Ghostland Observatory to bring it, laser style

Voodoo 2008

[7 Comment(s)]

By Kaiya Morrison

One of the greatest gifts the Voodoo Experience gives to music lovers is the opportunity to find new and unique acts. Last year’s discovery of the Austin-based electronic duo, Ghostland Observatory, was hosted in the small yet overwhelmingly popular Bingo! Parlour tent.

“We flew out a day early, and it was nice to relax and go see Rage Against the Machine play. It was so special,” Aaron Behrens, lead vocalist for Ghostland Observatory, recalled when discussing last year’s performance at Voodoo. “I remember the first time I saw Rage in ’97, and I thought, ‘Now that’s how you bring it.’”

“The instruments are nothing more than a filter and that is what’s cool about the world and the state electronics are in,” he added. “Everyone is putting their own taste with these instruments right now, and that’s what we do with this band.”

Where Rage Against the Machine served as a great inspiration for the frontman persona Behrens displays, the music of Ghostland Observatory seems more suited to Nine Inch Nails, who they will precede at this year’s festival.

“They’re brining in this huge laser light show,” Stephen Rehage, CEO of the Voodoo Experience, said about Ghostland’s anticipated show. “It’s the Pink Floyd laser rig.”

Going big is how Ghostland Observatory is best known, but you would never know it when talking to Behrens, who is the epitome of a soft-spoken, Southern gentleman.

“I pretty much spend all my time when I’m home with my family,” Behrens, who is the father of two children, explained. “When I do go out, I don’t go out as my stage persona. That’s just not my style. What I do on stage is very important to me, so when I go out, I don’t make an announcement about it.

“There’s always two sides of the coin,” he added. “It’s so stereotypical that I would be this rabid maniac and terrorize bars. I’m not that guy. But I am an artist and I consider myself a very creative person, and I think everybody has that side of them. I’m very much in tune with that. So I can turn on my superhero powers any time I want to.”

The other side of the Ghostland Observatory coin is held by Thomas Turner (drums, synthesizer, backing vocals).

“He’s an international man of mystery,” Behrens said when discussing Turner’s offstage personality. “You never hear him talk on stage, he wears a cape when he performs, and he just sits there and slaves over his electronics. Offstage, I honestly think he really is a ghost. He’s a natural force of mystery. He doesn’t do it on purpose; he’s just a madman. He’s reserved, but he’s in total control.”

Ghostland Observatory will perform on the Playstation/Billboard.com stage at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday.

You can learn more about Ghostland Observatory by visiting www.myspace.com/ghostlandobservatory.

Originally Published: Issue 709 - October 22, 2008

Share on Facebook

Back to the top