Live: Ghostland Observatory @ Music Box
ARTICLE BY SOPHIA PORTIER
PHOTOS BY ORLANDO PINA
APRIL 18 | LOS ANGELES—If electro-dance-rock had its very own comic book superheroes, they would probably look something like the two guys from Ghostland Observatory. GO consists of gutsy, snazzy singer-guitarist Aaron and cape-wearing beat-extraordinaire Thomas. They recently rocked out a brilliant show at the Music Box @ the Fonda this past Friday night.
As the night got started, the drinks were hard. However, the DJs rocked it harder. Early on they spun UNKLE’s “Hold My Hand,” fiery hot off the 21 soundtrack. “Love Buzz” by ’70s band Shocking Blue soon followed, a song Nirvana would later cover in the ’90s. Then right before Ghostland Observatory was to hit the stage, the DJs busted out Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s heart-thumping “Spread Your Love,” and they topped it off perfectly with 2007 favorite “No P***y Blues” by rollicking Nick Cave’s Grinderman.
The night’s music was truly a rambunctious riot. The crowd was roused to an almost dangerously high level of dancing. GO played a thoroughly impressive set, topping at almost an hour and a half. Neon-spacey laser lights beamed outward from the stage, resembling anorexic, trippy light sabers.
Each and every song was dance-spazzmatic GOLD. Celebratory sexy-rocker “Sad Sad City” really got the show started. Aaron’s uber-confident vocals and near-erotic lyrics perfectly complimented Thomas’ mind-blowing beats and flair for epic pauses. Super-stellar highlights included but were in no way limited to “Dancin’ On My Grave,” “Heavy Heart” and “The Band Marches On.”
GO is all about extreme energetic output, not to mention the most wicked, bitchin’ beats. One track in the middle of their set was particularly funky-fresh—“Midnight Voyage”—igniting what could only be described as a dance orgy amongst the crowd.
Ghostland Observatory is surely that blast of fresh sound indie-dance fans have been craving. They are the band that has come to save us—from stale shows where no one moves, let alone indie breakdances.
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