Posts Tagged ‘the reverberation Appreciation Society’

OSEES – ” Levitation Sessions “

Posted: April 11, 2021 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Psych-punk psychic warrior, ear worm-farmer, and possessor of many stamped passport pages John Dwyer does not let up. His group Oh Sees (aka Thee Oh Sees, OCS, The Oh Sees, etc) have transmogrified to fit many a moment – from hushed druggy folk to groovy demonic pop chants to science fictional krautrock expanse and beyond – to suit his omnivorous whims.

Back in September, OSEES performed a blistering set out in the desert at Pappy & Harriet’s, which aired on the Levitation Sessions streaming series.  

The live album is now being pressed on 3 limited vinyl pressings via The Reverberation Appreciation Society record label. OSEES and the label are donating 100% of proceeds to independent music venues. Music venues have been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many in danger of closing their doors permanently. Unfortunately some have already.

 The NIVA Edition proceeds will be donated to the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund. The fund has been launched to raise money for the most vulnerable venues, and keep them afloat during these unprecedented times for live music.

Special editions for two independent clubs have also been created: Zebulon Edition – benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California, Hotel Vegas Edition – benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas 

Both venues hold a special place in OSEES history, and have irreplaceable roles as incubators of their local indie music scene.  

“During this particularly hard year, it was a pleasure to work with our good friends over at Levitation and Pappy and Harriet’s to reach out to some of our fans, if only for a fleeting hour.  This is the proper plastic that came from that evening. We are trying to keep some of our favourite haunts, dives, glorious old venues and bars open through this triail, as it’s obvious the lizards that make up the current administration have no real interest in extending any realistic help to struggling businesses.  

Venues have been hit particularly hard by this and without them, there is no us….so this is a small token of appreciation and a grassroots effort to lend a helping hand in their time of need.  Take care, be well and keep your eyes on the horizon.”

 – John Dwyer

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The live album from OSEES episode of Levitation Sessions.

“Lots of old favorites and 7 never before performed live hits from the crypt recorded dusk till dawn in Pioneertown, California
its raw and shreddy with a bit of elastic improvisation thrown in come hang out with us for a few crack a beer meant to be played loud” – JPD
Released October 9th, 2020
 
OSEES - LEVITATION Sessions Vinyl (PRE-ORDER)

ACID DAD – ” Take It From The Dead “

Posted: March 19, 2021 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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We’re pumped to announce that we’ll be doing an exclusive Fuzz Club Edition of the incoming album from Acid Dad. Titled ‘Take It From The Dead’, our version comes on 180g blue marble transparent vinyl and includes an exclusive 7″ flexi-disc with a live version of ‘Living With A Creature’ recorded at the Greenway Records studio in Queens, NY during the pandemic. Out today, Acid Dad are now sharing the new latest single from the record, ‘BBQ’ – an almost-criminally infectious slice of garage-y, fuzzed-out slacker-pop. You can pre-order the Fuzz Club Edition here. 

Acid Dad is an American alternative-rock band composed of singer-guitarists, Vaughn Hunt and Sean Fahey, and drummer, Trevor Mustoe. Vaughn first started recording the band in his Bushwick, NY basement releasing singles “Brain Body” and their first EP “Let’s Plan a Robbery.” Appearing live in the New York City rock scene in 2016, Acid Dad quickly moved to a world stage with their self-titled debut album, released by Greenway Records in 2018.

During 2020, the band spent their time building a new studio space in Queens, NY, while continuing to independently produce all their own music, art and even building their own guitars. With a new space and vision, the band produced their second LP, ‘Take It From The Dead,’ set to be co-released in June 2021 by Brooklyn’s Greenway Records and psych powerhouse Levitation’s label, The Reverberation Appreciation Society. Following live / session albums from Dead Meadow, The Black Angels and Acid Mothers Temple, the forthcoming Acid Dad LP is the latest addition to our new partnership with Levitation/RAS – in which we’ll be brining you special, exclusive pressings of the majority of their incoming releases.

‘Take It From The Dead’ features an array of different influences ranging from 90’s neo-psych, modern post-punk and 70’s rock-n-roll. Acid Dad has crafted a record that sounds new, yet feels nostalgic. In contrast to their earlier work, they make use of slower tempos and expand their sound to include songs that are both more intricate and more hypnotic. To accompany the new record, the band spent the last year collaborating with video artist Webb Hunt, producing psych and glitch art videos that form a visual counterpart to the dreamy distortions of their sound.

“BBQ” is the second single from the bands new record “Take It From The Dead” out this summer via The Reverberation Appreciation Society and Greenway Records.

OSEES – ” Levitation Sessions “

Posted: March 17, 2021 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Zebulon Edition – benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California
Hotel Vegas Edition – benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas

The OSEES – “Levitation Sessions” live album is being pressed on vinyl . We’re donating all proceeds to independent music venues with the band. Back in September, OSEES performed a blistering set out in the desert at Pappy & Harriet’s, which aired on the LEVITATION Sessions streaming series. OSEES and the label are donating 100% of proceeds to independent music venues. Music venues have been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many in danger of closing their doors permanently. Unfortunately some have already.

“During this particularly hard year, it was a pleasure to work with our good friends over at Levitation and Pappy and Harriet’s to reach out to some of our fans, if only for a fleeting hour.  This is the proper plastic that came from that evening. We are trying to keep some of our favourite haunts, dives, glorious old venues and bars open through this trial, as it’s obvious the lizards that make up the current administration have no real interest in extending any realistic help to struggling businesses.
 
Venues have been hit particularly hard by this and without them, there is no us….so this is a small token of appreciation and a grassroots effort to lend a helping hand in their time of need.  Take care, be well and keep your eyes on the horizon.”  
– John Dwyer

The live album is now being pressed on vinyl via The Reverberation Appreciation Society record label. Each edition is limited to 1000 and includes a 7” with the final track from the show, “Block Of Ice” pressed on Desert Sand colored vinyl. These limited vinyl editions will be released March 5th, 2021 and will be available for pre-order on the LEVITATION website at 11am PT, on Friday, Dec 11, 2020:

The NIVA Edition proceeds will be donated to the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund. The fund has been launched to raise money for the most vulnerable venues, and keep them afloat during these unprecedented times for live music.  the second volume from garage-rock heavyweights OSEES and Alex Maas of the Black Angels, performing off the back of his beautiful new solo album,

Special editions for two independent clubs have also been created:

Zebulon Edition – benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California
Hotel Vegas Edition – benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas

The OSEES – “Levitation Sessions” live album is being pressed on vinyl . We’re donating all proceeds to independent music venues with the band. Back in September, OSEES performed a blistering set out in the desert at Pappy & Harriet’s, which aired on the LEVITATION Sessions streaming series. OSEES and the label are donating 100% of proceeds to independent music venues. Music venues have been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many in danger of closing their doors permanently. Unfortunately some have already.

“During this particularly hard year, it was a pleasure to work with our good friends over at Levitation and Pappy and Harriet’s to reach out to some of our fans, if only for a fleeting hour.  This is the proper plastic that came from that evening. We are trying to keep some of our favourite haunts, dives, glorious old venues and bars open through this trial, as it’s obvious the lizards that make up the current administration have no real interest in extending any realistic help to struggling businesses.
 
Venues have been hit particularly hard by this and without them, there is no us….so this is a small token of appreciation and a grassroots effort to lend a helping hand in their time of need.  Take care, be well and keep your eyes on the horizon.”  
– John Dwyer

The live album is now being pressed on vinyl via The Reverberation Appreciation Society record label. Each edition is limited to 1000 and includes a 7” with the final track from the show, “Block Of Ice” pressed on Desert Sand colored vinyl. These limited vinyl editions will be released March 5th, 2021 and will be available for pre-order on the LEVITATION website at 11am PT, on Friday, Dec 11, 2020:

The NIVA Edition proceeds will be donated to the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund. The fund has been launched to raise money for the most vulnerable venues, and keep them afloat during these unprecedented times for live music.  the second volume from garage-rock heavyweights OSEES and Alex Maas of the Black Angels, performing off the back of his beautiful new solo album,

Special editions for two independent clubs have also been created:

Zebulon Edition – benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California
Hotel Vegas Edition – benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas

The OSEES – “Levitation Sessions” live album is being pressed on vinyl . We’re donating all proceeds to independent music venues with the band. Back in September, OSEES performed a blistering set out in the desert at Pappy & Harriet’s, which aired on the LEVITATION Sessions streaming series. OSEES and the label are donating 100% of proceeds to independent music venues. Music venues have been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many in danger of closing their doors permanently. Unfortunately some have already.

“During this particularly hard year, it was a pleasure to work with our good friends over at Levitation and Pappy and Harriet’s to reach out to some of our fans, if only for a fleeting hour.  This is the proper plastic that came from that evening. We are trying to keep some of our favourite haunts, dives, glorious old venues and bars open through this trial, as it’s obvious the lizards that make up the current administration have no real interest in extending any realistic help to struggling businesses.
 
Venues have been hit particularly hard by this and without them, there is no us….so this is a small token of appreciation and a grassroots effort to lend a helping hand in their time of need.  Take care, be well and keep your eyes on the horizon.”  
– John Dwyer

The live album is now being pressed on vinyl via The Reverberation Appreciation Society record label. Each edition is limited to 1000 and includes a 7” with the final track from the show, “Block Of Ice” pressed on Desert Sand colored vinyl. These limited vinyl editions will be released March 5th, 2021 and will be available for pre-order on the LEVITATION website at 11am PT, on Friday, Dec 11, 2020:

The NIVA Edition proceeds will be donated to the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund. The fund has been launched to raise money for the most vulnerable venues, and keep them afloat during these unprecedented times for live music.  the second volume from garage-rock heavyweights OSEES and Alex Maas of the Black Angels, performing off the back of his beautiful new solo album,

Special editions for two independent clubs have also been created:

Zebulon Edition – benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California
Hotel Vegas Edition – benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas

The OSEES – “Levitation Sessions” live album is being pressed on vinyl . We’re donating all proceeds to independent music venues with the band. Back in September, OSEES performed a blistering set out in the desert at Pappy & Harriet’s, which aired on the LEVITATION Sessions streaming series. OSEES and the label are donating 100% of proceeds to independent music venues. Music venues have been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many in danger of closing their doors permanently. Unfortunately some have already.

“During this particularly hard year, it was a pleasure to work with our good friends over at Levitation and Pappy and Harriet’s to reach out to some of our fans, if only for a fleeting hour.  This is the proper plastic that came from that evening. We are trying to keep some of our favourite haunts, dives, glorious old venues and bars open through this trial, as it’s obvious the lizards that make up the current administration have no real interest in extending any realistic help to struggling businesses.
 
Venues have been hit particularly hard by this and without them, there is no us….so this is a small token of appreciation and a grassroots effort to lend a helping hand in their time of need.  Take care, be well and keep your eyes on the horizon.”  
– John Dwyer

The live album is now being pressed on vinyl via The Reverberation Appreciation Society record label. Each edition is limited to 1000 and includes a 7” with the final track from the show, “Block Of Ice” pressed on Desert Sand colored vinyl. These limited vinyl editions will be released March 5th, 2021 and will be available for pre-order on the LEVITATION website at 11am PT, on Friday, Dec 11, 2020:

The NIVA Edition proceeds will be donated to the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund. The fund has been launched to raise money for the most vulnerable venues, and keep them afloat during these unprecedented times for live music.  the second volume from garage-rock heavyweights OSEES and Alex Maas of the Black Angels, performing off the back of his beautiful new solo album,

Special editions for two independent clubs have also been created:

Zebulon Edition – benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California
Hotel Vegas Edition – benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas

HOOVERRIII – ” Water For The Frogs “

Posted: February 5, 2021 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Having originally been born as a solo drum machine project by Bert Hoover, Hooveriii (pronounced “Hoover Three”) has now evolved into it’s true final form – a six member band adept at creating their own brand of psychedelic space rock. And after almost a decade in, the band is set to release their sophomore album and debut for The Reverberation Appreciation Society, “Water For The Frogs”. Influenced by Iggy’s The Idiot, Bowie’s Berlin records, and Soft Machine, the LP sees the band creating their own version of prog rock, circa 2021.

In 2019, Hooveriii took their live show to Europe for the first time. Bert Hoover shares, “seeing all the old cities and beautiful landscapes while becoming closer as a band had a huge impact on this album. A lot of our favourite music came from the Krautrock scene in Germany from the late 60’s-70’s, and when we had a day off in Furth, Germany, we spent most of it writing the record,” he continues, “we were able to rehearse in an old German bunker that has been converted to rehearsal space. It definitely had a strange energy that helped give this album light.”

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Releases April 9th, 2021

KIKAGAKU MOYO – ” Live At Levitation “

Posted: January 15, 2021 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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The Reverberation Appreciation Society is proud to launch a brand new live series, Live at Leviation. Recorded over the history of the world renowned event, professionally mixed and mastered, this series captures key moments in modern rock and roll history, and live music in Austin, Texas. The artists and sets showcased here are the apex of modern psychedelia, performing for a crowd of their peers and fans who gather at Levitation annually from all over the world.

The first LP in this series features Japanese psych heavyweights Kikagaku Moyo. This particular record is as strong as it is meaningful in the band’s story. It showcases one of the bands very first US show in 2014 on the A-side and their triumphant return in 2019 on the B- side with them firing on all cylinders amid a sold out US tour.

Kikagaku Moyo have come a long way –both literally and metaphorically– since their humble beginnings busking on the streets of Tokyo back in 2012. A tight-knit group of five friends who bonded over the desire to play freely, and explore music associated with space and psychedelica, their initial ambitions were modest semi-regular slots in the cramped clubs of the city’s insular music scene. Yet the band’s progressive, folk-influenced take on psychedelica marked them out from their peers and re-started Japan’s psych rock scene, and soon brought them international acclaim. Fast forward a few years, and you find the band crushing headline sets at festivals, embarking on sprawling international tours, and a dedicated fanbase for their music and record label Guruguru Brain – all while steadfastly maintaining their creative freedom and DIY allure.

Kikagaku Moyo are the real deal: masterful musicians, a powerful creative force, and one of key bands in the psychedelic rock movement and we are thrilled to have them kick off the “Live at Levitation” series with this incredible record.

The BLACK ANGELS – ” Live At Levitation “

Posted: January 12, 2021 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Recorded over the history of the world renowned psychedlica event, professionally mixed and mastered, this series represents a valuable moment in time for live music in Austin, Tx.

The bands showcased here are performing at their strongest and with something to prove. this series captures key moments in modern rock and roll history, and live music in Austin, Texas. The artists and sets showcased here are the best of the best, with key artists performing for a crowd of their peers and fans who gather at “Levitation” annually from all over the world. this specific album captures a slice of the early days of the festival, and the band as a psychedelic rock powerhouse with tracks from the Black Angels 1st two lps – with 6 tracks recorded at Austin Psych Fest 2010, 2011 and 2012.

The artists and sets showcased on Live at Levitation have been chosen from over a decade of recordings at the world-renowned event, and documents key artists in the scene performing for a crowd of their peers and fans who gather at Levitation annually from all over the world. The Black Angels’ Christian Bland explains, “Since the beginning… The Black Angels were meant to be heard live. This record captures the rumble of the drums and amps, and the very essence of the way it should sound. Now future generations and new listeners can now hear how these songs were meant to be heard.”

The Black Angels – “Live at Levitation” sees its release March 26th via The Reverberation Society on vinyl and digital formats. The LP has been given deluxe treatment, with three mind melting vinyl options available exclusively through the Levitation webstore, plus two Indie Store exclusive versions: one available at your favourite record stores in the USA and Canada, and one for the UK and Europe. 

For an incoming ‘Live At Levitation’ album from the mighty The Black Angels. The Reverberation Appreciation Society has recently launched the “Live At Levitation” series. Recorded over the history of the world-renowned event, professionally mixed and mastered, this series represents a valuable moment in time for live music in Austin, TX. The bands showcased here are performing at their strongest and with something to prove. This series captures key moments in modern rock and roll history, and live music in Austin, Texas. Get a taste of the LP with a live cut of  “Manipulation”, filmed at Austin’s Seaholm Powerplant and captures a hypnotic performance and collaboration with sitarist Rishi Dhir.

Levitation (formerly known as Austin Psych Fest) began as a simple idea in a Black Angels tour van in 2007 — let’s invite all our favourite bands and all our friends, for our version of a music festival.  The first Austin Psych Fest was held in March 2008, and expanded to a 3 day event the following year. From there, the festival quickly developed into an international destination for psychedelic rock fans, with line-ups spanning the fringes of indie rock, from up-and-comers to vintage legends, and capped off with headlining performances from The Black Angels each year. The Black Angels and Levitation helped spark a movement, inspiring the creation of similar events across the globe and a burgeoning psych scene that would soon ignite.

“Austin’s importance as the breeding ground for psych is finally on people’s radars thanks to Levitation.” – The Guardian
“The lineup is adventurous and well-curated… one of the best boutique festivals in the country” – Austin Statesman
“Austin Psych Fest has developed from a 10 band bill of like-minded acts in a small venue, to a 3-day celebration of the finest mind-expanding sounds currently being made.”  – Consequence of Sound
“The annual Austin Psych Fest is becoming the All Tomorrow’s Parties of the South… with a lineup that traces a new psychedelic era.” – The Austin Chronicle

“Each year we get to see our friends and music community from around the world gathered in Austin, and we’ve been able to share the stage with many of our music heroes. Playing at Levitation is like playing at the psychedelic Olympics, and everyone walks away with a gold medal.” – The Black Angels’ Alex Maas

Due for release March 26th, this specific LP captures a slice of the early days of the festival, and the band as a psychedelic rock powerhouse with tracks from The Black Angels 1st two LPs – with 6 tracks recorded at Austin Psych Fest 2010, 2011 and 2012.

KIKAGAKU MOYO – ” Live At Levitation “

Posted: November 12, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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The Reverberation Appreciation Society is proud to launch a brand new live series, “Live at Levitation”. Recorded over the history of the world renowned event, professionally mixed and mastered, this series captures key moments in modern rock and roll history, and live music in Austin, Texas. The artists and sets showcased here are the apex of modern psychedelia, performing for a crowd of their peers and fans who gather at Levitation Festival annually from all over the world.

The first LP in this series features Japanese psych heavyweights Kikagaku Moyo. This particular record is as strong as it is meaningful in the band’s story. It showcases one of the bands very first US show in 2014 on the A-side and their triumphant return in 2019 on the B-side with them firing on all cylinders amid a sold out US tour.

Kikagaku Moyo have come a long way –both literally and metaphorically– since their humble beginnings busking on the streets of Tokyo back in 2012. A tight-knit group of five friends who bonded over the desire to play freely, and explore music associated with space and psychedelica, their initial ambitions were modest semi-regular slots in the cramped clubs of the city’s insular music scene. Yet the band’s progressive, folk-influenced take on psychedelica marked them out from their peers and re-started Japan’s psych rock scene, and soon brought them international acclaim. Fast forward a few years, and you find the band crushing headline sets at festivals, embarking on sprawling international tours, and a dedicated fanbase for their music and record label Guruguru Brain – all while steadfastly maintaining their creative freedom and DIY allure.

Kikagaku Moyo are the real deal: masterful musicians, a powerful creative force, and one of key bands in the psychedelic rock movement and we are thrilled to have them kick off the LIve at Levitation series with this incredible record.

Formed in Japan in 2013 with Tomo Katsurada and Go Kurosawa at the helm, Kikagaku Moyo quickly and confidently hurtled to the forefront of the psychedelic scene upon the arrival of their debut full-length. Riding high on a broad spectrum of influences, Kikagaku Moyo were naturals at integrating these many elements into their own voice, from Indian traditionals to krautrock to jazz to chamber folk to riff-heavy acid freak-outs. It’s all in there, but it’s 100% a singular sound they’ve finessed with every new record and every tour.

Their live show is not to be missed and an essential experience for any psych fan or active listener. If you’ve indeed never witnessed a happening of this calibre, The ‘buy’ link takes you to LEVITATION where two gorgeous variants await you, the ‘Dripping Sun’ version and ‘Exploding Star’ colorway limited to 500 copies each.

HOLY WAVE – ” Interloper “

Posted: July 9, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Holy Wave is an experimental dream-pop band originally from El Paso, Texas. After seeing a life-altering performance by My Bloody Valentine in 2008, the band moved to Austin to pursue their own vision of Texas psych, their sweet melodies dyed in carefully constructed noise. Over the course of four albums, the band have cemented themselves as a staple force in the international indie scene, with key performances at Levitation, Desert Daze, and nearly every psych gathering on the planet. They’ve toured the world, and shared the stage with heroes such as Slowdive, Spiritualized, Hope Sandoval and The Black Angels. Their body of work has received critical acclaim from Pitchfork, Consequence of Sound, Paste Magazine and countless others, and in 2020 they are prepared to release their latest body of work.

Hello, thank you for your support of Holy Wave! This is a band we have championed for years, and we have two announcements to share with you: The band just released their excellent new LP “Interloper”, and the band would sure love to be back on the road & playing these new songs on tour. 2020 had other plans, so Levitation is going to be bringing Holy Wave’s live show to you, via our Levitation Sessions series, Tune into Levitation Sessions at 5pm CT on July 25th to catch Holy Wave celebrating the release of their new album with a full live set, filmed and recorded at Mosaic Sound Collective. The show features tracks from their new album Interloper + choice cuts from their discography, and visuals by Drip Cuts!

Interloper sees the band adding new layers to their lush and mesmerizing songwriting style. Written about the duality between life at home and life on the road, it sees the band expanding on their most esoteric and thought-provoking themes.
“I’m Not Living in the Past Anymore” is a mantra about breaking the cycle of the mundane, “Escapism” is a dream-like meditation. “Interloper” serves as the centerpiece for this self-expanding record, asking, what happens when the world beneath your feet changes so much that you feel like a stranger in your own shoes? The band turns inward, to blissed-out moments on album opener “Schmetterling”, the saccharine haze of “R&B”, and the freak-out catharsis of live favorite “Buddhist Pete”.

Interlopersees the band adding new layers to their lush and mesmerizing songwriting style. Written about the duality between life at home and life on the road, it sees the band expanding on their most esoteric and thought-provoking themes. I’m Not Living in the Past Anymore is a mantra about breaking the cycle of the mundane, Escapism is a dream-like meditation.Interloper serves as the centerpiece for this self-expanding record, asking, what happens when the world beneath your feet changes so much that you feel like a stranger in your own shoes? .

The band turns inward, to blissed-out moments on album opener Schmetterling, the saccharine haze of R&B, and the freak-out catharsis of live favourite Buddhist Pete. With Interloper Holy Wave weaves together a contemplative tapestry that can serve as a road map for the diffident, a soundtrack to self-realization, or simply an invitation to escape.

Released on the Label The Reverberation Appreciation Society Released 03/07/20

HOLY WAVE – ” California Took My Bobby Away “

Posted: March 10, 2016 in MUSIC
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The languorous ripples in Lady Bird Lake hide an undetectable lysergic compound that has turned the Violet Crown city into a lush and fertile culture for psychedelic music to flourish. Roky Erickson, The 13th Floor Elevators, Shiva’s Headband, and other 60’s psych bands germinated Austin’s psychedelic seeds decades ago. While many other analagous bands have flowered through the years, there is an unmistakable psych renaissance occurring in the city of its inception, nearly a half-century later. The multi-instrumentalist local quintet, Holy Wave, is one of the Austin groups at the tip of the spear of this burgeoning revival.

Endeavoring their third full-length album, Freaks of Nurture, the group has taken an impressionist approach to their sound, exacting sharp and precise brush strokes of shoe-gazed sound that begins to meld and blend into a panorama of psychedelic beauty. The album begins with a building anticipation of fuzzed-out surf guitars that wash over a stalking drum beat on “She Put A Seed In My Ear”. The appeal of Holy Wave’s sound isn’t instantly identifiable, but rather it creeps up like a room full of mirrors and whispers, an enticing siren that leads you to an epiphany of ethereal soundscapes and angelic choruses.

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“Wendy Go Round” keeps the mood light and airy, and precariously on the cusp of falling into Strawberry Alarm Clock-type 60’s fodder, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The album’s third track, “Western Playland”, is special; dexterous guitar-picking at the beginning of the song hooks the listener in the cheek and drags them into a building chorus that levels out into a chanting harmony that is as wistfully aloof as it is addictively confectioned. “You Should Lie” revs up the RPM’s of the pace of the album, while the dreamy “California Took My Bobby Away” is a lackadaisical stroll with a tinge of melancholy that is reminiscent of Air’s Virgin Suicides tracks.

The second half of the album kicks off with the uplifting track “Airwolf”, which elevates the mood to a high-frequency once more, while the following “Our Pigs” is a carnival-esque stomper that meanders aimlessly. “Sir Isaac Nukem” conveys a soft heavenly soundscape that builds beautifully into dissonant thrashing, and “Magic Landing” is particularly cutting and magnetic with its urgency, possessing distinct similarities to contemporary shoe gaze bands like DIIV and Wild Nothing.

“Minstrel’s Gallop” finishes off the album with an amalgam of all of Holy Wave’s best attributes; droning and wistful lyrics, sun-drenched synths, and entrancing guitar picking. While there is a trace amount of filler in Freaks of Nurture, there is an incredible the amount of sophistication that exudes from the album. Though Holy Wave’s efforts may not be birthing a new revolutionary genre of music, they are upholding the legacy of Austin’s psychedelic roots while furthering the spectrum of it’s sound. A chorus of cicadas ends the album, a tip of the hat to their Texan roots, and a nod to the cyclical nature of the music that they play.

Official music video from the forthcoming HOLY WAVE LP, , via The Reverberation Appreciation Society, available for purchase here: http://levitation-austin.com/store/rv…

LEVITATION FESTIVAL Carson Creek AUSTIN, TX – 29th April- 1st May 2016

Posted: February 4, 2016 in FESTIVALS, MUSIC
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New additions to the LEVITATION 2016 lineup have been released along with the lineups per day and Single Day Tickets!  Check out the good news below, looking forward to seeing you all at #Levitation2016!

Weekend Passes, Single Day Tickets, Deluxe Passes, and Camping Passes & Rentals are available now:

The Reverberation Appreciation Society is proud to announce 15 new additions to the Levitation 2016 lineup:

WEEN
COURTNEY BARNETT
THE ARCS
MELODY’S ECHO CHAMBER
DAVID J AND THE GENTLEMEN THIEVES
HOLY WAVE
WALL OF DEATH
NOTS
CHRISTIAN BLAND & THE REVELATORS
MAGIC WANDS
GOLDEN DAWN ARKESTRA
BAYONNE
FEDERALE
KLAUS JOHANN GROBE
KAITLYN AURELIA SMITH

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The lineups per day have been announced and Single Day Passes have been released:

FRIDAY APRIL 29th

SLOWDIVE • FLYING LOTUS • THE ARCS • THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE • NICOLAS JAAR • DUNGEN • ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER • UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS • SHABAZZ PALACES • BOOGARINS • TWIN PEAKS • LA LUZ  • PURSON • HOLY WAVE • MILD HIGH CLUB • IMARHAN • WALL OF DEATH • CHRISTIAN BLAND & THE REVELATORS • THE GOLDEN DAWN ARKESTRA • FANTASMES • KLAUS JOHANN GROBE

SATURDAY APRIL 30th

BRIAN WILSON PERFORMING PET SOUNDS • ANIMAL COLLECTIVE • COURTNEY BARNETT • SLEEP • THE BLACK ANGELS • SUNN O))) • BORIS • THE THURSTON MOORE GROUP • BLACK MOUNTAIN • PARQUET COURTS • WOODS • LEE RANALDO • DAVID J & THE GENTLEMEN THIEVES • HERON OBLIVION • ISRAEL NASH • ASTEROID #4 • NOTS • ULTIMATE PAINTING • BAYONNE • LA MECANICA POPULAR • FEDERALE • KAITLYN AURELIA SMITH • FLAVOR CRYSTALS

SUNDAY MAY 1st 

WEEN • CARIBOU • SUPER FURRY ANIMALS • LEE SCRATCH PERRY • TY SEGALL & THE MUGGERS • ROYAL TRUX • MELODY’S ECHO CHAMBER • ALLAH LAS • KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD • CHICANO BATMAN • THE MURLOCS • DELICATE STEVE • QURAISHI • WALL OF DEATH • MAGIC WANDS • PROMISED LAND SOUND • BLONDI’S SALVATION • JJUUJJUU • CELLAR DOORS

Formerly known as Austin Psych Fest and now called LEVITATION, the ninth edition of this annual festival, which takes place April 29th – May 1st at Carson Creek Ranch in Austin, TX, attracts reverb-loving fans from around the world. Unlike bigger mainstream festivals, the folks behind LEVITATION have carved out a niche by bringing together bands that may not tour much as well as bands that would never be booked at festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo. Generally speaking, these are acts that, in some way, seem to have a psychedelic quality to their music. The festival was founded by Austin psych rockers The Black Angels, who wanted to create an event that would honor the city’s trippy musical legacy that produced acts like the 13th Floor Elevators and Shiva’s Headband. As LEVITATION has grown, the standard of psych rock has broadened with bigger headliners coming in and a more diverse array of acts, but at its core the festival has always stayed true to keeping things far out. In other words, LEVITATION is part of an increasingly rare group of festivals booked by people who not only love music, but seek to present bands on the margins just because they love them.

This year’s lineup is massive and undoubtedly one of the strongest festival lineups of 2016, period. There are big names like Brian Wilson (playing The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds in its entirety) and Animal Collective, as well as more obscure fare like the Allah-Las, Heron Oblivion, and Imarhan. 10 acts not to be missed at this year’s LEVITATION.

Dungen (Friday, April 29 @ 9:15PM, Elevation Amphitheatre)

The name of this band translates as “The Grove” in Swedish, which is the language of all the lyrics from this Prog-psych rock band. Though lead singer Gustav Ejstes plays most of the instruments on the albums, Dungen tours as a four piece. They are currently touring on their newest album Allas Sak. Having been one of the pioneers of the modern psych-rock renaissance, their influence can be heard across many of the bands that have played Levitation over the years.  Essential album: Ta Det Lugnt

Lee “Scratch” Perry (Sunday, May 1 @ 7:35PM, Elevation Amphitheatre)

Perry is the pioneer of dub reggae. By combining effects and remixing, Perry created new mixes of existing reggae songs. Founding his own band in the late 60’s, The Upsetters, named after his record label, he also continued to work with other acts like Bob Marley and The Wailers, the Congos and many others. Essential album: Super Ape

Courtney Barnett (Saturday, April 30 @ 6:05PM, Reverberation Stage)

After a successful SXSW in 2015, Melbourne native Courtney Barnett has been touring incessantly in support of her debut LP Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I just Sit. With her witty lyrics, grungy guitar licks, and stage energy, her shows are not to be missed. Most recently she contributed her version of “New Speedway Boogie” for The National’s curated Grateful Dead tribute album. Essential album: Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit

Black Mountain (Saturday, April 30 @ 10:45PM, Elevation Amphitheatre)

The Vancouver-based band have been putting out albums for the past decade and are currently touring in support of their newest album IV. Frequently employing nostalgic sounds of the 60’s and 70’s, their newest output comes across as a mix of Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath. Given Black Mountain’s range across their discography, their set is bound to impress. Essential album: Black Mountain

Slowdive (Friday, April 29 @ 11:25PM, Reverberation Stage)

Reuniting after a twenty year hiatus, the English pioneers of shoegaze are back on the road and playing songs from their late 80’s-early 90’s discography. After the band went their separate ways in 1995, lifelong friends and founding members Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell formed the band Mojave 3. Now all the original members are back and ready to play their brand of ambient dream pop for a nostalgic audience.Essential album: Souvlaki

Ween (Sunday, May 1 @ 9:15PM, Reverberation Stage)

After a 28 year career, Ween disbanded in 2012 after releasing an extremely diverse and wonderfully oddball catalogue of music. Though never having much commercial success, Ween cultivated a major cult following later in their career. Originally only announcing a three show reunion in Colorado, the overwhelming ticket sales led Dean and Gene Ween to the formation of a full fledged reunion tour. Catching their set is a must as there is no guarantee that there will be any more shows following this tour.Essential album: Chocolate and Cheese

Israel Nash (Saturday, April 30 @ 3:05PM, Reverberation Stage)

This long-haired troubadour is the kind of solemn character you can picture wandering through the Texas Hill Country on some mystic peyote trip. In fact, Israel Nash calls the Hill Country home (Dripping Springs to be exact), and it is there that the singer-songwriter and his band have cultivated a style of music that they describe as “desert folklore”. On albums like Rain Plans and most recent Silver Season, Nash backs his philosophical lyrics with a cacophony of twangy sounds that fall somewhere between Neil Young, Pink Floyd and an Ennio Morricone score. Essential album: Rain Plans

Woods (Saturday, April 30 @ 9:00PM, Elevation Amphitheatre)

Brooklyn-based Woods have never had any trouble tapping into a kaleidoscopic array of psychedelic sounds. Most recently, this can be heard on the band’s ninth album City Sun Eater In The River Of Light, which finds them exploring the groovy terrain of Ethiopian jazz and Afrobeat placed in the context of sun-washed, poppier songs. The album is loaded with flourishes of horns, and it will be interesting to see how much of that they bring to the stage at Levitation. Regardless, Woods’ return to Levitation will be ideal for spacing out to on Saturday night. Essential album: City Sun Eater In The River Of Light

Sleep (Saturday, April 30 @ 11:45PM, Levitation Tent)

It’s safe to say that the multitude of acts playing stoner doom metal today would not exist without Sleep. With badass motherfucker Matt Pike at the helm, the group has spent two decades shredding their way through sprawling songs that are as heavy as it gets. Whereas Pike’s other band High On Fire is fast, brutal, and closer to Black Sabbath, Sleep is sludgy and slow-burning like a fat joint. They are unquestionably one of the heaviest bands playing Levitation this year, and since their live appearances are somewhat of a rarity, you’ll want to smoke some dope and saddle up for the dark, glorious journey that is Sleep. Essential album: Dopesmoker

Promised Land Sound (Sunday, May 1 @ 2:00PM, Reverberation Stage)

On their 2012 debut Stoned Eagle and 2013 self-titled follow-up, this gang of Nashville youngsters embraced what Gram Parsons once referred to as Cosmic American Music. Despite their age, the members of Promised Land Sound seemed to posses a natural talent for applying a laid back stoner aesthetic to country rock, a feat that may seem easy enough but has produced tons of cliché joke bands. Their latest effort For Use And Delight takes the country rock sound in an impressive new direction as the band drifts towards indie rock and a catchier pop sound. That authentic 70’s feel is still there, but these guys are not afraid to try out new things, and the result is beautiful. Promised Land Sound may not fit the “psych rock” mold per se, but they are absolutely worth catching. Essential listening: Promised Land Sound

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