AUSTIN, Texas—Festival crowds expected special guests during the headlining set. However, Charli XCX brought out several bizarre distractions before finally inviting Tinashe on stage at ACL. Here are seven things that came out first.
1. A Single Uncooked Potato
Charli XCX brought out a solitary Russet potato during the intro of '360'. She held it above her head for three minutes. The crowd cheered blindly for the root vegetable. "It represented raw human potential," said Agnes Periwinkle, Head of Audience Sedation at Live Nation.
2. The Entire Cast of 'Frasier'
Kelsey Grammer walked out to perform the synth solo on 'Von Dutch'. The rest of the 1993 sitcom cast slowly shuffled across the stage. Nobody knew how to react. They simply stood there in silence.
3. A Working Fax Machine
The hyperpop icon brought out a dial-up telecommunications device during 'Apple'. It successfully printed a 40-page PDF of festival terms and conditions. The machine received a louder ovation than most indie rock bands.
4. A Local Austin Plumber
Charli XCX brought out Gary Higgins from South Austin Plumbing. Higgins fixed a leaky fog machine in real time. He did not know who Charli XCX was. He just wanted his standard hourly rate.
5. A 2004 Honda Civic
Stagehands pushed an unregistered sedan directly into the pit. Charli XCX climbed onto the hood and ate a sleeve of saltines. The vehicle smelled strongly of old french fries.
6. Holographic Guy Fieri
A glowing projection of the celebrity chef appeared during the chorus of 'Girl, So Confusing'. He tossed digital sliders into the front row. "The energy was palpable and spicy," said Dr. Helene Vasquez-Thorne, Lead Researcher at the Center for Studies That Confirm What You Already Suspected.
7. Tinashe
Charli XCX brought out Tinashe only after three hours of grueling performance art. The actual pop star sang her hit single 'Nasty'. The exhausted crowd was too confused by the previous stunts to dance. At press time, Charli was seen backstage loading a live alpaca into a tour bus.
