Home Music Ghost Light Offers Cover-Heavy Show In Washington DC

Ghost Light Offers Cover-Heavy Show In Washington DC

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Over the weekend, Ghost Light continued their extended Spring Tour 2019, offering up a jam-heavy performance on Saturday night. The performance, which took place at Washington DC’s The Hamilton, saw the band mix tracks off their debut 2019 album, Best Kept Secrets, with a number of covers from fan-favorite rock acts and members’ past and solo projects.

The first set was composed of four different songs, each of which was stretched past the ten-minute mark. Original “Diamond Eyes” was used to bookend the frame, with the band opening with an extended 16-minute rendition of the Best Kept Secrets, before later returning for its brief two-and-a-half-minute reprise at the set’s end. Within the sandwich, Ghost Light placed three extended covers, starting with Derek & The Dominos’ gem “Keep On Growing.” The group then drew on the catalog of guitarist Tom Hamilton‘s former project American Babies for takes on “Winter War Games” and “State Police.”

In contrast to set one, Ghost Light’s second set saw the band deftly weaving between selections, frequently building out of a song only to return to it later in the performance. To kick off the first frame, the group opened with another American Babies cover, “This Thing Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere,” and album title track “Best Kept Secret.” The Shins’ “Simple Song” was used to transition into Raina Mullen‘s “Afraid,” which was followed by original “Don’t Come Apart Just Yet, My Dear.” From there, they wound back through the setlist up to the point, using “Don’t Come Apart Just Yet, My Dear” to house a return to “Best Kept Secret” to close the set. For the encore, Ghost Light offered a rendition of Radiohead’s “Black Star,” off the pioneering band’s The Bends LP, ahead of a final performance of “Winter War Games.”

Hear full-show audio of Ghost Light’s show at the 9:30 Club on May 18 below, courtesy of opsopcopolis:

Setlist

Set One: Diamond Eyes > Keep on Growing, Winter War Games > State Police > Diamond Eyes

Set Two: This Thing Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere, Best Kept Secret > Simple Song > Afraid > Don’t Come Apart > Simple Song > Don’t Come Apart > Best Kept Secret > Don’t Come Apart

Encore: Black Star > Winter War Games