The Black Angels host “Pre Halloween Freakout” Tonight at Mohawk

Ok, ok, it’s been said before, and it will all be said again, but something happens to a society on edge and at war, and that something is happening now, a subconscious shiver that plays out tangibly, literally, not just on cable and the radio waves but on albums and in music venues across the U.S. Will 2009 ultimately be dubbed Year of the Freakout?

There’s a case to be made there, as we all in the meantime follow “Mad Men,” transfixed by characters grappling with identity issues, about to be caught in a riptide of racial politics and a national disgrace of a war. Hmm. Well, it’s a good year for Halloween, as citizens all over the political spectrum slog, wade, or tip-toe through suspenseful pauses. And the Black Angels, homecomers fresh off a tour with The Raveonettes, know this. That’s why they’re hosting a freakout, complete with an event poster featuring an ambivalent, haloed, Voltron-eyed Obama in a Jean Genet-esque pose. (We guess.)

So get your freak out, and your drone on, by heading down to the Mohawk tonight. The Black Angels’ psychedelic sound manages to feel expansive while at the same time inducing a touch of claustrophobia. Be prepared to experience more than a little nostalgia for the underbelly of the 60s as well.

Shapes Have Fangs (we can’t help but point out how perfectly named all these acts are for a Halloween themed show) will open, setting off the night's trippy, cross-country vibe. Next up is uncanny troubadour Kurt Vile, who’s haunted by the future ghost of Bruce Springsteen. Austin, this is undoubtedly a choice way to kick off your weekend of Halloween hijinks.

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The Black Angels [Myspace][Official]
Kurt Vile [Myspace]
Shapes Have Fangs [Myspace]