Levitation
By: Daniel Chavez
Photos: Daniel Chavez
I always look forward to one festival every year here in Austin, Texas. I think it is one of the fun and always well thought out fests. I am speaking of Levitation Fest or formally known as Austin Psych Fest. The lineup for this fest was spectacular and it was one that I was really looking forward too. So in the days before the fest I was excited, geared up and ready to go. Unfortunately there were a series of hic-ups along the way.
The beginning of the week the weather decided not to cooperate. It was forecasted during the weekend of the festival, some of the worst storms of the season. Now being a native Texan you know two things, the weather in Texas has a tendency to change on a whim and Texas storms are no joke. Myself, being so excited about this fest, I decided to hope for the best and hope the weekend would be cool, sunny, and great festival weather. The start of the week looked promising, it was nothing but big blue Texas skies and cool breezes, but the weather forecast was still impending doom of thunderstorms with a possibility of tornados.
The Friday came and of course the weather forecast was right. The sky opened up to rain delaying the start of the fest due to lighting. The previous day it had rained during the set up and talking with some of the show producers caused some of the stages to move due to erosion and flooding. It was a terrible start, but the good people at Reverberation would not let the fest stop.
Once inside it was a mud fest, the usual hard packed dirt and grass turned into a thick soup. There were moments when I trudged along from stage to stage I feared I would lose my shoe. Again the good people at Reverberation worked hard to put down mulch to help soak up the water and make the fest area more navigable.
Once the bands started to play it seemed the Texas sky gods were appeased and the weather, while ominous clouds still loomed overhead ready to strike down a stray festival goer, seem to subside. The festival seemed to start off with a high on Friday with a lot of amazing bands. DIIV, Holy Wave, the fabulous Ringo Deathstarr – a local Austin band who I first heard here and loved – SURVIVE, and what I thought was the peak of the night was the performance by The Soft Moon. The atmosphere was unbeatable and it seemed so surreal leaving that night with so much great music ringing in my ears.
The next day it seemed the gods were even more appeased and the weather broke into spots of sunshine. Again great bands took to the stage with the panicle being to be able to see The Jesus and Mary Chain. Their performance was spellbinding! I have only heard this great band growing up on cassettes and vinyl. To finally see them play life against the background of a dark looming sky was perfect.
Returning on Sunday, it was going to be difficult to top the previous days but of course Levitation Fest always just gets better. I would say while all the bands were great, the band I was extremely excited to see was the reunion of the 13th Floor Elevators. The pioneers of psychedelic music themselves, headed by the legendary and Austin local Roky Erickson. To see legends, some of whom haven’t been on stage in 50 years, was amazing. This was only complemented by watching the hypnotizing Chelsea Wolfe.
Levitation Fest/Austin Psych Fest again continues to put on a great fest. The people at Reverberation seem to know the best mix of vendors, food, and great musical talents that just really make it so memorable every year. I am sure next year’s fest will be even better and hopefully the weather will be a little more cooperative!
