Jim Langdon – “The 13th Floor Elevators” (1965)

June 30, 2009 at 4:10 pm (Music, Reviews & Articles)

One of the earliest mentions of The Elevators in print. This short blurb comes from the Langdon’s Nightbeat column in a late 1965 edition of The Austin American Statesman (the band’s hometown newspaper). The article makes note of Roky Erickson’s previous band The Spades, as well.
This was basically the first rumblings of what soon became known as “psychedelic” music… 

 

Roky Erickson’s new band – the 13^th Floor Elevators – opened the Jade Room Wednesday and Thursday nights.

The band drew good crowds both nights despite competition from one-night appearances of Roy Head (Wednesday at The Swingers) and Stan Getz (Thursday at Municipal Auditorium.)

While Roky is still as exciting as ever, and the personnel of the new band sounds good individually, the group will need a little time to jell to match the continuity of the old Spades.

And those who might have been curious as to the contribution of the amplified jug in the new group were probably disappointed, for the jug, even amplified, was hardly audible over the amplified guitars and bass.

Jim Langdon