MOG

If that dude from the Darkness was the lead singer of the Faint and the Faint met the Rapture at a Rave in 1981 with Daft Punk spinning, the resulting love child would be Ghostland Observatory. Packing bigger drama and more bombast then many of their electro-funk-punk-disco peers, the Austin, TX duo blew me away with their sound and their show at Webster Hall in March. I had never heard the group before but I trusted a couple music heads from Texas and they opened up my mind to all the fist-pumping, foot-stomping glory Ghostland has to offer. Songs like "The Band Marches On" and "Dancing On My Grave" make me feel like I'm in some bad ass '80s training montage from a Rocky movie. And the band gives fans their money's worth. I didn't even know they had so many tunes, but the new wave drums and heavy synth lines just kept coming on favorites like "Sad Sad City," "Shoot 'Em Down," and "Free Heart Lover." Lead Singer Aaron Behrens brought on the sexy/cool with "Stranger Lover," playing a '70s dance guitar riff all while rockin' an outfit that looked straight outta Jeremy London's Dazed and Confused wardrobe. This track is supported by the man behind the eerie synth magic, Thomas Ross Turner, who adds the Daft Punk-esque robot vocals to the chorus. The show peaked during the final encore with, now one of my favorite tracks, the ultra smooth "Silver City" from the band's first album. For a Friday night, I could not have imagined a better show. I was amped and could not wait to hit the town, the beats and funk of Ghostland Observatory still buzzing in my head. Kudos gents! Come back soon.