Ghost Town Revelry was formed in January 2009 in Charlotte, NC when the musical influences of a classic rock drummer, an R&B/funk bassist, an indie pop singer/songwriter/keyboardist, and an alt. country singer/songwriter/guitar player converged and collided, forming a sound the band likes to call psychedelic space cowboy rock. The space cowboy rock sound encompasses a range of genres including alternative country, americana, funk, indie pop, and roots rock, and also evidences a love of reverb and ambient effects. The band's songs draw influences from such artists as Wilco, Johnny Cash, David Bowie, Band of Horses, and The New Pornographers among others. GTR released its first EP in December 2009, Early Morning Moon, which is available on itunes and amazon.com. The album explored the band's newfound sound and tended towards the darker side of things lyrically tackling uplifting topics such as the end of the world, dying in an atomic blast, and the petering of failing relationships. GTR has spent the last year growing their fan base playing shows at numerous local Charlotte venues including The Evening Muse, Tremont Music Hall, and The Neighborhood Theatre.
GTR recently completed work on their second EP, Phasmatis Apparatus, which was released in December 2010. The new release represents an evolution of the band's sound with an intensified focus on vocal harmonies and layered keyboard and guitar sounds. The eight song release was described by Charlotte's Creative Loafing as "swirling guitars and keyboards, touched with psychedelia, just the right amount of effects, funky bass, country and pop." In order to recreate many of the album's layered tracks live, the band realized a new member was needed. Charlotte singer/songwriter Jessica Borgnis joined the ranks in October 2010 to lend her soulful vocals and piano/keyboard prowess. With a newly pressed disc, a completed line up, recent shows in Chapel Hill and Raleigh, and a November 21, 2010 interview/featured performance to promote the new EP on the local show on WCOM 103.5 FM in Carrboro, NC, the band plans to continue spreading the revelry.
Ghost Town Revelry is (left to right):
Alex Warner - piano/keyboards, guitar, vocals
Joel Turner - vocals, guitar
Jessica Borgnis - piano/keyboards, vocals
Grae Baker - bass
Nod Norkus - drums
Press Clippings:
Samir Shakula, Charlotte's Creative Loafing (www.creativeloafing.com) - 11/19/10
"swirling guitars and keyboard, touched with psychedelia, just the right amount of effects, funky bass, country and pop."
Jared Yerg, www.cltmusic.com - 1/2/11
"one of CLTmusic.com's favorite artists"
Michael Smith, Comboland Radio (www.combolandradio.com) - 1/31/11:
"some good tunes here!!!"
Debby Jet Jennings, Rock Hill, SC Herald Online (www.heraldonline.com) - 2/25/11
"Perhaps the time is upon us to imagine the assorted horsemen of the apocalypse riding across the heavens to the funky beat of a phantasmagoric cowboy roundup. Keep 'em rolling and git along down those far out trails leading to Ghost Town Revelry."
