In 1966, Roky Erickson single-handedly invented psychedelia. The 13th Floor Elevators introduce the world to a new adventurous and innovative sound. Rocky was held by the United States government for experimental evaluation. After being nailed for possession of a marijuana cigarette, authorities believed he was a threat to decency! The turbulent '60s brought social tension to a new threshold of insanity. The CIA was doing experiments with LSD on soldiers and ordinary citizens. So was it the government that gave us the drug culture? Or was it Timothy Leary telling us to "drop out?" Regardless, the use of drugs definitely made an impact on the political climate of the 1960s.
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| Anjru |
Today, one would question who was more psychotic: musicians or the government? Law enforcement attacked long-haired crowds at the Chicago 1968 Democratic convention, for merely sharing the solidarity of love and music. It's amusing to imagine what law enforcement might have thought 10 years later, with the arrival of angry moshing punk rockers.
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| Will |
Like all styles of music, nothing really ever goes away. Psychedelia, often called acid rock or stoner rock, emulated the affect of mind-altering drugs in the beginning of its reign. Middle Eastern music and improvisational jazz played a role in the development of this adventurous and colorful sound. Friday, I went down to Crown Tap on Chicago's north side, to catch some neo-psychedelia with The Great Society Mind Destroyers.
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| Brett |
It was truly psych-rock with a relentless rumbling thunder, that makes you envision yourself entering the mythological baffling matter of an ancient temple. At one point, the journey through the temple leads you to the cosmos. Space rock latches on to rhythmic, but not overindulgent elements of their bizarre and mind-twisting introduction, that drifted off into exhilarating hyperactive instrumental "rave-ups."
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| Jim |
Featuring Andrew Kettering (Anjru Kieterang) from the retro '60s garage-jam group Strychnine on vocals and guitar, Jim Lechocki on drums, Will Sauceda on bass, and Brett Borden on second guitar, the chemistry of The Great Society Mind Destroyers resonates anachronistic echoes of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Blue Cheer, Sun Ra, Acid Mothers Temple, Sonic Youth, early Pink Floyd, and Hawkwind. Yes, I was reminded of the fact that Hawkwind featured Lemmy Kilmister, who was a roadie for Hendrix, and later started Motorhead, which had elements of both punk and metal. So it's all good in the scope of the wide musical spectrum.
May the soul of psychedelia lead me to grander pastures! Nowadays, you can get off on great psychedelic music without drugs. Today is GSMD day...with black coffee. The Great Society Mind Destroyers pretty much register these timeless vibes from the past, and add their current twist, thus making them new again. Roky Erickson and Syd Barrett would have been proud of the roots they planted. In the mist of an insane world, it is always great to escape to the cosmos.
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| Anjru |
You can find their music on Commune Records, Galactic Zoo, and Slow Tapes.
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| Brett |
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