When The Brian Jonestown Massacre performed Saturday afternoon at Levitation fest, Austin was transported to the days locals hark back to. Neo-psychadelic rock melodies echoed throughout the venue, and incense swirled through the air as clandestine cigarettes were passed around. Fans shouted for Anton Newcombe’s attention, with a rowdy start that mellowed out as the music began.
The band held bottles of wine and cans of beer as they kicked off their set with their dually moody yet upbeat song “Whoever You Are”. The band continued to play fan-favourites, like “Pish”, in contrast to more niche picks such as “Don’t Let Me Get In Your Way”. Members made sure to take a swig of wine between songs. The second-to-last song of the sweetly ethereal set was their most notorious, “Anemone,” also known as “Anenome.” Fans swayed and let their hands dance in the air as they simultaneously sang “You should be picking me up / Instead you're dragging me down.”
Photo by Dina Zeid.
About halfway through the set, Anton Newcombe, the band's founder and holder of a very stubborn reputation, abruptly interrupted a song. He requested that the drums be made louder and that the song be redone. As this occurred, it felt as if the crowd got a glimpse into the intriguing dynamic of the band and of the unique mind of Anton.
The band has historically fluctuated in membership, yet many of its current members made their way to the Levitation stage, wearing sunglasses and eclectic outfits. A special appearance was made by Joel Gion, a former yet iconic member of the crew. Gion stood off-centre in the front, content playing his maracas and a tambourine.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s catchy percussion and psychedelic guitar mesmerized the crowd. As performance was closed off with “Super-Sonic,” fans cheered and applauded to the fading sounds of kaleidoscopic chords. The energy that afternoon felt optimistic, and fans felt complete.
Photo by Dina Zeid.