KUTX’s Rick McNulty hosts Left of the Dial every Friday night 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. This week he’ll give you a list of THE people to watch at the Austin City Limits Festival. Here are a few of his picks!
Vulfpeck 
It’s the one band I’m most excited to see as I’ve heard nothing but great things about their live shows. They’re a bunch of smart and funky music nerds who model themselves after legendary session musicians of the past (Muscle Shoals, Stax, Motown).
*Plus two nights @ Emo’s 10/9 & 10/10.
Car Seat Headrest 
Will Toledo and his young buddies may still look like they need permission slips signed by their parents to go out on tour, but they can rock like a mother. Furthermore, their star is ascending and pretty white hot right now. See ‘em before you’re over ‘em.
**Plus late night @ Mowhawk 10/12.
Thundercat
Stephen Bruner has some of the most bizarre and varied vocabulary in music these days (working with Kendrick Lamar, Flying Lotus, Suicidal Tendencies and Michael McDonald for starters). His bass playing is extraordinarily complex and suave; too bad he was thirty years too late to join Steely Dan or play with McDonald the first time around.
**Plus late night @ Scoot Inn 10/7.
Gorillaz
I’m a big believer that you can’t see a band too soon, which is to say, before they call it quits or get crusty and stale. Gorillaz has never seemed like they’re a permanent fixture so my advice to is to catch them before it’s too late. And you know they’ll play “Clint Eastwood.”
Nick Hakim
If you hit that point in the festival when you need to mellow out, Hakim may be your best bet. The man has an sweet and honeyed voice supported by minimalist instrumentation with lots of wonky honks and beeps. Honestly though, he could sing the phone book and it would still melt your cold jaded heart.
**Plus late night @ Antone’s 10/13.
