Live music preview: Seven more acts to see at Austin Psych Fest this weekend
The second edition of the revived Austin Psych Fest is coming up fast. With an all-star lineup from all over the psychedelic and indie rock spectrum, different acts from all over the world will make their way to South Austin at Far Out Lounge & Stage’s massive backyard for a two-stage, no-overlap, three-day rock and roll shindig. With more than 25 artists performing over the weekend of April 26-28, there will be no shortage of music to discover while including Levitation mainstays such as festival founders, The Black Angels, West Coast psych punk berserkers Frankie & The Witch Fingers, Aussie shredders Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, and more. Here are seven more acts The Cosmic Clash team has handpicked as must-sees for the end-of-April festivities. Tickets and set times can be found via the Levitation website here.
Tropa Magica
Los Angeles act Tropa Magica will triumphantly return to Austin since South by Southwest 2023 with their trifecta blend of Cumbia, 90s Grunge, and classic West Coast psychedelic smoothness. Formed by brothers David and Reno Pacheco, Tropa Magica presents pristine instrumentals with hints of Levitation alumnus in the vein of Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Khurangbin, with touches of beach party tunes that will make for a dance segment for Friday’s programming of the festival. Levitation brings a wide array of acts from all over the trippy spectrum, and Tropa Magica is a band that could bring people that attend the festival to discover the widespread, angular oddities of the current state of psychedelic sounds.
Dehd
Chicago trio Dehd employs intoxicating hooks interwoven with blends of psychedelia, alternative rock, and dream pop. Since performing a scorching Summer set at Empire Garage & Control Room in 2023, Dehd has proved to be a touring favorite that pumps out feel-good vibes that make for crowd-pleasing singalongs. The Midwestern band is also set to release their upcoming record, Poetry, due out May 10 via Fat Possum Records. Armed with summertime fun and emotional winter woes, Dehd will bring a unifying set with a crossover appeal that will convert some new fans.
Minami Deutsch
For those still hungry for more from Japanese psych warriors, Kikagaku Moyo, this is a pick for you. Tokyo’s Minami Deutsch was formed by Kyotaro Miula (guitar, vocals, synthesizer) in 2014. Since releasing their latest record, Fortune Goodies, in 2022, the Japan-born act has kept things consistent with locked-in instrumental jamming entrancing to the point of deep-thought-provoking. The world music sounds that outline the Japan act’s roadmap make for an enchanting expedition of how psychedelic rock populates the globe, showing a colorful contrast with the rest of the performing artists from all over to perform in Austin for the Psych Fest weekend.
All Them Witches
Look out, this band is heavy. Nashville’s All Them Witches have shared the stage with legends like Primus and Mastodon. Taking their name from an actual book of witchcraft, ATW fits in perfectly with all the witch-themed bands playing on the Saturday of Austin Psych Fest. Formed in 2012, the Tennessee act has a sound that veers on heavy metal with an acid rock/psychedelic rock edge, taking classic influences from bands like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin while also pulling from the progressive likes of Tool and the stoner rock antics of Kyuss. Since forming, All Them Witches has released six studio albums, making their trajectory as a widespread rock and roll band a thunderous affair that will make for a high-octane set of the weekend.
Ghostwoman
A stripped-down, heavy psych set will come in the form of Ghostwoman. Being that this is Ghostwoman’s only US date in 2024, the Alberta act brings heavy, strummed guitars, echo-infused vocals, and a prolific output that has spawned three full-length records in the span of just 18 months. The Canadian outfit brings an old-school garage style to the forefront, appearing to pile as many effects as possible on their pedalboards and robostrum their harrowing brand of psychedelic garage rock out of their tube amplifiers. Ghostwoman has been releasing tunes since 2021, and they are on a focused path.
Earthless
San Diego’s mostly instrumental act Earthless fuses stoner metal and classic psychedelic rock for lengthy compositions that reach tremendous, explorative peaks. Formed in 2001, the trio of musicians that make up the California band has stayed together, making Earthless a tenured act whose chops make for massive live shows that may have as few as four songs that explore boundless heavy metal and psychedelic instrumentation. Levitation & Austin Psych Fest has always been known to bring bands that appear all over the trippy music spectrum, making this selection an ideal choice to bring yet another entry for fans of heavier tastes.
The Black Angels
Each time the Levitation and Austin Psych Fest founders play their hometown, an onslaught of psych rock expertise is sure to be had. Since APF returned to its Spring edition, The Black Angels have approached their vaunted hometown performances with a special trick or two up their sleeves. Last year’s edition featured a seminal performance of their sophomore effort, Directions To See A Ghost, with the following Fall Levitation edition featuring an epic performance of “Sister Ray” by The Velvet Underground. This momentous occasion featured members of The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre joining in on the fun. While it can be stated that most Austin psych rock fans have seen the psychedelic revivalists on multiple occasions, The Black Angels put on more than just another live gig and always have something special in store for the home team. Frontman Alex Maas will also perform a solo set during the festival, showing the local musician’s singer/songwriter prowess that serves as a building block to make the introspective undertones of The Black Angels a reality.
Featured photo by David Brendan Hall for APF
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