A Day of Austin Psych Fest 2013

We were certain that Friday was the best line up. I knew it would be the day of Austin Psych Fest to defy the forecast and get silly with cameras and stuff. On the day’s agenda was Bass Drum of Death, Tamaryn, The Soft Moon, Suuns, BRMC, Warpaint, The Besnard Lakes, Raveonettes and Vietnam. Australia’s Ride Into The Sun provided the delightful surprise. Tinariwen provided camera fodder. Carson Creek Ranch provided the backdrop.

Check out the big gallery. Find your friends, reminisce…

When I arrived, final touches were still being made, soundchecking and the like. Vendors were still setting up, but were determined to be ready for the masses. Once we got the lay of the land, the pics and festival festivities went into full swing.

Psych Fest has lost the independent edge with plenty of corporate tents from XX and Red Bull. I get it, you have to pay the bills, but Psych was a final hold out. Log rolling challenge? Really?

The Soft Moon won the day for me. This is becoming a habit. Having chatted with the band for a bit before their set, I am a bigger fan – very approachable and they liked my pics of their DeVille set from SxSW (yay me). You must go see them, it bends your brain a little, making simplicity and noise an art with one word lyrics and punishingly driven basslines. I was standing with the guys from Bass Drum of Death during The Soft Moon’s set and we marveled. They were kinda pissed about how they can command the crowd with seemingly simple song structure, but the power and energy of the live performance just owns you.

The Besnard Lakes put down a lovely set, they were milling about the whole day, talking with fans, watching bands, good people. Bass Drum also killed and should have been later in the day. The new-to-me winner was Ride Into The Sun, a band from Australia that started things on the big stage with a phenomenal set garnering fans prompting some merch sales.

Psych does pick solid food vendors, the beer lines were never long, prices reasonable, camping for those willing to hippy-up. The venue has some kinks to work out around vendor layout, security policies and media rules and access. And get that grass growing for next year…

All the pics are at the photo site.