The last time I saw Ghostland Observatory live was 2010 at The Warfield in San Francisco, so it's fair to say it's been years since the last time I saw them, almost a decade!
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Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019
photo by Marc Fong
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Last year the electronic duo from Austin Texas released their fifth studio album on Turner's Trashy Moped Recordings. See You Later Simulator came eight years after their fourth studio album, 2010's Codename: Rondo. Aaron Behrens and Thomas Turner have toured quite a bit for a band who announced they were taking a hiatus following the release of their fourth album in 2013 to "bath and relax in the cosmos".
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Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019
photo by Marc Fong
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Ghostland Observatory shows have been popping up all around the states for the last four years or so and they started hitting the road harder after their 2018 release.
I didn't know they were currently on tour and to my delighted surprise, after their show at The Midway in SF on November 15th, they headed to The Regent Theater in LA on November 17th.
Playful synth-folk from Munya (not to be confused with MUNA from NorCal) started the Sunday night show with Ghostland starting right at 9:30 as people were still arriving.
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Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019
photo by Marc Fong
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Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019
photo by Marc Fong
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They started in a dramatic fashion and I liked it. The room was dark, fog falling off the stage as cheers and chants rose from the floor. Clapping got louder as Behrens and Turner got situated on the still ominous stage.
The gigantic triangles on stage that framed equipment and the opening act while she performed were finally illuminated. Glowing neon encompassed Behren as he sang and hid Turner as he made hooks and melodies loom around us. Beaming lasers shot out from the stage about half way through the first song, "See You Later Simulator" right as the beat dropped and the abrasive bass boomed. And, the crowd lost it and loved it: the lasers, the deafening sounds, the energy.
The dance party had officially begun.
The dance party had officially begun.
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Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019
photo by Marc Fong
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Gone are the braided red yarn, Raggedy Ann wig and big frame sunglasses the front-man use to wear. Now Behrens rocks his own long locks and modest shades, looking like a humbled rock star in all black, nothing fancy. I was able to catcha fleeting glimpse of the silver cape Turner wore before tucking away inside the tiers of neon triangle. Like a mad scientist behind the scenes concocting things.
Songs from earlier in their catalog got the loudest reactions but every song had the crowd palpating with engaged enthusiasm. The enthralling, everchanging lasers paired with rhythmic, inky, electronic Ghostland tracks were a hypnotic mix, making it easy to fall into a trance if you weren't on the floor dancing.
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Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019
photo by Marc Fong
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Behren's explosive energy gained momentum as they played. Violently belting out lyrics as if his life depended on it then ripping on his guitar with full pizzazz. There's no way he couldn't have grabbed your attention by the collar, lifting you to your tippy toes, if you were there.
Watching him was exhilarating and tiring all at once.
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Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019
photo by Marc Fong
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Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019
photo by Marc Fong
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Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019
photo by Marc Fong
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2020 will be 15 years since they first hit the scene and in this day and age where the EDM genre is ever expanding (like indie music) they put on a great live show. You don’t get that a lot with electro shows and this is electro-goth!
As we approach a new year, this is, without a doubt, one of the best shows I've been to this year.
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Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019
photo by Marc Fong
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Ghostland Observatory have two more shows to round out their year on the road. They're going home to the lone star state for a show at White Oak Music Hall in Houston Texas on December 28th and a special New Years Eve show with Golden Dawn Arkestra in their home town of Austin Texas.
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