ACL Music Festival 2014, Week Two, Day Two – Skrillex, Major Lazer + More
Invariably, it would rain ... and rain it did. Although we didn't see the amount of rain that cancelled the Sunday of week two at last year's Austin City Limits Music Festival, there was definitely enough rain to postpone yesterday's (Oct. 11) start, causing a handful of early opening bands to have their sets cancelled.
This didn't stop the masses from strapping on their rain boots or simply jumping on a friend's back for a quick ride across the mud to see bands like Poliça play early sets. The good sized crowd bundled up in the cool air and the rain subsided so lead singer Channy Leaneagh could strut across the stage with ease. As early and wet as it was, she didn't seem to let either haze her performance.
The Head and the Heart needed no introduction as a fanatical crowd rushed across the mud pits to the massive Samsung Galaxy stage to catch their set. This was our second time seeing them in the last 12 months, and their set has grown even tighter and more complex and concise. It's great to see these larger sized bands play huge festivals and sound as tight as though they were playing a smaller indoor venue.
The hype of the day definitely belonged to the ever-popular Iggy Azalea, especially after her stellar performance last weekend. From the moment the crowd began chanting "Iggy! Iggy!" to the final note of her performance, she was the woman to be yesterday -- and with an audience the size to prove it.
But as soon as we thought it couldn't get any better, the day was stolen by the Avett Brothers. Scott and Seth Avett are nothing short of a force that have made their band absolutely the reason why the ACL Music Fest exists. After their breathtaking ACL TV taping earlier this week, the buzz had reached epic proportions about the band and they sold their set to a captivated crowd that just didn't want the energetic music to end.
Major Lazer brought out a smaller production than Azalea to the same stage, but that didn't mean his presence wasn't impressive to the hyped crowd as the sky turned to night and the massive dance party commenced. Diplo and Switch, never in the same place during the set, but always on their massive video-screen platform/DJ booth, had enough energy for the entire crowd -- with much left to spare.
To wrap up the night, the mostly younger crowd rushed across Zilker Park and the expanding mud pits to make it in time for Skrillex. Skrillex, a one-man show who needs no opening act, quickly worked the crowd into a frenzy. It's great to note how a Skrillex show is not all-inclusive; seen in the throngs of dancing concert-goers were kids as young as eight-years-old, as well as adults that seemed to be more parent-aged than most.
Here's to a dryer day today (Oct. 12) so we can catch a few more bands! In the meantime, check out some exclusive shots from our journey at day two of the ACL Music Fest: