More ACL Day One Capsules - Kids Music, Bells and Some Yip-Jump

As mentioned, the weather during 2009's inaugural day of ACL Fest was unseasonably mild and comfortable - we're supposed to be dying of heat and choking on dust, right people? But the breeze and weird, green-colored vegetation beneath our feet only enhanced what was an enjoyable day watching music outdoors.

School of Seven Bells went on at 12:30, but had a sizable crowd turned out to hear their beat-led, gauzy psychedelia. It's music that proves, finally, that Kate Bush, parts of New Age and My Bloody Valentine share more than just hazy vocals. Guitarist Benjamin Curtis and twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza were dwarfed by the massive Livestrong Stage that would, in eight hours, be pummeling audiences with radio-ready rock and a massive light show. Though they played it close to the vest, the band sounded pretty great, especially the intertwining vocals of the Deheza sisters.

Though The Knux were booming from the XBox 360 stage, curiosity led us to the outskirts of Austin Kiddie Limits, where the Telephone Company were running through a short, young'un-friendly set. Though the rules stipulated "No Adults Accompanied Without Kids," we guiltily made our way in to catch local goofballs Chef and Pat Healy, who make up the Telephone Company, as well as more adult but only infinitesimally less silly groups like Pataphysics and The Ol' Timerz. Supporting their new record Panda Brains, the band used props like animal hats and puppets, and the kids seemed mostly appreciative, though it's hard to tell. The set's best number came toward the conclusion, a song about an old man who builds his own coffin with help from a mustache, beard, and several flies.

The virtues of Dr. Dog's set have already been outlined, so let's skip over the the Austin Ventures stage for Daniel Johnston. After a lackadaisical introduction from a local radio personality, out came the man himself, alongside too-cool, gum-chewing backing band The Hymns and fantastic, long-time guitarist Brett Hartenbach. Greeting the audience with a sprightly "Heil Hitler!" Daniel and his band launched into "Love Wheel," and afterward alternated between numbers he performed solo alongside Hartenbach and - as on ~~"Love Will See You Through"~~ "Life in Vain" from 1994's Fun - with a backing chorus of supporters. Johnston's performances are always a little nerve-racking and unpredictable (see: "Heil Hitler!") and this show occasionally had the band struggling to keep up with Johnston's idiosyncratic pacing and tempo. And yet it was all sublime, especially the surprise mini-encore "True Love Will Find You In The End."