Every fall, Austin looks forward to ACL Fest, and each year, there's always a point where two of your favorite bands are playing on different sides of the park at the exact same time. ACL Band Clash is a weekly series in which Austinist scribes Paige Maguire and Tom Thornton examine the worst ACL scheduling clashes, and try to provide good advice on finding a resolution. Well, good advice might be a stretch, but advice, anyhow. This week, good ole American rock'n'roll battles itself in a best of the midwest bout that's likely to be one of Austin's biggest dilemmas: Chicago's Wilco against Louisville's My Morning Jacket.

Paige: I'm worried that Jeff Tweedy's looming reputation as one of the greatest of our time and the strength of Wilco's catalog will talk even the casual fan out of giving My Morning Jacket a chance to blister their eardrums and seriously consider growing long hair. Even though almost everyone we know will at least have one Wilco album that they like, I feel it's important to flip the coin on this one. While MMJ might not have the solidity in the history of independent music that Tweedy and Co. have obtained, they can certainly compete in the live setting. Their shows are loud, fast-paced and emotive odes to Southern rock, without succumbing to the bad parts of the Allman Brothers' mountain jam-style decadence. That's a compliment, by the way. Any time a band can show up on stage with flying V's, '80s heavy metal hair over their faces, and give unapologetic nods to both '70s jam rock and J Mascis, there's something special happening. Besides, aren't there already a handful of CDs and DVDs available if you want to see what Tweedy is like live?

Tom: This is certainly a tougher call than the last two band clashes, but I'm going with Wilco. Excepting about half of A.M., they essentially haven't ever released a bad record. Like Beck, Jeff Tweedy has experimented to the point where he's retreating a bit right now, so the new album is rather mellow. But have you heard the guitar work? Nels Cline is just destroying Starbucks stereos and multiple Volkswagen commercials with these brilliant pieces that are interspersed with Tweedy's folk jams. You're correct that Kicking Television is available is a document of live Wilco, and anyone who's heard it can tell you that the band is anything but soft live. It's a sometimes ferociously noisy document something akin to Neil Young's Weld. And Tweedy may be headed down the path of Mr. Sideburns: he's still making good work two decades into his career (Uncle Tupelo formed in '87), while his band's format and musical style remain in constant flux. I think that 10 years from now, Wilco is the set that you want to point to on the ACL 2007 poster.

Paige: You're breaking my heart, Tom. Have I heard the guitar work? Nels Cline is the temptation I struggled with before taking a side on this one, and my research made it even harder. While the "Impossible Germany" guitar solo is tempting, I have to stick to my guns. I say this knowing that in recent weeks, Bill Frisell has been joining Wilco on stage and that the Nels Cline Singers album, Draw Breath, is fantastic. What matters here is that MMJ are one of the only rock bands playing to sold out crowds fully espousing the jam band mentality without losing any cred, and that's important. You know that typically I steer as clear from that shit as possible, but when done properly, live experimentation is thrilling to witness. This is the meat and potatoes of live music's joy -- and the heart of what makes people like Cline exciting to see. Still, I'm arguing for the underdog (or trying, anyway). I'm sure Wilco's hour long and carefully manicured set will be great, but even if you had no interest in MMJ, wouldn't you rather wait and see a two hour, three encore Wilco show with special appearances, Mermaid Avenue songs reworked with Frisell and Cline, and the freedom to experiment? I'm passing on Wilco in this environment to hold out for some other event ... maybe a prairie?

Tom: Yeah, that Prairie Home Companion segment was a little stilted and off-putting. But even if it is manicured, Wilco's set should be stellar. At the end of a summer tour, the band will be polished and will know what music will best move the crowd. They're obviously loved here in Austin, so the audience will be enthusiastic and welcoming. And with Tweedy, you never know what will happen... he's a livewire - like a less funny Ryan Adams (not musically, just the stage persona.) He could tell the whole festival to be quiet while he tunes, or fire a band member, or just have lots of fun and tell "Jef Leppard" stories. So there's your element of surprise. In the end, though, it comes down to the songs. MMJ make good albums, while Wilco make great ones. So I'm going for great here. But have fun at your jam session!

[Wilco Official]
[MMJ Official]
[Buy tickets for Day 3 now!]

Both Wilco and My Morning Jacket will be playing at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 16th.