Austin City Limits 2009: Ultimate Schedule Guide

Make no mistake about it: the Austin City Limits lineup definitely skews country this year. Whether it's the timeles yawp and holler of Asleep at the Wheel or the new heartbreak delivered by Sara Watkins and the Avett Brothers, the bands playing ACL are a twangy bunch. Even headliners Kings of Leon hail from the school of Southern Rock. But that doesn't mean that the bill lacks in variety. Frenchman Phoenix bring clean, precise dance-pop, the Walkmen traffic in barely restrained chaos and !!! are one nonstop hyperactive dance party. Country may be the weekend's choice flavor, but ACL's organizers know full well that man cannot live on steer and beer alone. What follows are our picks for a well-rounded weekend:

Plus, get ready for this year's big fest by flipping through photos from Austin City Limits 2008.

Friday

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.: School of Seven Bells
Don't take our word for it — The Edge recently endorsed this Brooklyn band as one of his latest faves. It's not hard to see why: the group's pulsing rhythms and odd atmospherics have a kind of slow, sly appeal, and their songs feel like low-wattage-anthems. The twin vocals of Alejandra and Claudia Deheza are quietly triumphant, and they float like morning mist over strange, hazy beds of guitar.

1:20 p.m. - 2 p.m.: Sara Watkins
The indefinite hiatus of Watkins' band Nickel Creek has afforded the California singer plenty of time to grow on her own. She's taking advantage of the respite: her self-titled solo debut is full of warm, winning country songs that showcase Watkins' aching alto. Expect Watkins' set to showcase this splendid solo material, bluegrass-inflected breakup ballads built for slow-swaying and lighter-waving.

2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Avett Brothers
The latest group to benefit from the genius of Rick Rubin, the Avett Brothers cast long shadows across their plaintive country songs, allowing darkness to seep in to every corner. Though the Brothers will probably concentrate on their just-released I And Love And You, there should still be plenty of room for their rich, oaky older material, the kind of country songs built for bare hearts and big tears.

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: The Walkmen
On record the Walkmen can seem studied and controlled, but live they are a sustained, agonized yelp. Lead singer Hamilton Leithauser is riveting, and his holler is huge. He heaves the notes from his body, sending them over top a bevy of blurry guitars. They're the aural equivalent of a panic attack, the kind where every second is serious, and no amount of energy is ever enough to combat the inevitable end.

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Phoenix
This year's breakout sweethearts, French band Phoenix has been building to their big moment for nearly 10 years now. The result is an airtight live show that showcases the clean lines and big beats in Phoenix's music. There's no denying that the group's music is built for dancing — witness the crazy rhythms of "Lisztomania" for just one example — but they also have all the edge and energy of rock.

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Raphael Saadiq
Saadiq may have gotten his start as a part of pop-n-b trio Tony! Toni! Tone!, but his recent work owes more to Smokey Robinson than, say, Boyz II Men. Last year's splendid (and unjustly overlooked) The Way I See It is a fine tonic for anyone longing for the dusky sound of classic soul. Saadiq's voice is smooth and silky, and, like all great R&B vocalists, he manages to sell his songs without oversinging. He's also a crack showman, too, and his ACL set is sure to be one of the festival's highlights.

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: John Legend
Speaking of R&B ... Legend may not be quite the throwback Saadiq is, but his compositions are still informed by decades of classic soul. Legend is a poised, engaging performer, as confident seated behind his grand piano as he is standing behind the microphone. His songs have a slow-burn passion that's hard to fake, and when he brings his voice down to that cool, controlled whisper, it will be impossible to fight the goosebumps.

7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.: Them Crooked Vultures
Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones haven't played too many Stateside shows as supergroup Them Crooked Vultures yet, so grab the opportunity to have your face melted by their epic, spacey hard rock here.

8:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.: Kings of Leon/Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Finishing off a long summer of headlining stints, Kings of Leon and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have the unfortunate privilege of going head-to-head at the close of ACL's first day. The good news is that, no matter which you pick, you can't miss: the Kings have at long last evolved into the rock & roll saviors everyone wanted them to become and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs remain one of the best live bands in the business, driven by Karen O's bottomless charisma and magnetic stage presence. If at all possible, split the difference — go watch the first half of the YYY's (because Karen O's entrance is always one of the best parts of the set), and book it over for the end of the Kings' set, when they'll undoubtedly bust out "Use Somebody" — or, as it's also known, one of the year's best rock singles.