Having reviewed the True Believers’ ACL Fest set last week, we didn’t assign a write-up yesterday. When informed of this, Alejandro replied, “I assigned it!” Fair enough. Here’s an outtake shot from weekend one. Credit: Jana Birchum

Impossible to talk about ACL Fest Saturday without talking about the heat: oppressive, sweltering, August-like. You just had to accept that you’d sweat unto dehydration while your clothes stewed in your juices. And that’s just from standing still! In the shade! Still, you should’ve seen Alejandro Escovedo’s shirt after the True Believers’ set.

Mind you, neither Escovedo – Alejandro nor Javier – helped their cases by being decked-out in exquisite rock & roll layers. The other True Believers were more interested in comfort. Either way, the local quintet understands its Southwestern garage/glam/punk & roll is just gonna stoke the fires even more. Hell, they play so hard, the drummer’s hands sometimes explode!

Thankfully, Rey Washam’s hands didn’t burst this time, although an errant floor tom wanted to spend most of its time on its side rather than get whacked by the onetime Scratch Acid anchor’s skillful sticking. The Troobs’ three-guitar heat detonated all the usual classics: “She’s Got,” “The Rain Won’t Help You When It’s Over,” “Hard Road.” Jon Dee Graham’s Alejandro-sung “Dedication” became an “All the Young Dudes”-style sing-along. Graham remains one of the sickest Strat stranglers this town’s ever seen.

Alejandro, three songs from finishing, thanked us for a wonderful year and noted this “may be the last time you see us.” Stop it, Al. You can’t stop now.

For more ACL Fest coverage, see austinchronicle.com/acl. For photo galleries from the fest, see austinchronicle.com/photos.

This article appears in October 11 • 2013.

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Tim Stegall contributed to The Austin Chronicle 1991-1995, and was a staff writer 1995-1997. He returned as a contributor in 2013. He has also freelanced for publications ranging from Flipside to Alternative Press to Guitar World. He plays punk rock guitar and sings in the Hormones.