ACL Fest 2012

ACL in Review: After two decades The Roots prove explosive hip hop legacy

The Roots
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages

Any list of the tightest bands in the world would be incomplete if it didn't include The Roots.

The endlessly versatile Philadelphia-based hip hop crew are equally at home going on extended jazz runs — as was heard to notable effect during "Mellow My Man" early on in the ACL set on Saturday evening — or in the day job serving as the house band for Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, or backing seemingly everybody from Jay-Z to John Legend when they want some live-band cred for a record, or recording a nigh-endless string of essential albums of their own.

In any case, there weren't a lot of tubas on stage at ACL, but it's guaranteed that none were funkier than the one featured in The Roots' set. Which is the point: It takes a band whose tightness is unquestioned, and whose versatility can be taken for granted, to pull off what The Roots accomplished onstage on Saturday.

On record, The Roots have settled into a role as hip hop's conscience. They're elder statesmen releasing records like last year'sUndun, a concept album about a murdered teen from the Philly projects, and which was the latest in a string of socially-aware albums.

Live, though, it's a different story. This is a high-energy party band, and it makes them an explosive festival act. Drummer ?uestlove (who played Saturday with his iconic afro braided down into cornrows) barely so much as lowered his sticks; a horny song like the 2003 single "Break You Off" flows effortlessly into 1997's hymn of romantic devotion, "You Got Me," and that song's minor-key guitar line still somehow seems designed to get heads nodding and hands in the air.

It takes that sort of greatness to pull off some of the left-field moves the band went for. An extended tuba solo during a hip hop show is one thing; the band launching into a cover of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" is another, but what the hell? We're partying out here!

It's the rare hip hop show these days where the emcee doesn't need to so much as address the audience to get them to put their hands in the air and wave 'em like they don't care 45 minutes into the set.

But that's what The Roots have been able to deliver for almost two decades now, and they don't show any signs of slowing down.

unspecified series568664054

Ooh La La

Iconic rocker Rod Stewart brings One Last Time tour to Austin

Photo by Denise Truscello

undefined

Classic rock legend Sir Rod Stewart, is hitting the road once more for the One Last Time tour, coming to North America in 2025. After touring Europe, he's bringing the tour to the United States, including Austin's Moody Center on March 7.

A press release promises an "unprecedented evening of iconic hits and a concert production," with a setlist including "You Wear It Well," "Maggie May," and "Da Ya Think I’m Sexy." He also dips into his Faces catalog with "Ooh La La (I Wish That I Knew What I Know Now)."

Stewart is joined by special guests Cheap Trick, known for hits like "Surrender" and "I Want You to Want Me." Both acts have been playing since at least the 70s, and are known around the world.

Although the name of the tour implies that Stewart is calling it quits, he's said in 2024 that he never plans to retire. "The word retirement is not in my vocabulary at the moment because I’m enjoying myself," he told the Associated Press.

This year, he played his 200th Las Vegas residency tour and released his 33rd studio album, Swing Fever, with Jools Holland with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

Tickets go on sale Friday, November, 22 at 10 am via livenation.com. Presale ticket sales for Rod Stewart Fan Club members start Tuesday, November 19, at 10 am via rodstewart.com, and Citi cardmembers will have a presale beginning November 19 at 10 am via citientertainment.com. All presales are in local time and will run through Thursday, November 21, at 10 pm.

Rod Stewart “Encore” 2025 Summer North American Tour with special guests Cheap Trick:

3/07/2025 Austin, TX Moody Center ATX

6/14/2025 Lake Tahoe, NV Outdoor Arena at Harveys*^

6/15/2025 Paso Robles, CA Vina Robles Amp*^

7/8/2025 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park

7/11/2025 Gilford, NH BankNH

7/12/2025 Philadelphia, PA TD Pavilion at the Mann

7/15/2025 Saratoga Springs NY Broadview Stage at SPAC

7/19/2025 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion

7/22/2025 Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage

7/25/2025 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena^

7/26/2025 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center

7/29/2025 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion

8/1/2025 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

8/2/2025 Birmingham, AL Coca-Cola Amphitheater

8/5/2025 Brandon, MS Brandon Amphitheater

8/8/2025 Tinley Park, IL Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre

8/9/2025 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center

8/12/2025 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre

8/14/2025 Nashville, TN Ascend Amphitheater

8/15/2025 St. Louis, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

*Not A Live Nation Date | ^Cheap Trick not on these dates

concerts live music celebrities