As soon as I saw that Roky Erickson was playing at Maxwells in Hoboken, NJ on New Years Eve, I immediately purchased tickets. I couldn't have been happier because Roky has served as an inspiration to me, through music and lyrical eloquence with which he expresses inner turmoil.
Once the date finally arrived, my friend Bob and I gushed over the fact that we were going to welcome in the new year with one of our favorite musicians. Muck and the Mires opened up the night, playing '60s inspired garage and rock'n'roll. Their set was full of energy, and later research informed me that they were co-winners of Little Steven's Underground Garage Battle of the Bands. Little Steven's is a radio show broadcasted in 130 major cities in the USA.
The band made its way onstage a couple minutes before the new year's welcome. Immediately following the countdown and ear deafening cheers, the band started playing. Roky played through a small Gibson practice amp with three other musicians. He appeared to transform into a freer person through music, for moments at a time no longer an introvert. For over an hour they revisited most of Roky's songs that brought 13th Floor Elevators to psychedelic fame, perhaps giving an insight into a conflicting human psyche.
In many of his songs, I recognized the duality of a person, one expressing feelings of love and dedication, the other expressive of an inward battle with demons. Are these feelings usually kept in check by social norms and responsibilities? And what becomes of those that resist and question those standards?
Native to Austin, TX, Roky Erickson returns on April 20th with the Anti Record's release True Love Cast Out All Evil, his first album in fourteen years. The album will be comprised of Roky's largely unreleased songs, backed by Okkervil River.
Love, Peace, and Pussy.
JEALOUS
ReplyDelete