The Black Angels are one of the most prominent psychedelic rock bands of the last decade. The Austin, Texas, quintet runs its own hometown music festival and this year released its fifth studio album, "Death Song." It's the band's first record with new guitarist Jake Garcia, who joined the band in 2013.
Garcia and guitarist Christian Bland stopped by CPR's OpenAir before a headlining show at Denver's Ogden Theatre. For their Guest DJ session with Alisha Sweeney, they picked a psychedelic deep cut from The Rolling Stones, the Velvet Underground song from which the band took its name and two tracks from "Death Song."
Listen to The Black Angels' Guest DJ interview above. Interview highlights:
Guitarist Christian Bland on the universal themes behind "Death Song":
"I think it's a manual for a living life. I hope that it would be timeless, and that somebody could pick it up in 100 years and it would still have the same message."
Guitarist Jake Garcia on "Life Song," the first song he wrote for the band:
"It was kind of an outer space sort of thing. Like the movie 'Solaris.' Also influenced by Bowie's 'Space Oddity.' And Ennio Morricone as well."
Enjoy a Spotify playlist of The Black Angels' song selections below.
