Knowing we only had one last day of Levitation, Sunday may have been bittersweet but was still humming with anticipation. The lineup was stacked, the sunscreen was sticky, and the final day of musical festivities had begun.
As always, we’ve got a list of favorites from the energetic day for your reading (and listening) pleasure. Honorable mentions include historic Levitation favorite, The Black Angels, Population II and Destroyer.
Diles que no me maten
Hailing from Mexico City, Diles que no me maten mellowed us out with their contemplative set. Vocalist Jonás Derbez was magnetic, almost never opening his eyes while he played guitar, harmonica, and even the flute. Derbez’s performance was an immersive spoken-word experience, backed by the contemporary, melodic sound of the rest of the group. A Sunday favorite, this experimental band was a treat to see live.
Frankie and the Witch Fingers
Things got upbeat, psychedelic and a little bit punk with Frankie and the Witch Fingers’s performance. Their set was and electronic frenzy, with hardly any silences not filled with riffs from guitar or drums. When vocalist Dylan Sizemore turned to the crowd and asked “How cool is this shit, Austin?” even those who had never heard of the group felt the playful grittiness these guys are known for. The set was such a masterful blend of clean with unruly, that when the speakers cut out it almost seemed intentional. A favorite tune from their set was “Relaxation,” from their 2019 album ZAM.
Upchuck
Upchuck proved the perfect afternoon pick-me-up, delivering a powerful, high-energy set. The five piece punk group hailing from Atlanta expertly navigated between droning instrumentals, perfect for head-banging, and intense mosh-inducing tracks. A passionate vocal performance by lead singer, KT, made for a memorable set, with a plume of dust settling above Upchuck’s stage as audiences moshed and danced to their dynamic performance.
Photo by Dina Zeid.
Photo by Dina Zeid.
Pavement
What, you thought we’d go all weekend without mentioning Pavement? Anyone who experienced high school loserdom couldn’t last five minutes this weekend without mentioning Pavement; we’re DJs at college radio, we love Pavement. The set was a once-in-a-lifetime journey with those songs that accompanied us on our drives to school, our first kisses, and our late nights in bed. Stay tuned for a full-length concert review from our very own DJ Daffodil next.
Photo by Dina Zeid.