Robert Earl Keen photo by Ushlambad.

Here is a classic live gem from Austin City Limits Festival 2003. Robert Earl Keen is the king of ACL and this performance serves as a great reminder why that is. From the first slide licks on Lay Me Down My Walking Cane to the last drum fueled distortion laced riff of Road Goes On Forever this show rocks! I especially dig the cover of the Waylon Jenning’s classic I Don’t Think Hank Done It This Way.

This was Robert Earl Keen’s first performance at ACL and the second year of the festival which started in 2002. He’s somewhat of a regular fixture of the festival now having played five ACL festivals. Nothing is more fun than sitting out in the September heat of Zilker park screaming along “A can of bean dip and some Diet Rite A box of tampons, Marlboro Lights.” Thanks to the person who recorded this and also to trustthex for seeding. Robert Earl Keen will be playing Gruene Hall new years eve. Get your tickets here.

Get your lossless copy here.

Robert Earl Keen
September 19, 2003
Cingular Stage, Zilker Park, Austin, TX

01: Intro
02: Hand Me Down My Walking Cane
03: Blow You Away
04: Corpus Christi Bay
05: Furnace Fan
06: Shades of Gray
07: Amarillo Highway
08: I Don’t Think Hank Done It This Way
09: Beats the Devil
10: China Cat Sunflower>Dreadful Selfish Crime
11: Floppy Shoes
12: Tangled Up & Blue>
13: Road Goes On Forever

Another ACL 2008 spoil was the Belleville Outfit. They’ve got sort of an old time bluegrass swing sound that is chock full of roots goodness. Not to mention their fiddle player is drop dead gorgeous! I can’t wait to see them in a more intimate setting.

One of the coolest performances at ACL Fest 2008 was Massacoustics, a band from Nashville whose drummer is also their bass player. Brings a whole new meaning to multitasking!

Caught Band of Heathens at The Saxon Pub last night and wow!… What an amazing band. Their songwriting talent is jaw dropping. They are playing ACL Fest this weekend but I recommend checking them out in a smaller, more intimate setting.

Those of you gearing up for Austin City Limits Festival this weekend can get pumped up listening to Pandora’s ACL festival radio station (scroll down to the bottom of the page). Additionally, Pandora has custom radio stations for Bonnaroo, Coachella, Thirsty Ear, Wakarusa and many more. Enjoy ACL this weekend and don’t forget to stay hydrated!