Customer Reviews

Demon Angel: A Day & Night With Roky Erickson

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This cd is one of the few that really captures the essence of an artist. Roky recorded this on halloween night, 1984, in Austin,Texas, under the congress street bridge. It is him playing an aucoustic guitar with another guitarist playing all kinds of psychedelic sounds all over the songs. This is an amazong record and I would strongly recomended it to all Roky fans. It might be kind of hard for first time listeners of Roky to get into, but besides that it is great! Dig.

These stripped down versions of some of Erickson's greatest songs should be heard by the curious and owned by any true fan of Roky and the Aliens or the 13th Floor Elevators. A live album that does not disappoint.

In 1984, Roky Erickson approached Texas musician and producer Mike Alvarez to help him produce a television special to be shown for Swedish tv audiences ONLY. It was to be an intimate, LIVE concert featuring Roky performing on both acoustic and electric guitar, and featuring a selection of his then current songs("Night of the Vampire", "Bloody Hammer", "It's A Cold Night For Alligators", etc.)and a couple of choice selections from his 13th Floor Elevators period(a truly LUMINOUS version of "Splash 1" that ALONE makes this WORTH buying and a highly energized version of his classic "You're Gonna Miss Me"). From that Swedish tv special comes this simply WONDERFUL record.

Roky-with Alvarez backing him admirably on guitar-recorded this simply AMAZING record in an Austin, Texas underground creek (beneath the Congress Street bridge no less!)that Halloween night.
To quote an old, apt songline:"OH! What a night!"

With each man taking turns on acoustic and electric guitars, it easily compares with any other LIVE recordings I've yet heard of Roky's(either solo OR with the 13th Floor Elevators)for sheer QUALITY of both vocal and instrumental performance!

Of all the versions I've heard of "Splash 1" I'd have to rate THIS version my favourite:Roky's never sounded so SENSUAL/AMOROUS as he does HERE(SIGH)! For this song ALONE the album is WORTH checking out! However, this is by NO means the only stellar performance he presents here. ALL of the songs are TERRIFIC, delivered with HIGH energy, earnest and engaging intimacy and Roky is in EXCELLENT VOICE here!

Other songs of special note are "White Faces"(simply SUBLIME version here)
"The Damn' Thing"(a HARD to find, wonderful song)a BRAVURA performance of "Night of the Vampire" and a truly HEART-RENDING version of "Clear Night For Love" that I think easily outshines the STUDIO version(you can literally hear the TEARS being choked back, POOR Roky)! Oh yes..and NOT forgetting TWO VERSIONS of Roky's LIP LICKING "Hungry For Your Love" that have enough GENUINELY SEXY swagger to 'em to cause MORE THAN A FEW of the ladies here to lean back and take a VERY DEEP breath(Oh MY, ROKY...RAVE ON, DARLIN')!

A FIVE STAR record if I ever heard one!

Texan Roky Erickson enjoyed three years in a mental asylum in the 70s after spending some time in seminal psychedelia outfit the 13th Floor Elevators. Now of course, he is the subject of at least two tribute records populated by mostly undertalented musicians who find him an inspirational genius. The record bins are lousy with these things and how many people should really rate a "tribute album" anyway? Dylan and Townes Van Zandt, obviously. Billy Joe Shaver and the Stooges. And maybe Neil Young and Lou Reed, both for their artistry and their crimes against music. But Karen Carpenter? Baby vomit reinterpreted is still baby vomit! Ye Gods!!

My first exposure to Erickson was through an awful cover of "Bermuda" done by the Minutemen on 1985's "Three Way Tie (for Last)" featuring vocals sung through a telephone.

Erickson's record captures him live on Halloween night, 1984, accompanied by another guitarist and moaning his singular lyrics over simple but effective accompanyment.

Kirk Rosenbaum