ACL Review: The Weeknd

The crowd was singing louder than he was

"...a unique cocktail of chemically sexual excess with self-loathing, the Weeknd’s contradictory impulses somehow garner mass popularity. Canadian Abel..."

Oct. 5, 2015 Music Post by Michael Toland

The Weeknd, Denied

Internet sensation proves NSFW at Cedar Park Center

"...I left the Cedar Park Center Monday night believing the Weeknd –..."

Sept. 25, 2013 Music Post by Austin Powell

SXSW Music Review: The Veldt

Afro-shoegaze pioneers re-emerge for their close-up

"...The Veldt are having a moment. The Raleigh, N.C., band’s..."

March 17, 2018 SXSW Post by Michael Toland

John Mayer Sets the Moody Center Mood

Sob rocker marks first show at not-quite-ready stadium

"...Yesterday, I watched a video of Matthew McConaughey singing a strange, rhythmless dirge called “Bless The..."

April 21, 2022 Music Post by Rachel Rascoe

The Evolution of KNDRX

Rapper finds his singing voice

"...a six-song EP marking a major stylistic reinvention for the artist previously filed firmly under “hip-hop.”..."

Aug. 6, 2017 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

Crypta, Cherubs, and More Crucial Concerts for the Week

Must-see shows for the weekend and beyond

"...living, seething, bouncing bridge between pioneering local post-punks of the Eighties (Scratch Acid and Butthole Surfers) and their contemporary..."

Feb. 16, 2024 Music Feature by Rachel Rascoe

Amyl & the Sniffers, Beach Fossils, the Veldt, and More Reviews From Levitation’s Saturday and Sunday

Standout sets to wrap the Halloweekend music festival

"...From packing into the dusty Stubb’s mosh pit to rain sheltering under the..."

Oct. 30, 2023 Music Post by Genevieve Wood

The Best Music We Saw at SXSW on Thursday

Young Thug in the park, icy French experimentalism, and more

"...Every year during South by Southwest, there’s a point in which you see gaggles of staggering..."

March 18, 2022 SXSW Post by Derek Udensi

Playback: ACL Fest's First Weeknd Moves Mountains

ACL Fest 2015 weekend one wrap

"...good festival, with Mach nine orgies as far as the eye can see," said Father John Misty from the..."

Oct. 9, 2015 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

The Best of Asia at SXSW Music

"...The Fur.Wed. 13, Elysium, 8pm Fans of Mitski and Japanese..."

March 15, 2019 Music Feature by Dan Gentile

Gay Place

Please don't stop the music

"...A true philosopher once sang: "Music makes the people come together." If that's true – and Madonna..."

June 15, 2018 Column by Sarah Marloff

Uncut Gems

Sandler and the Safdies take a roller-coaster through the NYC Diamond District

"...Garnett, Idina Menzel, Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Eric Bogosian, The Weeknd, Paloma Elsesser, Keith Williams Richards and Judd Hirsch...."

Dec. 20, 2019 Movie Review by Richard Whittaker

2015 Austin City Limits Music Festival Lineup

Foo Fighters, Drake, the Weeknd, and Deadmau5 top fall fest

"...ACL Fest stole its own thunder when the official website inexplicably posted, then deleted, the 2015 lineup..."

May 5, 2015 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

ACL Review: Dwight Yoakam

Honky-tonk superstar dials back the ACL Fest clock a decade

"...for a lineup that has Dwight Yoakam setting up the Weeknd. The honky-tonk superstar had an Austin Ventures stage,..."

Oct. 5, 2015 Music Post by Doug Freeman

ACL Review: Drake

6 God understands you and knows what you want

"...The most important thing to remember is that Aubrey Drake..."

Oct. 4, 2015 Music Post by Kahron Spearman

ACL Review: Disclosure

Surrey electro siblings break out

"...“I bet they start with ‘Latch,’” proclaimed the young’un triumphantly. “That’s what..."

Oct. 3, 2015 Music Post by Kahron Spearman

Ta-Nehisi Coates for SXSW 2018

Plus Teen Vogue, The Daily Show, and Charlie Rose

"...news, technology, and music rub shoulders with institutions in the latest additions to the lineup for SXSW 2018, with..."

Aug. 30, 2017 SXSW Post by Richard Whittaker

Drake and Future: Day and Night

Hero worship vs. antihero debauchery

"...“If You’re Reading This We Made It,” flashed along the backdrop of Drake’s headlining slot at 2015’s ACL Fest...."

July 21, 2016 Music Post by Alejandra Ramirez

ACL Music Fest Late Night Shows On Sale Thursday

Five days of aftershows, from gospel brunches to Big K.R.I.T.

"...out your credit cards and book your pedicab now: The Austin City Limits Music Festival aftershows have been announced...."

Aug. 22, 2012 Music Post by Richard Whittaker

Grimes Explained to UT Students Why Artists Should Make Songs With Her AI-Generated Vocals

Austin's new resident on the Drake deepfake track, TikTok, and MGMT

"...The electronic pop musician Grimes, who has lived in Austin..."

April 25, 2023 Music Post by Rachel Rascoe

10 Can't-Miss Acts for Sunday at ACL Music Festival

And concluding the first weekend ...

"...youth, with two EPs and his 2017 debut From the Foxhole released by age 19. For his upcoming platter,..."

Oct. 4, 2019 Music Feature

Qmmunity: Mama Duke Has Her Eyes Wide Open

The genre-hopping artist discusses her latest album, You Can Open Your Eyes Now

"...in 2025 – a world where working is considered the foremost state one can occupy. Few embody that tireless..."

Feb. 14, 2025 Column by James Scott

Seven Essential ACL Fest 2022 Recommendations

Heavyweight hand-picks from the Chronicle Music team

"...The Weeknd drops an album and people throw around "synth-pop..."

Oct. 7, 2022 Music Feature by Kevin Curtin

Levitation Kick-Off

Even after Levitation’s cancellation ... the shows went on!

"...If you checked social media Thursday night, you’d think the Reverb Appreciation Society had declared war on its fans..."

April 29, 2016 Music Post by Michael Toland

Hurry Up Tomorrow

The Weeknd plays a version of himself in this companion film to his January album

"...at press time. Abel Tesfaye – better known as The Weeknd – stars as a version of himself in..."

May 16, 2025 Movie Review

ACL 2015: Sunday, First Weekend

"...The Decemberists..."

Oct. 5, 2015 Photo Gallery

Saturday ACL Fest Record Reviews

Roadhouse 01 (Communion)

"...Allan Rayman rose in mystery last year, the Toronto native maintaining a low profile despite the acclaim..."

Oct. 6, 2017 Music Feature by Doug Freeman

Lollapalooza Reveals Lineup

Expect significant crossover with ACL Fest

"...by Austin promotions giant C3 Presents, which also stages the Austin City Limits Music Festival, summer music festival supreme..."

March 25, 2015 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

National Top 10s

Best non-local albums of 2015 – by genre

"...7) Thee Oh Sees, Mutilator Defeated at Last (Castle Face)..."

Jan. 1, 2016 Music Feature by Neph Basedow

ACL Fest 2015 Friday Interview

Friday, 8pm, Honda stage

"..."Wow, he's exceedingly nice," you think after the interview, which isn't to say other needle-moving superstars lack..."

Oct. 2, 2015 Music Feature by Kahron Spearman

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