April 2016 – Page 2 – 7th Level Music

Prince can now see the sun day or night.

Prince has left us. To say he was an innovator is a massive understatement. He’s influenced more people than we can ever know. Everyone has been writing about his massive hits, his virtuoso guitar work, his multiple talents in and out of the studio, his basketball skills, and everything to do with Purple Rain.

I choose to remember how damn fun he was. Yes, he wrote and performed songs about heartbreak and loss, but I’ll always remember him for his funk influences and how he encouraged all of us to get our groove on, and by that I mean to get laid. Prince encouraged us to embrace our inner nature and to overcome haters by being bigger, bolder, and ballsier than them.

I plan to write a larger piece on Prince’s cementing of his legendary status at the 2007 Super Bowl, but for now let us remember him with the joy he brought us and encouraged us to have with him.

Keep your mind open.

Levitation Austin artist spotlight: Drinking Flowers

Los Angeles post-punk band Drinking Flowers will bring their cool drone / psychedelic sound to Levitation Austin on May 1st, playing the Levitation Tent that day. This is another band I hadn’t heard of before they were booked for the festival. I love discovering new, good bands, and they sound like another one I’ll be obsessed with by the time their set is finished.

Keep your mind open.

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Levitation Austin artist spotlight: Cellar Doors

This San Francisco psychedelic three-piece Cellar Doors makes haunting, intriguing sounds that hooked me from the first listen. I hadn’t heard of them until they landed a spot at Levitation Austin, so I’m thankful for their upcoming appearance on May 1st. They open the Levitation Tent stage, and I’m sure it will be a good start to the day.

Keep your mind open.

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Levitation Austin artist spotlight: Brian Wilson

A major coup for Levitation Austin this year is landing the legendary Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. He’ll be performing the landmark classic album Pet Sounds in its entirety for its 50th anniversary on April 30th. He’s only doing this in a few spots around the world, so this performance is a must-see.

Keep your mind open.

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Levitation Austin artist spotlight: The Black Angels

It’s hard for me to express how much I love The Black Angels. I first heard them when I downloaded a music compilation that contained their song “Doves.” It was my gateway drug to the psychedelic music renaissance that was going on without my knowledge. I’ve seen them five times since (Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, twice at Levitation Austin) and will see them any chance I get.

They curate the Levitation festival, so they always play the main stage. I will stand in the thunderstorms that might come on April 30th in Austin if I must to see them again.

Keep your mind open.

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Levitation Austin artist spotlight: The Thurston Moore Band

Another legend I’ll get to see at Levitation Austin is Thurston Moore, formerly of Sonic Youth. He’s playing April 30th with his new band and everything thing I’ve heard from them so far has this nice dangerous edge to it. His former bandmate Lee Ranaldo is playing the same day on a different stage after his set, so it’s a double whammy for Sonic Youth fans.

Keep your mind open.

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Levitation Austin artist spotlight: David J and the Gentlemen Thieves

David J, former bass player of Bauhaus and co-founder of Love & Rockets, is bring his band, the Gentlemen Thieves, to Levitation Austin on April 30th. I’m a big fan of Love & Rockets, and this might be the closest I get to any kind of reunion. David J’s dub-style bass playing was an influence on my brief career as a bass player in high school, and he’s a harmonica player to boot (like yours truly). I’m stoked to see him live.

Keep your mind open.

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Levitation Austin artist spotlight: La Mecanica Popular

Psychedelic salsa? I’m in. La Mecanica Popular are playing Levitation Austin‘s Elevation Amphitheater on April 30th, and I’m sure it will be a lively, fun show down by the river. The band combines hot salsa music with wild, weird psychedelic and Euro/mondo flavors for something you can’t quite pin down but definitely can dance to without trouble.

Keep your mind open.

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Levitation Austin artist spotlight: Bayonne

Austin’s own Roger Sellers, otherwise known as Bayonne, creates great electro dream pop all by himself. He’s the type of guy who makes me think I could create electro music if I made the time and bought even discounted gear at a pawn shop. He’s inspiring, and I’m sure his set on April 30th at Levitation Austin will be, too.

Keep your mind open.

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Levitation Austin artist spotlight: Slowdive

England’s Slowdive are shoegaze legends who should’ve been bigger over here in the U.S. than they were in their early 1990’s heyday. They’ve been reunited and touring for a couple years now, which is good news for all of us. I missed them at Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival a couple years ago, but I’m happy to see them at Levitation Austin when they close out the main stage on April 29th.

Keep your mind open.

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