If you aren’t already aware, we’ve mobilized to Austin’s Levitation Fest with a modest but capable crew of documentarians. We’ll be parading around with cameras, notepads, and lukewarm cans of Lone Star for the remainder of the weekend, reporting back to you on everything we see, hear and eat via our socials - only the good shit. Here are the bands we’d go see again from Friday’s lineup. — Jackson Todd

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High on Fire

We almost skipped High on Fire, which would’ve been a damn shame, as the first thirty seconds of their set was, without a doubt, the single heaviest moment of the entire festival so far. Singer and guitarist Matt Pike’s (of Sleep notoriety, the unchallenged kings of stoner metal) fretwork channels early Slayer; drummer Coady Willis’ (previously of the Melvins) bass drum was ostensibly tuned to imitate the sound of a double-barrel shotgun, and his snare drum a machine gun; and the opening riff to “Speed Wolf” proved bassist Jeff Matz worthy of the Motörhead tattoo on his shoulder.

Civic

Could’ve fooled us: if we hadn’t interviewed them, we would’ve assumed Civic were some kind of legacy act from the 90’s socal punk scene. Sure, the indelible influence of Australian legends like Radio Birdman and the Saints certainly shows, but there are also hints of groups like NOFX and Pennywise (whom the band confesses get a lot of aux time in tour van) is undeniable. Listen to their latest LP Taken By Force here, and let us know if you can figure out who that is getting slotted on the cover.

Alan Palomo

If Prince, Talking Heads, and Lipps Inc. collabed on a soundtrack piece for Miami Vice, it might’ve sounded something like the solo work of Alan Palomo, formerly of Neon Indian fame. Nice dude, too, with some serious thoughts on Rene Magritte and the surrealist art movement.

Vs. Self

The best surprise of the night came in the form of a not-so-secret DIY show about three blocks from the Levitation grounds, headlined by emo/math upstarts Vs. Self. Admittedly, I’m not very well versed in the whole emo thing, but I was able to respect the sheer musicianship of these dudes - which apparently was enough to set off the venue’s fire alarm. Think: Hella meets American Football.