A few years ago, I flew on Southwest to Midland/Odessa and attended an outdoor concert in a great little amphitheater.  It occurred to me, if an airline like Southwest would offer special deals, would concert lovers in the big cities fly to smaller cities?  You get to see great bands, in intimate venues, without fighting the multitudes.  That night, I watched a great country act — at a concert my brother was promoting — by an unheard of but up-and-coming group called Rascal Flats.

This week, I hopped on board Southwest and flew to Harlingen for the South Padre International Music Festival, and it is like deja vu all over again.  Great acts — legends and newbies — manageable crowds, cool venues … oh and the Gulf of Mexico just beyond the stages.

I interviewed Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult a few weeks back, and his band plays tonight, along with classic rockers Foghat, recent players Fastball, perennial festival attendees Los Lonely Boys, and more. Special shout out to a “punktry” outfit called Twanguero.  (I just met one of the band members in a little coffee shop.) So … looking forward to that show too.

But first, to cap off Halloween night, who better than Austin’s laser-loving duo, Ghostland Observatory? Singer/dancer/frontman Aaron Behrens called it: “It’s Halloween, but we look like this every night of the year.” Case in point, his cape-clad partner Thomas Turner.

Behrens, Ghost

No doubt, much of the festival buzz has centered around these guys, and on Oct. 31, the pixies, fairies, demons, ghouls, vampires were out full-force, trip or treating to the blend of electro, rock and funk. Behrens has been compared to Freddie Mercury (Queen) and Prince, musically.  And of course their laser show draws comparisons to Pink Floyd, but the music isn’t near that cerebral.

Don’t get me wrong.  Ghostland is fun, they are loud, they are creative and artsy. I do like me some lasers.  Most importantly, they are entertaining.  But, I would have to color them more performance art than “accomplished” musicians.

GLO

I am always a fan of the Native American, braided pigtails thing, even if it ain’t Willie Nelson.  And, Behrens is the hardest working many in ghost business, 4 pings.

Also last night at SPI was one of those rare moments — the chance to finally see Grammy winners Steel Pulse, in an outdoor concert, with maybe 500 fervent reggae fans.  I mean … Bob Marley passed away when I was wet behind the ears. And Steel Pulse has been around about as long … I won’t lie, I am a long-time fan and have several of their works in my collection — on vinyl!

Hinds, Steel Pulse

So, early in the evening I was quite upset that these old school, authentic reggae guys were going to play to a sparse crowd.  I bet there weren’t 100 people at the event, prior to Steel Pulse.  But, when show time arrived, the venue was packed — next generation reggae fans, middle agers in Jimmy Buffet t-shirts … anybody and everybody groovin to island music … on South Padre.

I left the Steel Pulse show to catch Ghostland … my bad.  Tighter musicians and tighter braids (several years worth of dreadlock growth) on front man David Hinds … Rastafari — 6 pings.

To start the evening, my bud WesterFunk and I caught a show by Los Amigos Invisibles — a Venezuelan dance band.  Nice … As WesterFunk put it so aptly, “so Jamiroquai-esque” — a blend of disco, acid jazz, and funk … with lots of South American percussion and synthetic keyboard.

Los Amigos Invisibles

We like England’s Jamiroquai and anyone who reminds us of them … especially with the Latin flavor stirred in — 5 pings.