Cutest Moment: Sabrina Carpenter Arresting Joe Keery
Oh, boy! In a recurring gag, Sabrina Carpenter brought out the pink handcuffs before her song “Juno” to arrest someone for “being too hot.” The perpetrator? None other than Stranger Things actor Joe Keery, whose band, Djo, had played earlier that day at the fest. Fans lost their minds as Sabrina said, “Joe, it’s actually cuffing season,” and the actor immediately lifted up his wrists, eager to be cuffed on the spot. Since then, the two have followed each other on Instagram, sparking rumors that they might be the next “it” couple. Talk about an arrested development!
Strangest Stage Selection: Passion Pit
You could hardly “Take a Walk,” let alone get a little bit of elbow room to dance within the massive crowd at the Passion Pit show, which was curiously scheduled for the diminutive Tito’s stage on Sunday night. While they put on a fantastic performance, the fan experience was less than stellar for most viewers, who were squeezed in next to the oh-so-fragrant porta-potties or knocked around by the feeding frenzy at the adjacent food court during the dinner rush. ACL, stop underestimating the popularity of millennial bands and give them a bigger stage already!
Most Humorous Moment: Doechii’s Ripped Pants
We’re always here for a little comic relief. Doechii dominated her set at the American Express stage on Saturday evening, but the rapper and singer might have gotten a little too into it. While dancing and jumping around onstage, Doechii ripped the back right side of her low-rise jeans, putting her in quite the cheeky situation. “Y’all don’t look at my booty, please!” she exclaimed as she held up her pants. You might say the whole experience gave her a bit of, well, “Anxiety.”
Biggest Breakout: RIIZE and K-pop
K-pop has captured an international audience for ages now, but it feels like this year has marked a major surge in the genre’s popularity in the U.S. On Saturday afternoon, RIIZE became the first ever K-pop band to take the stage at ACL Fest. The six-piece boy band’s high-energy live show and fantastic choreography wowed the crowd, winning new fans and delighting die-hard supporters. If you’re assuming this is all buzz related to KPop Demon Hunters, think again. The ACL Fest lineup dropped in May, two months before the movie was released. If you thought K-pop was big this year, just wait until next year’s festival lineups.
Biggest Surprise (Tie): Hilary Duff, Shania Twain, and Guy Forsyth
You never know who might appear onstage during Austin’s annual fall fest, but this year we had a trio of celebrity surprises that shocked and delighted audiences. On Friday, Role Model brought out Hilary Duff to portray Sally in their hit song “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out.” Sabrina Carpenter spiced up her Saturday night set with a duet with Shania Twain, and the singers belted out “That Don’t Impress Me Much” while each wearing sparkling shorts and boots. And for their headlining set on Sunday, The Killers delighted the crowd when Guy Forsyth joined them on the American Express stage to croon a rendition of “Whiskey River.”
Most Fun: T-Pain
Everyone knows a few T-Pain songs. But it’s not until the set is in full swing that you realize just how many T-Pain songs you know. The “Buy U a Drank” rapper’s performance at ACL Fest turned out to be the biggest dance party of the weekend, with everyone from aging Gen-Xers, millennials, and even the festival bar staff getting down. Decked out in a Western theme including a saloon, horses, and cowboy costumes, T-Pain’s stage show was delightfully kitschy, and made for one of the weekend’s most enjoyable hours.
Biggest Distraction: Taylor Swift Rumors
Starting late last week, gossip began to swirl throughout the capital city and beyond that Taylor Swift would be popping up as Sabrina Carpenter’s surprise guest at her Saturday show. In theory, the timing made sense: Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, debuted the day before, and Carpenter was featured on its titular track. We even heard on good authority that Swift had booked out two floors of the Austin Proper. But the rumors were baseless, and they ultimately distracted from the 100+ bands that did show up at the fest, plus overshadowed Shania Twain’s appearance with Sabrina. Sorry, Swifties! Hope you can shake it off.
Most Inspiring: Love for Local Artists
ACL Fest has always been great about booking rising Austin artists on the bill. But this year felt different, with several homegrown acts not simply getting a nod but instead holding down key slots in the schedule. Both Dylan Gossett and Briscoe played great late afternoon sets on Friday to sizable crowds. But Next of Kin might have stolen the weekend with a powerhouse performance in the Tito’s tent that proves the group has what it takes to be the next big thing.
Biggest Crowd for a Small Stage: Empire of the Sun
The only certainties in life are death, taxes, and ACL Fest’s Miller Lite Stage being overcrowded for at least one artist. This was the same spot that saw Lizzo draw a massive throng of fans in 2019. While the size of Empire of the Sun’s crowd might have been a bit unexpected, there’s a good explanation. Not only was the band’s hit “Walking On A Dream” huge in the late aughts, it has also since gone viral on TikTok, which has helped the group garner an intergenerational audience.
Most Politically Outspoken: Hozier
The Irish folk rock singer is known for being politically outspoken, and he didn’t let being in a conservative state stop him from making some bold public statements. Over the course of his headlining set on Friday night, Hozier spoke in support of Palestine, women’s rights, and freedom of speech, plus he wrapped a trans flag around his microphone stand before singing his hit song “Take Me to Church.”
Biggest Sticker Shock: Drink Prices
Look, it’s not exactly a hot take to say that beverages are way too expensive these days. And yes, festival prices will always be jacked up. But come on, ACL, give us a break. We’re dancing, dehydrated, and baking in the 90-degree heat with hardly a cloud in sight. Is it too much to ask that a small margarita not be $23?
Great Job Madeline Hollern & the Team @ Austin Monthly Magazine Source link for sharing this story.
