(3613) Lyle Lovett / Bob Schneider

From the ACL taping program on November 8, 2010:

Since his first headlining appearance on Austin City Limits in 1987, Lyle Lovett has been a dear friend and key figure in the show’s history. An iconic Texas artist with strong country-western roots, the scope of Lovett’s
musical appetites harvesting elements from gospel, jazz, pop, and folk has lent itself to a body of work that truly reflects the spirit of Austin City Limits.

Since 1980, the Texas-born singer-songwriter has dazzled audiences with his unconventional brand of Americana country music that has undoubtedly transformed him from a local legend to a nationalized success. With his witty charismatic songs featuring an extensive blend of blues, country, jazz, Texas swing and more, Lovett’s legacy has dubbed him the Texas poster boy of genre-fusing success and resulted in his attainment of
being honored with four Grammy wins, including Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Album.

Lovett’s long history with the show began before his 1987 headlining show as a member of the studio audience for several tapings. He first took the stage as a performer in 1984 singing backup for Nanci Griffith. He has appeared on the show more than a dozen times making him one of the most frequent guests
in the show’s history.

On Lovett’s latest album Natural Forces, he returns to the classic country of his earlier career, with performs stunning originals showcasing his humor and insight as well as tributes to some of Texas’s finest country musicians. Paste Magazine writes Natural Forces “once again proves he can stand alongside the finest storytellers” and the Boston Globe wrote the songs “represent some of his best, most poignant work.”

Link to Lyle Lovett's ACL artist page.

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From the ACL taping program on August 25, 2010:

Austin’s Bob Schneider is "a musical omnivore eager to devour any genre that sounds appetizing" (Dallas Morning News) creating eclectic albums that fuse styles into his own unique sound.  Tonight, Schneider brings that creative hunger for great music to the Austin City Limits stage for his second performance on the show.

No stranger to the stages of Austin’s live music scene, Schneider has made leaps and bounds since the early days of his first band, the funk/rap group Joe Rockhead. After years with the Ugly Americans and The Scabs, Schneider went solo to much acclaim.  His 2001 album Lonelyland and his other solo work led Allmusic’s to write: “His music is redolent of singer/songwriters of the 1970s from Neil Young to Paul Simon, with a slightly more modern musical sensibility reminiscent of Beck.”

In 2009, after flying as a solo musician for a decade, Schneider released Lovely Creatures. The CD exemplifies Schneider's songwriting talents and knack for writing idiosyncratic songs out of controlled creative chaos. "I've always been a big fan of songs that don't really make any sense lyrically, but when you add the music it somehow works," said Schneider.

And the mood comes through clearly on Lovely Creatures creating a whimsical grab bag of love and life stories both devastating and hopelessly romantic. The Associated Press writes Lovely Creatures "exudes an embracing warmth...Electric keyboards and a vibraphone shimmer above hummable bass lines, guitars provide crunchy counterpoint and there's vocal sweetener with 'ooohs,' 'aaahs,' 'oh-uhs' and even an ecstatic 'hoo-hoo.'"

Link to Bob Schneider's ACL artist page.

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