Grand premiere for Austin Psych Fest with the export of its festival outside Texas lands, following a successful 6th edition last April.
Thanks to the sister ship program in between Austin and Angers, the coming of the festival for a first time in Europe, at Le Chabada, was quite natural.
It is 6.30pm when the doors of the Chabada open. Weather is unexpectedly nice considering that it was rainy and grey in Angers just the day before.
Levitation is layed out with 2 stages, one inside the rock club and one outside, especially built-up for the festival. So can the programing be optimized amongst the 2 spots with bands able to play back to back.
In between the 2 stages are installed 2 food trucks and 2 bars for snacking and refreshments.
Like Austin Psych Fest, festival goers will find too several booths to bring back some exclusive souvenirs from this 1st edition: limited edition silk screen T-shirts and posters, rare vinyls and CDs and merchandising from the bands. A workshop for silk screen activities will even be set-up.
It is 7.15pm sharp when The Blondi’s Salvation officially open the festival. The Nantes (France) 5 pieces band plays during 45mn a consistent and powerful set, in between Arabic, Medieval and psychedelic atmospheres.
People enjoy all the energy coming from the band, alternating atmospheres, instruments (percussions, sitar…), lead singing. A versatility much appreciated by a growing audience.
A first nice concert, played with inspiration and generosity to a public taking his marks.
With a western atmosphere mixed with a warrior psychedelism, the English band illuminated by projected visuals is playing totally focused. It is intense, serious, rigorous, but with a lack of madness to enroll the festival goers.
Back outside for the german post rock trio Camera. In a semi darkness, the 3 musicians will perform 1 hour long, totally static, in a typical shoegaze way, always staring at the ground.
With a keyboard-guitar-drum combination playing heavy and beating rhythms, the psychedelic hypnosis gathering has officially kicked off.
Change of scenery guaranteed with Tamikrest from Mali, who came to blow their exotic scents amongst the psych programing of this first Levitation. With its musicians dressed like kings and princesses of the desert, Tamikrest will highlight the evening with its colors, mixing dub and traditional African music with their captivating touareg blues.
Coming with messages of peace and respect, Ousmane Ag Mossa – lead singer – will always find the right words to catch everyone’s attention. A rare moment.
Let’s move outside for some fresh air and to enjoy Wall of Death from Paris.
Electric atmosphere helped with the darkness of the evening, the 3 musicians will play a powerful set, close to a blast, in front of an audience massed for the occasion just behind the crash gates.
Like for Camera, no one will really see the guys’ faces, notably Gabriel – singer – working hard to not be under the spotlights. Never mind, Alex Maas (leader of the Black Angels) will take the seat the time of a song, with Christian Bland at the guitar.
The 1st night will end up inside the club with American folks.
Firstly with Night Beats, psych rock trio based in Seattle, whose concert will sadly be a bit too shy compared to the energy of their just released second CD “Sonic Bloom”.
Splitted at the extremities of the main stage of Le Chabada, Lee Blackwell (guitar and lead singer) and Tarek Wegner (bass guitar) will fail to really wake-up a semi sleepy audience.
Nothing to do with their energy but they have been unable to occupy in full a too large stage for them.
Finally, The Black Angels – hosts of the Austin Psych Fest -come on stage to deliver a mind blowing gig.
Fully empowered by their king of psych rock crown, the 4 guys from Austin (5 for the occasion) will play a concert focused on their 2 latest albums (Phosphere Dream and Indigo Meadow).
With lots of charisma, Alex Maas – leader – will easily win the crowd while the cute Stephanie Bailey – drums – will make all guys fall in love with her.
It would be too early to generate a first report as performances had been as various as the different styles seen and heard on that day.
Levitation France is imposing its unique footprint: a festival full of headliners and discoveries, without constraints.
Check out now Day 2 report!
Adaptation by Nicolas Nithart of « Levitation France – Jour 1 » by Fred Lombard :
http://www.indiemusic.fr/2013/09/23/levitation-france-jour-1/
austinpsychfest.com/levitation-france
blondissalvation.bandcamp.com
facebook.com/pages/The-Blondis-Salvation/164016870275185
lolacolt.com
facebook.com/lolacolt
facebook.com/wearecamera
facebook.com/tamikrest
facebook.com/pages/Wall-Of-Death/125382850832399
facebook.com/thenightbeats.u.s
theblackangels.com
facebook.com/theblackangels.tx
