Population II – 7th Level Music

Top 25 concerts of 2025: #’s 25 – 21

I saw almost fifty bands last year, so it’s time to list who made my top shows of 2025. Let’s get to it!

#25: Kumo 99 – September 25, 2025 – Levitation Austin – Austin, TX

This electro duo (synths + Japanese lyrics) opened the 2025 Levitation Music Festival to a great start with their slightly darkwave dance music. They were one of many bands who made you want to seek them out as soon as you got back home or to your hotel room.

#24: Hooveriii – September 27, 2025 – Levitation Austin – Austin, TX

You’re going to see a lot of bands from Levitation Austin (and France) on the list this year (as usual), and Hooveriii (pronounced “Hoover Three”) are no exception. They had a great, solid set on day three of the festival for their hometown crowd who gave them a lot of energy to use and feed back to us.

#23: The Raveonettes – September 27, 2025 – Levitation Austin – Austin, TX

It’s always good to see The Raveonettes, and they enjoy playing in Austin. They played at the first Austin Psych Fest I attended in 2013 and haven’t lost any of their power. They played a nice mix of old and new tracks to a happy crowd that was enjoying the cooler evening weather.

#22: Population II – September 28, 2025 – Levitation Austin – Austin, TX

A French-Canadian power trio in the afternoon sun? Yes, please! Not many people knew who they were, but they were paying full attention by the end of their heavy set.

#21: DMBQ – Old National Center – October 22, 2025 – Indianapolis, IN

Speaking of bands that barely anyone knew, or knew what to make of, Japanese noise-punk legends DMBQ played a wild, weird set in front of an Indianapolis crowd who barely knew anything about them and were left stunned by the shredding, frenetic drumming, and groovy bass that almost overwhelmed the small venue multiple times. It was a great surprise to see and hear them, and I hope more people in the crowd appreciated it.

Who’s in the top twenty of live shows? Come back tomorrow for more!

Keep your mind open.

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Levitation 2025: Day Three recap

You can always recognize faces by the final day of Austin, Texas’ Levitation Music Festival. You see the same people who’ve been sweating and rocking with you all weekend and can tell who hasn’t had enough sleep, who’s been in the sun too long, who’s hungover, who’s dehydrated, and who’s an old pro.

The crowd was light when I arrived to see Daiistar open the final day of the festival. This isn’t because Daiistar is a bad band, quite the contrary, but the people who show up early on Sunday are either the die-hards who are getting every cent of their money’s worth for the weekend pass, the people who can only make it on Sunday and have the same logic, the fans of the first band, and those who are so deep in the festival zone that showing up when the gates open has become as automatic as breathing. All of those people got to see a good set of early-90’s vibe psychedelia from Daiistar that was a good warm-up to a hot, humid Sunday.

Afterwards, shade spots were prime real estate at the outdoor stage for Population II, who brought their fiery cosmic psych all the way from Quebec and wowed the audience. They cracked jokes about touring, their own merch, and lack of English in between songs about everything from pizza to panic.

Population II gathering a large population of new fans.

Two friends, Wes and Chelsea, met me at the festival on this day, and I took them to see A Place to Bury Strangers. This was their first time seeing APTBS. “I envy your innocence,” I said. We walked into the indoor stage area within moments of the opening notes of the set and, of course, were greeted by what sounded like a saw mill on fire. As is now custom at an APTBS show, they came into the middle of crowd, near us, to perform a wild, weird set of hammering rhythms and distorted synth…something. Chelsea said, “It felt like they’d summoned us to be sacrificed and then put a hex on us.” We later told frontman Oliver Ackermann this and he said, “Yes! That’s it.” Chelsea said she was still thinking about their set by the end of the night.

A Place to Bury Strangers casting spells.

As if that wasn’t enough face-melting for you, along came Frankie and The Witch Fingers afterwards with a ton of groovy garage-punk chaos for which I joined the mosh pit and rocked out with the sweaty crowd for a bit (which you could easily have done outside as well since it was so hot and humid that day). FATWF always play well and are a ton of fun.

Frankie and The Witch Fingers casting spells.

We had some time for food at some point. It’s difficult to remember when you eat and which set is at which time when you’re on Day Three. We did remember that The Black Angels were up next for us. The festival’s hosts and curators always play and put on a set of some rare tracks I hadn’t heard in a while, possibly ever, which was a treat.

The final two bands of the night on the indoor stage were indie rock giants -— both of whom drew big crowds. First was Built to Spill, whose lead singer and guitarist Doug Martsch had some of the best guitar tones of the entire festival.

Spilling thrills for the appreciative crowd.

Next, and closing the day and the festival, was Pavement. They had a great time on stage, laughing a lot, poking fun at each other, and getting a lot of cheers from the crowd.

There’s always an odd feeling when Levitation ends. You’ve been there for multiple days and nights. You’ve made some new friends, seen the same groups of weirdos, ate some spicy food, drank too much caffeine, and your ears are sore from wearing earplugs for three straight days or not wearing them at all. You’ve experienced something…and now it’s finished. You don’t feel empty or sad, but you do wish you could squeeze another day or night out of it…and you also feel renewed and ready for next year.

See you in 2026, God willing and the creek don’t rise.

Keep your mind open.

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Population II release second single, “Mariano (Jamais Je Ne T’oublerai)” from upcoming album.

Last month, Population II announced their new LP Maintenant Jamais, their third full-length album, which is due out on March 28th via Bonsound. The album was announced with a single calledLe thé est prêt” (French for “The tea is ready”), which saw an immediate positive response, earning praise from outlets like Stereogum and BrooklynVegan for a sound that “shimmers, shakes, and soars” (Stereogum).

Today, on the heels of their recent European tour and ahead of their upcoming appearance at SXSW, Population II are back to share a second single from the album, a track called “Mariano (Jamais je ne t’oublierai)” that is premiering today via FLOOD.

Layered with synthesizers and fuzz-saturated guitars over pulsating drums, “Mariano (Jamais je ne t’oublierai)” unfolds with finesse, somewhere between krautrock and psychedelic pop. The track exemplifies the refinement and textural depth Population II have found on their latest LP, which was recorded with the help of producer Dominic Vanchesteing (Marie Davidson). It’s a sophisticated rock album that surprises with its languorous pace (as heard on “Le thé est prêt”), while staying true to the band’s renowned raw power.

About Population II

Population II is a band dedicated to its disengagement, constantly refining their imposing, yet unpretentious sound. The trio of musicians (singer/drummer Pierre-Luc Gratton, guitarist/keyboardist Tristan Lacombe and bassist Sébastien Provençal) are masters at improvised madness and sophisticated composition. They deliver heavy psychedelic rock infused with feverish funk rhythms, a hint of jazz philosophy, a burst of early-punk energy, and a love of minor scales that harkens back to heavy metal roots. The band is reinforced by Pierre-Luc’s unique voice and his introspective, offbeat lyrics.

Their sources of inspiration are diverse and not limited to music. They include the Detroit garage rock and psychedelic funk scenes of the late 60s, the Canterbury scene of the same period, the German experimental rock of the 70s, and Miles Davis’ electric era. They bind all this together with the swampy landscape of Pointe-Calumet (their hometown), and the deep friendship and undeniable chemistry of its three members.

The roots of Population II go back a long way and are inextricably linked to their teenage memories. After years of jamming, to the point of developing a sense of telepathy, the trio began recording a handful of independent releases that soon caught the attention of the independent label Castle Face Records. Thus was born À la Ô Terre, their first label-released album, which came out in 2020. They returned in 2023 with Électrons libres du québec, this time released on Bonsound. A little more straightforward than its predecessor, the record reflects a natural progression of the sound the trio established on their previous releases, showing a sharp sense of songcraft and the undeniable expertise of their instruments. Many tours have followed since then, including several dates opening for Osees.

On a creative spree, Population II struck again the following spring with their EP Serpent Échelle, and then in the fall with a split single with local punk act Mulch. After this prolific sequence of releases, the band laid the groundwork for Maintenant Jamais, a third full-length album that stirs up their formative influences with sophistication, resulting in fourteen catchy, transgressive tracks.

Pre-order Maintenant Jamais here.

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[Merci à Tom à Terrorbird Media!]

Population II let you know to take the kettle off the stove with their new single – “Le Thé Est Prêt.”

Population II is a band dedicated to its disengagement, constantly working on refining their imposing, yet unpretentious sound. Composed of singer/drummer Pierre-Luc Gratton, guitarist/keyboardist Tristan Lacombe, and bassist Sébastien Provençal, the trio began recording a handful of independent releases that soon caught the attention of the independent label Castle Face Records, who released their debut À la Ô Terre in 2020, and in 2023 the band released their sophomore album Électrons libres du québec via Bonsound, which lead into a heavy period of touring in the US and Canada, including a run with OSEES.

The band delves into tasseomancy on their new single “Le thé est prêt” (French for “The tea is ready”), which arrives today to mark the announce of their new LP Maintenant Jamais, their third full-length album, which is due out on March 28th via Bonsound. The release also coincides with the start of a European tour, which includes shows in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK (full details of the tour dates can be found below).

LISTEN TO POPULATION II’S “LE THE EST PRET”

A crisp, spellbinding intro sets the mood for the first song on Maintenant Jamais, Population II‘s third album. With the guidance of producer Dominic Vanchesteing (Marie Davidson, Chocolat, Peter Peter), the turbulence of the band’s previous releases is structured and refined. The result is a sophisticated rock album that surprises with its languorous grooves, as heard on Le thé est prêt, while staying true to the raw power for which the band is renowned, as demonstrated on vigorous tracks such as La Trippance and Rédemption naturelle.

The album follows with Prévisions, a song that ripples with finesse before abruptly transitioning into the instrumental number Macavélique rock. While Haut-fond and Cardinaux are true feats of elegant prog rock, Mariano (Jamais je ne t’oublierai) and Homme étoilé prove that Population II is also endowed with a profound melodic sensibility capable of creating catchy and explosive hooks.
On this new album, the trio fine-tunes the distinctive style they’ve been developing for several years, thanks in part to a fusion of shared influences – from Soft Machine to MC5 to L’Infonie – but also to a rare complicity that can only blossom between such close friends. This creative chemistry is what makes the band’s complex songwriting seem so fluid and supple. Population II breaks through their previous sonic frontiers while staying true to their roots. Therein lies the achievement of Maintenant Jamais, to be released on March 28, 2025, via Bonsound.

PREORDER MAINTENANT JAMAIS HERE

Tour Dates

01/14 – Biarritz, FR – L’Atabal*

01/15 – Bordeaux, FR – Rock*

01/16 – Angers, FR – Chabada*

01/17 – Rennes, FR – L’Antipode*

01/18 – Brest, FR – La Carène*

01/21 – Antwerp, BE – Trix*

01/22 – Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg*

01/23 – Liège, BE – Le Reflektor*

01/24 – Dijon, FR – La Vapeur*

01/25 – Orléans, FR – L’Astrolabe*

01/27 – Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK – Cumberland Arms

01/28 – Sheffield, UK – The Washington

01/29 – Brighton, UK – Dalton’s

01/30 – London, UK – The Shacklewell Arms

01/31 – Bristol, UK – The Lanes

02/01 – Manchester, UK – Big Hands

02/02 – Guildford, UK – The Boiler Room**

02/04 – Paris, FR – Le Petit Bain

*Opening for SLIFT

**Opening for Miki Berenyi Trio

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Tom at Terrorbird Media.]

RidingEasy Records is reissuing Randy Holden’s rare 1970 doom metal album – “Population II.”

RidingEasy Records proudly announce the official reissue on physical and digital formats of the extremely rare 1970 proto-metal album Randy Holden – Population II. Considered one of the first doom metal albums ever, the ex-Blue Cheer guitarist’s solo debut has long been sought out by collectors. The remastered full length will be available on all streaming platforms for the first time, with a master more true to the original mix on LP, CD and streaming.

This weekend, Saturday December 21st, Holden will perform a rare live show at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in L.A. supported by drummer Mario Rubalcaba (Earthless, RFTC, OFF!) It will be a career-spanning set featuring songs from the Fender IV, the Sons of Adam, the Other Half, Blue Cheer, and his solo work, including Population II. Tickets and info HERE.

“Godzilla just walked into the room. People just stood there with their eyes and mouths wide open.”

To hear Randy Holden describe the audience’s reaction in 1969 to his solo debut performing with a teeth-rattling phalanx of 16 (sixteen!) 200 watt Sunn amps is about as close as many of us will get to truly experience the moment heavy metal music morphed into existence. However, at last we have unearthed the proper fossil record.
Population II, the now legendary, extremely rare album by guitarist/vocalist Holden and drummer/keyboardist Chris Lockheed is considered to be one of the earliest examples of doom metal. Though its original release was a very limited in number and distribution, like all great records, its impact over time has continued to grow.

In 1969, Holden, fresh off his tenure with proto-metal pioneers Blue Cheer (appearing on one side of the New! Improved! Blue Cheer album and touring for the better part of a year in the group), aimed for more control over his band. Thus, Randy Holden – Population II was born, the duo naming itself after the astronomical term for a particular star cluster with heavy metals present.

“I wanted to do something that hadn’t been done before,” Holden explains. “I was interested in discordant sounds that could be melodic but gigantically huge. I rented an Opera house for rehearsal, set up with 16 Sunn amps. That’s what I was going for, way over the top.”
And over the top it is. The 6-song album delves into leaden sludge, lumbering doom and epic soaring riffs that sound free from all constraints of the era. It’s incredibly heavy, but infused with a melodic, albeit mechanistic, sensibility.

“At the time, I was hearing these crazy melodies everywhere I went,” Holden says. “I thought I was going crazy.” For example, one day he slowly rooted out a powerful sound that had been nagging him and discovered it coming from a ceiling fan. “Machinery all around us doesn’t turn in a perfect rhythm. That’s what I was tuning into, I heard the music and the discordant sounds coming from the machinery. It was perfect for rendering the machine we built.”

Troubles with the album’s release bankrupted Holden, who subsequently left music for over two decades. It was bootlegged several times over the years, but until now hasn’t seen a proper remaster and has yet to be available on digital platforms. “The original mastering just destroyed the dynamics of it,” Holden says. “They flattened it out. Now we got a really nice remaster that should be the closest thing to the original recording.”

Population II will be available on LP, CD and download on February 28th, 2020 via RidingEasy Records.

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