by Amy Lam
The first standout was The Chicks’ incredible headliner performance on Friday night. I’ve been listening to a lot of The Chicks recently, so finally hearing them live was pure joy. By the time they came onstage, the sun had gone down and the stars were out – a perfect backdrop for the music to come. The Chicks were sure to include their biggest hits in their set. “Wide Open Spaces” and “Cowboy Take Me Away” were fantastic performances, with Martie Maguire’s fiddle and Emily Strayer’s banjo truly shining. These were some of my favorite songs all weekend; lead singer Natalie Maine’s sweet, sincere delivery of lyrics like “I wanna sleep on the hard ground/In the comfort of your arms/On a pillow of bluebonnets/In a blanket made of stars” blended perfectly with the warm Texas night air. These beautiful words resonated with the whole audience- everyone was swaying and singing their hearts out, especially me.
Another exceptional performance from Saturday was Habibi, a five-member, all-female band with origins from Brooklyn and Detroit. They attracted a sizable crowd, but we were able to snag a spot for our picnic blanket near the front. With their cool black sunglasses and simple red costuming, their stage presence was down-to-earth with a fun, fiery spirit. It was clear that all five members were truly connected with their instruments. I could admire up-close how lead singer Rahill Jamalifard moved with this self-assured energy and how guitarist Lenaya Lynch shredded her electric guitar with such intensity. Overall, Habibi’s sound shone with influences of surf rock and psychedelic rock, with some Middle Eastern melodic elements mixed in. Some song highlights included “I Got the Moves,” “Sweetest Talk,” and “Come my Habibi.” All of these featured fun, bass-driven melodies that were very conducive to happy head-bobbing in the Austin sun (very much appreciated).
Next was Tai Verdes. I immediately noticed the incredible charisma of his stage presence. He interacted with the audience in a way that was friendly yet snarky and confident yet authentic, making him stand out from other acts of the weekend. His performance style was highly engaging; he’d conduct the audience in his choruses and urge everyone to wave their arms in sync. Even as someone who had never heard his music before, he had me smiling and sing-screaming during infectiously fun songs like “A-OK” and “Let’s Go to Hell.” He incorporated lots of joking and storytelling in his set too; before performing the hit “sheluvme” from his newest album HDTV, he painted a playful picture of showing the song to your date in the car – “one hand on the wheel, so she knows you’re cool.” Overall, his music had an easygoing feel and was extremely easy to enjoy, but songs like “Solamente” still made clear that his confident stage persona didn’t compromise more introspective, low-key styles of lyricism and performance. Tai Verdes ended his set with an energetic performance of “LAst dAy oN EaRTh,” which was as much of a motivational speech as it was a memorable closer. He urged us – almost Shia LaBeouf “Just-Do-It” style – to go home and change our lives in the way we’ve always wanted to. It was amusing and endearing and heartfelt all at the same time – a perfect end to the concert.
Finally, Lil Nas X: this set was spectacular, showstopping, life-changing, an absolute standout. My favorite all weekend. Lil Nas X possessed this intense charisma and laser-focused confidence that made his performance absolutely shine. His performance style was more detached from the audience; instead, he was fully dedicated to transforming the stage into an immersive visual spectacle. I also loved the unapologetic energy he brought to the stage – he joyfully stated that his performance was a place to be “feminine.” Between his pink bejeweled costumes, shirtless backup dancers, and theatrical displays of onstage physical intimacy, I think he surely was successful in challenging the hyper-masculine stereotypes of rap and hip-hop music. In short, as a live performer, he was absolutely unforgettable. In addition to the sheer talent that Lil Nas X displayed, his set was incredibly elaborate and well-produced. It was organized in a three-act structure that reflected the themes present in his 2021 album MONTERO, and it was filled with conflict, drama, and more costume changes that I could keep track of. The audience energy was incredibly high throughout the whole set, erupting at hits like “INDUSTRY BABY” and, of course, “Old Town Road.” Lil Nas X is undoubtedly one of the standout artists of this generation, and I’m so grateful I got to experience his theatrical energy live.