Label: Felix
Genre: Psych/Garage
Format: LP
Year: 1989 EU press
Condition: NM/NM
Side one of this LP is taken from a 13th Floor Elevators show at the Mother Earth Club in Austin on February 11th, 1973. Much of this phase of Roky's career is still shrouded in mystery. Roky was declared sane and released from Rusk after three years of incarceration in November of 1972. By early 1973 a re-formed version of the Elevators were playing the Austin/Houston/San Antonio area. I know of four shows from this era, and there were others. This show at the Mother Earth would have been one of the earliest. In this new line-up John Ike Walton played drums, and on at least one occasion, at La Bastille in Houston on April 1st, Stacy Sutherland played lead guitar and Ronnie Leatherman played bass. One of Roky's brothers may also have been in this band. This early attempt to revive the Elevators did not last beyond 1973.
The five songs from the Mother Earth show are taken from a 60 minute audience recording. The set that Sunday night included 13th Floor Elevator standards, a couple of Bob Dylan covers (Rainy Day Women and Baby Blue) and a couple of unreleased Roky originals (Thank God For Civilization and I Believe In America). The five chosen for this LP are the most listenable of those on the 60 minute tape. The sound quality is fair. Roky is in great voice; the band (aside from the drumming) is really sloppy. Not one of the best Roky/Elevators live recordings, but historically interesting.
Side two of the LP is comprised of two songs taken from a 13th Floor Elevators reunion concert at the Liberty Lunch on June 16th, 1984. Original members in attendance that day were Roky on vocals and rhythm guitar, John Ike Walton on drums, and Ronnie Leatherman on bass. Filling in Stacy Sutherland's spot on lead guitar was Greg "Catfish" Forrest. The call of the day was long, lumbering jam versions of various Roky solo songs. The two songs here are well chosen highlights of the show. The sound quality is fair. Again Roky is enthusiastic, in great voice, and backed by a band that could have used more rehearsing. This show proved to be the final reunion concert of the original Elevators. A show at the Consolidated Arts Warehouse in Houston on August 11th, 1984 was billed in advance as a 13th Floor Elevators reunion, but plans fell through and by showtime it was Evil Hook Wildlife E.T. that took the stage with Roky.
