5 essential Kevin Morby moments at ACL Fest, from dad rock to Kansas City pride

Kevin Morby has his stage show humming. Seven records in, the Lubbock-born, 34-year-old songwriter showed off the right stuff onstage Friday at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.

This year’s “This Is a Photograph,” a Memphis love letter written during an extended stay at the historic Peabody Hotel — where, according to legend, Louis Armstrong once dedicated “(I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead) You Rascal You” to local cops — served as the spine of his Honda stage set. Rocking a lime-green button-down and backed by six rollicking musicians, the first essential set of ACL ‘22 came alive while you were still wrapping up that work-from-home shift. Here are 5 things you missed.

1. Kevin Morby may be the best dad rocker alive.

Let’s define it: Dad rock is revivalist guitar music for guys who quietly seethe every day at the life choices that got them where they are. And so at Zilker, a legion of grey beards with ear plugs and T-shirts for bands like The Police nodded along with fervent approval. And with apologies to Adam Granduciel of The War on Drugs, Morby has the crown. Witness that hushed-tone Bob Dylan vocal affect, navel-gazing writing that permeates like a crackling campfire and a hiker’s sense of direction as he revels at his place on the trail of genre titans. Just watch his tambourine placement on “City Music.” His cues are learned but instinctive like a prodigious gymnast.

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2. He wore a sweet vintage Kansas City Royals cap that fell off during 'A Random Act of Kindness,' the set’s second song.

Again, this is a strongly curated affair. Morby strummed a sunburst Fender Jag. Multi-instrumentalist Cochemea Gastelum, also of the Dap-Kings, played a corroded tenor sax and then pivoted to moody flute whole notes on “Five Easy Pieces.” Roses adorned the mic stands. Brown C&C drums shook their risers on the sublime “I Have Been to the Mountain.” It’s beautifully decorated rock tailored from the finest outfitters.

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3. 'Rock Bottom' is a cowbell classic.

Morby was efficient with his 45-minute window and kept his pace driving while his stage banter was aggressively efficient (read: nonexistent). This jangly single was a set highlight with its sardonic “They’re all gonna laugh at you” refrain.

4. Oh, there was another essential ACL moment pre-Morby …

Amid the TikTok-ification of pop music, where any viral sound can suddenly come to encapsulate a given two-week window of shared life online, Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” soundtracked pandemic life for millions. In the Tito's Handmade Vodka tent right before the Morby set, Geismar, Louisiana, band THEBROSFRESH played a crisp cover of the song Stevie Nicks herself was poised to sing at ACL last year before she dropped off the lineup.

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5. Morby left plenty of meat on the bone.

The setlist was brief and cutthroat. Morby and co. made time for a 7-minute closer, the aching “Harlem River,” but skipped crowd-pleasing, beer-in-hand nod-along gems like “Crybaby” and stirring Freddie Gray protest anthem “Beautiful Strangers.” The message was clear: This bro has written a lot of tight-as-heck gems — just enjoy today’s menu.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Kevin Morby shows off the right stuff at ACL Fest 2022