Personally, last weekend’s ACL Festival happened without a lot of fanfare. I didn’t make it this year. No one I know went either. They said: too hot. Too long. Too expensive. Too many people. Too aggravating. I said: touché. But since summer feels a little empty without baking in the sun at least once while watching a band, Fort Worth’s Wall of Sound Festival was a welcomed alternative. One day. Three stages. Forty (mostly local) bands. Welcome to the breakdown…

12:00 The first band I really wanted to see, Mom, is on stage. I’m in the shower. So there’s a bit of a scheduling issue here.

2:05 Arriving at La Grave baseball field (home of the Ft. Worth Cats), I’m surprised at the relatively small attendance. I had no idea how many people to expect, but this is definitely on the smaller end of what I imagined. It’s still a good showing though and I don’t feel crowded.

2:15 Walking into the festival, we hear local white rapper Astronautalis doing stand-up between his songs. He claims that everything the Cosby show did for African-American culture is being undone by the ridiculous CW sitcom, Girlfriends. Watch it, he advises. “It’s great.” So was his set.

3:00 A show insider informs me that the festival is a bit of an organizational cluster fuck. There’s no printed set schedules available in the beginning of the day, the sets are all running late, etc. What’s more distressing, there’s very little security. I quickly realize that this last statement is no exaggeration. Contrary to most festivals, there’s no visible security whatsoever. There’s not even really anyone watching the gate. We walk in and out, unchecked. Gradually, people notice this and so begins “The Great Alcohol Migration of 2007.” No one will ever pay $4.50 a beer when they can easily cart in their own.

3:15 Ghosthustler disappoints. I think they’re trying to be Ghostland Observatory. They’ve got the electro-synth and bass thing going on. They’ve got “ghost” in their name. They’ve also got a front vocalist/dancer. Only his moves aren’t as good. And his pants aren’t as tight. And the beats aren’t as delicious. We go eat lunch.

4:05 Arriving back at the field, we see these dude bros having their own soiree in the parking lot. Blaring on their stereos? Ghostland Observatory. Somewhere Anthony Kiedis sheds a tear.

4:30 Lymbyc System is amazing. They’re an instrumental duo in the same musical vein as The Album Leaf and Explosions in the Sky. For a short time, I’m so focused on their set that I forget how freaking hot it is. Front and center, there are two tweensters about fourteen years old. They literally watch the band with their mouths open.

5:45 The Sword plays on Main Stage Two. They have long hair and play metal. Hard. I actually kinda like it. Weird.

5:55 I’m over it.

6:00 The day just got so much better. We realize that because security is so scant, there is no one patrolling the backstage artist area. Not a big deal really. It’s not as if the fans are going to rush back there to assault members of The Paper Chase for autographs. However, we are overjoyed. The artist bar is fully stocked with beer, margaritas, shots of tequila, and Vitamin Water. Free. For nothing. Por nada. We return. Again. And again.

6:15 A band I’ve never heard of, Oliver Future , is playing. They’re really catchy. A friend turns to me and whispers that same sentiment. I make a mental note that I’ll have to check them out later. I also note that their lead singer appears to be wearing old school Ray Ban Wayfarers. Trés chic. I like.

6:43 The sun is setting while I watch another band I’ve never heard of. Doug Burr? I scribble down their name so I won’t forget. They’re good. A random promoter hands my friend Jessica and I free passes to an upcoming show in Dallas. Two guys next to us cry sexism. I laugh, but secretly think: “When women are finally paid the same amount as men for doing the same jobs, I’ll fucking give you my ticket to see Matthew Dear and Treewave… And stop looking at my chest.”

7:20 OM are kinda tools. They play doomish metal. Now, I won’t hold that against them. But the lead singer gets pissy when the band on the stage next to them starts to quietly set up their instruments. He snaps at them: “Don’t sound check while we’re playing!” Cranky.

7:50 White Denim is scorching. Loud, aggressive, and put out a really fun set. Their music is fast-paced retro-garage punk with a definite swagger to it. They’re delightfully off-kilter and one of the best bands here tonight. A large guy who looks like a linebacker jumps on stage to tell the band how much they rock. They look appreciative and nervous. The guy mutters some words drunkenly into EACH microphone, poses for a picture with the bass player, and then hops back into the crowd.

8:15 I chat with music blogger, GvsB. He really likes White Denim too and is excited about seeing The Books for the first time. He’s also equally amused by the apparent complete lack of security. At least indie kids are relatively well-behaved…

White Denim – Darksided Computer Mouth

9:35 The Books open with “Take Time” and it’s so lovely. They are one of the few bands on the main stage to utilize the projection screen. Their videos are a collection of quirky home video clips, nature scenes, and vintage films. The video for “Classy Penguin” shows a penguin push another penguin into icy water. I laugh.

10:30 Ghostland Observatory. So fabulous. This is the third time I’ve seen them and they are consistently great. The man behind the beats, Thomas Turner, performs again in a long, light blue satin cape. Frontman Aaron Behrens is larger than life. His chest-length braids swing madly as he dances like no one I’ve seen before. The crowd loves it.

11:05 A drunk girl falls over near a picnic table. Hypothetical security hypothetically help her out. I’m sure she’ll be fine.

11:31 I’m listening to Midlake. I can’t exactly see them, but I can hear them really well. In an effort to have a good view of the headliners, Explosions in the Sky, we decide to stay at stage two and forgo moving over to stage one to see Midlake. “Young Bride” and “Roscoe” sound exceptional though.

12:03 Shortly after midnight, Explosions in the Sky opens their set with “Your Hand In Mine.” They sound beautiful. The crowd stands almost perfectly still. I close my eyes. Waves of sound flood the air. There’s a slight breeze and the night is cool – a rare thing here in Texas. I open my eyes to see a falling star. Seriously. It’s a truly poetic moment. And then I realize how fortuitous this moment really is. As of midnight, summer was officially over. It’s the first day of fall. Summer has come and gone so quickly, as it often does. Being an adult now with a real grown-up job makes it much less exciting than it used to be. However, I can’t help but feel sentimental now about its passing. I am entirely convinced there is no better way to celebrate the start of a new season than where I am right now.

Explosions in the Sky – Your Hand In Mine

————————————————

Stay tuned for the fashion review portion of the WOS festival and much thanks to Dan Padgett for the stellar photos.