2005 ACL Fest Home > Reports from the ACL Festival > Archives > 2005 > September > 24 > Entry
Roky resurrected
If you can’t get behind the fact that “I’ve been working in the Kremlin with a two-headed dog” is one of the five hands-down coolest lyrics in rock ’n’ roll, then the fact that Roky Erickson played his first full-length concert on the Austin Ventures stage Saturday night might not mean a great deal.
But to those who recognize Roky and his band, the 13th Floor Elevators, as among the original pioneers of acid rock (they are credited with being the first to use “psychedelic” in a musical context and their 1966 sojourn in San Francisco impacted scores of musicians there), his appearance represented the musical equivalent of touching a saint’s bone. More significantly, for those who have observed Erickson’s decades-long struggle with drugs and mental illness, his performance of a baker’s-dozen of his hits and shoulda-been hits marked a literal resurrection.
Backed up by his longtime collaborators the Explosives (themselves veterans of the heyday of Austin’s punk scene), Erickson played (played!) and sang (sang!) and even joked with a crowd that included the single largest contingent of grey hair at the festival. Let’s face it, the folks who bought the Elevators’ and Erickson’s albums in their first pressings tend to be Fans of A Certain Age — there was a smattering of lovingly faded Armadillo World Headquarters and Eeyore’s Birthday T-shirts, and tie-dye was not necessarily regarded as an ironic retro fashion statement.
That having been said, Erickson’s music remains fresh and compelling today (Hey, the guy’s credited with influencing everyone from Janis Joplin to Henry Rollins.) Listening to him was to realize anew how solidly crafted is his body of work. “Don’t Shake Me Lucifer” and “Bermuda” are hook-heavy rockers with an early-Stones/Chuck Berry appeal. “The Beast” is a lumbering vintage blues shot through with horror movie and Book of Revelations imager. “You’re Gonna Miss Me” is one of the great kiss-off songs in the rock canon, while its polar opposite, “Starry Eyes,” is as perfectly crafted a pop confection as any Roy Orbison or Buddy Holly ever minted.
“Now I’m home to stay,” Erickson sang in “Splash 1.” The fans that have been with him for the whole of the long, strange ride, along with the ones getting their initiation on Saturday might devoutly hope it is so.
Comments
By Mike S
September 25, 2005 06:11 AM | Link to this
I agree, as part of the newly initiated crowd this evening (which seems strange to say as a 30 yr old who’s been a fan for awhile!). I too, saw the many grey-haired folk and enjoyed hearing them reminisce about their past Roky adventures. One of them mentioned a concert out in the woods, that unfortunately took place across from a cop’s barbeque party … they were pulling everyone over whether there was a reason or not(some things never change).
Anyway, I was quite surprised to see 2 young girls in front of me, who were also easy on the eyes. After asking them if they were at the right concert, they told me that they loved this stuff and that their friends would be there too, if Oasis wasn’t playing at the same time (what a frickin over-rated band …i won’t even start here). It just goes to show how timeless this music is and how it still influences new bands. I was happily surprised to hear Roky not only hit most of the notes vocally, but also breaking into solo a few times! The only thing i could have asked for, would have been some more Elevator songs … but my expectations were already surpassed and this was still the highlight of this ACL Fest day for me
By Jason
September 25, 2005 09:13 AM | Link to this
What a great marketing campaign. Featured twice in the past year in the Chronicle. Garners front-page kudos for a sideline performance at ACL which only resulted from a lobbying effort to get him on the line-up. Get over it. Outside of a small gathering of way too baked, gray haired, hippies-turned-professionals…nobody cares. Trying to revive the likes of Roky, a drug addled never-was, does diservice to the Austin scene. Shame on the handful of reminiscents that would waste good press on this has-been. Please, everybody go to his brother’s website and donate money so that Roky can retire well.
By troy
September 25, 2005 10:10 PM | Link to this
jason sounds like you didn’t see the show,there was a mixed crowd of 30,000 cheering for them. The austin scene must be missing you at their meetings! keep down the good work I fart on your review troy
By Adrian
September 26, 2005 06:38 AM | Link to this
Day two of the Austin City Limits Festival saw the first concert appearance in nearly twenty years by Roky Erickson, the legendary Thirteenth Floor Elevators frontman and Austin resident. I wanted to get a good spot for this historic performance, so we left a mediocre set by Jet halfway through and walked across Zilker Park to get to the Roky stage 45 minutes early.
At 7:45, another Texas legend, Kinky Friedman, cigar in hand, stepped up to the mic and said a few words about his campaign for governor (He MUST win if Texas is going to remain a tolerable place to live after 2006). Kinky called Roky one of his “spiritual advisers” and gave him credit for being the first to use the term “psychedelic” in relation to music.
Then Roky and the Explosives took the stage and played the best hour of music to be heard at ACL this year, no kidding. They played like they’d been saving it up for 20 years - it was amazing. Part of it was the visual irony - here was a stage filled with middle-aged men, and they were delivering the pop/psych/punk with such ferocity that they put the younger acts at ACL to shame - especially during the blistering versions of “Don’t Shake Me Lucifer” and the Elevator’s hit “You’re Gonna Miss Me”. The set concluded with “I Walked With A Zombie” - a song where the title is also the lyrics, making it the perfect sing-along show closer. This was THE show of this year’s ACL, without a doubt.
By 3eyes
September 26, 2005 04:07 PM | Link to this
Ahh, jason, are you jealous you missed the 60’s? Your favorite band didn’t get enough press? No,wait…. you’re from France, right? Wrong festival, maybe? Thought you were attending the Yanni-palooza? Don’t worry, us way-too-baked, grey-haired reminiscents are a tolerant lot — we’ll excuse you ignorance of the Austin Music Scene (all 30 years of it)!
By Joe
September 26, 2005 05:39 PM | Link to this
I have followed the Elevators, and Roky, for many years. As one of the “too baked, gray haired, hippies-turned-professional” types this Jason guy refers to, I have to say that his comments seem to demonstrate the lack of historical perspective that seems to lurk in many. It is a sad commentary.
The coldness of Jason’s “review” exposes him as shallow and petty.
By nero
September 26, 2005 06:07 PM | Link to this
Yeah for Roky, good to see he is back in fine form. Although it is a shame that his loser brother has to try and be a rockstar and ride on his coat tails…I saw him at the hole in the wall and I was embarrased for him cause he is awful and he needs to stop begging for money.
By Pete Adler
September 26, 2005 07:33 PM | Link to this
Jason — It’s like tryin’ to tell a stranger about rock’n’roll. You are so far off on your comments about Roky that it is downright sad, if not pathetic. I hope you enjoyed Oasis and Coldplay and all the other homogenized acts that you had circled on your festival schedule.
By tatewacipi
September 26, 2005 11:37 PM | Link to this
Nero — don’t judge until you have the full story. Roky’s brother has had a VERY successful music career (albeit not in a genre many of us ACL watchers are familiar with). I believe he was hand-picked by Andre Previn for a long-term job in the Pittsburgh Symphony, and I’ll bet he didn’t have to drop his big brother’s name to get that gig or to ride any coat tails. I’m no expert, but I think he gave up his career to come back here and do what nobody else in all these years has been willing or able to do — get Roky back on the road to health. It was just that “begging for money” you find so distasteful that got the word out about Roky and got him the help he needed. You saw the results on Saturday night — he’s back! Whether you like his music or not — I think Roky’ brother did a damn good job!
By thepza
September 27, 2005 09:07 PM | Link to this
The most psychedelic thing I’ve experienced in years.
Roky and the Explosives were amazing…like others have said here, they blew away everyone else at ACL this year.
The stone backdrop at the Austin Ventures stage made for a great, natural place to project authentic 60s trippy light shows and the location of the stage seemed to protect us from some of the dust clouds around Zilker Park.
Roky and the guys were so freggin’ nice (and patient), meeting with fans at the Waterloo artist signing.
I know nothing about Roky’s brother, but since he’s been in his brother’s care, Roky has somehow managed to get back on his feet and it’s obvious that he’s having a great time.
There’s so much innocence in his eyes. He’s so greatful and was so happy to play. If I meet one person with that level of gratitute at any time during the rest of my life, I’ll consider myself blessed.
I’m not grey-haired and I’m not a fan of hippies (but I was way too fried that night). I was in the second of third row of people during Roky’s show and looking back, I can tell you there were many thousands in attendance…and they were all very appreciative.
rock on Roky!
By Kelly
September 27, 2005 11:44 PM | Link to this
I traveled from Minneapolis to ACL just to see Roky. I was one of the younger people in the crowd (24) and was right up front. The trip almost didn’t happen due to my hotel reservation being canceled due to Katrina evacuees and not being able to find another hotel at all. The extra money I had to spend to get down there was well worth it. The show was great. I saw a lot of bands at ACL this year and Roky was my favorite. It was so great to hear those songs and his voice still sounds wonderful. The guitar playing was really strong, the band backing him well. Loved hearing Don’t Shake Me Lucifer and Two Headed Dog.
By kjellweez
September 28, 2005 07:11 PM | Link to this
The Austin show was awsome! Me and a friend flew in from norway just for this and i can tell you we were not disapointed! I hope we will se more from the greatest songwriter of them all in the future!
By Kiloh
October 2, 2005 03:00 AM | Link to this
I drove all the way from Phoenix, Arizona. It was great seeing the man wail out. I saw all my friends too. I run the world’s largest Texas Psych fan group here: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/TexasPsych/
A BUNCH from the group were there. Check out my Web page from the 2005 ACL Fest here: http://barrettroky.tripod.com/