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Austin Psych Fest 2014 completely lived up to all of our expectations. We’ve been pumped about this lineup since last year, and the diverse roster of bands made the weekend unforgettable. Psych Fest possesses a relaxed atmosphere and refuses to plaster ads everywhere. It’s the way music festivals should be. Here are our seven favorite moments from the weekend. All photos © Bryan Parker & Pop Press International.
1. Most Joyous – Bombino
Bombino has fought against oppressive cultural forces in his home country of Niger, where two fellow musicians were executed by the military after Tuareg guitar playing was made illegal. In spite, or perhaps because, of this, his performances are full of joy and hope. Omara “Bombino” Moctar grins incessantly has he dances and jigs to his technically accomplished guitar playing. As he addresses the crowd, one can’t help but feel overwhelmed with the perseverance of the human spirit. It’s magical.
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2. Most Legendary – The Zombies
When Austin Psych Fest announced their lineup at the end of last year, I already couldn’t wait. In large part, that’s due to the fact that The Zombies would be playing the festival. Odyssey and Oracle ranks as one of my favorite albums of all time. These are some of the greatest pop songs ever written–absoulute gems from an under-appreciated group that should be seen as on par with The Beatles. The set was a short one–one of the unfortunate caveats to festival performances–comprised primarily of the group’s most well-known material. Much of that was culled from their 1968 triumph Odyssey and Oracle, including “A Rose for Emily,” “This Will Be Our Year,” and one of my personal favorites, “Care of Cell 44.” The band closed the night with their hit “She’s Not There,” to the great delight of everyone who has ever lived. Seeing the Zombies was a bucket list experience for me and, alone, made Psych Fest 2014 worth attending.
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3. Best Aural Experience – The War On Drugs
The War On Drugs don’t have the same energy that many of the bands who played Psych Fest this year had, but what they lacked in stage antics, they more than made up for in sound. In terms of simply the sound, the band was easily the weekend’s top performance. The set transcended a simple live mimicking of great songs, as the live set did pack more depth and texture than a recording and make for one of the best times to veg out and enjoy the slow pace of Psych Fest.
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4. Best Set You Probably Didn’t See But Should Have – Mirror Travel
We love Mirror Travel. I think it’s getting to the point that the band might even be sick of me saying it. The group’s simple, lean noise rock format makes for powerful and impressively atmospheric live songs. We weren’t the only ones impressed; even Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Anton Newcombe took note. The band kicked off the fest on Saturday, likely before many people had arrived. Those who missed it, missed one of the weekend’s top acts.
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5. Most Sonically Caustic – Destruction Unit
Delivering a brief but blistering set in the form of a sonic assault, Destruction Unit lived up to their name. The group’s cacophonous set ended it the band’s members banging on their instruments and twisting knobs on pedals for several minutes; the band’s bassist sat rearranging pedals, unplugging and reinserting cables with a detached “who gives a fuck?” attitude. This is the kind of punishing set that everyone talks about when a festival is finished.
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6. Most Unexpectedly Energetic – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
The last time I saw UMO perform, frontman Ruban Nielson was wearing a cape and had a medieval sort of mop of dark black hair to match. The set was great, but the band members were almost immobile onstage, falling into deep, prolonged grooves at the end of their songs. At Psych Fest this weekend, Nielson took the stage with a shaved head and proceeded to thrash around onstage with intensity. To assist with this stage presence, the group’s excellent repertoire of songs sounded as good as ever. “So Good at Being in Trouble” is stuck in my head for days every time I hear it. One of my personal favorite sets of the weekend.
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7. Most Fun – of Montreal
It’s not like I need to make much of a case. I think there’s a reason this band was slated to close out the festival’s Saturday night. of Montreal may have the best live set in music. They sit atop indiedom daring the rest to take the throne. Utilizing costume, performance art, energetic dancing, confetti, and ornate projected light, of Montreal continues to be one of, if not the, most entertaining band performing today. Their die hard fans were right down front singing along, and I was among them.
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Goodbye until next year, Psych Fest — we already can’t wait.
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