@SweetLeafApril’s Sweet Beats & Eats
By April on Sep 23 Filed In ACL, Austin, Texas, Food & Beverage, Live Music 1 Comment
Howdy! It’s that time of year again when we’re all hella-busy getting our ACL schedules ironed out. You never want to miss a show by having to walk a million miles across Zilker Park to the next stage, and it’s bound to happen. Did you get stuck in the Dillo Dirt of 2009? It really made traffic across that place a challenge. This year we are going to think positively and if it rains, we’ll still be cool, right? We won’t miss shows because of any “mud”.
Well, when you’re building the purrrrrrfect schedule be sure to keep the following musical geniuses in mind:
FRIDAY:
Sonic Youth – Kim and Thurston are 2 of the coolest rockers out there and have been plugging away at what they do since I was in the first grade. (1981 in case you were dying to know.) I actually had the honor of meeting Kim and Thurston one day at Whole Foods Market a couple of years ago. We discussed the best place to go for a burger in town (at the time my argument was for Casino El Camino because I noticed they were reading the latest version of the “Fearless Critic“. They asked me where the closest bus stop was and after telling them, I got my car, and swung around to the bus stop and picked them up myself. We discussed Austin hipsters vs. Minneapolis hipsters and I shared my ATX hipster theory with Thurston: take a handful of rocks and throw them out of your car window and you will hit one. Thurston laughed but argued that there were way more in Austin than in MN. He’s probably right…Anyways, if you have the time, go see them play.
Sonic Youth – Kool Thing
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Phish – Have you seen this band before? What? You haven’t? Why? Because you’re not into the Grateful Dead or other jam bands? Well I wasn’t into that either until I got dragged to a Phish show at the now defunct-but-chock-full-of-shopping-goodness Southpark Meadows back in 1997. (The last Phish show I saw was 1999, check out that set list!) My buddy Dave had been talking about how great they were and how I needed to see them. He finally convinced me by saying, “you like anything with a “scene” involved, and there is one hell of a scene! You’ll never get to experience the parking lot party at a Dead show, so come see Phish. If you hate it, I won’t make you pay me back for the ticket.” Well, I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED every wacky, sweaty, swirly second of the experience and that means that I can’t WAIT to see them fire it up here in Austin for a killa 2 hour set. If you see me spinning, don’t sweat it. I’m fine! Just look at the smile on my face!!
SATURDAY:
LCD Soundsystem – If you are faithful reader of my blog posts then you know how much I love these guys! When they were here back in June, I had the honor to meet James Murphy, tell him how his voice has the power to make me melt and that I had the insane urge to tug on his beard. He introduced himself to me, because what kind of crazy rock star wouldn’t want to actually know who the big-mouthed, crazy chick, that had the guts to grab his beard with both hands, pat him on the face and walk away was. And yes, that’s exactly what I did. That being said, get up there and dance yourself clean, you’ll be happy that you did! Trust me when I say there is a lot you can do with an hour-long LCD set.
Oh yeah, what about the EATS?
If you find yourself cruising Dirty 6th for an after-party/show, allow me to suggest trying Casino El Camino for burgers or Parkside. Do yourself a favor by going to Parkside. The gazpacho is amazing as is everything I’ve ever tried here. They are open late & even have fancy cocktails!
Wondering about one of the many fantastic food trucks around town? Dude, check out Kebabalicious! I didn’t discover them until last year during ACL and their gyro meat is so good, that it’ll have you craving it for months afterward. Sad thing is, you’ll go to other Greek/Mediterranean places thinking you’ll find something as kebab-wait for it-alicious as what you had at the truck and it’s just going to disappoint. Don’t be sad little monkey, just find one of the 2 trucks. You’ll thank me later. Just don’t walk up to me during Phish..you might get knocked out by my giant hula hoop.
See you at Zilker and be sure to follow my tweets of fun: @SweetLeafApril
@SweetLeafIntern — Ty’s [ACL] Sweet Beats and Eats!
By Marketing Intern on Sep 22 Filed In ACL, Austin, Texas, Food & Beverage, Intern, Live Music 2 Comments
First and foremost, allow me to introduce myself. I am Ty, one of Sweet Leaf’s new interns (three of us total). I’m super psyched to be interning around here. And I’m also super excited for ACL. And there’s only a few weeks until the festivities and festival-goers flood Austin. So, in preparation, here are a few beats and eats I’m looking forward to enjoying ACL weekend.
Sweet Beats
Click the pic to link to the GIVERS blog!
I’m super excited to see GIVERS this year at ACL. I first saw these guys (and girl!) in Beaumont, TX with JEFF The Brotherhood, and they were awesome! Hailing from Lafayette, Louisiana, the quintet is really fun to watch. Tiffany “Teddy” Lamson, the leading lady, never holds back, and well.. is just generally awesome to be in the presence of (as well as the rest of the band). Check out a video of them from this year’s SXSW.
Another band that I’m really looking forward to seeing is Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Unlike GIVERS, I’ve never been able to see these guys live, although I almost got to back in my high school days.
Ted Leo and the Gang
According to friends who have seen Ted Leo and the Pharmacists live, they are “ridiculously energetic”, so that should be fun. Have a listen to one of my favorite songs by ‘em.
Ted+Leo+The+Pharmacists+-+Biomusicology
Sweet Eats
I think we can all agree that no ACL experience is complete without eating incredible food every day. And if you’re visiting, it can get pretty hectic trying to lock down a delicious, quick place to grab some food before your next show. One of my favorite places to bike (or walk) to and grab a bite is Sandy’s Hamburgers. The burgers are delicious and super well priced.
mmmmmmm
@SweetLeafGigi’s Sweet Beats and Eats!
By Gigi on Sep 21 Filed In ACL, Austin, Texas, Food & Beverage 4 Comments
It’s time again for the Coolest Mom in Austin to come out to play. What time is that you may ask? ACL time! Last year was a flashback to 1991 – Pearl Jam. Eddie Vedder shook the mud right off me. Good Times!
Sweet Beats!
This year I am going to flashback to my school days and check out The Eagles. Yes - the Newman boy’s will be there to continue their musical education. This might make you think “HMM – how old is this chick”. The only thing I will tell is that I am old enough to know good music. On that note – I distinctly remembering listening to Desperado in my grandmother’s 1975 Powder Blue Mustang and realizing that she had to be the coolest person in the world – that’s where I get it from.
Sweet Eats!
If you get a chance to get out for food between sets, try the best Mexican food restaurant in town. Azul Tequila is a hidden treasure right off Lamar just a stone’s throw from Zilker Park. They have everything from Blue Margarita’s, Albondigas, to a little side of Mariachi’s. Check it out – I promise you’ll love it!
xo — @SweetLeafGigi
@SweetLeafRussell’s [ACL] Sweet Beats and Eats!
By Russell on Sep 20 Filed In ACL, Austin, Texas, Events, Food & Beverage, Live Music 2 Comments
Sweet Beats!
In 2007, Muse was definitely a ‘muse’, inspiring me to aspire to more in life. After their show, I walked away in such disbelief — that show really did just happen, and I was both there and not there, enjoying the moment on completely new and enthralling levels. (I’m getting goose bumps as I revisit this experience.) This year, Muse is back, and I cannot wait for another earth shattering, stadium style performance that is sure to amaze us all.
Sweet Eats!
Post (or pre, depending on your perspective) ACL-action, head over to “24 Diner” at Lamar @ 6th Street. 3:00AM chicken and waffles [see below] can’t get any better. If you’ve got wheels, I highly suggest you head to 48th and Burnet to experience Austin’s newest (and greatest) Chilean food joint – La Sombra. ¡excepcional!
@SweetLeafDanny’s [ACL] Sweet Beats and Eats!
By Danny on Sep 17 Filed In ACL, Austin, Texas, Events, Food & Beverage, Live Music Add a Comment
ACL is right around the corner and it’s time to kick off Sweet Leaf’s top band picks and favorite places to eat in Austin. Because we are based in Austin, and most of the people in the office are MAJOR foodies, this blog series is going to get interesting and delicious!
SWEET BEATS!!!
Scanning through the ACL lineup trying to pick the band I was most excited to see was a difficult task this year. With memories of Band of Horses bringing me to tears at Lollapalooza 2009, Matt and Kim making me bounce back stage at Lolla 2010, or Local Natives bringing out the melodies in my mind at SXSW this year…. I settled on BEACH HOUSE! I have been listening to them for only a short time, but my ears have been stuck on, “Better Times” from the Teen Dream album. [see video below] They are a dreampop band from Baltimore, Maryland. Their music is a combo of floating keys and soft drum beats that will have you in a trace on the Zilker lawn. You will be enchanted by the front-woman’s, Victoria Legrand, voice. See below for a taste!
Sweet EATS!
I am a huge food fan. HELL, I eat food everyday. Hell, I live in Austin everyday. Hell, Austin Food is AMAZING! With that being said, choosing one place in Austin for someone to eat at while in town for ACL is difficult. I would have to pick 40 places. BUT, if I have to pick one that incorporates great food and what Austin is all about. I have to go with the Odd Duck Farm to trailer.
They serve food from a collective of several local farms, straight from the farm — straight to the trailer. When the trailer runs out of food for the day, they are done till the next day. Check out the menu below. My favorites are the grilled half of quail and the brussel sprouts. Their menu changes daily, and the food is always fresh. They serve small plates, I usually get 2 or 3. PLUS, it’s BYOB and it’s next to Gourdough’s Doughnuts [personal favorite: Mother Clucker -- fried chicken strip with honey on a doughnut] Click HERE to see their menu! Two Austin trailers, with AWESOME AUSTIN food! Check it out Ya’ll!! –@SweetLeafDanny
