Sharon Van Etten
Anthony B
Sword
Grace Potter
Atmosphere
Ray Lamontagne
Florence + the Machine
My Morning Jacket
Primus
Big Boi
Black Angels
Lil Wayne
Arcade Fire
Ratatat

Photos by Debi Del Grande.

[View with PicLens]

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Download: Roky Erickson Wish List Set List

(from Roky Erickson Wish List Set List)

We had a great time seeing Roky in front of a sold-out and very riled crowd at El Rey last night. (Three stage-jumpers; two huggers and one kisser.) The Black Angels really know how to work that electric jug. Probably flawed set list from bad memory below and review to follow soon. (Corrections welcome, especially if you were the person who actually went home with the set list!) All photos by Scott Schultz! Find more at larecord.com/photos.

“Bo Diddley Was A Headhunter”
“Two-Headed Dog (Red Temple Prayer)” (also L.A. RECORD respect to the guy DRESSED as a two-headed dog!)
“You’re Gonna Miss Me”
“Night Of The Vampire”
“Creature With The Atom Brain”
“Splash One”
“I Walked With A Zombie”
“Thru The Rhythm”
“The Beast”
“Before You Accuse Me”
“Don’t Fall Down”
“Reverberation (Doubt)”

(See also: Roky Erickson Wishlist Setlist podcast and Roky Erickson Trivia Challenge!)

Roky Erickson was the voice of the 13th Floor Elevators and writes some of the greatest love songs in rock ‘n’ roll. After a long vacation, he returns rested and roaring to Los Angeles on Halloween with the Black Angels as his new backing band—a show that L.A. RECORD is deeply honored to co-present. This interview by Chris Ziegler.

So you’re playing with the Black Angels now?
We been rehearsing a lot. The Black Angels have been asking me to do all these songs they been finding. Like ‘May The Circle Remain Unbroken’ but I don’t know if we’ve got around to that or not. They love those songs, you know what I mean? We work on ‘em all the time.
What’s gonna be in the set?
Most of our usual stuff—that’s what they said. And then they want me to do some Elevators. That’s what they been wanting. We had received this Elevator album in the mail. It was just kind of new one—a picture of the Elevators on brown kind of like leather? Or an upholstered cover? It was that one and the Explosives and somebody else. When we got it, they said they sure would like to listen to that record—maybe learn some of the songs off of it.
You haven’t played some of those live for a long time.
That’s right. That’s great. I’m really excited about them wanting to do these songs. I feel they been down below the surface for too long. They just been finding ‘em—I told them I didn’t know how they’d sound. But we’re practicing and rehearsing.
How did you write that song with Mogwai?
Mogwai gave me a piece of paper—a form they passed on through people, you know—individuals—and they wanted me to learn it. I just learned it at home—it was something about the devil’s eyes or something like that, he eats his young or something like that, and I did it and then they came to the studio and helped me with it.
What did your band think the first time you taught them ‘Two-Headed Dog’?
They were really into it!
Are you working on a new album?
That’s what they say, yeah. We were just gonna be doing some songs they’ve been scraping up and finding. I don’t know how they get ‘em, but they do. Sometimes they just pop up. But they’ve been finding ‘em everywhere. I wrote a lot—a lot when I was in Rusk, you know what I mean? I wrote a lot there. And I saved ‘em. I had two manuscripts—one was called Love Paintings and Positivity Murals, Uncommercially Speaking or something. And then I had this other one called The Future Demonic Bleib. [Manager] Darren was hoping he could get a few out of there. Like this one called ‘I’m Satisfied.’ I couldn’t really remember the melodies to some of them, so I said I’d try real hard—I been working on my strength, mostly. Stayin’ real strong and everything.
How?
I just eat good—eat 24 hours a day! Like a bear or something—eat good food! My wife makes it and serves it.
Where do you get your inspiration these days?
I listen to the radio a lot. And I listen to the television a lot. I get all these stations on the TV. Like cable—it’s Time Warner, you know? Mostly informative detective shows. Like CSI and Law and Order and everything.
Are you gonna write any more movie songs?
Yeah, I could! I been just thinking about it. Most of all I just been recuperating and taking it easy from everything. I’ve been eating a lot better and I’m married, you know.
The golden years of Roky Erickson?
Just sampling all of it, you know what I mean?
What was the last Halloween costume you had?
They wanted me to wear a cape! And they had some other ideas I can’t remember. They brought in some masks and some gloves and stuff. I used to dress up like all sorts of things. My favorite one is to get me to look like a vampire.
Is Dracula your favorite movie monster?
I think Dracula’s one of ‘em. I like Frankenstein. And there was one movie called The Haunted Strangler. It was just about this guy that went around in Central America and he’d kill people, you know? Strangle ‘em to death. But he was a monster. It was real scary. It would have to be interpreted or improvised or fixed up a little.
What was the first movie ever saw by yourself?
My mother usually would kind of tag along and then go take care of an errand, or maybe she’d stay—that’s how I saw The Creature With The Atom Brain.
What was the first concert you ever went to?
I just went mostly to Carousel—major Broadway productions. I don’t know—it was real strange! South Pacific or something? It was down at this auditorium—real big auditorium. I think I was down there with my mother. I went to see James Brown a lot. And the other one was Otis Redding. And we went to an Ike show—Ike and Tina Turner. Way out in the boondocks in Dallas—some unforgiven, unforgotten city. Some weird suburb.
You should duet with Tina.
Ha ha, I tell you, man—that would really be weird, wouldn’t it? I like James Brown—I really was influenced by him. And Richard Penniman. And let me see—Little Richard, James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Willie John, and Raymond Charles.
How about Lightnin’ Hopkins?
We were supposed to do a gig with him—some kind of thing called the Rock ‘n’ Roll Church? All these bands were supposed to be there—the 13th Floor Elevators, no telling who, you know? They decided just to make it a casual thing. We just kind of got together and had cake and pie and Coca-Colas. Janis was supposed to be there—Janis Joplin.
Did you ever meet her?
I think I did one time up on stage. One time I saw Grace Slick sitting in the dressing room and I didn’t know if it was her. I’m just real particular—peculiar—pinpoint about watching the shows. I’d watch ‘em out of the corner of my eye but I wouldn’t be able to catch who was up there. I think that’s safer to do. Because it was at this small room that looked like it might come all tumbling down or something! And real hot! So you kind of had to take it easy and be real interpretive and careful and all.
Was San Francisco ready for the 13th Floor Elevators?
Well, we got there and the place looked like some kind of carousel—real lit-up and everything! But they had to go to a lot of work and trouble to get us booked at a place. There wasn’t really a lot going on there. Soft music—and a lot of soul and everything.
Do you still play piano?
I do! I played the other day over at these peoples’ house—they had me over for dinner—fish and chicken-fried steak and everything—and we sat there at the table, like the knights of the round table, and he asked me if I’d play one of those loony tunes, and I said sure. Boy, that was just a gas, you know what I mean? An after-dinner thing.
Who are you gonna vote for this time?
Well, I don’t know. I voted two times previously and both times I voted for the Democratic Party. And then people helped me do it.
What’s the nicest present one of your fans ever gave you?
They give me bats and no tellin’ what! Little tapes and things. Napkins that said ‘Suzy Creamcheese’ on it. I try to keep ‘em—we have a storage house we keep ‘em all in. I don’t know how we get ‘em in there but we do!
What’s in there?
Just all sorts of stuff, man. Cages and everything. Couches. Apparently it’s alright to do it!
Do they still make that ice cream shake that’s named after you?
Yeah, sweet cream!
Do you know how to make it?
I don’t because they say they have special ingredients in it!
What else should they name after you?
They let me have the key to the city when I played at the theatre downtown. The mayor or the governor or somebody had come in and said, ‘Hey, man, we’re making him the leader of the city for a week!’

L.A. RECORD CO-PRESENTS ROKY ERICKSON WITH THE BLACK ANGELS ON FRI., OCT. 31, AT THE EL REY, 5515 WILSHIRE BLVD., LOS ANGELES. 8 PM / $28.50 / ALL AGES. GOLDENVOICE.COM. VISIT ROKY ERICKSON AT ROKYERICKSON.NET. THANKS TO ROKY’S MANAGER DARREN FOR ORGANIZING THIS INTERVIEW.

Welcome to the L.A. RECORD‘s GRE (Glorify Roky Erickson) exam—below you will find five ultimately challenging Roky trivia questions. Don’t worry—they are multiple choice, and we will be grading on a curve so don’t wimp out! In case of a tie, the earlier entry will win!

First prizes are a PAIR OF TICKETS to see Roky live at the El Rey with the Black Angels on Halloween! (Est. retail value incalculable by human measurements.)

For second, third and honorary mention we have mind-melting Roky paraphernalia from the righteous people at Process Media, Norton Records and Roky’s management itself, for which we are cheerful, bashful and grateful! These prizes include…

EYE MIND: THE SAGA OF ROKY ERICKSON AND THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS, THE PIONEERS OF PSYCHEDELIC SOUND—the definitive and exhaustive biography of the first psychedelic rock band on the planet! With this by your bed, you’ll ace every Roky trivia challenge ever!

ROKY ERICKSON AND THE EXPLOSIVES – HALLOWEEN: RECORDED LIVE 1979-81—Norton’s gatefold 2XLP of Roky at his most fearsome! We are listening to this RIGHT NOW (not the contest copy, don’t worry!) and it rules. In fact, the version of “Wake Up To Rock ‘n’ Roll” in the above podcast is from THIS VERY RECORD!

EYE-SATISFYING PSYCHEDELIC TOUR POSTER—seen here and in full color in the last L.A. RECORD, but never revealed in its full glory until this contest, which will put it in your actual hands!

Email us your answers at fortherecord@larecord.com by MIDNIGHT on THURSDAY, OCT. 30, and include an email and phone number where we can reach you! And if you wanna hedge your bets, tickets for Roky are available here!

01. Roky and the 13th Floor Elevators were the first band to use the term ‘psychedelic rock’—but where was its earliest appearance?
a) flyer for residency at the Jade Room
b) business card
c) album cover
d) live review in the Austin Statesmen

02. What famous cartoon consortium released a version the 13th Floor Elevators “You’re Gonna Miss Me” 45?
a) Filmation
b) Terrytoon
c) Hanna Barbera
d) Walt Disney Corporation

03. What was the original source of the dubbed-in applause on the Elevators’ 1968 fake live album?
a) boxing match
b) rodeo
c) stock-car race
d) end credits of I Love Lucy

04. Which famous Texan singer-songwriter was once Roky Erickson’s roommate?
a) Guy Clark
b) Townes Van Zandt
c) Willie Nelson
d) Kenny Rogers

05. Which members of the following bands have NOT recorded at least one song with Roky Erickson?
a) Creedence Clearwater Revival
b) Jefferson Airplane
c) Mogwai
d) Moby Grape

BONUS: What is Roky Erickson’s middle name?

Now put down your pencils! Winners will be announced on Halloween!

Download: The Black Angels “Doves”

DJ Short Shorts (the voice of L.A. RECORD radio!) will be DJing at the Clean Air Clear Stars party at Spaceland tonight with the Black Angels, Sky Parade, the first Swoon 23 show in L.A. in like ten years and more! Info below and the fest itself starts tomorrow!

The Black Angels || Listen

Local tripsters the Black Angels bring the aura of mid-1966 – the drilling guitars of early Velvet Underground shows, the raga inflections of late-show Fillmore jams, the acid-prayer stomp of Austin avatars the 13th Floor Elevators – everywhere they go, including the levitations on their second album, Directions to See a Ghost (Light in the Attic). Mid-Eighties echoes of Spacemen 3 and the Jesus and Mary Chain also roll through the scoured-guitar sustain and Alex Maas’ rocker-monk incantations. But he knows what time it is. “You say the Beatles stopped the war,” Maas sings in “Never/Ever.” “They might’ve helped to find a cure/But it’s not over.” Even so, this medicine works wonders. – Rolling Stone

with:
Sky Parade || Listen
Hopewell
Swoon 23
Very Special Guests
DJ Kelsey “Short-Shorts” spinning

Tickets for the Pre-Party at Spaceland:

You can also buy tickets for the Clean Air Clean Stars Festival right here:

8:30 pm / $8 / 21+

Anyway—what does this mean to you? We will be giving away Roky tickets so watch the site and the Myspace and all of that. And we are working to set up other fun stuff. We would like to say thanks again to all the people who have helped us with this opportunity and to of course salute the man who made everything possible—ROKY ERICKSON!

Pizza @ Pehrspace
Pop Noir @ The Roxy
Living Legends @ The Henry Fonda
Black Angels @ The Queen Mary
Sin 34 @ The Anarchy Library
Noise Pollination @ Zero Point

Chapin Sisters @ Silverlake Lounge
Greater California @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Free Moral Agents @ Que Sera
Black Angels / Darker My Love @ The Troubadour
Aceyalone / Dilated Peoples @ HOB Anaheim
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic @ Crash Mansion