beamish wrote:So, so, so? How was it?!!! Hours of fun for all of you and all of your plus ones?
Okay, you asked for it...here's my blow-by-blow (sorry, it's long and bit disjointed, so much to say).
Heather was my official plus one (my friend got me a "definite" ticket with plus one). I also won two space-availables, and then Heather won two space availables, too. So I was extremely pleased that Falling was able to come down and join us, too! I wanted to reward some hardcore fans and take people who had never been to a taping before (mission accomplished!). Although I was a little nervous that I had double-dipped, everything went as planned as far as getting all my peeps in...I even got my sister Kerry and her GF Jenny in thanks to Heather's space availables. I was very happy that my BF Jody and her husband got in through her contacts.
I left work at 3:00 p.m., and met Heather and Falling at the communications building...it was hot hot hot waiting in line, but we made the best of it... We saw Travis' bro, Troy. We rec'd our tickets and numbers to hold our places in line, then Mandy arrived, and we all went in search of band-aids for Falling and then had Thai food at one of my favorite places, Madam Mam's, on the drag. The stars were truly aligned for me that day, because found free parking spaces for me and Mandy on the UT campus…rare indeed!!!
We finished dinner, and went back across the street to the communications building, I retrieved my "definite" tickets and waited for the doors to open. I had to wait for my sister who is always late, so Heather and Falling went in ahead of the rest of us and saved seats. They did a great job although we all didn't get to sit together, it was fine. I saw several people I know, and introduced myself to the ACL blog dude who I got in trouble because he told me that people could enter the ticket giveaway multiple times (they had over 20,000 entries, and someone was pissed they had to go through all of them). He told me they will be changing that…
Once inside the studio, I was extremely excited to see people standing around with bows and music stands with charts, we could tell it was going to be a full on show with strings and horns. Jonathan Meiburg had been standing outside (I finally shook his hand and introduced myself to him, he's so nice.) I asked if he was going to play with them and was thrilled when he said, "yes, just one song,"…"Lost Coastlines" I asked ???."Yes" Awesome!!! Brian Cassidy appeared too, playing pedal steel and guitar. Lauren looked so pretty in her black minidress, cowboy boots, and hair in pigtails. I think I saw Lauren's mom in the audience.
We all were on the left side of the stage--Mandy, Falling, and I we were on the top row, just about even with the edge of the stage. Heather, Kerry, and Jenny sat to our right. The guys were milling around below us behind, so I said to Patrick and Travis break a leg.
Falling has posted the set list on DTO. They played probably about an hour, I think. They opened with "Girl in Port," and it was great with the horns, but they got even better as the show progressed and they relaxed. At the beginning, Will talked about watching the show growing up and fantasizing about being on, it was poignant. He also thanked band members past and present who were there—Zach was definitely there. Will's voice was a bit strained at times (especially on the vocally taxing "Latest Toughs," (like he'd overdone it at BRoo or something) but it was fine. I believe he should rest as much as possible before the west coast dates w/Wilco.
I was somewhat surprised that they didn't do "Pop Lie," and a smidge disappointed that they didn't do "Plus Ones," but was pleased that they mixed it up a bit with the slower version of "For Real," which I had never heard them do live. "The War Criminal Rises and Speaks" was epic, also a first for me to hear live.
You could hear a pin drop during "King and a Queen" (I think that's the title) and "A Stone." Will either borrowed or has a new electric guitar (beautiful, silver-blue Fender tele of some kind) so "Starry Stairs" sounded different and great.
There were just a couple of negatives for me—the producer introduced them as "Ohkervil" River (sounds like okra the vegetable). I've been ill with a cough cold/combo since Monday, felt like crap, the heat didn't help, and I got sunburned being out in the sun for 15 minutes! I do not like the "high end" lighting, it's just blindingly annoying….other than that, it was fabulous.
The only redo was "Lost Coastlines." On the second take, Jonathan mentioned that he wanted to say how proud he was to continue the tradition of playing an unplugged acoustic guitar on a television show. Apparently, he feels more comfortable holding an instrument…we thought he might play banjo because he was carrying what I thought was a banjo case, but he had his Martin.
There was very cool limited edition poster for the show by Mark Pedini so it was truly a family affair--yet another thing I love about OR. I believe DTO will have one in their giveaways so contribute a little something and get in on the giveaway.
I am friends with ACL's still photographer, Scott Newton, so I will be hitting him up for some great photos…After the show we went to the Hole in the Wall (bar across the street on the drag). Heather chatted with Jonathan and Zach. Heather headed back this morning, and Falling and I are going to see St. Vincent tonight at the Mohawk, and then she leaves Saturday morning. Mandy won space availables for the St. Vincent ACL taping, so we'll be going back to ACL Saturday night, yay!!
I don't know when Okkervil's episode will air, or with whom they will be paired, but I suspect it will be November-December or January 2010. I thought they deserve the whole hour, but I was told that they will be paired with a more well-known act. Can't wait to see the finished product.
What did everyone else think?
by suzanne78704 on Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:13 pm 
I've never been to an ACL taping, so I had no idea what to expect. At least I'll get to see some of it when it airs on tv. So, next time we plan on going to the same show, we should introduce ourselves.
