One Gem for Every Night of Austin Psych Fest

Jonathan Marin

Music Journalist

Austin Psych Fest arrives at the Far Out Lounge from May 8^th to May 10^th. Flaming Lips, Thee Sacred Souls, and Black Angels are some of the names that stand tall at the top of the bill, but the festival features an eclectic group of artists who embrace the psychedelic spirit and push the boundaries of their predecessors who came before. This article will highlight these artists and the music that earned them a slot.

Como Las Movies-

Como Las Movies describes himself as one foot in Mexico and one foot in the United States, which perfectly encapsulates the sound of his music. The Mexican cumbia genre is the centerpiece of Como Las Movies, but the band’s sound is much more complex. No piece of work in their catalogue establishes this better than the band’s 2018 project, Nuevo Wave. The influences span across the map from the obvious new wave to Britpop; it’s the perfect intro to the band’s sounds. “Yo Esperae” is a psychedelic love letter that features beautiful atmospheric sounds and an acoustic guitar that cuts through the mix. If you’re looking to expand your notions of music, look for Como Las Movies.

Starcleaner Reunion-

Friday houses Starcleaner Reunion, a lush dream pop band from Springfield, New Jersey. The production on each starcleaner track immerses you into a lush wall of sound with very clear influence from bands like Stereolab. Starcleaners’ “Café Life” EP is a noisy marvel that shows the band’s range with varied guitar tones and earworm choruses that fill out the songs that satisfy any dream enthusiast’s palate. The intro track “The Hand That I Put Down” has a riff that instantly grabs you into a song that completely changes course halfway. The project is definitely something to check out to get you excited about seeing them.

Grocery Bag-

More energy isn’t an issue on Saturday as Grocery Bag’s brand of Garage Rock will get even the most sluggish of fans moving in absolutely. The band is right at home in Austin for Psych Fest and will look to make an impression on visitors with what the city has to offer. A true highlight in their discography is their full-length album “Break You.” A complete burst of energy front to back without an inch of letting up. “Alone” on the album is a full-on frenzy from the get-go, featuring ray gun-like synths that launch you right into the record. The guitar is about as crunchy as it gets, and the drumming elevates the energy to a new level. Grocery Bag is definitely a band that should be on your itinerary.

Austin Psych Fest is sure to introduce the Austin area to the most boundary-pushing psych artists across the nation; don’t do yourself the disservice of missing out on experiencing the experimentation and creativity that will bustle through the Far Lounge May 7^th– 9^th.