Dirt Road to Psychedelia: Austin, TX, During the 1960s

Drawing on a wealth of audio and visual material, director Scott Conn traces the musical evolution in Austin, TX, from blues, folk, and country to psychedelia, as recalled by artists, musicians, and journalists. In the early-1960s, the central players weren't quite beatniks nor were they hippies. Many were students at the University of Texas, such as illustrator Gilbert Shelton, who edited the humor magazine The Texas Ranger, which hosted social gatherings that attracted singers such as Janis Joplin. By mid-decade, area bands seemed to be playing out just as psychedelic drugs arrived. Jug player Tom Hall, who founded the 13th Floor Elevators, was a particularly enthusiastic proponent. Once Roky Erickson left the Spades and joined his group, the lineup was complete. Joplin and the Elevators moved to the Bay Area to take advantage of a more permissive cultural and political environment, but the latter would eventually return. Conn also profiles Conqueroo, Shiva's Headband, and the Vulcan Gas Company, a venue that combined elements of the Fillmore West with Andy Warhol's Factory (before also relocating to San Francisco, Shelton provided much of the poster art). By 1970, the club would close and the movement would disperse. Some artists are missing here (like Bubble Puppy), but this is an otherwise engaging musical history of ‘60s Austin, a place that would eventually become a major music hotspot and home to the acclaimed SXSW festival. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)