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Psych Fest Record Reviews

Woods With Light and With Love (Woodsist) You build a reputation when you put out a new album every year, so Woods created a stir when 2013 came and went without a new release. The Brooklyn art-folk quartet and psych veterans may have been bored or burnt out or simply working on other things, but…

by Luke Winkie

Mikal Cronin

At the start of Mikal Cronin’s second album, last May’s MCII, after a brief piano arpeggio to open the light, airy “Weight,” the San Francisco garage songwriter admits an insecurity: “I’ve been starting over for a long time,” he sings over a strummed guitar and double-time snare beat. “I’m not ready for another day /…

by Chase Hoffberger

Brick Mansions

In one of his last roles, Paul Walker stars in this American remake of Luc Besson’s actioner District B13.

by Steve Davis

Psych Fest Record Reviews

Oneohtrix Point Never R Plus Seven (Warp) In his halcyon days, Brooklyn’s Daniel Lopatin made desecrated incantations inspired by soundtracks to the cheesiest sci-fi films of 1979. He’s nostalgia’s bitter end, the harbinger of false memories, and now, a world-renowned musician. Check his score for The Bling Ring. He’s certainly the only modern experimentalist being…

by Luke Winkie

ATX

Black Angels (Fri., 12:15am, Reverberation Stage) Neo-psych torchbearers and APF hosts, led by unassuming frontman Alex Maas, twist between evil drone and Sixties rock on new EP Clear Lake Forest Chris Catalena & the Native Americans (Sun., 3:15pm, Reverberation Stage) Beanpole cowboy, who often performs atop his cargo van, demonstrates an affinity for the Beatles…

by Kevin Curtin

Psych Fest Record Reviews

Liars Mess (Mute) To recap: 2001 debut They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top was noisy and angry, and so was its slightly more electronic follow-up, They Were Wrong, So We Drowned. 2006’s Drum’s Not Dead featured massive percussion and a sense of newfound nuance, while the following year’s…

by Luke Winkie

Heavy Psych

Graveyard (Fri., 7pm, Reverberation Stage) Swedish foursome hammers late Sixties acid rock into hard blues on third acclaimed LP Lights Out. White Hills (Fri., 7:45pm, Levitation Tent) Brooklyn triad beats motorik, free-flowing fuzz, controls set for the heart of the sun. Kadavar (Fri., 9pm, Levitation Tent) Berlin power stamps out metallic rivets of Seventies muscle…

by Michael Toland

Saturday Record Reviews

Bombino Nomad (Nonesuch) The buoyant, Middle Eastern groove of Nomad’s lead track “Amidinine” breaks open with a sandstorm solo of triplets and hammer-ons, daring you to imagine a recording of Mark Knopfler plugged into Jack White’s amplifier – being played in reverse. The Tuareg guitarist took to a Psych Fest stage in 2012 wearing a…

by Kevin Curtin

San Franciscan Nights

Barn Owl (Sat., 3pm, Elevation Amphitheatre) Doom dub duo’s fifth album V echoes like horror movie hallucinogens. Greg Ashley (Sun., 5pm, Elevation Amphitheatre) Prolific garagist makes lyrics like “You make me feel like shit / I want to kill myself” sound jovial. Joel Gion & The Primary Colours (Sun., 7:30pm, Elevation Amphitheatre) Brian Jonestown Massacre…

by Chase Hoffberger

The Retrieval

Chris Eska’s ambitious indie film is set during the waning months of the Civil War and tells a distinctive coming-of-age story.

by Marjorie Baumgarten

Food Events

Neon Nights Enjoy Tito’s cocktails, live music, and food from chef David Waggoner at this neon-art gallery. Thu., May 1, 6-9pm. Roadhouse Relics, 1720 S. First, 512/442-6366. › Open House at Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts Learn about the plant-based chef training program through cooking demos, Q&A sessions, and a tour of the facilities.…

by Chronicle Staff

Psych Fest Record Reviews

Destruction Unit Deep Trip (Sacred Bones) Arizona’s Destruction Unit gets a lot of credit for its ability to burn shit down. It’s understandable – turbine guitars, spiked drums, and backlit vocals – but there’s a hypnotic, almost soothing quality to the music. Deep Trip stands as the quartet’s first proper studio album after a litany…

by Luke Winkie

Japanrocksampler

Acid Mothers Temple (Sat., 10:15pm, Elevation Amphitheatre) Osaka krautrocker Kawabata Makoto and his Tokyo fivepiece storm acid rain on Astrorgasm from the Inner Space. Bo Ningen (Sun., 11:30pm, Levitation Tent) Rolling Stone’s David Fricke declared this UK Japanese foursome his SXSW highlight in March, new disc III dancing a middle ground between Boris and Yoko…

by Raoul Hernandez

On My Way

In this road movie, Catherine Deneuve plays a Frenchwoman having an existential crisis on wheels.

by Josh Kupecki

Psych Fest Record Reviews

Boogarins As Plantas Que Curam (Other Music Recording Co.) Recorded by two teenagers in a basement in Goiånia, a town of 1.3 million in the heart of Brazil, Boogarins’ debut carries much of the same psychedelia as both Tame Impala and Foxygen, with a similar attention to sonic detail. October’s As Plantas Que Curam rivals…

by Chase Hoffberger

French Psychédélique

Aqua Nebula Oscillator (Fri., 6:30pm, Levitation Tent) The Paris fourpiece bubbled up a sinister brew on its fourth LP, Spiritus Mundi, intense mysticism on par with the band’s 15th century cave for a domicile. La Femme (Fri., 10:15pm, Levitation Tent) Dipping back into Austin after SXSW, this Biarritz sextet rolls a different surf rock, more…

by Abby Johnston

Finding Vivian Maier

After buying a storage locker full of unknown photos, the filmmaker becomes the de facto executor of the unheralded photographer of the title.

by Kimberley Jones

Psych Fest Record Reviews

Pure X Angel (Fat Possum) Too many bands are content to hide behind reverb, obscuring all meaning and direction with effects pedals. Pure X’s 2011 full-length, Pleasure, trafficked in smoke and mirrors, while last year’s Crawling up the Stairs made only lateral moves, awakening awkwardly from hazy slumbers in a panicked cold sweat that clashed…

by Austin Powell

Psych Fest Blurbs

THURSDAY Elephant Stone 9pm, Mohawk A mind-blowing highlight of last year’s APF, Montreal’s Elephant Stone deftly fold Indian raga into psychedelic pop without becoming “raga rock.” Two LPs perfe ctly blend Eighties UK guitar shimmer with leader Rishi Dhir’s fleet-fingered sitar excursions. – Michael Toland FRIDAY Black Lips 8:15pm, Reverberation Stage Long-running Atlanta punks hold…

by Chronicle Staff

Psych Fest Record Reviews

Temples Sun Structures (Heavenly) The alluring jangle of a Byrds-like 12-string riff on “Shelter Song” opens the book on this UK psych-pop quartet in promising fashion. Even if stripped of its spot-on incantation of Sixties transistor bliss, the subtle backbeat, strategic hand percussion, and bucolic vocals would keep this sun-speckled earworm from losing its sizzle.…

by Greg Beets

Mayoral Candidates

Steve Adler Occupation: attorney Experience: chief of staff/general counsel for state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh; attorney (has argued civil rights cases, focuses on eminent domain defense); Anti-Defamation League Austin Region board chair; Texas Tribune board chair Issues: new 10-1 system, traffic, affordability, public education, poverty, water, environment www.adlerforaustin.com(FB) Steve Adler for Austin Mayor Mike Martinez Occupation:…

by Chronicle Staff

Psych Fest Record Reviews

The Horrors Luminous (XL Recordings) How has a UK band once so exciting grown so unbelievably dull? Luminous’ opener “Chasing Shadows” hits six minutes, three of them intro. The Horrors always sounded like a bandload of crate diggers, but the records they formerly plundered held more thrills than the Spiritualized catalog they’ve swallowed whole. Every…

by Tim Stegall

Mr. Smarty Pants Knows

In 1892, the highest bridge in North America was over the Pecos River. It was a shortcut for trains. The word “dude” was first used in the 1800s as a term of mockery for young men who were overly concerned with keeping up with the latest fashions. It later came to stand for clueless city…

by Mr. Smarty Pants

Soccer Watch

It’s just one week now until the Austin Aztex begin their PDL title defense, hosting the Houston Dutch Lions at House Park at 7pm Saturday, May 10. And, just four days later, it was announced this week that they’ll host NTX Rayados in the U.S. Open Cup second round, 7:30pm Wednesday, May 14. The last…

by Nick Barbaro

Psych Fest Record Reviews

Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks Enter the Slasher House (Domino) Enough time has elapsed since the last Animal Collective LP that the solo albums are bound to start trickling in. Panda Bear and Geologist are planning their next moves, but L.A.-based Avey Tare introduces the band’s next chapter with his second solo album, Enter the Slasher…

by Luke Winkie

Civics 101

Thursday 01 FRIENDS OF BARTON SPRINGS POOL CLEANING Roll up your sleeves to maintain an Austin jewel. 10am-6pm. Free. www.friendsofbartonspringspool.org. INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ DAY May Day celebration with music, poetry, soapbox speeches, and more. 5:30-10pm. Resistencia Bookstore, 4926 E. Cesar Chavez. Free. www.facebook.com/events/1435501726689993. Friday 02 FUND DEVELOPMENT TOWN HALL Nonprofit leaders discuss the challenges facing professional…

by Chronicle Staff

Psych Fest Record Reviews

Brian Jonestown Massacre Revelation (A Records) As long as Anton Newcombe needs to create, there will be a Brian Jonestown Massacre. Say what you will about him – father of modern psych, charismatic narcissist, destructive-on-multiple-levels genius, drug casualty asshole – but he’s issued a torrent of nearly annual releases since 1991. In creating one of…

by Tim Stegall

Loop

Few artists arrive without traveling quite as well as Loop. Starting in 1986, the British troupe evolved from a spacy garage band to a smoke-obscured, atmospheric monster that all but abandoned traditional songsmithery for tuneful stasis. A Gilded Eternity, the band’s 1990 masterpiece, remains a striking convergence of riff and drone that continues influencing mantra-minded…

by Michael Toland

Psych Fest Record Reviews

Of Montreal Lousy With Sylvianbriar (Polyvinyl) Whereas Of Montreal visionary Kevin Barnes concocts schizophrenic pop that sounds like caffeinated acid trips, 12th album Lousy with Sylvianbriar strums out a more agreeable amalgam for the veteran Athens, Ga., clown car. Credit Barnes’ decreased workload on the October release. The 39-year-old recorded only guitar and bass tracks…

by Chase Hoffberger

The Flamin’ Groovies

“We’re still shaking our heads saying, ‘How the hell did this happen?'” acknowledges Cyril Jordan. “I keep asking myself, ‘Why now?'” The veteran guitarist, singer, and rock & roll true believer pauses to consider the current resurgence of the Flamin’ Groovies, a scrappy cult combo he’s led in various incarnations since the mid Sixties, and…

by Scott Schinder

Psych Fest Record Reviews

Guardian Alien Spiritual Emergency (Thrill Jockey) Despite the esoteric nature of this post-rock/free jazz hybrid, Greg Fox’s voracious percussion acumen springboards it far beyond late-night head noise. Even as passages of Guardian Alien’s second LP fall apart, the Brooklynites’ vision keeps the experiment from driving into tangential cul-de-sacs. Opening salvo “Tranquilizer” combines resonant tabla runs…

by Greg Beets

Psych Fest Record Reviews

The Warlocks Skull Worship (Cargo/Zap Banana) Light-year markers denote Skull Worship as the Warlocks’ sixth planet from their burning star, yet the L.A. quintet’s mass density emits a far greater gravitational pull. Atop psych-fried radioactivity cut through with acidic leads, Bobby Hecksher’s syrupy, British invasion vox demands instant deification on opener “Dead Generation.” Organ oxidation…

by Raoul Hernandez

Psych Fest Record Reviews

The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream (Secretly Canadian) Given the Garcia/Weir split of the War on Drugs, wherein departed longhair Kurt Vile once interwove lysergic epiphanies with co-captain Adam Granduciel, this Philly-by-way-of-Oakland trio gives as good as it gets. Lost in the Dream matches last year’s Wakin’ on a Pretty Daze from Vile…

by Raoul Hernandez

Quote of the Week

“I keep calling his phone number, but it keeps going straight to voicemail.” – Josué Robles on his boyfriend Kelly Noel, killed by a drunken driver on April 26.

by Chronicle Staff

Psych Fest Record Reviews

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Oddments (Flightless) After the psychedelia and blues-tinged garage rumble of 2012’s 12 Bar Bruise, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard veer headlong into studio-tanned nuttery. The Melbourne, Australia-based brain pokers revel in disregard for fidelity. If your neighbors dig Steely Dan, these extra-stubbly appendages of exploding bubblegum degradation are…

by Greg Beets

Psych Fest Record Reviews

Earthless From the Ages (Tee Pee) Instrumental comet Earthless got it right from conception – ride the riff until it becomes a black hole. San Diego triangle Isaiah Mitchell, Mike Eginton, and Rocket From the Crypt propulsionist Mario Rubalcaba hurtle third studio LP and first since 2007 into the void atop a gloriously earthen pachyderm…

by Raoul Hernandez

Headlines

› Expect City Council fireworks today (May 1) over grandfathered development rights and a zoning case or two, but the real action soon shifts to budget prep, where $28 a year is just too much to bear. See “Council.” › Project Connect will present its recommended Urban Rail route to the Central Corridor Advis­ory Group…

by Chronicle Staff

An Actor and an Übermensch

In the often thankless life of an actor, it’s a long way from making $35 a week as a theatre performer to traveling the world as an ambassador for a multiple award-winning indie movie. But eight years after graduating with an MFA in acting from UCLA, that’s the happy situation Tishuan Scott now finds himself…

by Josh Rosenblatt

Psych Fest Record Reviews

The Fresh & Onlys House of Spirits (Mexican Summer) The Fresh & Onlys maintain a musically anomalous relationship to San Francisco garage-psych. Green valley guitar-sweeps and detailed narratives unfurled in a rich baritone by Tim Cohen fit more comfortably alongside the neo-psychedelic phylum of British New Wave than Thee Oh Sees. Accordingly, House of Spirits…

by Greg Beets

Terakaft

Exiled from Northern Mali by civil unrest and an Islamist insurgency that effectively outlawed their music, desert blues troupe Terakaft brings its Saharan homeland to every performance. Terakaft means “caravan” in Tamasheq, one language spoken by the Tuareg people. Formed in 2001, their stylistic resemblance to Tinariwen is no accident. Guitarist Liya Ag Ablil, better…

by Greg Beets

The Luv Doc: A Big Move

Dear Luv Doc, My girlfriend moved to Denver in January to manage a restaurant. It was a big move for her and although she asked me to go with her, I chose to stay in Austin because my job, my house, and my friends are all here. Now, four months later, I can’t stop thinking…

by The Luv Doc

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