As the sun rose above Zilker Park for day two of Austin City Limits, so did the temperature, with day two shaping up to be one of the hottest in recent memory from an early hour. However, the sweltering Texas sun did little to deter fans, who rushed to the barricades as soon as the gates opened, eager to be part of the festivities. The mid-weekend lineup was too exciting for many to resist, drawing fans early and keeping them late, with performances from artists at the start of long, memorable careers as well as seasoned veterans with little left to prove.
Kicking off the day in style, Salt Lake City act IDKHOW played an upbeat set on the Miller Lite stage. Fronted by Panic! at the Disco alum Dallon Weekes, the group’s rousing style woke the crowd up. Weekes ultimately gave fans all they could have asked for, covering a full range of hits during the set, including “Nobody Likes the Opening Band,” “Do It All the Time,” and “Choke.”
Following this momentum on the Honda stage, one of the most impressive legacy acts of the weekend, Something Corporate, played an awe-inspiring set that reflected decades of experience. Fronted by Andrew McMahon, a poster child of the MTV generation, the band’s set was a masterclass in the music that defined the early 2000s. Wasting no time diving into their long list of hits, the group opened with “I Woke Up in a Car,” kicking the show off with great enthusiasm. In a stunning addition to the setlist, McMahon dedicated a significant portion of their time to performing their 10-minute 2000 hit “Konstantine” in its entirety before ending with “If U C Jordan.
Playing a midday slot on the Honda stage, Southern soul powerhouse Teddy Swims took his place in the limelight before the Austin crowd. His passion for his craft felt larger than life from the moment he stepped onstage, performing a full lineup of his hits, including “What More Can I Say,” “Devil in a Dress,” and “Lose Control.” Championing his mission to promote wellness and positivity not only through his music but also through his message, he shared some words of wisdom with the crowd, saying, “The older I get, the more I believe closure doesn’t really exist… the only real closure is internal,” before launching into a rendition of his 2023 hit “Some Things I’ll Never Know.
In an incredible sunset performance, Washington artist Benson Boone packed the house for a set that proved stimulating in every sense. Appreciating the weight of the occasion as he walked onstage, Boone paused to take in the moment before beginning his show with his recent single, “Be Someone.” Unable to contain his energy, Boone took multiple opportunities to showcase his athleticism, performing backflips off his piano several times during the set. Midway through the show, Boone attempted to recreate Freddie Mercury’s signature “Ay-Oh” call-and-response with the audience, though he received a less-than-stellar response. He did, however, elicit a much more heartfelt reaction when he spoke about the creation of his single “My Greatest Fear,” saying, “A strange fear you only have a couple of times in your life is when you have someone so good, and you’re afraid to lose them.” As an artist whose music has thrived on social media over the past year, Boone saved one of his most powerful moments for last, closing with his recent single, “Beautiful Things.”
