Levitation Fest Day 3 brought out the mosh pits and headbangers. With performances from hardcore acts such as FUGITIVE and Integrity, as well as punk rockers Die Spitz, day three was not short on high energy moments.
Alison’s Halo at Stubb’s
Tempe, Arizona shoegaze/dream pop legends Alison’s Halo were the first to hit the stage in a stacked lineup with rising acts like Wisp and fan-favorite Panchiko. The crowded Stubbs venue was packed as they opened the night with the track Sunshy. The song feels like stepping into a spaceship, and the mesmerizing visuals of multiple colors blending throughout the venue added to the experience. Alison’s Halo were thrilled to be playing on this bill and performed songs like the noisy Melt, closing the night with the fan-favorite track Dozen. – Bryan Gudiel
Wisp at Stubb’s
Wisp was next to hit the stage, and excitement filled the air as anticipation for her arrival grew. She has garnered a cult-like following with her nu-gaze blend of shoegaze, catchy hooks, and heavy atmospheric sounds. Fresh off her new EP Pandora, she played many fan-favorite tracks like the hard-hitting Pandora and the dreamy Mimi. She treated the Austin crowd to her first-ever performance of her new single, I Remember How Your Hands Felt on Mine, which was released on Halloween. This unique track is faster-paced and poppier than her typical, spacey songs. The stage visuals were dark, featuring images of forests and the band’s shadow displayed on the large tent of the venue. She ended the night with her most popular song, Your Face, as everyone rushed to record the viral hit. Wisp is quickly on the rise to becoming a fan-favorite household name. – Bryan Gudiel
Panchiko at Stubb’s
Goodbye Horses by Q Lazzarus played, accompanied by classic cartoons on screen. The lights began to dim, and fan-favorite Panchiko took the stage. They started the night with The Eye of Ibad, a slower track that set the tone for their arrival. The crowd was full of excitement, singing and dancing to many of their tracks, especially popular songs like Stabilisers for Big Boys and D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L. The stage was visually captivating, with complementary visuals that enhanced the performance. The blend of multiple colors and reflections of the band members made it an unforgettable night for all Panchiko fans. The band closed their set with the classic Kicking Cars, leaving the Austin crowd with an unforgettable night of music. – Bryan Gudiel
FUGITIVE at Empire
The night continued with a heavy metal act from Fort Worth, Texas, delivering a crushing set that left fans headbanging, moshing, and practically fighting each other all night. The band stormed the stage with the hard-hitting song The Javelin, which felt like a punch to the face as they tore into the breakdown. Although still a new band with only one EP, Maniac, released in 2022, they tore the house down, with fans nonstop crowd-surfing and moshing the night away. This is definitely an act to watch for fans who enjoy bands like Power Trip or Gatecreeper. – Bryan Gudiel
Integrity at Empire
Powerhouse hardcore icons Integrity headlined the night with a performance like no other. The hardcore act is known for their wild shows full of moshing and chaos within the mosh pits. Integrity’s albums, like Those Who Fear Tomorrow (1991) and Humanity is the Devil (1996), are considered legendary, genre-defying records in hardcore and metalcore. Frontman Dwid Hellion rushed onto the stage and began immediately with an electrifying track that started with piercing vocal screams, causing the crowd to erupt instantly into stage diving and moshing. Fans rushed to Dwid to sing along and join him on stage. Their set consisted of many heavy tracks like Hollow and Judgment Day. This act is a must-see for any hardcore fan, and their legacy is cemented in the hardcore community forever. – Bryan Gudiel
Tycho at Far Out Lounge
Saturday night at Far Out Lounge sent everyone into a serene state. Tycho is a melodic dance artist from Sacramento, California. Upon his arrival to Far Out’s main stage, the space lit up with a shining disco ball and white strobe lights. Tycho placed himself behind a futuristic DJ stand, accompanied by touring bandmates on stage. Playing through pieces such as “A Walk” and “Totem” created a dreamlike state past the barricade. Between the soft glowing lights and transcendent sounds, Tycho’s performance felt like a momentary departure from reality. The rocking quartet took the crowd by storm, and left everyone feeling like they’d just gotten the most insane performance of the night. – Lauren Stephens
Die Spitz at Mohawk
Back over at Mohawk, noise music took over the night at Die Spitz’s set. The Austin-based band brought their usual rowdy stage presence to the Levitation crowd, and fans were not disappointed. Looking down over the packed outdoor stage area, people could be seen moshing and crowd surfing within minutes of Die Spitz coming on stage. The band played a mix of songs off their 2023 album, Teeth, as well as their 2022 EP Revenge of Evangeline. – Lauren Stephens
I am a Houston-based photographer who has been attending concerts since MP3 players were a thing. I graduated from the University of Houston in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in advertising. In my free time, you can find me headbanging at hardcore/rock shows, collecting movies, and training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu!
I am a photographer and live music lover based in Austin and raised in Houston. I recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, where I studied Marketing and co-led the photo team at Afterglow ATX. I feel most at home where people are moshing, thrifting, or sipping coffee. My favorite artists include The Maine, Pierce The Veil, 5SOS (+ Luke's solo work), Waterparks, MCR, Taylor Swift, and Harry Styles.
