Local Music is Sexy Band Profile: The Black Angels

[In which we use the word fuck no less than three times. Well, four.]

A few months ago, at a house party in Hyde Park thrown by local label Christmas Mountain Records, we found ourselves lounging idly with our mates on a plushly upholstered sofa, near the stage setup of a living room so sardine-packed with Austin hipsters that, in the dimmed lighting and from our low vantage point, all one could make out was a sweaty sea of lanky, wristband-clad arms. We were there because we'd heard the ceaseless prattle about this "amazing indie band", and - having just returned from a successful jaunt around the States - they were there that night to play for an intimate assortment of friends and diehard fans. We were dubious, to say the least - all too often, hyperbole and hype seem to be synonymous (see: The Bravery, Kate Moss, Sprite Remixed). But then they took to the stage. The sole, lonely lamp casting an eerie glow about them, these shimmering silhouettes quietly assembled their gear, tuned up their instruments, and --

Blew us the fuck away.

They call themselves The Black Angels, which we posit to be an homage to The Velvet Underground's "The Black Angel's Death Song" or Nico, although we're honestly not entirely sure. But the influence is clearly prevalent: these folks - Stephanie Bailey/drums and percussion, Christian Bland/guitar, Alex Maas/vocals, Jennifer Raines/the drone machine/organ, Nate Ryan/bass and guitar, and Richard Whymark/projection - absolutely kill, and neo-psychedelic rock is their weapon of choice. Drawing from Brian Jonestown Massacre, Dandy Warhols, and the Rolling Stones, they masterfully employ their varied instruments to the effect of pure modal mayhem. If you're not on an acid trip when you hear them, you'll want to be soon afterwards.

"Picture a red moonlit night, deep in the heart of Texas, with the ghosts of Nico and Timothy Leary being called back from the dead to guide you on a journey through Heaven & Hell and back again..." reads the band's bio, and you know what? It sounds about right. One of the most telling tracks off their EP is the brilliant "Bloodhounds on My Trail", an aggresive work of righteous pomposity whose heavy reverb and distortion and diaphanous vocals conspire as though to exclaim, Fuck what you've been told - this is rock and roll!

Not surprisingly, since playing SXSW this Spring, The Black Angels have managed to garner international acclaim, having been featured in several psychedelic compilation albums and picked as BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe's "Song of the Week." We suspect it's only a matter of time when we lose this fantastic troupe to the coastal cities, but while they're here, we plan to see them whenever the fuck we can.

Which, of course, is this Saturday night at the Velvet Spade, where they'll be headlining our Local Music is Sexy rock showcase. Weather permitting, they'll play along with Peel, The Interest Kills, Visitors and Belaire.

[The Black Angels Site]
[myspace: The Black Angels]
[mp3: The Black Angels - Black Grease (Rough Mix)]
[mp3: The Black Angels - Bloodhounds on My Trail]
[mp3: The Black Angels - Doves]
[mp3: The Black Angels - Syd Barrett Blues]

Images from KVRX Local Live