Postcard From Austin #4 – Sunday

The final day of ACL Fest was back to weather we have come to know in the past – hot and humid. But late in the day it cools down and became a lot more bearable with some cloud cover and a few spits of rain.

Got to ACL in time to see The Greencards who pretty much dazzled the audience with some really great playing. Kym and Carol are so humble and natural on stage that they are immediately endearing.

I have seen the future of country music and their name is Ryan Bingham and Hayes Carll. Bingham has an aura that indicates he will be around for a long, long time. Great songs, gritty voice, charismatic presence. Carll is an amusing storyteller with an edge to his humour.

The single highlight of the day for me was Joseph Arthur’s guitar solo on his song ‘Watch Our Shadows Run,’ (from his latest album The Graduation Ceremony). It was brilliant. When I spoke to him afterwards, Joseph said that the solo felt so good that didn’t want to stop playing it!

Arcade Fire closed the whole show in its usual spectacular fashion.

The gig for me tonight was Heybale at the Continental with Red Volkaert on guitar and Earl Poole Ball (Johnny Cash band) on keyboards. A great close to the weekend. Also, caught a bit of Mike Flanigin (on B3) and his trio in the Gallery upstairs from the Continental.

Oh yes, while I was watching the band I also had my laundry going back over the road at the Austin Motel. By midnight it was gigs, beers and clean clothes!

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