The Top 5 Neo-Psychedelic Rock Bands You Need to Know About
Here are the top 5 neo-psychedelic rock bands you need to know about. They’re sure to get you grooving and leave you wanting more.
The Black Angels
Formed in Austin, Texas in 2004, The Black Angels take their name from the Velvet Underground song “The Black Angel’s Death Song.” The band is part of the neo-psychedelic movement that has been gaining popularity in recent years, and their sound has been described as a mix of ’60s garage rock and ’70s psychedelia. The Black Angels have released five studio albums, most recently Death Song in 2017.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Brian Jonestown Massacre is a neo-psychedelic rock band formed in San Francisco in 1990. The band is led by frontman Anton Newcombe, who has been the only constant member since its inception. They have released seventeen albums, three compilation albums, five live albums, thirteen EPs, sixteen singles, and five various-artist compilation albums to date. The group was the subject of the 2004 documentary film Dig!, which won the grand jury prize at that year’s Sundance Film Festival.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s sound blends elements of 1960s psychedelic rock with contemporary garage rock, punk rock, shoegazing, and folk music. Newcombe has frequently cited 1960s acts such as The Rolling Stones, The Velvet Underground, and The 13th Floor Elevators as major influences on his songwriting and musical aesthetic. He has also praised more contemporary acts such as Spacemen 3 and The Jesus and Mary Chain.
The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are an American rock band, formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1994 by singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and guitarist Peter Holmström. Drummer Nick Rees joined in 1996 and bassist Zia McCabe in 2003. The band’s name is a pun on the name of American pop artist Andy Warhol.
The Dandy Warhols rose to prominence after releasing their major label debut album, …The Dandy Warhols Come Down (1997), which included the singles “Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth” and “Bohemian Like You”. Their fourth album, Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia (2000), was given the Q Magazine Album of the Year award. It featured the song “We Used to Be Friends”, which became their biggest US college radio hit and garnered them significant mainstream attention.
In 2003 they collaborated with Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Anton Newcombe to release the collaborative album Welcome to the Monkey House. Its DC Turnpike/Interstate 95 inspired cover art was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 2010 they released This Is The Dandy Warhols Album, their ninth studio album.
Dead Meadow
Formed in 1998, Dead Meadow is a neo-psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles, California. The band is composed of frontman and guitarist Jason Simon, bassist Steve Kille, and drummer Mark Laughlin. Dead Meadow’s music has been described as “stoner rock” or “stoner metal”, and is heavily influenced by the psychedelic rock and heavy metal of the 1970s.
Dead Meadow’s debut album, Dead Meadow, was released in 2000 on Xemu Records. The album was well-received by critics and was followed by a self-titled EP in 2001. The band’s second album, Feathers, was released in 2003 on Matador Records. Feathers was widely acclaimed by critics and is considered one of the best neo-psychedelic albums of the 2000s.
Dead Meadow has toured extensively throughout their career, performing with such bands as Queens of the Stone Age, Fu Manchu, Nebula, and Orange Goblin. The band is currently signed to Silver Current Records and have released five studio albums: Dead Meadow (2000), Feathers (2003), Old Growth (2006), Three Kings (2009), and Warble Womb (2012).
The Growlers
The Growlers are a neo-psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 2009 by singer/guitarist Brooks Nielsen and guitarist Matt Taylor. The Growlers released their debut album, are You in or out?, in 2010. The album was followed by a self-titled EP in 2011. The Growlers’ third album, Hung at Heart, was released in 2013.
The Growlers’ music has been described as “a distinctly Californian take on country-influenced garage rock and psychedelic rock.” The band’s sound has been compared to that of bands such as The Velvet Underground, Television, and Talking Heads.
The Growlers have appeared at several music festivals, including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Glastonbury.
