True Love Cast Out All Evil
Roky Erickson is a survivor, a fact reiterated by the screening of Keven McAlester‘s disturbing documentary, You’re Gonna Miss Me, at the Paramount Theatre on Friday. The celebrated 13th Floor Elevators‘ frontman is also a machine. His movements are confined to hardwired, salutatory gestures and Pavlovian responses: “Thank you.” The magic of Erickson’s hourlong performance after the screening occurred when the pyramid met the eye, the psychedelic originator exorcising the ghosts within through the horror-rock chant of classics like “Red Temple Prayer (Two Headed Dog)” and “Creature With the Atom Brain.” Erickson’s piercing guitar tone and bewitched cry during his leads on “The Beast” and blues standard “Before You Accuse Me” proved a divine act of trephination.This article appears in July 20 • 2007.