Someone’s reaping the benefits of a killer year – and it isn’t the self-pitying men of MJ Lenderman’s discography. The North Carolina-born Lord Byron of the third alt-country boom isn’t just performing both weekends of ACL, but throwing in a night show for those Austinites too stoned to lug themselves over to Zilker Park. What was a steady rise to indie stardom became a skyrocket to generational-voice status for the lanky wordsmith following 2024’s Manning Fireworks. Lenderman’s Linklater-esque character study of heavy drinkers, chronic bachelors, and lovestruck priests is full of clever guitar licks and lyrics that are unexpectedly fun live. – Caroline Drew
