No one was expecting the lasting impact that The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads would have, least of all the band that recorded it. But Lift to Experience created something quite eerily beautiful and fascinating, an intensely-felt concept album that songwriter/vocalist Josh T. Pearson described as his “teenage symphony to God” in a recent Austin Chronicle feature. And rightly so. It was no small undertaking. The Denton psych-shoegaze trio invested a lot into their first and only LP – emotionally, financially – and risked as much putting it out there.
Not long after the album’s release in 2001, the band broke up. Yet all these years later, it remains a deeply-revered cult favorite with fans worldwide, and it’s this reverence that has kept the music circulating to new fans. LTE has now reunited for a special performance at the Meltdown Festival (curated this year by Elbow‘s Gary Garvey) at London’s Southbank Centre. And The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads is currently being remixed for a fall re-release by Mute Records.
Before they head out, Lift to Experience performs tonight at Barracuda, 611 E. 7th St., on the outside stage, with Moving Panoramas and Jesse Vain. Quin Galavis, Outer Spaces, Caroline Says and Slow play on the inside stage. Doors open at 9 p.m. Recommended.
-Photo courtesy of Bella Union.
