raveonettes – 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 Austin 2025: Day Two recap

“This is gonna be a sweat-fest.”

Those were the first words I heard about Day Two of 2025’s Levitation Austin musical festival as I walked toward the entrance of the Palmer Event Center. Some guy said this to his pal as they steeled themselves for the day to come. The guy was right, as the bright sun was brutal at times — especially at the outdoor stage.

I started indoors, both to avoid the peak sun and to see Hooveriii put on a solid set of psych-rock that bordered on grunge rock a couple times (which was fine by me).

Many of us ventured out into the sun to see Dutch disco funkers Yīn-Yīn play for the first time anywhere in the United States. They had the afternoon crowd jumping and were having a great time despite not being used to such heat.

Yīn-Yīn getting their sweaty groove on, and on all of us.

I had time for a chicken shawarma wrap (possibly the best food bargain at the festival) and some ice cream before heading back to the outdoor stage to see Model / Actriz put on a blistering set of queercore post-punk with lead singer Cole Haden prowling through the crowd while his bandmates played tight, snappy beats and riffs. Guitarist Jack Wetmore knows not only how to play, but the right moments not to play — a skill overlooked by many.

Model / Actriz bringing more heat than the afternoon sun.

I took some more time to hydrate and get a full meal (It’s a marathon, not a sprint.) before heading back indoors to join the large crowd for The Brian Jonestown Massacre, who played to a happy crowd — many of whom (at least around me) hadn’t seen them before now. It was a good set, with only minor issue when, believe it or not, Anton Newcombe decided his microphone had too much reverb.

The Raveonettes were a welcome return to Levitation. I hadn’t seen them since 2013 when Levitation was still the Austin Psych Fest (which has returned in its own form). They still sound great and played classics and newer stuff.

The biggest show of the night, and for the entire festival for me, belonged to TV on the Radio. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to see them, so their appearance at Levitation made the decision to fly here a no-brainer. They slayed it and had everyone jumping and moving. Their energy was infectious and immediate, and a great way to close the night.

TVOTR didn’t close my night, however. I was so wired after their set that I walked over a mile to Elysium to see Past Self and Urban Heat. I knew we were in for a treat when Past Self’s bassist started the show by playing his guitar with a bow. What followed was a mix of desert rock (They’re from Las Vegas, Nevada.), New Romanticism, and dark wave.

Past Self. Are they ghosts, musicians, past incarnations of you?

Urban Heat are local heroes who play aggressive shoegaze mixed with post-punk anger. It’s good stuff, and they seem destined for big things. They reminded me a bit of early TVOTR, which was fitting because I bumped into TVOTR’s guitarist / multi-instrumentalist Jaleel Bunton at their show and got to thank him for the great set.

Up next, psychedelia, indie rock, and a couple sets that might cause you to seek a chiropractor afterwards.

Keep your mind open.

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The Raveonettes to release full “anti-album” – “2016 Atomized.”

Last year the Raveonettes decided to create a “anti-album” by composing and releasing a new track digitally every month. These tracks have now been compiled into their new record – 2016 Atomized. It will be available April 21st for the first time as a complete collection.

A lot of the tracks on the record have a strong synth / electro feel instead of the psychedelic fuzz you’re used to on a Raveonettes records, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s good to hear them stretching out.

Keep your mind open.

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The Raveonettes now have a PledgeMusic campaign for their “anti-album.”

As I reported on February 20th, the Raveonettes are creating a new “anti-album” in which they’re releasing a new track every month this year. They’ve been asked if an album of the tracks will be released and they’ve announced a new PledgeMusic campaign to help fund a CD and vinyl cut of the as yet unnamed album.

The album will be $15 on CD through the campaign, but a singed copy of the CD is available for only ten dollars more. Only 300 of those are being made available and 75 of them are already claimed at press time. Get them while they’re hot.

In the meantime, enjoy the official lyric video for the newest track – “Run Mascara Run.”

Keep your mind open.

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The Raveonettes create “anti-album.”

The Raveonettes, ever the innovators, have decided to create an “anti-album” by creating and releasing a different single every month of 2016. The first, “The World Is Empty (Without You),” is now available and it’s a neat electro cut they describe on their e-mailing list as “our take on an 80’s Freestyle beat.” Go to their site, subscribe to their e-mailing list, and you can partake of each track as it becomes available.

Keep your mind open.