IF YOU GO

WHAT: Ghostland Observatory

WHEN: Saturday, 9 p.m.

WHERE: The Fox Theatre

HOW MUCH: $20

Sometimes the best things happen by accident.

Ghostland Observatory was set to debut as trio, when the group's drummer failed to show up at the act's first show in Austin, Texas. The band quickly jumped into action and programmed the drumbeats into the keyboard, creating its signature electro-rock sound. The show went on as planned and Ghostland Observatory started a buzz that's traveling 'round the globe.

Ghostland Observatory now gets over 3,000 hits a day on MySpace and has landed thousands of views on YouTube. The Austin duo features lead singer Aaron Behrens and electronic keyboard-whiz Thomas Turner, but sounds like a full band -- complete with a hyper-fueled stage show.

Music fans are being enticed by the band's pulsating beats, modern rock and soul tunes, and Behrens high-energy stage moves. Ghostland Observatory may be a duo, but this is one front man that performs energized stage moves usually reserved for full rock n' roll outfits. Most duos would've stopped at that, but Ghostland Observatory takes its stage show one step further; Behrens wears long Indian-tribe braids and Turner shows up in a shimmery silver cape for the shows. This band is part visual experience and part tribal music fusion -- and fans love it.

"Tom and I are both from small towns in Texas. Tom never even thought about being in a band before we met," said Behrens. "We both played in a group called Waking Helix, but when the band took a hiatus we started jamming out together. The drummer from the group left us his house to practice in for three months. We decided we wanted to create something different -- and something that was fun!"

Ghostland Observatory made its debut in 2004. The band decided to be very hands-on from its inception, so Turner created the group's Trashy Moped record label. Ghostland Observatory put out its debut CD in 2005 and dubbed it "delete.delete.i.eat.meat."

"I always liked rock n' roll and Tom wanted to put electronics into the mix, so we created a sound that had its own grooves," explained Behrens. "The sound really just happened and all our musical influences culminated into this band. Everything's been very organic. When the drummer disappeared for our first show, we had to program the beats into Thomas' computer. It was more necessity than anything."

Behrens has always loved to perform and dance, so his slick rock n' roll stage moves became part of the Ghostland Observatory experience. It's not unusual to see Behrens throwing the mike up in the air and using it as a stage prop, as he struts around on stage in time to the techno-rock beats. The stage show is making music fans sit up and take notice.

"I've always loved to perform in front of people -- I've danced before with other bands I've been in," said Behrens. "I'm a born performer, but I also look at dance as a form of celebration. It's very natural for me, and it's a way for me to express myself on stage. I become this shamanstic frontman."

Ghostland Observatory likes to put that techno-shamanism ideology into its song lyrics. Behrens says he didn't want the band to be defined as a pop act, so the group takes care to write about personal life struggles and inserts symbolic meanings into its tunes.

The songs caught on with fans in Austin, and by 2006 the band released its second CD "Paparazzi Lightning." In 2007 Ghostland Observatory made an appearance on "Austin City Limits," appeared on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," and released its first DVD "Live from Austin, TX.

Ghostland Observatory just released its third CD "RobotiqueMajestique" and the national buzz on the band is getting stronger. They group's career really took after the duo played a concert at the Knitting Factory in New York City. It didn't hurt that David Bowie was in the audience for that show.

"Things started blowing up for us after that show," said Behrens. "We started selling out 1,000-seater shows in Austin and the word of mouth about the band was building like crazy! We really just built this from the ground up. I feel like we have this really solid foundation. We've talked with every major label, but we've been doing all the business stuff in-house. It's a very mom and pop type organization. It's a cool thing to be able to grow -- we want to be able to able to call the shots."

Ghostland Observatory likes to be the master of its fate, so the band will spend this year touring and promoting "RobotiqueMajestique." The duo only performs weekend shows in the U.S., but plans on bringing its brand of electro-rock music to Japan in 2008."This new record has definitely taken us further along on the journey," said Behrens. "Quality-wise we're sounding better all the time. This whole album is something you really want to sit back, listen to, and enjoy the ride. The record's an experience and so is seeing Ghostland Observatory live -- only I'm not dancing in your face with the CD."

Ghostland Observatory's got one sweet show planned for the Fox Theatre. The duo travels with a laser light show that Behrens describes as "very Pink Floyd." The group also promises to put on a live stage show that Boulderites will remember for a long time.

"Our shows are definitely eye-candy, they're definitely an experience -- and they're fun," said Behrens.

Contact Wendy Kale about this story at (303) 443-6272 ext. 128 or kale@coloradodaily.com