ACL Spotlight: The War On Drugs

It’s that time of year again, with the Austin City Limits Festival just around the corner.  As one of our favorite festivals, and one of the many musical outlets in the city, we thought it was our job to keep you updated on the acts that are vital to a successful weekend out at Zilker Park.  Our first act to take a look at is Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs. The War On Drugs first came to my attention several years agoo when I heard that the band was begun by Kurt Vile and Adam Granduciel, but since then Kurt has gone on to do his own thing, while Granduciel stuck with the band.  Still, the group has continued to progress, and they’ve cosistently put together albums (or EPs) with remarkable songs.  Their most recent album, Slave Ambient, made tons of year end lists in 2011.  Those of you not familiar with the band are probably curious as to what the group sounds like, and I’m here to tell you that it’s something special, making the band one of the must-see acts at ACL this year.  For those of you who enjoy the works of Dylan or Springsteen, then the music is going to be right up your alley; they do add one twist, incorporating ambient noises and electronic touches to the tried-and-true Americana sound.  Honestly, I think they’re one of the few bands of the indie-sphere who I think craft music perfectly suited to the outdoor performance of an open-air festival.

If this sounds like your thing, The War On Drugs plays at 2:30 on Friday, October 12th at the Bud Light Stage.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Come-To-The-City.mp3]

Download: War on Drugs – Come To The City [MP3]