Levitation Festival (initially founded as Austin Psych Fest) can trace its beginnings to a simple idea devised by the members of JOVM mainstay act The Black Angels in the back of a tour van back in 2007: “Let’s invite all of our favorite bands and all of our friends for our version of a music festival.”
The inaugural Austin Psych Fest was in March 2008 — and by popular demand, the festival expanded to a three-day event the following year. Within a relatively short period of time, Austin Psych Fest has become an international destination for psych fans across the globe, with the festival featuring lineups that includes up-and-comers, cult favorites, legendary and influential acts and a headlining set from the festival’s founding band.
A few years ago, festival organizers renamed the festival Levitation, in honor of Austin psych rock pioneers The 13th Floor Elevators, but regardless of its name, the festival in its 15+ year history has helped to spark a new, international psych rock movement, while inspiring the creation of similar events across the glove, including Levitation Festival events in Chicago, Vancouver, France and a SXSW showcase, as well as other special events in Europe and Latin America.
Back in 2020, Levitation Festival’s record label, The Reverberation Appreciation Society announced the launch of a new live album series, Live at LEVITATION. Comprised of material played and recorded throughout the festival’s history, the live album series specifically captures and documents key artists in the contemporary psych rock scene. Of course, many of these moments were also important moments of Austin’s live music scene. Since it’s launch, The Reverberation Appreciation Society has released eight albums in the series, including:
- Kikagaku Moyo — Live at LEVITATION
- The Black Angels — Live at LEVITATION
- Primal Screen — Live at LEVITATION
- King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard — Live at LEVITATION
- Moon Duo — Live at LEVITATION
- Psychic Ills — Live at LEVITATION
- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club — Live at LEVITATION
- Thee Oh Sees — Live at LEVITATION
The ninth edition of the archival series features New York-based JOVM mainstays A Place to Bury Strangers. Recorded during 2021’s edition of LEVITATION, A Place to Bury Strangers — Live at LEVITATION captures the JOVM mainstays’ current lineup — Oliver Ackermann (vocals, guitar, bass), John Fedowitz (bass) and Sandra Fedowitz (drums) — playing a feverish, intense and eardrum shattering set that includes “Have You Been In Love,” a new song written, recorded and performed by the current lineup, and only available on the live album.
“Levitation 2021 was our second show as a new band and I felt so psyched to bring the new band members to such an epic festival. It was like a homecoming for me,” APTBS’ Oliver Ackermann recalls. “Bob Mustachio was doing lights and playing with Ringo Deathstarr, Kikagaku Moyo & The Black Angels all on the same bill had me so rev’d up and excited. I knew it had to be an epic show. I remember right when we started I was flailing around so much like a freak on speed that I almost flung my guitar off the stage. By the time we got out into the crowd I thought I was gonna pass out. I remember we rented this PA speaker from Rock N Roll Rentals and for some reason they trusted us with this top of the line like $5000 12” monitor that we rolled around in the crowd while I was screaming at the top of my lungs. I love Levitation and Austin Psych Fest shows, they are always a UFO of a good time.”
A Place to Bury Strangers — Live at LEVITATION is slated for a June 30, 2023 release through Reverberation Appreciation Society. The band shares a taste of the album with a blistering and forceful live rendition of “Let’s See Each Other,” accompanied with footage shot during their 2021 LEVITATION appearance that captures them in their noisy glory.
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