The War On Drugs at Psych Fest 2014; photo by Bryan C. Parker
This weekend, Levitation (originally dubbed Austin Psych Fest) will take over Carson Creek Ranch for a three-day festival of some of psych rock’s most lauded bands from up-and-coming must-see acts like Fat White Family to local acts like Tele Novella to legends like 13th Floor Elevators and The Jesus and Mary Chain and Primal Scream. And that’s saying nothing of beloved indie acts like Flaming Lips, Spiritualized, and Tame Impala. Last year’s event impressed, but this year astounds. Yes, Levitation’s lineup constitutes the best lineup of bands I’ve seen on a festival bill in years. Certainly that list of artists is part of what makes Levitation so cool, but it’s not the reason.
Hanging out at Psych Fest 2014; photo by Bryan C. Parker
Simply put, the organizers (members of the band The Black Angels) care deeply about music. So much so that they refuse to dilute the experience with any distracting components common at other music festivals. They aren’t just throwing a festival, and they certainly aren’t booking bands they expect to sell the most tickets. You won’t find festival filler bands built on a single song anywhere on the bill. This group of die hard music lovers is curating an experience based on the music they love most. This essential truth lies in the festival’s origins and emerges in myriad facets of the festival’s modes of operation, including their expanding empire of franchises, series of sponsored events, and avoidance of tacky corporate sponsors.
Destruction Unit at Psych Fest 2014; photo by Bryan C. Parker
Expanding a young festival into widespread markets (including Chicago, Vancouver, even Angers, France) may seem ambitious or risky, but it underscores these festival organizers’ commitment to celebrating the history, current state, and future of psych music as they share it with a global audience. Each event’s roster of artists proves a commitment not only to legends like The Zombies, Primal Scream, or Mono, but also young and local acts. As purveyors of all things psych and rock, the festival has lent its name to a number of parties during SXSW and in advance of the main event. Recently, Mohawk hosted an epic, Levitation-sponsored two-stage bill headlined by touring act Whirr and featuring noteworthy local bands Holy Wave and Tele Novella. We took some photos there and you can see them in the gallery (belatedly) published on our site today. Tonight, another festival-sanctioned event will feature Ariel Pink, The Octopus Project, Cosmonauts and more. Catch that bill at Mohawk and pick up your festival passes next door at Cheer Up Charlies.
Moving Panoramas by Bryan C. Parker
At the festival, you won’t be bombarded with relentless advertisements, corporate banners, or sponsored tents. Levitation is about music and only music, and it shows. The organizers have arranged a space that places emphasis on the bands and the experience of the weekend. Quietly, Levitation has become one of the country’s most credible and consistent events, a mecca for patrons of underground rock across the nation. We consider it a must-see event, and you can still grab tickets right here. Congrats to the festival founders on what is sure to be another year even more praiseworthy than the last.
