Live music review: Bat Fest 2024 featured Ghostland Observatory, Paul Wall and more
The 18th annual Bat Fest took place, once more, on the South Congress Bridge, from 3 p.m. to the late hours of the evening on Saturday, September 7. On a warm, late summer afternoon, the sun beamed down on patrons and vendors, as preparations for the showcase ensued. The all-day party which takes place on the bridge where the largest urban colony of bats reside with performances by an eclectic list of artists; hard-rockers, CORE, hip-hop duo Luniz, Screw legend, Paul Wall and headliners, Ghostland Observatory. The fest is known for its unusual lineups and the 2024 edition was no exception.
The Austin-based band, with roots in South Texas and Las Vegas, CORE, brought heavy, hard-rock instrumentation and polished post-grunge vocals in a style reminiscent of late 90’s slasher-film soundtracks. Throughout the mid-afternoon performance, the quartet cooked under the intense Central Texas sun along with fans. The group incorporated banter from frontman Mark Morales and Chris Iorio’s soaring guitar solos, with the rhythms of Jarrett Smith (bass) and Brandon Lemond (drums) hyping the crowd for upcoming performances following CORE.
Oakland, California hip-hop duo, Luniz, hit the stage not long after 8 p.m.. Original member, Yukmouth, is now paired with Kuzzo Fly, who has replaced Numskull as one-half of the duo. Between songs, their interactions with the crowd included a few shoutouts to Texas, banter about bats, a brief Bushwick Bill allusion, and a James Brown impersonation. The vibrant set was topped with the band’s 1995 anthem, I Got 5 On It.
Paul Wall, the legendary H-Town MC with more than two decades worth in the catalog, wowed the crowd with vibrant performances of his classic bangers. Hitting the scene in the late 90’s, Paul Wall rose to the top-tier of Texas hip-hop in the early 2000’s, an era that saw the benefits of the Chopped and Screwed foundation laid by the late, great DJ Screw. Wall was born Paul Michael Slayton in Georgetown, Texas, making his name alongside Houston performer Chamillionaire who he released several albums with. He has been nominated for one Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance as a Duo or Group for the song “Grillz”, his collaboration with rapper Nelly. Was is known for his likable persona as much as his musical style. The entertainer has fostered positive, uplifting lyrics into a community of like-minded Houston rappers that included artists Chamillionaire, Lil Keke, Statik Selectah and Termanology.
The amped-up showgoers crowded along the bridge railing as the now famous, Mexican free tailed bats began sporadically flapping and fluttering from beneath the bridge, emerging in clouds of flying mammals who headed down Ladybird Lake to feed on insects as they do each evening from March to early Fall.
Bat Fest headliners, Ghostland Observatory, the Austin-born favorite, electro-rock outfit, closed out the evening with an energetic performance. The duo returned to the Bat Fest stage after playing the event six years ago following a lengthy hiatus. As soon as they hit the stage, powerful and positive energy emitted from the pair with a light show synchronized with their trademark synthy tunes. The duo of Aaron Behrens and Thomas Ross Turner put on a fun show that Austinites have come to expect from the Austin-based artists. For two decades, Ghostland Observatory has fused a classic rock structure with an electro-futuristic delivery for a sound that is truly unique and now as Austin as a Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar solo.
The crowd fed off of the vibrant energy as the bats flew from under the bridge, all with the backdrop of downtown Austin and Lady Bird Lake. Bat Fest captures the essence of old Austin. Smaller in scale than the many festivals set in the Cap City throughout the year, Bat Fest offers a more intimate, laid-back, concert-going experience. Somehow, this celebration has maintained its small-town Austin vibe amid all the changes coming from the explosive growth.
Featured photo by Kotah Mack
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