📍 ACL Live — July 15, 2025
Written by: Clinton Camper
On July 15, ACL Live at The Moody Theater became a sanctuary for longtime fans and new converts alike as The Psychedelic Furs delivered a career-spanning set that proved their music is as vital in 2025 as it was in the early ’80s.
Richard Butler walked on stage dressed like a man who knows exactly how to own it — black leather pants, a black cheetah-print suit jacket with the collar popped, and a red button-up that caught the light every time he moved. His sharp style was matched by his signature theatrical flair: stretching his arms like a conductor, pacing the edges of the stage, and leaning into the crowd with a knowing grin. From the first notes of President Gas, his raspy, magnetic voice cut through the room with the same intensity that made these songs timeless.
The band wasted no time moving between eras, pairing newer tracks like Wrong Train and The Boy That Invented Rock & Roll with beloved staples like Heaven and The Ghost in You. The crowd — a mix of fans who’ve been with them since the early days and younger faces seeing them for the first time — swayed, sang, and recorded memories on glowing phone screens.
Love My Way hit mid-set and earned one of the loudest cheers of the night, its shimmering marimba-like keys from Amanda Kramer instantly transporting the room. Tim Butler’s basslines remained the steady heartbeat of the performance, anchoring tracks like Mr. Jones and Run and Run with pulsing drive. Deep cuts such as My Time, Until She Comes, and So Run Down were a gift to the diehards, while Pretty in Pink and Heartbreak Beat ignited full-room singalongs that felt like communal celebrations.
The momentum carried right into the final stretch with Forever Now before the band returned for a single encore: India. The hypnotic closer unfolded like a slow-building wave, its mantra-like repetition lulling the crowd into a dreamlike state until the final chord rang out.
Nearly 45 years after their debut, The Psychedelic Furs remain masters of atmosphere and connection. In Austin, they didn’t just revisit their past — they made it feel thrillingly alive in the present.