Raoul Hernandez

Though unfit for its title on first glance, the indie-heavy lineup for Austin Psych Fest 2026 proved, once live at the two-stage grounds of South Congress destination the Far Out Lounge, positively psychedelic. The Flaming Lips brought their famous blow-up stage decor to the show on Friday, and festival founders the Black Angels celebrated the 20th anniversary of their local scene-defining debut, Passover, on Saturday.

“That’s why we’re here tonight,” admitted Bruce Springsteen after shedding tears not once but twice before a final protest anthem Sunday night at a sold-out Moody Center. “I needed to see you and feel your hope and your strength.” Funny, that’s precisely the reason Texans (and Jerseyites, apparently) showed up literally to the rafters for the sole Lone Star stopover of the E Street Band’s 20-date Land of Hope and Dreams tour.

Crashing out, formerly meaning off to bed, jumped the literary shark recently – in case you missed the memo from middle school. Employ it now when stressing hard and on the verge of melodrama. “Going Insane,” a stomp mosh batting third on American Sharks’ corker Not Dead Yet, projects party-punk visions of a “magic pillow,” demon reptile flashbacks and time warps bouncing, thrashing, and throwing elbows.