ACL Fest: Yeasayer Quietly Rock The Dell Stage

Brooklyn's Yeasayer played with a quiet intensity during their early-day set at the Dell stage on Friday. The four piece looked considerably more clean cut than their SXSW appearances, so perhaps the hot summer took some of the cache out of big beards and shaggy hair. The band made the most of their early slot, playing a collection of mid-tempo tunes that somehow integrate world music (particularly Middle Eastern) influences in a non-cloying fashion, which is hardly an easy task. It was obvious that the regular energy of their live show wasn't on display, but Yeasayer were tight from a year of touring and meshed the sounds of modern indie rock with 70's album-rock harmonies pulled straight from Kenny Loggins and Lindsey Buckingham. Highlights included blogger favorites "Wait For The Summer" and "2080," both of which seemed to really grab the crowd's attention. Overall, the audience seemed engaged if not yet completely in festival mode, and appreciative nodding alternated with texts to meet friends and appreciation for this year's mild weather. We're officially in motion. -- Tom Thornton