Concert Review: Levitation Fest, Far Out Lounge, and the 7 Artists That Played Oct. 27’s Band Brigade

Seven different musicians and bands, ranging from analog loops to hard grunge, played at the Far Out Lounge on Friday, Oct. 27, in an all-out Levitation fest celebration.

Written by Rachel Joy Thomas

For Levitation Fest, Far Out Lounge almost always booked the biggest, brightest performers. For all four days of the festivities, the large outdoor venue hosted numerous musicians, appealing to music junkies seeking to discover new artists while listening to old favorites. On Friday, Oct 27th, Unknown Mortal Orchestra was the prized headliner, with five groups warming up for the large, dynamic group and one playing the afterparty.

SAM BURTON

Playing alone, Sam Burton started his small concert strumming a guitar in the rain. Lonesome in a blue shirt and jeans, the singer had an air of twangy melancholy throughout his performance at the smaller Far Out Lounge Stage. Unfortunately, many potential audience members didn’t know the singer was playing, as the Far Out Lounge never directly advertised that they had two stages. Instead, many eerily waited for Burton to play at the larger stage rather than the smaller yellow-lit stage towards the entrance. Luckily, Burton caught a few concertgoers coming into the venue. As the rain poured down on attendees gathering their vodka lemonades, Burton offered a warmth otherwise missing from the chalky venue.

Burton played an eclectic mix of folky sounds; he sang to the hearts of the audience who were cold from the rain, warming them up with his romantic vocals. His emphatic guitar swells and simple setup complemented his quiet, subdued nature, something uncommon compared to the more eccentric and visually flashy sets Levitation offers.

allah-las

This L.A.-based band brought an eclectic mix of jangle-pop with surf-rock influences. Interestingly, almost every band member performed lead vocals for at least one song during their set. Matthew Correia, the band’s drummer, offered supporting vocals on various songs while playing simple garage psychedelic beats. Taking over the band’s newer tracks, he performed “The Stuff” while singing along with husky yet smooth vocals. Lead vocalist Pedrum Siadatian, standing in a crisp white button-up, paired nicely with the surfer-rock aesthetics of the band. With nasally vocals with a twinge of ‘70s flair, he sang “Tell Me (What’s on Your Mind),” while shouldering most of the vocal opportunities. The band was never disinteresting, shifting like a chameleon depending on their inclination while maintaining a ‘psychedelic’ genre.

amulets

Amulets stood out among all others on the festival line up and played a set entirely composed of analog tape loops with refurbished cassette players. The nostalgic, dreamy sounds of Amulets' experimental, avant-garde approach attracted a small but invested crowd. Using Lo-fi guitar samples and amulets, they, through various analog tools, synths, and walkmans, created a familiar yet entirely far away dystopian sound that pierced through the venue and hauntingly crept into the ears of passersby. Like the score of a sci-fi horror movie, the set made a compelling commentary through its droning and pitch, resonating deep in the heart while chilling the spine.

While somewhat suited for the slightly cold and acclimating weather, the quality of the set would have dramatically increased given proper stage lighting and an indoor venue. Unfortunately, the smaller Far Out Lounge Stage didn’t capture the same matured emotion as its studio counterparts, even with instrumentalist Taylor’s experimentation while mixing the set's analog loops live. Regardless, the deceptive electronic performance was captivating and intricate, sucking listeners into a tightened whirlpool of melancholic feelings.

panda bear + sonic boom

By 6:00 p.m., many festival-goers were tensing up for the opportunity to see Panda Bear after standing for hours at the barricade. The electronic artist had previously made a name for himself as a member of Animal Collective and as the mentee of Sonic Boom, AKA Pete Kember. Unknown to those waiting, Panda Bear had been wandering the Far Out Lounge inconspicuously hours before, exploring the venue before his debut. A rumble stirred throughout the crowd as Sonic Boom and Panda Bear took the stage. Performing an intricate set from their album Reset, the electronic duo miraculously managed to astonish and impress those unfamiliar with their discography. Wacky sounds bounced through the air as Sonic Boom offered chilling, deep murmurs alongside Panda Bear’s choirboy vocals. The duo gleefully mixed Beach Boys flair with psychedelia and 2010s synths, a smooth blend devoid of Frankenstein qualities common to poor live production.

During the performance, visuals of various animated figurines played across large jumbo screens. For “Everything’s Been Leading To This,” an image of a scarecrow-like man made of colorful strings danced and thrashed to the happy, popping music. As Panda Bear gleefully sang, “Here it Comes / Here it Comes / Here it Comes,” Kamber joined with “Everything’s Been Leading To This” in a drawn-out echo. The eccentric performance had a robust inventory of trippy visuals and flashing lights alongside the often whimsical production choices on Reset, representing a perfect clash of color for a vibrant album.

tanukichan

The music project of Hannah Van Loon, otherwise known as Tanukichan, played Levitation with heavy basslines and refrained vocals. Van Loon, who sang with a soft, delicate disposition, contrasted greatly with the grunge-heavy, washed-out instrumentation vibrating the Far Out Lounge. With the plucking of heavy, distorted bass strings and the lackadaisical instrumentation shaking off of the cadence of the drumset, the performance enraptured the venue in its tight grasp. Those passing the yellow stage quickly stopped and stared, gathering into a large crowd that left a small circle in the front for standing. Blowing out the venue with droning, looming guitar and the intense feedback of the bass, Tanukichan attracted more audience members to her stage than others who played earlier in the day.

unknown mortal orchestra

Unknown Mortal Orchestra, the headliner of the day, grooved through their set with airy precision and the same jazz-like vocals familiar to fans. Taking the stage later than expected, the group started performing in front of a giant “UMO” sign, which would glow and glisten alongside the ever-changing lights and effervescent performance.

Coming in with impeccable energy, the soft strumming of an acoustic guitar played through the speakers. A double chorus, sung by Ruban Nielson, signified the meditative beginning of casual “From the Sun.”

Performing live, the band offered a much-needed break from over-abundance that often interweaves sonic psychedelia. Each track had significant breathing room, alongside robust solos and airy depth, further uplifting the crowd's energy. Every sound, with purpose and depth, incorporated new immersive elements while maintaining a lo-fi ambiance. Live, Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s R&B and jazz influences were clearly present, twisting through additional extrapolations in funky basslines and guitar solos.

wishy

For the afterparty, Wishy took the stage to play a robust indie rock set. As concertgoers left the venue, they passed a familiar yellow stage sporting Wishy’s band members plugging in their guitars and gearing up for the show. A plea from guitarist Dmitri Morris inclined some to sit down on the venue's concrete and listen to the set, even after hearing five bands. Wishy, the last of the bunch, served as a larger-than-life conclusion to a day filled with music. Powerful guitar blasted off of the stage to sitting attendees, who formed a small, knit circle. The shoegaze-y, swarmed-together instrumentation combined with droning, omnipresent riffs from Morris closed out the night, leaving a deafening ringing infecting every corner and avenue of the Far Out Lounge.

Seven bands played the Far Out Lounge on Friday, Oct. 27th, but a few stood out more than others. For one, Panda Bear + Sonic Boom’s set was a unique foray.

Artists who could’ve used more of a spotlight were hurt by the Far Out Lounge’s venue setup, receiving little attention and accolades from the crowd due to the lack of information available to listeners. Particularly, Sam Burton and Amulets deserved more attention. Both may have been more suited for an indoor venue, which may have given them a more intimate experience than the cold of Far Out Lounge’s sprawling venue. As both artists played a smaller stage earlier in the day, they received less interest than their music should attract.

Concert Coverage, REVIEWSAfterglow ATXNovember 29, 2023rachel joy thomas, levitation, listicle