ACL recap from someone who isn't paid for their opinions but dishes them out anyway

Last weekend I went to what might be my final ACL fest. I've been every year since the very first one (minus last year), but they're just getting more and more congested with people, and I just don't do crowds. It's hard to get lost in your favorite song when you've got people yelling over the music, when you're staving off a case of the black lung from all the dust, and all of Zilker Park is essentially a big fat sweaty mosh pit.

With that said, here are some ACL highlights:
What Made Milwaukee Famous.

Friday I went with my friend Astrid (from Germany) and it was her first ACL fest, and this was the first show we saw. Since it was in the middle of the day, we basically walked to the front and watched the show with plenty of standing room. It was a pretty awesome show too-- the lead singer's got some pipes! And later we even met the drummer and guitarist.
Sultan- What Made Milwaukee Famous

Vampire Weekend.

They're just adorable. I think they're like the Jonas Brothers for grown-ups.
Campus- Vampire Weekend

Gogol Bordello.

They blew the metaphorical roof off of Zilker Park. Everybody likes to dance to gypsy music and that's fact.
Start Wearing Purple- Gogol Bordello

Erykah Badu.

Okay, so I had forgotten about Erykah for a while, and was expecting to just enjoy her music if only for nostalgic purposes. But Daaaayuhn! I mean, she was pregnant... and she was on FIRE!
Tyrone- Erykah Badu

Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet ft. Bela Fleck.

Okay, so when I say all this, I really mean a highlight was Ben Sollee (3rd from the Left). I was so disappointed when I didn't see his name (as a solo artist) on the lineup, but then when I went to this show and saw that he was a part of this awesome quartet, I nearly dropped a load. Plus I got to meet him later, which was another highlight!

A Change is Gonna Come- Ben Sollee

Mason Jennings.

I mean, yeah he's one of my favorite music artists, period. But it was also a really good show.


Plus, I have always wanted to be in a crowd of people singing and dancing to "I love you (and Buddha, too)"

The funny thing about that song is that it reminds me of the "Charismatic" Church (think, the Pentecostal church in Borat) I went to when I was a young'n. And we'd sing and dance and all that jazz. But I have since been turned off by that kind of church because of its exclusive beliefs and other reasons. This song sort of helps me reconnect with my severed past... in a really cool way. Maybe I should just stop talking and you should just listen to the song... maybe you'll see what I mean.
I love you (and Buddha, too)-Mason Jennings

This one's for the parents

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P3231184, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

Look at me! I'm at church!! On Easter!!

Our first To'ona'i

P2240595, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

Every sunday everybody gets up and goes to church, and then comes home to eat the to'ona'i. Samoa is 98% Christian and they take the Sabbath very seriously! Saturday they (now we) get up early and go to the ma'umaga (plantation) to harvest the fruit and veggies, then we go home and build the umu (a stove of rocks) and do various other things to prepare for the meal on Sunday so that the maximum amount of time to rest is available.

So since this was our first To'ona'i, Jackie (our academic director) did all the work. We ate octopus, raw tuna, and many other random things. But it was all delicious! And we had our very own child to fan us. We should get this child-fanning-your-food thing going in the states asap.