Live music review: Ghostland Observatory swooped into Bat Fest with new show

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It’s been eight years since Austin electronic duo, Ghostland Observatory put out an album. Let that sink in… EIGHT YEARS. That’s a lifetime in today’s music environment of countless streaming services, instant singles and surprise albums. The pair comprised of Thomas Ross Turner (keys, drums and weird sounds) and Aaron Behrens (guitar/vocals) hit the proverbial creative wall after non-stop touring and hype wore them out following the success of their aptly named second album Paparazzi Lightning and two more records on the heels of that impressive sophomore effort. Thankfully the duo got together late last year and finally got back into the recording studio. The result, See You Later Simulator drops next month on the band’s own Trashy Moped label. You should pick up a copy.

The uniquely Austin band elected to present this new look and material for the first time at the 14th Bat Fest Saturday which took place on the Congress Avenue bridge and the adjacent Austin-American Statesman parking lot, Ghostland Observatory headlined an ambitious production consisting of lasers and lights projected onto triangle-shaped stage-props and over the audience. The effect, along with the clever new album logo was an impressively  polished performance visual display to accompany new, relevant songs that push the boundaries of GLOs music while holding onto their signature sound.

The set list was a mixture of old and new tracks highlighted by Behrens’ non-stop activity on the stage. The man has become a master at working the crowd after years of touring and performances with GLO and his own exciting musical project, The Midnight Stroll. He brought contagiously good energy to his performances in the past but this was different. As the man mentioned it was as if the GLO phoenix was rising from the ashes. He looked immensely pleased to be standing there. 

Thousands watched on the Statesman stage as Ghostland worked through a 75-minute show with fans watching from the famous Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge (where over a million Mexican free-tailed bats live) who may have been curious passersby drawn in from the multi-colored lasers emanating from the stage across the parking lot and into the ether.

Turner proved even more adept at driving the engine of the show, occasionally stepping out from behind his mad-scientist sound set-up to simply play the standard drum kit on the stage in front of him. It reminded us that amid the pomp and production lay the simple foundation of a drummer and guitarist who came together to form one of Austin’s most successful DIY acts. 

Ghostland head out on an ambitious national  tour next month with a stop in Austin October 25 at Stubb’s BBQ. Tickets go on sale for that show soon. 

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