David Yow, frontman of The Jesus Lizard, caterwauls into the microphone during the band’s explosive set. Credit: Stephanie Koithan

Annual psych-rock festival Levitation took over the city of Austin for yet another Halloweekend, and this year’s event proved to be particularly combustable.

As usual, the festival organized by Austin psych-evangelists The Black Angels was dispersed at venues throughout the capital city but mostly concentrated in downtown’s Red River Cultural District.

This year’s Levitation was a showcase of triumphant returns, from The Jesus Lizard to Pentagram, Gang of Four, The Sword and Japanese noise merchants Boris.

But don’t let the preponderance of legacy acts fool you — this Levitation was more vital than possibly any to date. 

Perhaps it was, unwittingly, a collective last hurrah before the unknown chaos of the week to come. An election-induced existential dread seemed to subtly permeate the weekend, with overheard comments centering on what Tuesday will bring, how personal liberties will be affected. Though mostly unspoken, the prevailing sense of utter abandon called to mind the hedonistic edict “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

Festivalgoers show off their Halloween finest. Many donned costumes for the event. Credit: Stephanie Koithan

Some acts alluded to this pivotal political moment between songs, like Gang of Four frontman Jon King, who shouted out “Make America Shit Again” before launching into “We Live as We Dream, Alone.” 

Tomorrow is uncertain but today, we party.

Thursday

Halloween Thursday started the weekend strong with sets by Nigerian guitarist Mdou Moctar, The Black Angels, Boris and other killer acts, all no doubt designed to entice festival goers to spring for the full four-day pass.

Friday

Friday was perhaps the most important day of the festival, however, with the main event going down at Far Out Austin. Boisterous English electro-punk act Fat Dog had one of the more interactive performances of the entire festival. During one song, lead singer Joe Love got the entire crowd to crouch down for a quiet part before the disco-klezmer beat dropped and the crowd jumped up in unison, throwing things in ecstatic jubilation.

Fat Dog performs one of the most interactive shows of the festival. Credit: Stephanie Koithan

Pissed Jeans brought its trademark humorous, hard-hitting punk, with sardonic lead singer Matt Korvette shaking his ass at the crowd and knocking plants offstage. Speaking of trademarks, the band might be hearing from Shepard Fairy and the Obey empire for Korvette’s “I’ve got Supreme shit for brains” shirt.

French rock band Slift delivered another of the festival’s standout performances, delving into heavy acid rock that melted minds with a sound that conjured acts including Wand, Hawkwind, Witch and Can.

Gang of Four’s Jon King delivered political lyrics and commentary against a Black Lives Matter backdrop. Credit: Stephanie Koithan

English post-punk band Gang of Four thoroughly entertained, though it did have to restart a song when David Pajo’s guitar didn’t come in on cue. Singer Jon King delivered the politically-motivated lyrics for which the group is known with a “Black Lives Matter” backdrop further driving home the message.

Newer UK-based post-punk band, Dry Cleaning, had the unenviable task of following Gang of Four on the venue’s larger Willie Stage. The cultivated aloofness of Florence Shaw’s muted, monotone vocals was reminiscent of The Limañanas, and its minimalism contrasted nicely with ornately embellished psychedelic guitar.

Dry Cleaning interplays minimalist vocals with ornate psychedelic guitar. Credit: Stephanie Koithan

As perhaps the biggest highlight of the entire festival, The Jesus Lizard’s performance was a tour de force, exploding with atomic energy. As soon as the first song started, frontman David Yow immediately dove into the crowd. The singer continued to crowd surf at various points throughout the show, exhibiting stamina performers half his age couldn’t hope to emulate. The band sounded the same, just as vital as its heyday, even when performing new material from the September 2024 album Rack.

Frontman David Yow crowdsurfs during The Jesus Lizard’s set. Credit: Stephanie Koithan

After The Jesus Lizard, the party continued at 13th Floor with En Orbito, an Afro-beat and psychedelic cumbia band whose bandleader Miguel Pantoja, aka “Ziggy Gonzo,” is from San Antonio. After that performance, Los Espiritus continued the bill’s theme of psychedelic cumbia.

Saturday

The next day at Hotel Vegas, Austin’s Grocery Bag — fronted by San Antonio native Isabella Martinez — opened the evening. The band’s songs start as simple garage rock yet take frequent turns into psychedelic breakdowns with drummer Jimmy Mercado deftly handling dexterous fills and occasionally moving into complicated time signatures. 

The Osees followed with one of the most energetic shows of the festival, even though the California-based garage rockers traditionally play every night of the four-day haul. Dual drummers in the foreground of the stage brought added intensity while John Dwyer’s vocals oscillated between high-pitched gollum and low-pitched growl. Sometimes, he even swallowed the microphone for additional vocal distortion.

Frontman John Dwyer exhibits dynamic vocals during the Osees energetic show. Credit: Stephanie Koithan

Easily half the equation in the high-octane show was the audience. The pit was an all-out melee throughout the Osees’ hour-and-a-half set. The crowd displayed sweaty and good-natured mosh etiquette while still imbuing the moment with an element of danger.

After Osees wrapped up at Hotel Vegas, many walked over to nearby nightspot Parish to keep the mosh pit going with Canadian psych-punk band Wine Lips. Aurora Evans held it down at the drum kit while trading off on vocal duties with co-founder and songwriter-guitarist Cam Hilborn.

Sunday

The festival closed on an epic note at Stubb’s BBQ with a lineup that included Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, The Well, Pentagram and The Sword.

To the delight of the head-banging crowd, Pentagram brought its A-game with frontman Bobby Liebling making his bizarro horror faces and exhibiting a clarity of purpose — to rock our fucking faces off.

Pentagram delivers a stellar performance, reminding the crowd why the band is legendary in doom metal circles. Credit: Stephanie Koithan

Then it was time for metal band The Sword to make a triumphant return to its Austin hometown after officially disbanding in 2022. The group walked onto to stage to Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys are Back in Town” with the crowd erupting in cheers before the four-piece delivered an onslaught of dueling-guitar, Sabbath-influenced shredders.

The Levitation afterparty ended the weekend at the 13th Floor, where Annabelle Chairlegs and Color Green entertained a mingling crowd of euphoric rockers.

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This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2024.

Stephanie Koithan is the Digital Content Editor of the San Antonio Current. In her role, she writes about politics, music, art, culture and food. Send her a tip at skoithan@sacurrent.com.