Performing on the BMI stage as the day’s first act, Texas-born musician Alex Amen brought retro sounds and style to Austin City Limits Music Festival on Sunday, showcasing his powerful songwriting skills.
“Hi everyone,” Amen said, addressing the audience. “I’m Alex Amen. This is my band here. We still haven’t figured out a name for that thing, but we’re working on it. We flew up from California a couple days ago, but I grew up in Texas, so it’s good to be home.”
Opening with his song, “California Blues,” Amen immediately engaged the audience with his intimate vocal style and breezy instrumental backings. The track, although originally written by Amen at the young age of 14, found its way onto Amen’s latest release, The Zorthian Tapes, a seven-track EP released in June.
Tinkering with his tunings, Amen bantered with the audience, transforming the impersonal festival stage into a homey atmosphere. Music that melted like butter on warm toast fed the audience, with delicate pedal steel guitar from Tommy de Bourbon matching Amen’s sincere delivery and commanding vibrato.
A soft acoustic intro began “This Love of Mine,” Amen’s most popular release. The sweet, heartbreaking ballad drifted through Zilker, entrancing those who passed by. Amen displayed an impressive command of his vocal range, coolly hitting high notes before dipping back into deep, softly spoken lyrics.
“We were just recording for the past month or so in a real old studio,” Amen said. “(It was) kind of a pain in the ass, but it sounded good, and this is one of the songs that’s going to be from that time (and) gonna come out next year. 2026, (it’s) gonna be a good year, hopefully.”
Amen slipped into the new track, pairing electric guitar effects with lyrical musings on changes. In keeping with this theme, Amen prefaced the start of the next song.
“This next song is one that kind of leads into that last one,” Amen said. “(It) makes you make a change or something after this song. You have to, or else you have no self-respect.”
A bluesy guitar lick picked up the pace, with Amen’s lower range in full display, as the band showcased Amen’s ability to traverse tender folk ballads and country western-inspired numbers. In addition to vocal chops, Amen’s guitar skills took center stage during the final songs.
With the last note ringing out, the cozy performance made clear why listeners and attendees should keep up with Alex Amen, as his songwriting talents and charming stage presence made for a standout performance during Weekend Two of ACL.
