Sunday ACL Fest Face-Off: LCD Soundsystem vs. Mumford & Sons
Digital or analog?
By Kahron Spearman, Fri., Sept. 30, 2016
LCD Soundsystem
8pm, Honda stageGovernment name(s): James Murphy
Active since: 2001-2011, 2015-present
Hometown: Princeton Junction, N.J.
Number of albums: Three
Musical influences: Talking Heads, Siouxsie & the Banshees, New Order
Precursor act: Chic, Yes, B-52s, Liquid Liquid
Secret weapon(s): Murphy's album-arranging skills via three perfectly sequenced albums
Interesting instruments: EMS Synthi, a portable analog synth housed in a Spartanite briefcase
Notable collaborators: Murphy's live band
Breakout moment: 2005's "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House"
Song they should play: "All My Friends"
Song they shouldn't play: "45:33," because it's actually 45:58 long
Funny story: I saw him DJ in Chicago in either 2010 or 2011, around Lollapalooza. I watched him be a massive asshole to literally everyone, and the crowd was full of the worst people. But Good Lord, he has the best taste in music. The problem is that he knows it.
Fun fact: Legally threatened Canadian duo Death From Above 1979 for prior use of "Death From Above," which is the name of Murphy's label
Stereotypical fan: Still makes actual mixtapes
Best lines: "And it keeps coming, till the day it stops" from "Someone Great," a track about the death of Murphy's therapist. It's repeated over, as alliteration for the pain and shed tears.
Last show in Austin: ACL Fest 2010
Celebrity fans: Anna Kendrick, Elijah Wood, Moby
Perceived engine of the group: Murphy
Actual engine of the group: Chasing the ghosts of his heroes – Bowie, Talking Heads, et al.
Most interesting non-musical thing about the group: Murphy was apparently offered a writing gig on Seinfeld
Mumford & Sons
8pm, Samsung stageGovernment name(s): Marcus Mumford (lead vocals, guitar, drums), Ben Lovett (vocals, keys), Winston Marshall (vocals, guitar, banjo), Ted Dwane (vocals, bass)
Active since: 2007
Hometown: West London
Number of albums: Three
Musical influences: Avett Brothers, Bob Dylan, Kings of Leon, Backstreet Boys, Bruuuuuce!
Precursor act: Kings of Leon, Gomez, a happier Nick Drake, Bruuuuuce!
Secret weapon(s): Shakespeare
Interesting instruments: Banjo
Notable collaborators: Jerry Douglas, Paul Simon
Breakout moment: The day they figured out four relatively attractive white men in rustic looks could strum banjos into mainstream greatness
Song they should play: "I Will Wait"
Song they shouldn't play: "Believe"
Funny story: "When we went electric, all hell broke loose," explained Mumford
Fun fact: "Girl, you know it's true" – Rob & Fab, 1989
Stereotypical fan: Black men who only date white girls
Best lines: "To be or not to be, that is the question"
Last show in Austin: Circuit of the Americas, April 2013
Celebrity fans: Idris Elba directed and starred in the video for "Lover of the Light"
Perceived engine of the group: Marcus Mumford
Actual engine of the group: Producer Markus Dravs (Coldplay, Arcade Fire, Brian Eno, Bjork)
Most interesting non-musical thing about the group: Mumford is married to actress Carey Mulligan. Get this: They were actually childhood pen pals.
