Psychic Ills released their Inner Journey Out LP via Sacred Bones this past June, and today we watch their two-part film for the album tracks “Baby” and “Another Change.” Directed by the New York based filmmaker Jason Evans, the video follows a young cowboy dealing with loneliness and isolation in the big city. Shot in New York and at Cowtown Rodeo in New Jersey, it stars the young actor John Reddy who grew up as a rodeo rider in Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota–where he still lives. Discussing the pair of films, Evans explains:
“There were certain visual ideas I tried to incorporate. Listening to “Baby” and “Another Change” on repeat, I knew I wanted to draw on the 70s New Hollywood aesthetic of films shot with long zoom lenses. It’s a softer look, that allowed us to mix voyeuristic moments, set in real environments, with more private, reflective moments. There’s a real feeling of longing to the album, not just for love, but a longing to be understood and accepted. The story I built out is about a kid who’s a bit of an outsider, someone out of synch with his environment. Johnny was perfect in the role, so much of how he communicates is non-verbal”.
Indeed, the young actor gives a riveting performance on the merits of presence and body language alone, with his disaffection and longing conveyed by piercing eyes and steely jaw. With the storyline loosely based around the cowboy’s search for freedom in the confines of an urban environment, Reddy carries the video with his quiet and confidant demeanor.
Psychic Ills have live dates this month in Europe, before returning to the US for shows in September. You can check out the band’s tour schedule below.
8/12 St. Malo, FR – La Route du Rock
8/13 Zwevegem, BE – Cosmic Nozems Motorshow
8/14 Rotterdam, NL – Rotown
8/15 Hamburg, DK – Hafenklang
8/16 Brussels, BE – DJ Set
8/17 Paris, FR – Point FMR
8/19 Paredes de Coura, PT – Vodafone Paredes de Coura
9/21 Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
9/22 Detroit, MI – El Club
9/23 Chicago, IL – Reggies
9/24 Champaign, IL – Pygmalion Festival
9/25 Toronto, ON – Double Double Land
10/26 Boston, MA – Great Scott
10/27 Montreal, QC – Bar Le Ritz
10/28 Providence, RI – Aurora
10/29 New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge
10/30 Philadelphia, PA – Boots and Saddle
11/15 Goteborg, SE – Pustervik
11/16 Stockholm, SE – Obaren
11/17 Oslo, NO – Revolver
11/18 Copenhagen, DK – Musikcafeen
11/19 Helsinki, FI – Kuudes Aisti
11/20 Prague, CZ Zizkostel
11/21 Vienna, AT – Chelsea
11/26 Antwerp, BE – Het Bos
11/27 Charleroi, BE – Rockerill
11/28 Leeds, UK – Belgrave Music Hall
11/29 Liverpool, UK – The Magnet
11/30 Glasgow, UK – Broadcast
12/1 London, UK – MOTH
12/2 Athens, GR – Plissken Festival
