By M. A. Alvarez II
The Austin City Limits 2nd Weekend, despite the rain, had brought some of the most talented names in music together at Austin’s Zilker Park for an unforgettable celebration. The first two days, though rainy didn’t let festival goers down. Still full of an electrifying energy, the park was thriving by the time I arrived ready for the final day. I could even say it was possibly more jam packed than the day before.
My hopes were high, just where they should be. I wouldn’t be foolish enough to believe that ACL would disappoint me. Not after experiencing the last two years of the festival prior to this one. Also the days before were met with tremendous bliss I could never forget. After entering the gates, I met with my friend Tanner at the base of the Miller Lite stage where he and his brother Taylor were waiting for the glittering and funkadelic Gramatik to take the stage
The electric sound would dominate today as Gramatik would only be a prelude to EDM headliners Zedd and Calvin Harris. Gramatik’s soulful electric funk brought about a chill atmosphere as festival goers took to dancing in the mud created by rains earlier that morning. There was this carelessness about the air, as if worries were eliminated once you past the gates of Zilker Park. Especially among the jazz like beats of Gramatik’s set. There wasn’t a single worry. Not in that crowd at least.
I wouldn’t leave the Miller Lite stage anytime soon. After claiming dominion even closer to the stage, we would be in full view for electric rock duo Phantogram. The beautiful Sarah Barthel greeted Austin with her mesmerizing and sensual voice. Soon her voice would echo over the crowd, like a siren, hypnotizing and alluring, as she lead the crowd truly into a world of her own. With the help of guitarist Josh Carter and the use of her own keyboard, Barthel drew us in entrancing me as the lyrics of “Fall in Love” dripped into my ears. Phantogram would stay true to their name, altering reality with their music, and creating what seemed to be an illusion.
The final day was already off to an amazing start. The sky was now clear and a beautiful blue. The park was colorful and full of life and as I laid upon the park grounds listening to Spoon in the distance I could only feel the rise of playful laughter rise from within me as I looked around into a sea of smiles. ACL had succeeded in unifying generations and diverse groups of people and artists, and now here in the midst of their success we were drawing closer towards the end of yet another year of ACL.
After watching the end of Spoon’s performance at the Honda stage, my friends and I rushed back just in time to score a full view at Miller Lite. Zedd would be taking the stage in a matter of moments. I can remember the rhythm of my heart as I heard the rise of Zedd’s mix of MAGIC!’s “Rude” play. The lights and the fire erupted as a colorful projection drew my eyes towards the DJ. It looked as if the screen behind him was about to swallow him and take the crowd with him as it projected a vortex behind the barrage of lights that shot from the stage. The crowd was jumping. My emotions were flaring. As the crowd opened up I found myself pressing forward as Zedd proceeded to play his mix of Empires of the Sun’s “Alive” and Skrillex’s “Breaking a Sweat”. Zedd would also play fan favorites “Spectrum”, “Find You”, and “Fall into the Sky”.
Zedd would leave me energized. I could feel the adrenaline rushing through my body. I was almost startled by the affect the music had taken over me. It had filled me with a spark of intensifying emotion, I couldn’t help but shout among the crowd. But just as Zedd was ending his set, in the distance I heard an echo of something familiar. From the Honda stage, I could hear it, a song I sang to myself from time to time; “Under Control”. I screamed as I watched the crowd immediately break apart and dart for the Honda stage.
“Come on! Let’s go!” I shouted as we sprinted into the blue lights. Calvin Harris had opened with my favorite song. “Under Control” had a very special place in my heart and as soon as I found myself among the crowd I raised my voice, singing with spirit and passion, as the sound roared through the air. Calvin Harris considerably is one of my favorite artists and DJs and possibly my most anticipated act of the festival all together. To have the chance to experience his set live, among a festival setting was a remarkable and unforgettable moment in my life.
After listening to Calvin Harris play his hits “Summer” and “Thinking About You”, still filled with the incredible strength the music had fueled us with. We made our way across the park and to the Samsung Galaxy stage to catch the legendary Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam would tie up the loose ends of the festival, bringing the youth of music into the ways of the old, touching on generations past. I could feel the emotion still within me, hot and unyielding, but as I looked into the golden mirage of lights as the band played, I felt my body come to ease. I looked up and the sky had cleared and the spotlights had taken to the night sky, crossing and merging with one another as Pearl Jam played their cover of the Who’s “Baba O’Riley”.
It was then that it hit me. The purpose in all this. This festival was truly, as simple as it was, a celebration of music; new and old. It brought generations together. At one end of the park we had the youth basking in the energetic and uplifting electronic dance music of their generation only to meet with the generations before them at the very end. This was a unison of music and I would always remember that. Pearl Jam would close out the festival with none other than the United States National Anthem and after an epic guitar solo, we would begin our trek back to the gates, back to our homes, away from this wondrous place.
This would conclude my third year at ACL. Each time is always different, but somethings never change. Each artist always brings their heart to the playing field that is Zilker Park. Each sound perfect. Every cord is struck. There are no mistakes. No worries. ACL is a celebration of music, new and old; a unison of generations and genres, that bring people together. It is the very reason I was exposed to music and love it as I do, being the first live music event I had ever been to. ACL will always have a special place in my heart and though I said goodbye that day, I knew it wouldn’t be the last time I set foot on those grounds. Until next time ACL. Until next time.
The Nocturne Manifesto 