Roky Erickson - HMV Forum, London, 20/8/2009

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 24 / 9 / 2009

intro

At a comeback gig at London's HMV Forum, Anthony Strutt watches former Thirteenth Floor Elevators and psychedelic pioneer Roky Erickson reduce his often classic songs to bar garage blues numbers

Roky Erickson is one of the legends of psychedelic rock. He took a huge amount of drugs in the past and it looks as if they are still with him. He has a body that looks like it has been lived in, and to be honest after years of being in and out of psychiatric institutions it is a miracle that he is still with us at all. He was the main vocalist and focus point of the 13th Floor Elevators, who were a big influence on their fellow Texans ZZ Top, and whom sadly most of the music sounds like tonight. This is pretty much cabaret, although Roky is surrounded by decent session players whom happen as well to be members of the Meat Puppets and the Butthole Surfers. Roky plays guitar well and sings well, but he doesn't seem to be with us at all, but the crowd love him and lap it all up. Roky makes us wait until the end before he plays any 13th Floor Elevators tracks. They are, however, served up in pretty much the same style, so whereas originally they showered us with magic tonight they are pretty much bar garage blues numbers. It is a shame really, but at least, having not done so for over twenty years, he is playing music again.

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