Texas Psych

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It depends how deep in you want to wade.

In addition to the artists you've mentioned, Johnny Winter's early recordings (collected on the compilation "Birds Can't Row Boats") are worth including - in fact I'd say they're as good as any of the acts you've mentioned bar the Elevators and the Golden Dawn.

Then there's the Conqueroo, an Austin band featuring Elevators co-writer Powell St.John, whose live act was, apparently, legendary enough to make them local heroes at the time - but who sadly only got it together to release one single during their lifetime the marvellous "1 to 3"/"I've Got Time".

Endle St.Cloud's one album for International Artists ("Thank You All Very Much" - the last LP IA issued) is an interesting slice of hard bluesy psych, although not on a par with that label's best releases.

Not quite sure whether or not the Sir Douglas Qunitet qualify as psychedelic, since their sound was more of a rhythm'n'blues/Tex-Mex hybrid, but they were from Houston, existed during the same time frame and certainly shared more than a few bills with the major psych acts in the region - so it's your decision whether to reference them or not, I suppose.

If you haven't already, it's worth tracking down a copy of "Acid Visions -The Complete Collection : Best of Texas Punk & Psychedelia", a 3-disc set contains that contains tracks by most of the the artists I've mentioned plus a whole slew about whom I know nothing besides the songs included by them. there are two more three-disc sets in the same series, but Vol.1 is definitely the one to go for if you want a primer - the subsequent volumes contain way too much plodding blooze-rock filler for my liking.

As for more modern stuff like the Buttholes and the Black Angels ... you probably know as much as me in that department, although I'd definitely second both of those choices (and possibly Jandek and Daniel Johnston too?), and would be interested to read about more.

Keep us posted as to how the article goes.

Cheers Popel. I'll follow those recommendations up, and I'm sure I'll contact you about this again at some point.

Thanks Squid and Monolith too!

Popel Vooje wrote:
It depends how deep in you want to wade.

Then there's the Conqueroo, an Austin band featuring Elevators co-writer Powell St.John, whose live act was, apparently, legendary enough to make them local heroes at the time - but who sadly only got it together to release one single, the marvellous "1 to 3"/"I've Got Time".

I don't think Powell St John was with the band very long. Don't think he's on any of the recordings I've heard.

Have hoped that the lp that came out on 5 Hours Back in the mid 80s would reappear since I only have it in Mp3 form and would love it in something better. Lp was called From The Vulcan gas co which was a famous Austin hippy venue. Music is like a more muscular/bluesy early Grateful Dead at least in its being heavily jammed psych stuff.

I found an interview or article with an ex-member when I was asking questions about whether anybody else on this list was familiar with them a few years ago, so there may still be a link in the archives.
Would love to see a reissue or longer compilation of that material hopefully plus other stuff since newer media can hold longer durations than lps could.

Stevo