TNG Does Gay-CL: Day 3

Don't Nakia it until you've tried it...

This is my third installment on the 3-day Austin City Limits music festival that Michael and I attended two weeks ago. You might enjoy reading Days 1 and 2 as well.

My third day at ACL started off with a bang. Actually, with two bangs. I happened to be in the press tent at the same time as Tegan and Sara and a seven minute gap in the latter's schedule allowed for a brief, but fruitful, interview that I will be posting in the next week or so.

After that I went out and saw several bands. However, I missed several more bands because I devoted a good half the day to stalking Neko Case for an interview. An interview which never happened.

"Life," as my old boss used to say, "Is a series of bitter disappointments." Not interviewing Neko was a sad end to an otherwise great weekend. Stumbling across a perfect '80s dance party at a bar called Elysium made it better.

Below the fold, check out my opinions on acts including The Kills and Stars and listen to my ACL: Day 3 mixtape.

Best Gay Artist: Nakia & His Southern Cousins

The 6'5, bearded mountain-of-a-man that is Nakia first came to my attention on ACL: Day 2 when he was pulled onstage by Sharon Jones and managed to outdance her. A couple hours later, his compliment of my tattoo led to me finding out he was gay and sitting down for an impromptu interview that I'll be posting soon.

Finding queer family in such an unlikely place meant that I had to check out Nakia's show the next day and I was not disappointed. Backed by a full band and two polka-dotted singers, Nakia unleashed his huge voice and bluesy, gospel-tinged songs at a full crowd of fans. Though I appreciated how off the gay beaten path his music was, it was even better to see someone be casually out in a genre not always known for acceptance.

Best at Having No Stage Presence: The Kills

I've liked The Kills ever since 2005's "No Wow" and have been happy to watch them rise from White Stripes clones to Kate-Moss-dating rockers with an actual unique sound. However, their stage show didn't give a whole lot to be interested in. I've learned my lesson about comparing musicians to reconstituted corpses, so I'll just say that the Kills's show involved a whole lot of shuffling around, singing in the same mic at the same time and having one or another's back to the audience.

On the plus side, their singer Alison Mosshart came very close to winning a "Best at Looking Exactly Like Slash" award.

Best Dressed: The Octopus Project

I am an eternal sucker for bands who don costumes or coordinate their outfits for live shows. Austin natives The Octopus Project did a great job at this, putting their men in shirts and ties and their woman in a brightly colored cocktail dress. As an added bonus, the music was highly tolearale. Experimental noise-rock isn't always my forte, but they managed to make harmonies and melodies from their noise. Eventually that all comes together to make a song.

Check 'em out at The Black Cat on October 22.

Best Pleasant Surprise: Stars

As much as I love Canadian pop, I had somehow got it in my head that Toronto band Stars made the mopey, boring variety of indie music. Of this this is a notion I was quickly disabused . On a stage full of roses, which were subsequently thrown at the audience, I was actually moved to move. The pianos were there, and the pretty, low-key vocals, but I hadn't expected the guitars and the general high energy that came with them. Well done, Stars.

Best Artist Who Didn't Call Me A Douchebag This Time: Neko Case

The last performance I saw was one of the best, as the woman with "The Voice" commanded one of ACL's largest stages like the pro she is. The final show in her two-and-a-half year "Fox Confessor" tour found her busting out some well-loved old favorites as well as a new song or two. Typical to form, there was much between-song banter and a quip about orcas eating babies. Most noteable (for me) was the fact that Neko didn't call me any names. Last time it happened I deserved it.... but that didn't make it sting any less.

Best Artists I Skipped to Stalk Neko Case in the Press Area: Tegan and Sara, Gnarls Barkley, White Denim, Okkervil River, Blues Traveler, The Raconteurs and Band of Horses.

And she never showed. TNG