Roky Erickson Hitting The Road With The Black Angels
Psychedelic rock pioneer Roky Erickson will be embarking on a month-long tour with modern-day kindred spirits the Black Angels next year.
Erickson's 13th Floor Elevators were arguably the first genuine psychedelic band. Their debut single, the classic garage punk raver 'You're Gonna Miss Me,' was released in early 1966, and their stunning debut album, 'The Psychedelic Sounds Of the 13th Floor Elevators', hit the shelves that summer. The band released the equally brilliant 'Easter Everywhere' and the spotty 'Bull Of The Woods' before disintegrating into lysergic dust. A multi-disc Elevators box set, 'Sign Of The Three Eyed Men,' was issued in 2009.
Through the years Erickson -- the band's singer/songwriter/guitarist and guiding light -- has maintained a solo career, regularly interrupted by various personal issues. He has crossed paths with everyone from a young Janis Joplin to ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, who presented Erickson with a lifetime achievement award at the 2008 Austin Music Awards. While the influence of the Elevators has continued to grow over the years, Erickson has done only sporadic live performances. His last album of new material was 2010's 'True Love Cast Out All Evil.'
But things are about to change. The 'Winter Psych Storm' tour kicks off on Jan. 31 in Lawrence, Kansas and finishes on March 1 in the homeland of both the Angels and Erickson, Texas. It is still uncertain if the Black Angels will act as Roky's back up band on tour as well. They have taken that role in the past, for a few West Coast shows in 2008, one of which was captured on the DVD 'Night Of The Vampire.' Meanwhile, some of Roky's solo catalog has recently been reissued by Light In The Attic Records.
Black Angels / Roky Erickson tour dates:
1/31 - Lawrence, Kan. -- Granada
2/1 - St. Louis, Mo. -- The Firebird
2/3 - Minneapolis, Minn. -- First Avenue
2/4 - Madison, Wisc. -- Majestic Theatre
2/5 - Chicago, Ill. -- Park West - (Black Angels only)
2/7 - Newport, Ky. -- Southgate House
2/8 - Cleveland, Ohio -- Beachland Ballroom
2/9 - Detroit, Mich. -- Magic Stick
2/11 - Toronto, ON -- Phoenix Concert Theatre
2/12 - Montreal, QC -- Corona Theatre
2/14 - Washington, DC -- Black Cat
2/15 - Pawtucket, R.I. -- The Met -
2/16 - Philadelphia, Penn. -- Union Transfer
2/20 - Asheville, N.C. -- The Grey Eagle
2/21 - Nashville, Tenn. -- Mercy Lounge -
2/22 - Atlanta, Ga. -- Terminal West -
2/24 - Orlando, Fla -- The Social -
2/25 - Miami, Fla. -- Grand Central -
2/26 - St. Petersburg, Fla. -- State Theatre
2/28 - Houston, Texas -- Fitzgerald's Upstairs
3/1 - Dallas, Texas -- Granada Theater