The 13th Floor Elevators were the Austin, Texas psychedelic rock band active from 1965 to 1969 — by most accounts the first group to call their own music psychedelic. Roky Erickson's howl and Tommy Hall's electric jug make The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators (1966) essential; Easter Everywhere is the natural next step. Find 13th Floor Elevators original pressings and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
The 13th Floor Elevators formed in Austin, Texas in late 1965. The founding lineup included Roky Erickson (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Tommy Hall (electric jug, lyrics), Stacy Sutherland (lead guitar), Benny Thurman (bass), and John Ike Walton (drums). The band was active from 1965 to 1969, with brief reformation activity in 1977, 1984, and a notable 2015 reunion show in Austin.
The 13th Floor Elevators are widely credited as pioneers of psychedelic rock and as the first band to publicly describe their own music as psychedelic, with the term reportedly appearing on their business cards as early as January 1966. Their sound combined garage rock energy with Roky Erickson's distinctive howling vocals, Stacy Sutherland's reverb-soaked guitar, and Tommy Hall's unusual amplified electric jug. The band drew on rock and roll, blues, R&B, and country, and their lyrics frequently referenced altered states of consciousness.
Original International Artists pressings of The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators and Easter Everywhere are among the most sought-after items in the band's catalog. Charly Records and other labels have issued numerous reissues and compilations over the decades, including expanded box set editions covering studio sessions and live recordings.
Listeners new to 13th Floor Elevators most often start with The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators (1966), which contains the band's best-known song You're Gonna Miss Me. Easter Everywhere (1967) is the common second entry point.
