Psychedelic pioneers
the 13th Floor Elevators
had a sterling reputation as a live act during their years in Austin, Texas, but there are only a few scraps of recorded evidence to back up the legend of
the Elevators
' fiery shows. Tapes exist of early radio and television performances by the band, and an oft-bootlegged 1966 show at San Francisco's Avalon Ballroom captured them at the height of their powers, but
Live Evolution Lost
documents one of the only professionally recorded concerts the band would ever give. Recorded at the Houston Music Theater on February 18, 1967,
preserves one of
' biggest and best-attended shows, though the performance has an unusual reputation among fans, as guitarist
Stacy Sutherland
later confessed he was experiencing a profoundly bad acid trip once he hit the stage. Despite it all, this album captures the unusual musical interplay of
as they make their way through a set featuring material they rarely played in concert. The album also includes an extended jam session in which
stretch out with another notable Texas psychedelic band of the day,
Conqueroo
.
marks the first authorized release of the complete Houston Music Theater recordings, and will be of keen interest to committed fans of this trailblazing band. ~ Mark Deming