Philly artists Creepoid, Nothing, Jeff Zeigler and Mary Lattimore descend on Austin Psych Fest
Tonight, Jeff Zeigler and Mary Lattimore are setting up shop at the Alamo Ritz in Austin to play their live soundtrack of Philippe Garrel’s 1968 avant-garde film, Le Revélatéur. This will be an intimate gig compared to the next of the weekend, when they’ll switch gears to play for hundreds at Austin Psych Fest’s Levitation festival at Carson Creek Ranch.
“In terms of performing at Levitation, as per usual we’re going into our set with little or no real formal preparation as it’s all improvised, so I guess the plan is to have no real plan. We may discuss the overall arc and vibe but beyond that it’ll be fairly loose,” Jeff writes.
May 8th thru the 10th marks the 8th annual festival, which was rebranded this year as “Levitation” to celebrate the first-ever reunion show from the 13th Floor Elevators, who will close out the festival Sunday night.
This isn’t the first time the RVRB Records-run show has spliced together some legendary acts. Last year saw Brian Jonestown Massacre headlined with Dandy Warhols, and this year’s lineup includes special performances by The Jesus and Mary Chain, Lightning Bolt and Primal Scream (who are coming back for the second year running).
Additionally, Philly’s Nothing and Creepoid will be heading to Austin with varied plans of attack.
“It’ll be cool playing in front of this audience, in general,” writes Nicky Palermo of Nothing, who will play Sunday night. “These for the most part, are well-informed fans of good music, unlike many big festivals. We will be one of many bands thrashing themselves about and playing annoyingly loud so it will be interesting to see the response.” He cites 13th Floor Elevators as the band he’s most excited to see this weekend.
Creepoid will be performing Saturday as a five piece, adding Drone Ranger’s Bill Fries as third guitarist. Drummer Pat Troxell says the show will be a mix of older material, likely adding bits and pieces from their most recent self-titled album and 2012’s Horse Heaven. He says highlights of Texas will include watching the Jesus and Mary Chain, the 13th Floor Elevators and revisiting the “best bar in the world,” Yellow Jacket Social Club.
Check out the full weekend lineup here, which looks to me like it came straight from heaven. It’s kind of a travesty that fake-baby toting Wayne Coyne and his Flaming Lips will close out the weekend as Sunday’s last act above the Elevators, but that could just be my opinion.
Then again, it doesn’t sound like it.
For more of my opinions, follow here, where I’ll be recapping sets and weird experiences from the festival all weekend long. See you later, earthlings.
Le Revelateur (w/ live score by Mary Lattimore & Jeff Zeigler, trailer) from Cinefamily on Vimeo.