http://www.atnzone.com/musiczone/features/ghost.shtml
On weekend of May 10th, 2003, the band Ghost of the Robot played two shows to enthusiastic audiences at Chicago's historic Pickwick Theater. Dimly lit and with a vaulted ceiling, the venue provided an atmospheric ambience for the performance ? one attended by fans of the band and fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The band is fronted by James Marsters, whose popularity from portraying Spike on the cult hit television show always guarantees a solid fan following. However, the focus of the weekend was not on “Buffy,” but on the band itself. Marsters, Charlie DeMars (guitar), Steven Sellers (keyboard), Aaron Anderson (drums) and Kevin McPherson (bass) had participated in a lively Q&A the night before the concerts, answering questions about their music and their plans for the future, as well as questions about preferred undergarments. The main attraction, though, was the performance itself, and fans crowded into the seats, socializing and sporting their band T-shirts.
The concert opened with “Liar”, the guitar-driven opening track from the band's album, Mad Brilliant, which seems to be evolving into a piece that places greater emphasis on keyboard (a change to the song's benefit, as it sounds crisper). This was followed up by the title track from the album.
At the end of the second number, James Marsters rather jokingly and incredulously asked if everyone in the audience really intended to stay in their seats, despite the pre-show exhortations of the organizers. Of course, the audience responded with a cheer and rose to its feet, dancing to one of the fan favorites, “Dangerous”, a bouncy number that caters well to Marsters' vocal range.
The song “Valerie”, the band's first single, was met with an overwhelmingly positive response, as was another fan favorite, the catchy “David Letterman”. Many were singing along, waving glow sticks, and generally enjoying the band's infectious energy.
Highlights included the rendition of “German, Jewish”, described by the members of the band as a “love song” rather than a controversial political statement, and the introduction of two new songs. The first, “Over Now”, was a melodic sequel to a song Marsters had written earlier entitled “Smile,” and reflected the band's fascination with writing about the frustration of relationships. The second was a rock number, “Katie,” which was well-received by a crowd that was intent upon hopping along to the new material.
I've heard the band play before, and their sound definitely seems to be becoming more convergent. The sound was solid and well balanced. Many of the songs have been adapted to highlight the abilities of the various band members. The live performances carry an enthusiasm that resonated well with the crowd, and many fans returned for the second performance. One promoter described the turnout as “an amazing success”.
The lighting was good, though effects were minimal. Marsters joked about the silken “flames” buttressing each side of the stage saying, “Those are supposed to freak you guys out!” The only complaints about production came from fans who were seated too close to the speakers.
The show concluded with the solo acoustic number “Angel,” a mellow tune met with much glow-stick swaying and the encore, “Vehicles Shock Me”, which is apparently one of the favorite songs of the band members. The band performed for an hour (or 13 songs long) and the concert seemed to leave most fans energetic and satisfied, though some wanted more. One fan commented, “The set is, actually, too short. The band should add a few covers.”
Ghost of the Robot will play again at the Great American Theater in San Francisco on May 22, and at the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles on May 24.