Live music review: Best Party You’re Missing – The Acid Test at Swan Dive

On the third Friday of every month, with the help of a few close friends, Laura Mendoza, of Austin-based band Cosmic Chaos, organizes an event at Swan Dive that should pique any live music lover’s interest. 

Upon entry, psychedelic ornamentation welcomes all to the roomy, art-decco inspired venue.  A giant third eye overlooked show goers, accompanied with an oversized fuchsia mushroom, both creations of Connor Mizzel, El’Mashyia Wolf, and Mendoza. The show kicked off and from the start, it was a memorable showcase guaranteed to introduce patrons to new music and artists who open their sonic spectrum for inspection.

Every month, The Acid Test offers a new lineup of musicians well worth following. This time around, the lineup consisted of bands from North Texas accompanied with an LED light show developed by Abhi Velagaby based on Mendoza’s initial lighting concept.

First up this go-round, The Fibs of Fort Worth ignited the evening with a set featuring a sound reminiscent of late 70’s-early 80’s punk, fused with early new wave and laced with classic psych-rock.  The Fibs, in refined fashion, established a tone that would shift throughout the evening. 

As the spiraling and dizzying lightshow continued, the lively Dallas-based Sub-Sahara followed with a set, seemingly inspired by SoCal punk.  This was a more jovial, light-hearted set than that of The Fibs, offering more tonal variety to the evening’s performances. There were some hard core metal-influenced, heavy segments laced within this performance eliciting the type of visceral response that gets the blood flowing.

Lake of Fire was up third, delivering melodic psych ardor through an eased, mood-loosening change of pace. They strummed mellow gold developing a more uplifting element to the overall event. The group frequently performs in Ausitn, often in the Red River District or some East Austin venues like Hotel Vegas.

Johndavid Bartlett, the notorious and now legendary Dallas musician who ran in the same circles with psych-rock originators, The 13 Floor Elevators (Roky Erickson), graced the stage, blessing the crowd with Denton-based Acid Carousel on instrumentation.  The energetic and awe-inspiring performance put a perfect cap on the night. Aside from the zestful, impassioned content of the performance itself, the rich context of this collaboration is of extreme significance. The performance established the impressive set as something ceremonious and perhaps spiritual.  To witness John David Barlett, whose musical career spans decades perform, is no less than historic. 

Acid Carousel is an extremely talented, and exuberant, up-and-coming seven-piece hailing from the North Texas college town of Denton whose performance alone draws significant audience.  Barlett’s emotive vocal sermon delivered a 101 lesson on how classic rockers carry a show, and it was all complete with Acid Carousel’s 60’s inspired rhythmic instrumentation value.

The Acid Test is a monthly music showcase, art show event that every Austin live-music fan should experience at least once.  The lineup showcases various artists. If you have not yet witnessed this event, taking place on the third Friday of every month, it is quite likely the best party you’re missing. RSVP to the next event on August 16 here.
 

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