On October 14th, rock band Ghost Light played a show at Brooklyn Bowl to showcase some of their new sophomore album The Healing. Following their 2019 debut Best Kept Secrets, Ghost Light is back with a record that ruminates on the turmoil from the past couple of years. The Healing was released at the beginning of this month and since then the band has set off on a stint of live shows.
The Brooklyn Bowl, named so because it is the location of a literal bowling alley, splits its lanes with a small stage area. Opening the set, Ghost Light quickly overpowered and drowned out the sounds of balls rolling and clashing pins, while attracting more patrons over to see what their big sound was all about. They opened the set by playing for about thirty minutes straight, starting with a slower jam that eventually built to their larger sound. The longer Ghost Light played, the more viewers shuffled over to watch, drinks in hand, bopping heads along with the guitar licks and drum beats.
The band jammed on for most of the set, swerving from styles and genres, giving each band member time to shine. The group was able to grab a hold of the listeners and take them on a new ride throughout each song, weaving the overarching theme of the album yet making each song feel like a unique story. Amidst the instrumental lead music, the stand out for the show had to be the vocals from lead vocalist Raina Mullen. Her voice is gritty and soulful and her stage presence it’s both powerful and compelling. Tom Hamilton, lead guitar and vocals, blended well with Mullen, adding the right amount of friction to their sound. On keys, Holly Bowling brought a great spirit to the group. The rest of the band rounded out with Taylor Shell on bass and Scotty Zwang on drums who both held it all together with their energy.
When a lull in the music occurred in between songs, the bowling sounds would filter back in only to wash out with the incoming ringing from the band prepping for the next duration of playing. The music subverted expectations, thinking it would stay one way, maybe in a classic rock vibe then jump to a more jazz or soul sound, weaving and combining styles, where they would meet in the middle with lyrics and belting from Mullen and Hamilton. Despite each song being its own unique piece, Ghost Light has a clear overarching theme and vibe that is well connected through the larger body of work they performed.
Ghost Light definitely has a sound that needs to be experienced and enjoyed live. The raw edge of the jam band is captured perfectly in their live performances in a way the studio cannot completely mirror or capture. The emotions of the band are visible and tangible, drawing listeners in from all corners of the bowling alley, while the album does not fully elicit this same trance.
Ghost Light is continuing their tour around the U.S. for the rest of October and then in December. The Healing is available on all major streaming platforms.
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