Levitation Adds Flipper, Flaming Lips & David J

At long last, Flipper returns to Austin. The San Francisco act known for noisy, crawling, fouled post-punk bestrewed with existential lyrics has announced an appearance at Levitation on Saturday, Nov. 7, with former Austinite David Yow, of Scratch Acid and the Jesus Lizard, handling vocals.

Old Flipper: Ted Falconi, Bruce Calderwood, Will Shatter, and Steve DePace

Flipper had been slated for Fun Fun Fun Fest in 2008, but cancelled its tour when replacement bassist Krist Novoselic of Nirvana fame left the band. The original lineup played Austin’s Liberty Lunch in 1985, three years after all-time classic Generic Flipper and two years before frontman Will Shatter died from a heroin overdose. The current lineup features founders Ted Falconi (guitar) and Steve DePace (drums) in addition to a cast of bassists, which recently included Minuteman Mike Watt. Yow’s previous two Austin appearances, a 2018 gig with Jesus Lizard at ACL Live and a mind-blowing 2017 collaboration with tribute act the Jazzus Lizard, both proved lights-out amazing.

The Flaming Lips represent another marquee add for Levitation, which now occurs throughout venues in Austin Nov. 7-10. The longstanding Oklahoma freak troupe was among the headliners for a stacked Levitation 2015, the year the festival rebranded from Austin Psych Fest, and is coming off April’s fascinating LP, King’s Mouth.

Other additions to the four-day convergence include indie rock psych vets Mercury Rev; David J of Bauhaus and Love & Rockets; abstract electronic soloist Tobacco, whose group Black Moth Super Rainbow was previously announced; British electronic unit Beak> featuring Portishead multi-instrumentalist Geoff Barrow; S.F. legacy act Chrome, as fronted by Helios Creed; warped noise-pop terrorists Cherubs; psych/doom heavies Windhand; dark electronic pop act Tr/st; cold wave artist Black Marble; gooey art-pop band Guerilla Toss; ATL punks the Coathangers; Middle Eastern-influenced, chill indie rockers Habibi; Portland heavies Danava; emotionally dense rock trio Vagabon; and Chicago grunge poppers Lala Lala.

The superb second half of Levitation’s lineup follows a hefty initial announcement in late April that included John Cale, Angel Olsen, Deafheaven, High on Fire, Chelsea Wolfe, Kurt Vile, and A Place to Bury Strangers. Tickets for shows featuring the newly announced performers are on sale now, and you can cop tickets here.

Behold the full list of Levitation performers, sorted by day:

Thursday, November 7

Angel Olsen • Devendra Banhart • High on Fire • Power Trip • Tr/st • Kikagaku Moyo • Black Marble • Pink Mountaintops • Jonathan Bree • Vagabon • Ryley Walker • Stonefield • Holy Wave • Jjuujjuu • Minami Deutsch • Automatic • Devil Master • Troller • Hoover iii • Creeping Death

Flaming Lips (photo by David Brendan Hall)

Friday, November 8

The Flaming Lips • Mercury Rev • Deafheaven • Black Mountain • Russian Circles • Kikagaku Moyo • Broncho • David J • Brutus • Death Valley Girls • Crocodiles • Emma Ruth Rundle • Elephant Stone • Stonefield • Holy Wave • Frankie & the Witch Fingers • Lingua Ignota • Jaye Jayle • Mint Field • Curse Mackey • Rosegarden Funeral Party • Sine

Saturday, November 9

John Cale • The Black Angels • Chelsea Wolfe • Allah-Las • Red Fang • Tobacco • Beak> • Flipper With David Yow • White Fence • Acid King • Torche • Windhand • Coathangers • Night Beats • Chrome • Cherubs • Deantoni Parks • Guerilla Toss • Cosmonauts • Monolord • Danava • Frankie & the Witch Fingers • Habibi • Here Lies Man • Jjuujjuu • Ioanna Gika • Moonwalks • Al Lover • Maston • Richard Rose • Zig Zags • Warish • The Well • Blackwater Holylight

Sunday, November 10

Kurt Vile & the Violators • Dinosaur Jr. • Black Moth Super Rainbow • A Place to Bury Strangers • The KVB • Lala Lala • Christian Bland & the Revelators • Ringo Deathstarr • Dallas Acid • Numb.er • The Black Drumset