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Preview Mon Feb 03 2014
The Black Angels Bring Winter Psych Storm to Park West
The Black Angels have proven to be the modern mainstays of psychedelic rock. Their sound reminiscent of Spacemen 3 and The 13th Floor Elevators, not to mention The Velvet Underground from whom the Black Angels got their name. Since their first full length album, Passover, The Black Angels have been continually proving their amazing ability to continue. They return to Chicago for their second show in under a year. It's not surprising given the reception they received at the Vic last April while touring in support of Indigo Meadow, the latest phenomenal psychedelic record from the band. The Black Angels have a stage presence embodies psychedelic. Between the moments of spaced out grooving and total rocked out intensity, there is nothing short of amazing at The Black Angels shows. Alex Maas' voice and cadence were meant to be heard live. Songs you think you know turn into something else when played live, something more immersive than their studio counterparts.
Speaking of The 13 Floor Elevators, founding member and pioneer of psych-rock Roky Erickson will be joining The Black Angels. The two have had a nice history together. They have often played together, usual with The Black Angels acting as Erickson's backing band. Erickson has recently been reinvigorated with the release of 2010's True Love Cast Out All Evil, which was his first album of new material in fourteen years. He will be backed by The Hounds of Baskerville, led by his son Jager Erickson. Roky Erickson and The Hounds of Baskerville are also familiar with the Chicago music scene, having just played two shows at Beat Kitchen in December and Wicker Park Fest last summer. It's always a treat to see a legend of Erickson's caliber still playing leave after all these years.
Opening the night will be Golden Animals, comprised of guitarist Tommy Eisner and drummer Linda Beecroft. The self-described Brooklyn desert-psych duo have been performing together since 2006, releasing two albums and touring the U.K. The band has a very humble DIY attitude, going to Kickstarter to help fund their recently released album, Hear Eye Go. Their music is full of energy given Beecroft's excellent drumming and Eisner's haunting drone. They're a band that has been slowly growing to become an interesting addition to the collection of modern psychedelic rock.
The Black Angels, Rocky Erikson and The Hounds of Baskerville, and Golden Animals will be playing an 18+ show at Park West, 322 West Armitage Ave., on Wednesday February 5th. Tickets are $26.