Jeff_I's Blog

A word to the wise: Try not to go on vacation to a place that rhymes with where you currently live.

Unless you live in a town called Dorlando, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, but believe me. After explaining to people from Boston that you're going to Austin, then getting to Austin and telling people you just flew in from Boston, you're in need of another vacation already. So, after weeks of feeling like Tom Green in "Road Trip" I'm finally gearing up to fly to Austin for the 6th annual Austin City Limits Music Festival.

I've been all over the world and Austin remains one of my favorite cities. For whatever reason our preconception of anything Texas is oil rigs, hicks and tumbleweeds, but that can't be further from the truth. Austin is billed as the 'Live Music Capital Of The World', it's music scene every bit as hip as Brooklyn and its residents, possibly the nicest people on the planet.  All the city's positives come together as they take great pride in hosting ACL Fest.

This will be my third year heading to the Festival, once again heading there with my two friends Dave and Dave (I have an inordinate amount of friends named David, including my brother. My cell phone's contact list looks like the Old Testament.)  We have some big plans ahead.

 The Impending Highlights:

The Music! - Have you looked at the lineup?  Arcade Fire, Bjork, Muse, Bob Dylan, My Morning Jacket, Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party. It's endless.  Plus we're planning on seeing Art Brut, Grizzly Bear and some mystery acts at aftershows around town.

The Night Life:  You know a city has a good scene when they host a Real World there and there are more than 3 incarcerations over the course of the season.  Austin is home to the University Of Texas, whose entire student body seems to collectively appear on Sixth Street at night.  Sixth Street is the main drag of bars, clubs and restaurants, oozing with live music and revelry.  Think Bourbon Street minus the pools of vomit lining the streets.

The Food: Before I went to Texas my idea of BBQ and Mexican food was my backyard grill and Taco Bell.  Oh man was I wrong.  All I'm going to say is Stubb's and Chuy's and I'm told they're not even the best in town.

The Interviews:  I'm set to bring you some special treats, including thoughts from some of the country's most influential music bloggers and up-and-comers in the music scene. 

The Bats: There happens to be 80,000 bats that live under a bridge near my hotel. Every night they fly out at the same time.  It's apparently a spectacle to behold and believe me, we'll be getting our West/Keaton/Kilmer/Clooney/Bale on. 

 The Quest:  There's no way we're trekking all this way without going to a Sonic. Despite the fact that the average Northerners obsession with Sonic probably outweighs the actual food served there, it will be done, and it will be photographed.

That's all for now.  Check back in a bit for a stellar update on my hectic day of travel.