Ghostland Observatory | 11.29 | SF

By Team JamBase Dec 13, 2007 12:00 am PST

Words by: Erica Tubman | Images by: Scott Galbraith

Ghostland Observatory :: 11.29.07 :: Mezzanine :: San Francisco, CA

Aaron Behrens – Ghostland Observatory :: 11.29 :: SF
The sheik SOMA converted warehouse setting of the Mezzanine in San Francisco practically begs bands to paint its gray brick walls with a fancy light rig. The Austin, Texas bred duo of Ghostland Observatory dazzled the packed house with an above average light show that covered up for the lack of musical depth in their energetic performance. This is not to say the show wasn’t enjoyable. The band’s enthusiasm and shtick – complete with multi-colored lasers, silver capes and an androgynous frontman with long braids, skin tight jeans and t-shirt – took control of the crowd and even won me over by the end of the night.

The buzz on the street had set an extremely high level of expectation for this show. However, when they played song after song that mimicked a little too closely the sounds of their musical influences – The Beatles, Daft Punk, perhaps a little Pink Floyd and was that En Vogue? – I was left searching for this so-called organic noise that had received hardly any negative words anywhere.

So what makes Aaron Behrens and Thomas Turner so fucking special? Why are everyone and their mother saying this is the hottest show going? The music holds potential with Behrens’ vocals possessing a unique quality reminiscent of many strong frontmen we’ve seen in the past, but it’s his stage presence that captivates you – a raw, innate talent to which the vocals will hopefully one day measure up. The way he dances and effortlessly leans down to drink the energy from the audience, who cannot resist the temptation to dance along with him, is fascinating and draws in music lovers and hipshakers of all shapes, sizes and hipster affiliations.

Thomas Turner – Ghostland Observatory :: 11.29 :: SF
Turner silently and steadfastly plugs away at his synthesizers as if he were on the path to immediate musical discovery. He’s like a teenager contemplating philosophy after taking bong rips in his best friend’s basement. He hits some and misses others, but never hesitates or slows the pace, which made for the best dance party the Mezzanine has seen in a while.

But the show is not just synthesizers and urgent, emotional vocals. These two can break it down on the drums and guitar as well, throwing in some punk rock energy when you least expect it. This is where I began to respect them a little more as musicians and performers. They are clearly bursting with sound and energy, it’s just a matter of fine tuning and making it their own.

Most of the respect that is due to Ghostland comes from the fact that all this – the shows, the hype, the loyal fan base, the albums – stems from just these two doing their thing, creating and loving music in their own way. It’s a wonder they have enough energy left for their shows. They are self-made men; picky about press and publicity, not out of attitude but an organic resistance to being anything other than Thomas and Aaron. In the past year they have produced two CDs on their own record label, Trashy Moped Records. They’ve blown up stages across the U.S. with performances at Austin City Limits, Vegoose and SF’s own Treasure Island Music Festival just to name a few. They are still so young and so fresh, and to be surging at this speed already is truly remarkable. So ask yourself, what can MySpace do for YOU?

The bottom line is that their actual music still feels somewhat pubescent, but the potential, and more importantly, the drive is most definitely there. Their talent will allow them to naturally fall in line, but what form they will eventually take I dare not say. These two clearly have a love of sound and feed off a live audiences, which is why this SHOW was a hit. Don’t go if you don’t feel like dancing.

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