Austin - Day two was a day to highlight newcomers and they were displayed prominently on the main stage. Temples made a big impact since their stint at SXSW earlier this year, and the massive crowd gathered to catch a glimpse. Slotted at 8:15, they were one of the headliners and this viewing experience was very different from my first time catching them at the Austin Psych Fest showcase during SXSW when I drifted easily to the front of the stage, not knowing who they were, but knowing I was watching something incredible. They pull off the festival performance flawlessly. They have a very pure, nostalgic 60’s sound with echoing vocals and sweet harmonies. They are one of those bands that don’t do much on stage, but their talent surpasses the need to have a lot going on. The audience relishes their presence and understands they are witnessing intense talent and a bit of magic. You could hear the lyrics echoing from the crowd on favorites such as “Shelter Song.” Temples made it.
Though the crowd was sparse, Mirror Travel drew in the stragglers that were entering the fest early. By the time their set ended, the crowd more than doubled. This band is just beginning to get more recognition and their sound filled out the main stage nicely. Local to Austin, their sound is very different from most of what is coming out of our fair city. They feel more fitting to the Los Angeles scene though we are lucky to have them here in Texas where we can see them often. The sound combines elements of shoegaze, pop, and during moments of vocal power on songs like “Parties,” even elements of punk. After a set to solidify their place amongst big name bands playing the Saturday Psych Fest line up, Mirror Travel will be closely watched.
Jacco Gardner packed the Elevation Amphitheatre in a way I hadn’t experienced all weekend. The Amphitheatre is supposed to be the chill spot for people who took too many mushrooms to hang out and focus on the flow of the river. Not so for Gardner’s set. The front of the stage was filled with fans and photographers trying to get photos without a fan’s head blocking Gardner. The Dutch artist has been described as “Baroque Pop” and he prefers to write fantasy driven music that harkens to “Sargent Pepper” era Beatles or “Satanic Majesty” era Rolling Stones. The aptly titled 2013 album, “Cabinet of Curiosities” is imagination expanding with cryptic lyrics that bring to mind “Alice in Wonderland.” Should any day-trippers listen too closely to the lyrics of “The One Eyed King” while focusing on the river, they may begin to feel they’re “drifting down a river with no end” as the song describes.
Mark McGuire brought an entirely different vibe to the Amphitheatre. His sets are a one man show filled with McGuire tinkering with pedals and electronics like a computer nerd performing in his bedroom (I mean this in the best way, of course). McGuire’s sets are mostly instrumental, including building guitar riffs that expand to an all out jam session, drifting naturally in to the explosion of lyrics. His set was engaging and felt as though something completely different might come out should I see him again.
YAMANTANKA // SONIC TITAN is another band I became familiar with through the Austin Psych Fest SXSW showcase. Their songs are based on Asian folklore and the don traditional face paint and kimonos on stage. The music is dark and gothic with an experimental take. Their stage shows are one of the most interesting I’ve seen with front woman Ruby Kato Attwood singing powerfully while standing still making only slight hand gestures, sometimes incorporating props such as fans or bells. The instruments also include a traditional gong. This, melded with the progressive rock sound, is truly unique.
I never know what to expect with an Animal Collective side project. This is another band whose sets can be completely different each time. I’ve seen them as the Collective. I’ve seen Panda Bear and Avey Tare solo. Sometimes they are off. Sometimes they are beyond on. Avey Tare’sSlasher Flicks is the latest Animal Collective incarnation and possibly the most generic incarnation I’ve seen. I don’t mean this in the way of boring. I mean only that Animal Collective tends to play behind masks and machines, but here we had Avey Tare standing in front of a microphone with a guitar, nothing hiding his face. The music has immense layers but for Avey Tare, the performance was stripped down. He could have easily taken his theme to new heights, wearing scary masks, but instead gave us the man behind the mask. This shows the true talent instilled and how well the music carries without a major production behind it.
I can’t talk about Psych Fest Day 2 without mentioning Unknown Mortal Orchestra. They’ve gotten much acclaim since their 2013 release “From the Sun.” Though they’ve been on my radar for a long time, this was my first time seeing the Portland trio live. They gave us a full on rock n’ roll performance. The music was loud and pulsating to the point my body felt as though it was vibrating. Front man, Ruban Nielson, is captivating on stage; going in and out of guitar jams effortlessly.
It’s time to enter the psychedelic dust storm once again for day three.
Ilyse Kaplan
Growing up in Boston, MA, Ilyse Kaplan was an avid music fan so she followed her passion to Los Angeles. Unable to decide whether to be Penny Lane or William from “Almost Famous,” she combined their best assets–William’s writing skills and Penny’s fashion–and joined her guitarist boyfriend Southwest. Though missing her old haunts like The Echo and The Satellite, she has warmly embraced the Austin music community and looks forward to sharing the hidden gems she comes across wandering aimlessly down east 6th st. Her record collection holds no boundaries from 60′s Yeh Yeh girls like Francoise Hardy to her imaginary hip hop boyfriend, Drake. From the kings of morose, The Smiths, to the reigning queen, Taylor Swift. Having written for publications such as Variety, LADYGUNN, and Filter in the past, she looks forward to reporting Austin’s Best New Bands live from the scene
