Roky Erickson

I've always loved the story that the 13th Floor Elevators were the one band the Grateful Dead didn't like to follow. Anyone who saw the original Elevators, and especially the Elevators' San Francisco period, knows the band literally exploded when they took the stage. And no one was more explosive than the charismatic Erickson, known for his vocal shriek and high energy. But after Erickson's pot bust on Austin's Mount Bonnell, the Elevators were pretty much toast. Although it produced some amazing poetry and whacked-out sci-fi-oriented songs, Erickson's ensuing stay at the Rusk State Mental Hospital left him in a shattered mental state that was not exactly conducive to a successful career. Fortunately, a few years ago, Erickson's brother Sumner got legal custody and Roky has been able to gather himself to perform again. This will be a rare opportunity to see a guy who used to simply tear up legendary Houston haunts like La Maison and Love Street. Truly a legend in his own time, we're going to wake up one morning, when the sun greets the dawn, and miss Roky when he's gone.