Like drugs and lovers, ’60s psych pop groups were all about sharing songs. West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band delighted in celebrating the work of their peers with a variety of covers that appeared on Volume One. West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, the more tuneful and pop-oriented response to Andy Warhol’s and the VU’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable, dabbled in many genres: lo-fi garage sounds, baroque pop compositions, rollicking vocal harmonies, sunshine psych pop, and general sonic fuckin’ around. Their original songs were catchy, trippy, and fun, but it was when West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band covered a similar band, often yielding something better than the original version, that the group showcased a more unique, remarkable representation of the free decade of love and sharing. Continue reading ‘West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band Has You Covered’
Sweet sassy molassey! I had no clue that Roky Erickson, 13th Floor Elevators‘ mastermind and D.A.R.E. role model by example, is performing with the Black Angels next week. And I found this out from, get this, a pay-per-click advert on FaCeBoO!klol. My lameness has reached critical mass.
Having just returned from a quick east coast jaunt, Roky got his permission slip signed again and is heading back out, starting October 4th in Dallas and moving westward like the Oregon Trail. The Black Angels will play an opening set for Roky, then serve as his backing band. The two Texas reverb purveyors are also in the studio to work on some old Erickson-penned songs, as well as to collaborate on new material (possibly the follow up to Directions to See a Ghost). I love Roky. I love the Black Angels. I feel total damage for not being able to attend these shows. But let me know how they go – vibes, set list, whatever. Dates after the jump. Continue reading ‘Roky Erickson and the Black Angels Buddy Up’
Whereas Mr. Beast was good, but not as remarkable as their earlier efforts, Mogwai is shaping up to release something really special next month if “Batcat” and “Devil Rides” are any indication.
I was totally psyched when I heard that the the mighty Roky Erickson, legendary psychedelic cult hero, was going to appear on the new Mogwai jam hive The Hawk is Howling, already notorious for its most triumphant track listing and flea market-worthy cover art. It’s quite amazing that Roky is not only still alive, but making music today (though most of it is only a shadow of the 13th Floor Elevators’ reach). I mean, how many languages can you say “fuck yeah” in? I can only say it in one, and that’s English, so I will commence into cheering a loud “fuck yeah” for (probably) the most important duet since Michael Jackson and Eddie Murphy’s “Whatzupwitu.” Continue reading ‘Mogwai meets the 13th Floor Elevators’
