Ok, first of all, I have to say that the Ghost Kings DO NOT exist. Second of all, everyone is in The Ghost Kings…except for a few people whom I have yet to discover. I do hear Brandon Flowers is out though, which is understandable. With that being said, I will continue to write a review about their live show on Friday the 20th of October at the Lava Lounge with The Parson Redheads, The Absentee, Ric Veda and Casxio.

My night began pacing around the Adidas store on Melrose where they were hosting a party for the trendy magazine “Nylon”. I drank a couple of beers, looked at some shoes and did my best to make my appearance known. The air was filled with schmarmy 20-30 year old elitists. After my picture was snapped by some nerdy looking kid with a $1200 camera, I knew it was time to go.

I made my way to the Lava Lounge where I heard through the secret loren grape-vine about this new amazing band called The Ghost Kings. As I could not find anything about them online, nor heard of them ever playing a show before, I was a bit uneasy. But then again, I just drank three free beers, paced around schmarm central ‘06, and had my picture taken by someone I haven’t ever met, so how bad could this be?

When the Ghost Kings were setting up, I felt this eerie country/grass roots spirit about them right away. It was as if they had a life or presence of their own that was already so strong…yet someone there told me that this was their very first show. As the show started, the band announced that there was an “undetermined” amount of members in the band, but currently were hosting nine members that night, aka: Bonesman, Cavechild, Bronco, Triangle Spurr*, Icey, The Time Machine, Brass Buttonz, Bendy Toe…and last but not least, Sleepy Train.

The set opened up with this random mustachioed man singing ” I am the man of constant sorrow” (whom I found out later was Sleepy Train). As this “mystery man” belt-out the first couple of lyrics, other members in the band showed their disapprovement and motioned to each other on how he should be kicked off. Finally, one member finally pushed him off and started the count down to the opening song.

Right from the first song, I knew this was one of my new favorite bands. The Ghost Kings hit you with this fast country/indie rock sound that makes you want to jump out of your seat and hoot out a “YEE-HA!” They have a perfect balance of tightness and sloppiness that makes it perfect right in that moment.

I feel one of the greatest parts of this band is their comedic style. I know what you are thinking, “what the fuck are you talking about loren?”, but these guys know how to make the music fun by being light hearted with choreographed, or not so much choreographed, little skits in the middle and end of each song.

During one song, members of the band throw their keys at Triangle Spurr* while playing the song. He irritatedly picks them up and continues playing. Then after pretty much every member has thrown their keys at him, he picks up the pile of keys and uses them as a make-shift shaker. To me, it’s just these little things that make The Ghost Kings something different than other L.A. bands that act like they are “just doing this for fun”.

I can recall from those first couple of notes that I was hooked. This band really blew me away. Like I said, they really have this country/indie rock/blues grassy feel that is the perfect mix and what I feel will be the new style and scene for Los Angeles. I swear, pretty soon you are going to see those indie kids out there who say country sucks running around with Alison Krauss and Tim McGraw shirts on after The Ghost Kings sweep the scene.

COUNTRY IS BACK, Thanks to The Ghost Kings.

loren

p.s., I have no photos because the The Ghost Kings don’t exist

p.p.s., You’re a Ghost King. See you at the next show.