Austin Psych Fest 3: Five Minutes With The Vandelles

Leading up to Austin Psych Fest 3 (this weekend at The Mohawk), we’ll be spending five minutes with many of the artists scheduled to perform at the festival. Today, we catch up with Brooklyn’s The Vandelles.

What does the term "psychedelic" conjure up in your mind?

Historically when I think of psychedelia (depending on what day you ask me and what I am listening to) I think of Timothy Leary, Syd Barett, and even Andy Warhol's exploding plastic inevitable. Leary spearheaded the experimentation with certain drugs that kick-started the free spirit of the 60s, while Warhol took this to a whole other place moving beyond realm of the hippie movement by injecting his vision of modern culture with a psychedelic twist.

Does Austin deserve to host a psychedelic music festival?

I would definitely say Austin deserves to host a psychedelic music festival being the home of Roky Erickson and The 13th Floor Elevators, and The Vulcan Gas company to start. These days the city is host to several amazing acts who are a part of the modern Psych scene we have going on (and who are playing the festival).

Roky Erickson or Stevie Ray Vaughan?

Not a fair question, sons of Texas stick together.

What is right or wrong with the music industry today?

In the last several years the music industry has completely flipped on its head. It used to be that there were a handful of routes to gain exposure to a larger audience, generic radio play, TV commercials, movies, etc., and these were all heavily controlled by the majors. The majors were spending all their money and time trying to get the generic music listener to tune into these channels in order to buy into whatever was being pumped out, and unfortunately this listener could only really choose from that sludge. Now this is entirely different, artists can create themselves exactly how they'd like and make themselves as visible as possible, through any means possible, internet, festivals like Austin Psych Fest, etc., and it is the listener's responsibility to go out and find their favorite artists. So instead of it being the label's responsibility to present you with new artists, it is your responsibility to search for whatever fits your taste. I think it's a really exciting time for authentic and creative artists worldwide -- no more curtailing your vision, just get out there and express yourself!

If you could invite one musician, living or dead, on stage with you, who would it be?

I would love to have performed with Joey Ramone. He had such an amazingly unique voice and stage presence. I think he could have done “Swell To Heaven” far better justice than I did!

Thank you for spending five minutes with Austinist.

Austin Psych Fest: [Official] [MySpace]
The Vandelles: [Official] [MySpace]

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