Ghost Town Radio

The Background: Columbus natives Adam Hofferber, Bryan Lasley and Jake Reisdorff started jamming together nearly five years ago. The full lineup began playing together around two years in Lincoln since the addition of Joe Pieper (The Melon Company) on bass. Ghost Town Radio has released a few demos on Soundcloud and is planning to record a debut album in the next year, Lasley tells us.

The High Point: In a track that began slower than Ghost Town Radio’s usual metal-style rock, Reisdorff experimented with a unique staccato — uneven and tittering beats.

The Takeaway: Ghost Town Radio rolled out leather-jacket-and-motorcycle hard rock with Hofferber and Lasley’s classic metal guitars took turns executing piercing melodies and rumbling low, revving like engines. Reisdorff’s steady drums held the band afloat as guitars roamed into the ceiling of The Bourbon. Tumbling buildup to solo-heavy climaxes were imperative in the Zeppelin-esque instrumentals. - Kelly Langin

Ghost Town Radio began their set loud.

The alternative rock band started things off with two metal-inspired tunes, one called “Metal Shit.”

The third band to play the Bourbon’s final night of Lincoln Calling played a set with new songs that evoked 90’s rock and a cover from that era.

Singer and guitarist Bryan Lasley, bassist Joe Pieper, drummer Jake Reisdorff and guitarist Adam Hofferber played to a crowd that nearly filled The Bourbon Saturday night.

“If you like staying up with your friends, drinking really late at night, then this song goes out to you,” Lasley said as his fellow bandmates drank from tallboys.

Mike Coen came to the show with a friend who was familiar with members from the band, although he himself had not heard the band prior to the show.

“I thought they were a solid band,” Coen said. “They’ve got a good old school, punk vibe while still having a modern, technical sound.”

The old school vibe of the band reached its peak when the group performed Rage Against the Machine’s classic, “Killing In The Name Of.”

“Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me,” the band sung as the crowd joined.

Lasley said the band covered Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” last year and after jamming and playing the song, the group decided to perform it live.

“We just remembered how much we loved it growing up,” Lasley said.

Both Lasley and Coen said they felt the crowd was receptive to the band and enjoyed the set.

“I thought (the crowd) was great,” Lasley said. “I thought they got really into it.”

Although the band prepared prior to their Lincoln Exposed slot, Lasley said the band often goes long spans of time without playing together and were only able to get in two to three practices in before the show.

Still, Lasley said he felt good about the show Ghost Town Radio put on.

“We had a lot of energy,” he said. “We definitely had a good time.” - Gabriella Martinez-Garro