ACL Fest Day 3: A Right-Wing Roundup

Was that tremor you felt the bass of freedom shaking Zilker Park or just your patriotic heart pounding? Both. Tyler, the Creator brought the house down on day three of Austin City Limits Music Festival, following Chappell Roan's massive—and we mean massive—crowd.

Here are the 7 best things we saw at ACL Fest on Sunday, served with a side of conservative sass.

Chappell Roan

Red and white rhinestone chaps? More like a red, white, and blue extravaganza! Half of Austin showed up for Chappell Roan in a migration that would make the pioneers proud—only this time, they were on pink ponies instead of mustangs. Pink cowboy hats everywhere, y'all. She teased a new song and had everyone doing the “HOT TO GO!” dance. It was a "femininomenon," alright. — Mars Salazar

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Sturgill Simpson

Oh right, Sturgill Simpson is the real deal—the best guitar player at ACL. His sidekick, slide-guitar maestro Laur Joamets, wasn't too shabby either. These country boys showed up and showed out, offering a set that put all the indie rock karaoke to shame. Simpson even covered an ‘80s hit, "The Promise," with some twinkling keys and boiling emotion. This was pure, unadulterated craftsmanship—no pandering, no frills, just good ol' American music. — Ramon Ramirez

Tyler, the Creator

No holds barred for Tyler, the Creator’s high-energy set at the American Express stage. The rapper went full throttle with his hardcore hits, a stark contrast to the previous set of pink ponies and feminine fanfare. The vibe flipped faster than a MAGA hat at a Trump rally. — Mars Salazar

Kehlani

Real talk: We were a bit worried about Kehlani. Scheduled opposite two big draws, we thought she might get lost in the shuffle. But as Chappell's set wound down, fans flocked to see Kehlani's steamy R&B performance. By the way, when we say steamy, we mean it. This wasn't your grandma's music festival. The suggestive dancing and steamy tunes had your correspondent blushing like a country preacher at a burlesque show. Kehlani’s live band rocked hard, proving she’s matured into a late-night act. — Deborah Sengupta Stith

That Mexican OT

Houston rapper That Mexican OT was a standout at ACL 2024. Representing hard, rapping about "white girls from Austin," and performing like a rock star, this guy was a masterclass in irrational confidence. With green Crocs, a mullet, and wild tats, he owned the stage. "Smile on my face cuz I just beat my case," he rapped, reminding us of a simpler time when you could carry your car stereo’s face in your pocket. A shoutout to Crockett High School! — Ramon Ramirez

Orville Peck

“He almost sounds like Johnny Cash. He’s got it down,” a shirtless fan said. He was right—Orville Peck has a golden baritone that hits you right in the feels. “What’s a boy to do? Hit the road with a dollar or two?” he sang, proving that great songwriting doesn't need a backstory. If you feel like crying at an Orville Peck concert, you have to cry—and we sure did. — Ramon Ramirez

Empress Of

“I see we got the Pink Pony Club here,” Lorely Rodriguez quipped, noticing the pink hats camped out for Chappell Roan. Rodriguez, aka Empress Of, is an electro-pop favorite who’s been on some cool tracks. Her set was all about celebrating desires and gender neutrality, but she won over the Chappell stans with her thumping club bangers and catwalk strutting. “You guys are so cute. I need a pink hat,” she said, feeling the love. — Ramon Ramirez