If It's Sunday, It's Gotta Be...

…AUSTIN CITY LIMITS baby!

Austin’s Zilker Park today hosted the final day of one of the country’s biggest live music festivals and oh my sweet Lord was it hot. I don’t mean pleasant-but-better-take-a-wee-jumper-for-later hot, but rather 108-freakin’-degrees-with-sweat-oozing-from-your-eyeballs-and-dustclouds-turning-your-boogers-to-black hot.

I shit you not, the crowded scene at sunset was like one of those famine-ravaged Ethiopian desert plains; an endless ocean of humanity of biblical proportions… although there was obviously a bit more Abercrombie & Fitch on show than is normally found in the fields outside Addis Ababa.

Despite the trying conditions though the music, on the whole, was excellent so here’s my truncated review.

Doves: Absolutely brilliant. In my humble opinion they have no weak songs and they can certainly deliver on stage despite playing to a lethargic, dehydrated, mid-afternoon audience. Should be much bigger than they already are.

The Bravery: Heard them in the distance and frankly nothing much to write ho….

Kaiser Chiefs: That ‘riot’ song is a pretty catchy number so it is. My toe was a-tappin’.

Arcade Fire: With their eclectic mix of genders and instruments, Chris Martin claims they’re the best band in the world. I couldn’t disagree more.

Franz Ferdinand: I’ve never understood the appeal of this band – just don’t get it at all. However, I’ve been told in the past that I should really see them play live so I was looking forward to the experience. Sure enough, I was surprised to discover that they are, in fact, even more unremarkable than I first thought. They’re just… I dunno… very, very ordinary and the singer (and I use that term loosely) must be tone deaf if the number of bum notes is anything to go by. Sorry, but they completely escape me. Answers on a postcard please.

Coldplay: Great songs, professionally delivered. Have evolved into the perfect stadium band whether they like it or not.