Get 'Yer Austin City Limits Preview Buzz On...

New issue out now! We're now counting a handful of days to ACL #6. On top of the features you've seen lately on Eating Fresh Texas, we've been busy doing the glossy thing too. Pages 14 + 15 tout more previews by yours truly, and a great cover story on Ghostland Observatory as well as dozens of things to do when you're here...if you don't know already!
Pick up a copy of the new Austin Music + Entertainment around town or at the airport when you fly in. Here's the online version...

ACL Festival Local Artist Spotlight: Guy Forsyth

Friday, Sept. 14th
6:40-7:20pm
BMI Stage
Incredibly talented and difficult to classify, Guy Forsyth has forged many styles of music over four solo albums. Forsyth is a man who probably strummed to Robert Johnson while humming Tom Waits and listening to King Buscuit Flower Hour on the radio while Doctor Demento sensibilites (or nonsenseabilities!) ran through his head. His blues-Americana grit is on display here for all who’ve missed his working man nation-wide tourning schedule in the past.
www.guyforsyth.com
Listen to Guy Forsyth

ACL Festival National Spotlight: Back Door Slam

Saturday, Sept 15th
1:50-2:30pm
Austin Ventures Stage
Back Door Slam opened the eyes of everyone in attendance this year at an early summer gig at Austin's Continental Club. Front man Davy Knowles channels familiar blues-rock vibes that would make a certain Town Lake Trail statue nod in approval. And (duh) you know, a ton of musicians have taken this exact photo, but there have been very few where the picture really does say a thousand words about the talent below the man. Knowles can flat out play the hell out of the guitar. Equipped with the voice of a young Paul Rodgers, the ‘Slam’ will deliver a rousing flavor worth raising more than one cold Lone Star in toast. Pace yourself though. It’s a long weekend.
Listen to Back Door Slam.
www.backdoorslam.com

Austin City Limits Local Spotlight: Sound Team

Saturday, Sept. 15th
12:30-1:30pm
AMD stage
It’s pretty amazing the kind of controversy one negative ("pissy" would be more acurate), review** can generate. During the fallout, the online bloggerati came to Sound Team’s defense of their 2006 release Movie Monster with a vengence. This group is young and rising and their sound is synthetic meets organic in a blissful mash up of brit-like synth pop and Texas alt-rock. One of the leaders of the Austin scene, don’t miss them on the AMD stage or the gig with Spoon and Alright Tonight! Thursday, 9.13.07 before ACL, in what will go down as another Austin classic.
Listen to Sound Team.
www.soundteam.net

**look it up on Pitchfork if you like, CMJ's whiny stepchild.

Austin City Limits National Spotlight: M.I.A.

Friday, Sept 14th
5:30-6:30pm
Dell Stage

Possibly the most intriguing performer of ACL and one you’ve likely never heard of takes the stage at just the right time. M.I.A. (Mathangi Arulpragasm) descends from a Sri Lankan family of intense political activism. She’s a successful visual artist and has collaborated with Elastica and Peaches in her early music career. Combining elements of hip-hop, dancehall, ragga, grime and baile funk, some of her music and videos have been censored for their political content. M.I.A. is a woman with a lot to say, but U.S. radio has found no room for her. An outcast if you will, M.I.A. is a glove-like fit for her first Austin appearance. Make sure to leave work early.
Her new album is due out 8.20.07 in the U.S.
Listen to M.I.A. on Download of Week.
www.miauk.com

Austin City Limits National Spotlight: Willy Mason

Saturday, Sept. 15th
11:45-12:30pm
Dell Stage

Staring off Austin City Limits on Saturday is young and witty Massachusetts guitarist/singer-songwriter, Willy Mason. Keeping true to the classic structures of country and blues, Mason peppers his songs with a keen humor and Dylan-esque lyrical narrative. His singing voice is uniquely his own. Just old enough to enjoy a Lone Star after this gig, Mason’s star potential is rising and is a great compliment to this year’s lineup.
Listen to "We Can Be Strong" on the Download of Week.
www.willy-mason.com
www.astralwerks.com

Austin City Limits National Spotlight: The National

First off, nice job to all the folks at the ACL festival with this booking. The National's new album, The Boxer is another fantastic work by this posse of Cincinnati boys, now living in New York City.
I can't get enough of it and the bloggeratti are going nuts over these guys. Although they got the total shaft on scheduling (Sunday, the 16th @ 1:30pm, ATT stage), The National is a gem to see in an otherwise total lull period of the final day. It's difficult to describe their music-- gothy with a great power punch, layered with horns and strings. They just played Dave Letterman this week and even he was really impressed- calling it "beautiful." Watch for yourself as they perform "Fake Empire" live.