Right now psych rock is king in Lawrence, which makes Spirit is the Spirit royalty.

The longtime Lawrence melody makers are really best served on a golden summer evening. But for now, we’ll have to settle for a rain-soaked Friday at the Replay. That’s where they played both the early and late shows over the weekend.

Despite standing in a puddle while absorbing the moisture from our saturated boots, it’s easy for Spirit is the Spirit to transport you to another dimension. This is part in thanks to the sweeping sounds they make with their reverb-heavy guitars, thick synths, and more gadgets onstage than what a regular band tends to drag out to the Replay. There are lot of fun little pedals and instruments to admire during their live shows, but it’s also recommended to just close your eyes and let the overly-wet summer disappear.

Take us away, Spirit is the Spirit.

Words and photos by Fally Afani