On the final day of Levitation, Ringo Deathstarr performed at the Far Out Lounge right before Slowdive. Though that set placement may seem intimidating to the average act, the Austin-based shoegaze band immediately confronted the audience with their signature noisy, misty sound that effortlessly blared through the entire stage, powerful enough to put any listener in a trance.
The set started with sensation, Elliott Frazier and Alex Gehrig’s guitar riffs playing off each other as if the instruments were conversing, echoing together in a melodic fashion. This was highlighted through the first few tracks but maintained onward, making it feel like the band was carving a new dimension, transporting listeners to a hazy space. It makes sense that the Death Star partially inspired their name because it already felt like I was in a galaxy far, far away at this point.
Photo by Galilea Gutierrez (@antitheticaldump)
The sound only became grander and more cacophonous through songs like “Just Like You” and “Two Girls.” Gehring’s dreamy vocals were amplified by Frazier’s guitar and Daniel Coborn’s drums, which were booming with invigoration. This thrill was also present when Frazier sang, with both vocalists maintaining a consistency that’s commendable and even enviable, the band never failing to stay true to their sound.
Around the center of their set, Gehring gave a short speech expressing the band’s gratitude to the audience. Following this, it felt as if the band and the audience had completely become one, the instruments soaring in the air as if cheering with the audience, creating an undeniably magnetic atmosphere. Even as they slowly escaped their cacophony and played some of their dreamier tracks, the audience was glued to their positions.
Near the end of their set, the high-octane energy returned, and every component of the trio shone equally, the vocals, guitars, and drums blasting through the entire stage and soaring as far out as the Far Out Lounge can soar. The performance was electrifying, with the audience relentlessly banging their heads to the beat of the drums. Ringo Deathstarr was a thrill at Levitation, and they’re a must-see live.