Austin – The crowds were visibly larger this year, which unfortunately was displayed in the hour it took to park. With any festival you have attended and loved in the past, it’s a little nerve-wracking to see the crowds grow, in fear the ease and calm vibes you once felt will be tainted. I’ve been to my share of festivals and I can say with sincerity, Austin Psych Fest is my favorite. Eight years and running, the line-up is carefully curated to include emerging and established acts that teeter on the Psychedelic genre.
It takes place at Carson Creek Ranch, an open and sprawling green field that ends with a river at the farthest point where the Elevation Amphitheatre, a small stage over the river at the bottom of a hill, lies. There’s been a surge of festivals curated by artists, which makes sense considering the hundreds of festivals artists attend each year.
This one, curated by Christian Bland and Alex Maas of The Black Angels, has been carefully thought out to make the experience as comfortable as possible for the bands and attendees alike. The stages are easily accessible, easy to get up close, and for those lucky enough to be VIP, there is an artists’ lounge with extremely comfy couches. The other important aspect is the lack of separation between artist and fan; the artists are walking around the festival, catching their favorite acts just like anyone else.
There was comfort in watching big-name artists fan girl out just as much as I was during the legendary Zombies. For emerging artists, playing Psych Fest is a stamp of approval. The set times lend themselves to these new acts, rather than sticking them all at 1 PM, you’ll find them scattered throughout the day and into the night—no stage too big.
The first band I was eager to see was Shannon & The Clams. This festival has pushed the boundaries of what “Psych” means in the past and this band is one of the reachers. I interviewed Shannon Shaw and her Clams before their set and though the sound might be a stretch for this festival, the fans seemed to flock asking for pictures and hugs. With a powerful voice that belts doo-wop, winged eyeliner, and adorable stage outfits that include a sheer apron, this band has been growing a devoted following.
The three piece of Shaw, Cody Blanchard, and Ian Amberson, could be the house band for a 60’s beach party movie. Blanchard and Shaw have a similar raspy belt that probably reached to the planes flying overhead, I wonder if the people could see the wave of dancing rock n’ rollers beneath them. Though Shaw is the sole female in the band, they illuminate a feminine energy that can overtake even the biggest misogynist. The band set the tone for what is to be a weekend of fun.
Quilt played the Elevation Amphitheatre and, after seeing them perform in nature, I’m not sure anyplace else would suffice. Elevate, they did, with their sublime harmonies that seemed to drift into the sky as the river flowed, looking nice enough for a dip.
Quilt tends to get lost in their performances, eyes closed, enjoying the moment of playing their songs. In talking to vocalist/guitarist Shane Butler, who described their performances as “channeling,” I can feel that now and watch it visibly happen on stage. The band gets lost in their own music and truly relishes the music. They remind you to stop checking Instagram to see whose having more fun than you and savor the moment you’re in.
The Fresh and Onlys brought a different vibe to the Elevation Amphitheatre, one well suited to the stoners who probably felt the river move a little slower. The fuzzy San Francisco sound harkens to 90s grunge with a garage twist. The twinkle in the guitar sounds pushes the music in to the psych realm. Their 7:30 time slot helped the audience grasp on to the last bit of daylight as The Black Lips somehow made me miss the sunset as the sky switched violently from blue to black.
There has been much talk of French band, La Femme but Psych Fest was my first interaction with the Biarritz rockers. I wondered earlier who the odd gang that looked like they’d stepped out of one of Warhol’s homoerotic films was. Keyboard player Sacha Got was clad in leather pants that said “Badass” across the, well, ass, and guitar player, Marlon Mangee was wearing a sombrero to match his shirt that read, “I’m on Drugs.”
Though a new band, they were slotted appropriately after 10 PM—the time when festivalgoers are ready to dance. Dance they did, you really can’t help but dance. The music lands across the board, inserting elements from punk, psych, and electronic. Though you might not expect an electronic band to grace the stage of psych fest, La Femme embodied what the festival is all about—getting weird and having ambition free fun.
Crowd Photo By Roger Ho – Cover Thumbnail By Maggie Miller – All Other Photos By Ilyse Kaplan
