Scroll through all of our picks for Levitation 2023
Thursday, October 26th
Rose City Band at Stubb’s
Levitation is expanding the “psychedelic” palette this year, touching on hardcore, cumbia, and electronic wizardry, among other sounds. They even booked a bonafide country act in Rose City Band. The Portland, Oregon group leans towards the cosmic side of the barbed wire fence, tapping into the easy going twang of the Flying Burrito Brothers.
– Art Levy, producer/host
FOLLOW ROSE CITY BAND
Dead Meadow at Hotel Vegas
Among bands in the psyched-out doom metal world, Dead Meadow is closest to the primordial darkness from which all metal spawned: the blues. Imagine Buddy Guy or Junior Kimbrough amplified with enough wattage to disintegrate a concrete wall.
– Ryan Wen, host
FOLLOW DEAD MEADOW
LSD & the Search for God at Mohawk
LSD & the Search for God materialized with an out-of-body sound in the mid-2000’s, holding sway over the Northern California dream-pop scene with a fairly scant profile. Their two albums continue to be a topic of frequent discussion among shoegaze enthusiasts, which underscores how legendary this band truly is. LSD & the Search for God is a standout act at this year’s Levitation festival and a must-add to your midnight musings playlist.
– Maile Carballo, digital content intern
FOLLOW LSD & THE SEARCH FOR GOD
Codeine at Far Out Lounge
I thought I knew bleak until I heard Frigid Stars, and I’ll be honest, the prospect of listening to Codeine with other people feels a little weird. On the other hand, it’s one of the greatest records ever recorded, and Codeine has only played a couple dozen shows since the early ‘90s. This is a rare opportunity, just don’t come asking me for a tissue to wipe your emo eyes with. I need all of them.
– Ryan Wen, host
FOLLOW CODEINE
Oneohtrix Point Never at Concourse
When the Safdie Brothers select you as their composer, you know the artistry is unhinged. So on top of scoring Good Time and Uncut Gems, it’s wild to think that this counterculture icon’s gone on to collaborate with David Byrne, The Weeknd, and Max Martin. And with the recent release of his tenth album Again, we’re eager to hear a fresh mix and maybe even an announcement or two.
– Jack Anderson, producer
FOLLOW ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER
Water From Your Eyes at Empire
This Brooklyn duo takes pride in their careful chaos. They craft dense, exciting soundscapes out of the madness of their minds, and use the same soundscapes on stage as the backdrop for what ultimately becomes a noise rock show, one that is never the same twice.
– Taylor Wallace, host
FOLLOW WATER FROM YOUR EYES
Slow Pulp at Parish
Like their Chicago peers Ratboy, Slow Pulp mine an understated and powerful vein of ragged alt-something (Country? Rock? Neither seems quite right). Their 2020 debut was a bit sad-sack, but the new album Yard is the sound of a band waking up in a good mood. The arrangements are hooky and fuzzy, while vocalist Emily Massey frames their songs with the pull of nostalgic snapshots.
– Jeff McCord, music editor, host
FOLLOW SLOW PULP
Ty Segall & the Freedom Band at Stubb’s
Melt your face off guitar rock that steps outside the norm.
– Trina Quin, host
FOLLOW TY SEGALL & THE FREEDOM BAND
Font, Water From Your Eyes, Jockstrap at Empire
With a name like Jockstrap, you might think they were a punk band (I did), but this London electronic outfit met at Guildhall School of Music and is way more sophisticated than their name suggests. Water From Your Eyes is cool and weird and I like it a lot (and they’ll be in Studio 1A at 2:30p). Font [from Austin] just slayed at ACL Fest and now will slay at Levitation Fest.
– Deidre Gott, assistant program director
FOLLOW FONT
Friday, October 27th
Panda Bear & Sonic Boom at Far Out Lounge
Last year, Panda Bear and the Spacemen 3 sonic innovator Sonic Boom completed a trilogy of albums: Tomboy,Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper, and Reset. Over the years this became an equal partnership, with Sonic Boom sampling some old school sources (the Drifter’s “Save The Last Dance For Me”), while Panda Bear added in his choral arrangements. Psychedelic music doesn’t get more innovative than what these two cook up, folding in trance rhythms, spiritual hymns, synthesized face-melters, and throwback vinyl flips into a wholly original stew.
– Art Levy, producer/host
FOLLOW PANDA BEAR & SONIC BOOM
Fearing at Elysium
If you’re a fan post-punk’s darker side, Oakland CA’s Fearing is its greatest contemporary practitioner. Mixing cold wave’s desolate minimalism and early shoegaze’s tidal wave of guitar noise, Fearing stands above our modern deluge of post-punk revivalists.
– Ryan Wen, host
FOLLOW FEARING
Salami Rose Joe Louis at Concourse
I was first intrigued by the name, but it was KUTX’s Soundfounder who hipped me to this L.A. artist’s particular creativity. Part of the Brainfeeder braintrust (she’s playing a special Brainfeeder-related event at Levitation), Salami Rose Joe Louis makes intimate, whispery electro-jazz that feels like you’re swirling inside a vast cosmic brain.
– Art Levy, producer/host
FOLLOW SALAMI ROSE JOE LOUIS
Allah-Las at Far Out Lounge
Since 2008, Allah-Las has been drawing from the sun-soaked history of California to make listeners feel like they’re walking through sun-drenched afternoons of the So-Cal shores without the need for a $400 ticket. While their sound continues to evolve, the grainy aura of nostalgia defines their understated surf-rock flair. Their new release Zuma 85 showcases the future of what Allah-Las is bringing to the table.
– Maile Carballo, digital content intern
FOLLOW ALLAH-LAS
Flying Lotus at Concourse
You may not gather this from first listen, especially on esoteric masterpieces like Until the Quiet Comes, but Flying Lotus likes to have fun live. He sure did during his birthday set with ACL Fest 2016! We’re not sure how much of an appearance Captain Murphy’ll make this time around, but here’s hoping FlyLo cans some of the ranting and does what he does best – put crowds in a trance.
– Jack Anderson, producer
FOLLOW FLYING LOTUS
Warmduscher at Hotel Vegas
Admittedly, this artist only recently fell into my ears. Kismet! I’m a sucker for the disconnected punk/dark wave sound paired with syncopated talking (think Viagra Boys and Yard Act), and Warmduscher is that, but with a little bit of tailgating energy—it would have fit right in on the From Dusk Til Dawn soundtrack. I can feel the head-bumping, beer-in-air energy through my stereo, and I can’t wait to feel that energy all around me.
– Taylor Wallace, host
FOLLOW WARMDUSCHER
Bully at Parish
It’s almost impossible to believe Alicia Bognanno’s power. Since the beginnings of her Nashville band, Alicia’s wiry frame has commanded your attention. Her songs can shriek with pain, but she shrieks louder, in a voice tailor made to accompany her shredding guitar – and pain turns to euphoria.
– Jeff McCord, music editor, host
FOLLOW BULLY
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Far Out Lounge
Psychedelic and soulful vibes. Been wanting to see them for a long time!
– Trina Quin, host
FOLLOW UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA
Eshu Tune, Flying Lotus at The Concourse
My entry to Hannibal Buress was Broad City (one of the best shows ever IMHO). Did you know he’s got a rap alter ego project? This whole lineup celebrates the 15th anniversary of Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label.
(Eshu Tune will no longer be appearing at Levitation)
– Deidre Gott, assistant program director
FOLLOW ESHU TUNE
Saturday, October 28th
Alexalone at Parish
The first band I saw after pandemic lockdown restrictions lifted was this Austin act, and damn, it was a great choice. Alexalone is sometimes quiet, sometimes proggy, and always exciting, thanks to a three guitar frontline. Their songs are heavy but airborne, touching on shoegaze, metal, and slowcore without imitating too much. I’m excited to hear what new music they’ve been cooking up.
– Art Levy, producer/host
FOLLOW ALEXALONE
King Woman at Empire
Oakland, CA artist King Woman is one of many projects led by sonic shapeshifter Kristina Esfandiari. Her baffling repertoire includes industrial music as NGHTCRWLR, rap as Dalmatian, shoegaze as Miserable, and many more. However, her idiosyncratic gloominess is most well known as her doom metal form, King Woman.
– Ryan Wen, host
FOLLOW KING WOMAN
Durand Jones at Mohawk
One of the trailblazing acts in the modern soul revival movement, Durand Jones & the Indications are inspired by classic R&B and Motown artists, infusing their music with a modern flair that pairs well with a slow dance and dreamy love story. My best advice: find a cozy spot in the crowd and let the soulful resonance of Durand Jones wrap you in a musical embrace.
– Maile Carballo, digital content intern
FOLLOW DURAND JONES
Ghost Funk Orchestra at Antones
Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s not the only act to entice uninitiated classical fans. While UMO maintains their efficiency as a trio, Ghost Funk Orchestra is a stage-filling psych-soul affair complete with choreography, chorus singers front and center, along with a poltergeist of horns and percussion.
– Jack Anderson, producer
FOLLOW GHOST FUNK ORCHESTRA
Palehound | Speedy Ortiz at Parish
First of all, a powerhouse of a line-up, right? Palehound’s deft six-string noodling is such a gift, her guitar works more like a loom producing elaborate tapestries. Then you throw-in the 90s rock echo of Speedy Ortiz, and you’re in for a night of women slamming their guitars.
– Taylor Wallace, host
FOLLOW PALEHOUND
Militarie Gun at Stubb’s
The hardcore and melodic yin/yang tendencies of LA’s Ian Shelton rarely played well together before now, but Militarie Gun’s debut full-length, Life Under The Gun, settles on a powerful cohesion. Chalk it up to experience or the experimentation allowed by a major label budget; Shelton growls on a plotted course. This is the sound the band has been hearing in their heads. Now we can hear it, too.
– Jeff McCord, music editor, host
FOLLOW MILITARIE GUN
Die Spitz at Stubb’s
Can’t wait to check out locals Die Spitz again. I haven’t seen them since they played their first shows outside of Austin on tour. I suspect they’ve only gotten better!
– Trina Quin, host
FOLLOW DIE SPITZ
Sonido Gallo Negro, Como Las Movies, Trejo at The Concourse
From Mexico, Sonido Gallo Negro is gonna be wild y’all. Psychedelic Peruvian Cumbia with a theremin. Stick around for the afterparty with former KUTX Artist of the Month Como Las Movies and Chicago’s Trejo (good god, Trejo sounds so fun. I will do my best to stay out until 2a).
– Deidre Gott, assistant program director
FOLLOW SONIDO GALLO NEGRO
Sunday, October 29th
Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol at Hotel Vegas
The best way to close out a festival dedicated to all things cosmic and mind-expanding? Party in a mosh pit with these Austin metal knuckleheads.
– Art Levy, producer/host
BADBADNOTGOOD at Far Out Lounge
Just go, seriously. You’re going to like this. I could bore you until the end of time talking about this band, but the most succinct description I can muster is this: It’s approachable, contemporary jazz performed by musicians who probably fell in love with improvised music because of A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders.
– Ryan Wen, host
FOLLOW BADBADNOTGOOD
Pachyman at Empire
Hailing from Puerto Rico and currently based in LA, this modern day Gregory Isaacs began his journey when he discovered his love for fusing early ‘70s Jamaican sounds with flavors of his Puerto Rican heritage. It’s a given with Pachyman’s music that no matter where you listen to it, you’re guaranteed to be transported to your own personal paradise. Prepare to groove.
– Maile Carballo, digital content intern
FOLLOW PACHYMAN
DJ Shadow at Far Out Lounge
What more can be said of the man who took the momentum of UK trip-hop and turned it into an American instrumental institution. Even all these years after Endtroducing… this dude refuses to sacrifice his integrity as a DJ. So stoked catch him Sunday night!
– Jack Anderson, producer
FOLLOW DJ SHADOW
Altin Gün at Empire
When you say ‘world psych rock’, with this band, you actually get it. The Amsterdam-based group has two Turkish vocalists, and they’re known for putting their Anatolian rock sound to originals and traditional Turkish Folk songs. Live, they’re enchanting, hypnotic, and full of energy. Will you know a single word? Probably not. Will it matter? Absolutely not.
– Taylor Wallace, host
FOLLOW ALTIN GÜN
Armand Hammer at Far Out Lounge
It’s been a decade since the debut of Brooklyn hip-hop duo of Euclid and Billy Woods, and in that time their always fascinating creations have grown no easier to define. The oddly titled We Buy Diabetic Test Strips is one of the fall’s most intriguing albums, the title hinting at the fucked-up nature of everything addressed within. Ranging from the absurd to the abstract, with numerous guests hijacking the proceedings, you’re never quite sure where the duo is taking you next. This is going to be very interesting.
– Jeff McCord, music editor, host
FOLLOW ARMAND HAMMER
Pig Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs at Hotel Vegas
I have to see the band that loves pigs as much as I do!
– Trina Quin, host
Death From Above 1979 at Mohawk
“Let’s make love and listen to Death From Above” – CSS
– Deidre Gott, assistant program director
FOLLOW DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979
