • 2019.