Levitation Freakend Friday in Photos
When the Levitation team made to the decision to move the fest back to being a single site festival atmosphere, the Haloween adjacent tradition was broken. BUT, they had a plan. Why not pick another location and kick off a mini-fest for the costume wearing concert-goers and put together a lineup that would bring out the best in humanity? Heh.
I was able to hit Friday’s lineup, and it was pretty stacked. Viagra Boys made a triumphant return to Austin, first time in nearly seven years. Add to that Stereolab (another first time in a long time), Black Lips, J’cuzzi and Bitchin Bajas.
All the photos and a few random thoughts after the jump.
Bitchin Bajas – Analog synth song crafting, you want to find your inner-digital jazz-adjacent surfer vibe, here is your map. Saxophone was either an accompaniment, or a twisted midi melt into the background. Well worth a spin on a sunny afternoon on the patio or dark blacklit den.
J’cuzzi – art rock glam disco punks, characters and extras that didn’t diminish the intensity of the Gorge Bones and Trey Razeldazl. The live setting favors their songs, more edge and relentless attack.
Stereolab – …and now for something completely different. Despite a bit of stageside sound issues, they were amazing. Ethereal at times, quirkiness cut from glass others. Back after a fifteen-year hiatus, the new material fell in line with the hits. “Miss Modular” was a natural highlight for me.
Black Lips – Saxophone, hits, the crowd needed more room to get rowdy. I did not see any of their butts.
Viagra Boys – I was crushed by the flu when they were last here for SXSW. I have since become a fan through festival streams and record releases that seem to get better as time goes on. “Sports” into “Research Chemicals” is every bit the crowd crescendo as you would imagine a two-song pairing could be. “Man Made of Meat” had me singing back lyrics in the photo pit. The stage set up and lighting was leaps above expected production and the costumes were a chef’s kiss on top of everything else. Wiener Dog. I want to be the bass player from Viagra Boys when I grow up.
