Psychedelic music is primed for making a comeback in 2013, and The Black Angels are the ambassadors who will lead the charge. Hailing from Austin, Texas, The Black Angels are a five piece psychedelic rock n roll band on the cusp of becoming the next big thing. This may sound like a cliché, but after witnessing what these guys (and girl) are capable of live, you too will instantly become a believer.
I was fortunate enough to get an invite to a private show here in San Francisco last week where the band played to a packed house of the music industry elite from around the Bay Area. I used to see a lot of these types of shows when I worked in the industry, but it’s been a while.
The open bar and fantastic food makes for a unique environment to see an up and comer in front of an audience that is typically very hard to please. Seeing the president of the band’s management company bursting with excitement during his introduction of the band while holding in his hands a copy of the new record on vinyl gives me hope that the industry is still making decisions based on the quality of the music and not a flash in the pan iTunes single of the week.
I have to admit that before seeing the band live I really hadn’t heard too much about them, except that when I lived in Texas many years ago a lot of the cool scenesters would go to see them regularly. I tend to stray away from the buzz and find my own path, and in this case I was clearly missing out.
The artwork for the new record is absolutely stunning. It reminds me of the double gatefold albums I would stare at for hours with my gigantic headphones on, getting lost in the music on a bean bag chair. Come to think of it, that’s exactly how one should truly enjoy this LP.
Indigo Meadow is the title of the much-anticipated record and I have been listening to it non stop for the past seven days. It’s a mix of brilliant lyrics wrapped around the sexiest psychedelic grooves since Jim Morrison was at his absolute peak with The Doors. Throw in a sitar, a modern flare that only The Black Angels can deliver, and you can begin to appreciate the greatness of this band.
The new album hits stores on April 2, 2013 and the band will be on tour all year long. This is going to be a front runner for album of the year and perhaps at the very top of every critic’s list, so I suggest you get in on it early.
Were you at the show in San Francisco? Have you heard the new record yet? Please join the conversation in the comments below.
