Drenched in Blog: SXSW Bitchin' Band Alert: Ghosthustler

At 12:49pm Feb 28, 2008

A lot has been made this past year about the new wave of French techno; namely, groups like Justice and the renaissance of scene forefathers Daft Punk. Hell, this blog all but looked like it was written by a member of Justice’s street team at one point in December. It seemed no one on this side of the Atlantic was doing anything as catchy and arena-ready, save guys like LCD Soundsystem or MSTRKRFT.

But Jesus Almighty, we just got hip to Ghosthustler. And they are from frickin' Denton. Yes, that Denton. Texas. Our minds are blown.

Ghosthustler easily wins my award this year for best SXSW band name, mainly because the thought of a paranormal pimp makes my heart smile. But not only that, these guys sound like a decadent hybrid of mid-period New Order with just a splash of Britain's nu-ravers the Klaxons.

Ghosthustler has a slew, yes a "slew," of shows during SXSW, sponsored by my fellow bloggas Gorilla vs. Bear. I hope to make it to them all. And to only be able to recall none of them soberly the next morning.

How something like this came out of North Texas and not some grimy hostel in Paris is beyond me. Now I'm just waiting for the second coming of Throbbing Gristle to slither out of Vidor. Come on, you guys can do it. I believe in you. – Craig Hlavaty

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Ramon Medina said:
Ok fair enough. I probably over-reacted. I see where yr coming from. But seriously Denton's been doing great stuff for quite some time I just felt that you were overly fixated on some abstract East Texas regional bias without understanding that , well there's a damn good reason why Denton does produced and has been producing interesting bands for quite some time. But again fair enough. i should have made my point a bit less forcefully.

Posted 03/01/2008 at 20:49:34 pm

Vernon Guy said:
Like the sound, could do without the vocals though.

Posted 03/04/2008 at 10:28:06 am

craig hlavaty said:
Ignorance is bliss.

It makes every day more interesting.

Including when I discover music that moves me in my own backyard. Something I can touch and taste, that's not just a bunch of html blips on MySpace.

How I came off being condescending and crass, I will never know. I was actually gushing about these guys. I was commenting on how cool it was that these guys live so close. Shit, I live in Pearland. What business do I have talking ill of a college town like Denton?

I talk to welders all day on the phone anyway, what the fuck do I know about whats already hip to the "right" people? I'm just a kid that loves music more than life itself. Music has done a shit for me in the past 25 years. Sorry for getting all "Almost Famous" on ya , but that's how I feel.

Posted 02/29/2008 at 18:10:06 pm

Ramon "LP4" Medina said:
Well goolee gee. Dem hillbilies in a north east texas town dun gone and made demselves some music. Ain't that precious? Why are so surprised about Denton? Maybe you are "just getting hip to it" but Denton has long had a thriving and interesting music scene. Hello?? The University of North Texas College of Music? It's in Denton. Sorry but it just makes you look a little ignorant. Here's a hint, schmarmy writing went out with Spy magazine back in the 90's. I know you can put that crutch behind you. "Come on, Craig can do it. I believe in you."

Posted 02/29/2008 at 16:51:31 pm