Austin, Texas’ premier Levitation Fest returned on Halloween. Fans gathered in spooky costumes to see legendary acts and rising stars, and we’re here to recap day one.
Halloween night kicks off with Day One of Levitation, featuring a diverse lineup of psychedelic, rock, and underground showcases. Day One highlights include rising shoegaze star Julie, garage rock legends The Black Angels, Japanese psychedelic pioneers Acid Mothers Temple, and the electrifying Boris.
Her New Knife at Mohawk
The night kicked off with an up-and-coming shoegaze/noise act from the great city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where premier shoegaze bands like Nothing, Full Body 2, and They’re Gutting a Body of Water are household names. There was no shortage with Her New Knife’s impressive act to get fans hyped for the night. The band took the stage in full Halloween costumes and face paint. They played songs from their new EP, Chrome Is a Lullaby, and even covered ‘Sugar’ by System of a Down. The band delivered a noisy and impressive set to start the night off strong. – Bryan Gudiel
Frost Children at Mohawk
As fans filled up the venue, Frost Children took the stage next. The band kicked off their set with a cover of Nirvana’s ‘Drain You,’ instantly igniting the crowd, who began pushing and jumping around the stage. With flashing lights adding to the atmosphere, the energy kept the audience fully amped up. They played fan favorites like ‘Flat Box’ and ‘Fox Bop,’ which had fans crowd-surfing throughout the night. The sibling duo proved to be a must-see act for fans of grunge, hyperpop, and punk. – Bryan Gudiel
Julie at Mohawk
Julie was next to hit the stage, with excitement filling the air as the venue packed in fans, many in costumes, all eagerly awaiting the band’s arrival. Julie is quickly becoming a household name in the indie-rock and shoegaze scene, known for their powerful sound that fuses shoegaze, noise pop, and punk. Formed in 2019 in Orange County, California, Julie recently released their debut album, My Anti-Aircraft Friend, which has garnered widespread acclaim.The band kicked off their set with “Catalogue” from the new album, setting the scene with a noisy track driven by fast-paced drums, heavy layers of guitar, and a pulsing bass. The three-piece band filled the room with their intense sound, quickly amping up the crowd, where fans were pushing and even jumping from the stage. Julie played singles like “Clairbourne Practice” and songs from their Pushing Daisies EP, fueling the crowd’s energy. Julie’s live performance was impressive, and their unique aesthetic and engaging stage presence will undoubtedly continue to draw in new fans. – Bryan Gudiel
Acid Mothers Temple at the 13th Floor
Acid Mothers Temple was set to hit the stage at 12:30 AM, filling the small venue with an excited Levitation Fest crowd. Acid Mothers Temple is a legendary psychedelic rock band from Japan, founded in 1995 by guitarist Kawabata Makoto. The band opened their set with a hypnotic, trance-like atmosphere that continued throughout the night. Visuals and colorful backgrounds enhanced the music as the heaviness of their sound washed over the fans. The crowd cheered all night as the band played songs like “Dark Star Blues / Santa Maria” and “Pink Lady Lemonade / Sparkling Pink Lady Lemonade.” This iconic act wrapped up day one of Levitation and set the tone for the rest of the weekend. – Bryan Gudiel
Mdou Moctar at Stubb’s
To kick off night one of Levitation Fest, Mdou Moctar played an enchanting set at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater. Mdou Moctar is a psychedelic rock quartet founded by Mahamadou Souleymane, a Taureg songwriter raised in Abalak, Niger. The band eased into their 7:30pm set, starting with slow instrumentals that captivated the audience and left them hanging on for more. After their entrance, the band dove into their wide afro-psychedelic discography, spanning from “Chismiten” off their 2021 album to a more recent release, “Imouhar.” Throughout their set, the crowd appeared to enjoy the variety of tunes, as they swayed, danced, and head banged accordingly. – Lauren Stephens
The Black Angels at Stubb’s
Next up at Stubb’s, The Black Angels played a highly-anticipated set at Levitation Fest. The psychedelic rock band are Austin natives themselves, having formed around 20 years ago in May of 2004. The five-piece group was warmly welcomed by the Stubb’s crowd, as they cheered upon their arrival on stage. Their set started in a hazy fog and low lights, as they appeared under the darkening sky. Despite their opening track being called “Bad Vibrations,” the energy from the audience was one of pure enthusiasm. Amidst the psychedelic projections and moody guitars, many attendees closed their eyes and threw their hands in the air, feeling every note. The band performed an array of tracks from the hit “Young Men Dead” to a multitude of songs from the iconic 2010 album Phosphene Dream. When their set concluded, an eruption of cheers proved the crowd’s fulfillment with the stellar end to the showcase. – Lauren Stephens
Boris at Empire Garage
After the Stubb’s show came to a close, the night continued over at Empire Garage for Levitation Fest. At 11:00pm, Boris was welcomed onto the Empire stage by an absolutely packed audience. Boris is a Japanese sludge/doom rock group formed in Tokyo in 1992. The band’s entrance itself was an unforgettable one – complete with intense drums, a haunting guitar, and frontman Atsuo slowly swaying his arms, as if putting the audience under a spell. After the band bewitched the crowd, they moved into their heavy shoegaze set, complete with songs such as “Huge,” “Hama,” and “Loveless.” Despite the clock ticking later, the crowd was wide awake and locked in till the very end. – 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.
