Crystal Syphon
Family Evil
Crystal Syphon, one of the greatest “lost” groups of the West Coast psych scene, came together in Merced, California in 1965. Originally a Beatles / Byrds-influenced unit called the Morlochs, they soon shed their original moniker and moved in a more psychedelic direction, becoming a fixture on the ballroom circuit from 1966-1970. Although their music may nod in the direction of the New Tweedy Brothers and Quicksilver Messenger Service at times, it’s imbued throughout with a distinctive …
Elephant Ball
"For decades, Crystal Syphon were, at most, a footnote in the music history books: a name on posters from the psychedelic ballroom days, and a fond memory to those who'd seen the Merced, California band perform on the west coast circuit in the late 1960s. That changed with the release of Family Evil in 2012. Their debut album -- evidence that the mine of hidden gems from the original psych era had not yet been picked clean -- caught the ears of fans worldwide, garnering raves and equal-footing c…