Well firstly I would separate the US West Coast Acid Rock and Psychedelic Punk from the true British Psychedelic Bands.
In the late sixties the use of LSD sparked a huge change in music in Britain. Lots of groups started experimenting with sound and going psychedelic.
It is consequently very difficult to separate out what is a psychedelic band from that of a Progressive Rock band. A lot of the established bands (Beatles, Stones, Yardbirds, Animals, Pretty Things, and even the Hollies and Status Quo) took on a psychedelic period. Some other of the newer bands mixed psychedelia with other styles. So Soft Machine, a Jazz fusion band had psychedelic elements. Not to worry. I’ll include them all.
During that period in 1967-70 I managed to see all of these bands like at places such as Middle Earth, UFO and the Marquee, as well as at all-nighters and festivals. Some great light shows (Tomorrow were particularly good with the first use of strobe that I’d seen) and stage antics.
Psychedelia was great.
So my favourites were:
Pink Floyd
Syd Barrett
Beatles
Stones
Yardbirds
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Arthur Brown
Traffic
Tomorrow
Incredible String Band
Cream
Soft Machine
New Animals
Dantalian’s Chariot
The Dream
Edgar Broughton Band
Pretty Things
Family
Hawkwind
Deep Purple
Love Sculpture
T2
Deviants
Soft Machine
Creation
My current favorite psychedelic band: Mild High Club
Never heard of them Tref. I’ll have to check them out. Where are they from?
I’m really in to Loudhailer Electric Company. They are brilliant.
I believe they’re a Los Angeles band. Mild High Club are easily my favorite band of the year & “Homage” the most played song.
I’ll have a look on youtube! Thanks Tref.