Halloween Freakend Night 1 brings the Halloween Spirit to Far Out!

Jonathan Marin 

Music Journalist 

SAN MARCOS- Levitation’s Halloween Freakend Night 1 took place on Oct, 31st. Day 1 brought about an eclectic mix of artists. The 5-band lineup was comprised of local names, such as J’Cuzzi, and big names, such as Viagra Boys and Stereolab, all with the backdrop of creative costumes and spooky décor. These components made for a special atmosphere I had never seen a festival have before. 

The night began with B*tchin Bajas, a synth-heavy instrumental band. BB is coming off their latest record release with “Inland See “ An album that contains songs such as “Skylaring” and “Keji Dreams.” Songs that are truly emblematic of what makes BB so special. The synths flowed through the atmosphere, and the artistry of the band shined through to set the tone in a way that only they could. 

The two-stage setup was utilized with the second band. The crowd swarmed to the other side of The Far Out Lounge to witness the peculiar J’cuzzi. J’cuzzi is an avant-garde pop band straight from the heart of Austin Texas. The band fit the theme of the event to a tee, fully costumed to a tee and bringing the weird energy in a way the crowd was seemingly yearning for. The band, being relatively new, was looking to impress, and they certainly did. Their performance of “Big Machine” blew the crowd away and proved why they had their spot in the festival. This would prove to be a great contrast to the band after, as the beautiful Stereolab was up next. 

When you see a band of the caliber of Stereolab on a bill, the name holds a significant amount of weight. The legendary band has been a mainstay of Indie Rock for decades. Their draw was clearly powerful, coupled with the release of their new “Instant Holograms on Metal Film,”  the buzz about them was significant amongst the crowd. The air seemingly shifted as the intro package began for the band.  The set began with “Aerial Troubles,” A hauntingly beautiful tune. Throughout the set, many Stereolab classics were sprinkled throughout, like “Peng 33!” and “Miss Modular.” The band clearly hasn’t lost a step as the show was truly air-tight and powerful.  

Black Lips followed up and injected a high dosage of energy, bringing their garage rock power to the venue. A band that’s been around since the mid-2000s, their chemistry on stage was clear. Lead singer Cole Alexander’s vocals and stage presence were impressive to witness. The band’s performance of “Modern Art” got the crowd amped, and the cover of the Velvet Underground’s “Get it on Time” was a great rendition in its own way. This set the stage perfectly for the headliners of the night, Viagra Boys. 

Viagra Boys are a force of nature. Whether it’s in the studio or on stage, you can always guarantee that the Viagra Boys are going to bring an energy-shifting presence. Their hardcore fanbase occupied a significant portion of the crowd, and it’s easy to understand why.  The band’s release of their 4th full-length EP “vigar aboys” cemented their discography as one of the best in the past 20 years. “Man Made of Meat” opened the set, and there was no better way to set the tone of the power that is Viagra Boys. Drenched from head to toe with red body paint, lead singer Sebastian Murphy is a frontman like no other. When he takes center stage, it’s almost like his Aura occupies the room. His one-of-a-kind voice helps bring so much life to fan favorites such as “Sports” and “Punk Rock Loser.” The set left nothing to be desired as a fan of the band. Viagra Boys capped off an impressive lineup of multifaceted musical personalities on the spookiest day of the year.