PARKING LOT NIGHTS
There's an article in the Dallas Observer that does a fairly good job explaining the origins of this video. But to put it in my own words...
I first heard Ghosthustler's music on Gorilla vs. Bear. I liked it and downloaded the 'Parking Lot Nights' mp3. Later, Pitchfork would do a small track review praising the song. I listened to the song more and suddenly, much like the video, I was punched in the face with the visual of being punched in the face. That, combined with the band's already existent Nintendo/80's motif, logically brought me to the Powerglove. It didn't hurt that I already had a powerglove on my bookcase (purchased at a flea market years back).
The Power Pad I would have to purchase on eBay however.
I contacted the band on MySpace (back when MySpace was relevant). Alan Palomo (now of Neon Indian fame) responded. I asked him to film himself singing the song and send it to me. I took that and made the video. We shot the parking lot scenes in a Target parking lot in Cincinnati over the course of two nights. There was about a 45 minute window from when the overhead lights turned off and the giant streetcleaning sweeper truck came tearing through the lot. We crammed everything we could into that window. It really was a scary truck. Reminded me of 'Duel'.
A bit of fun trivia: The role of "The Powerglove" is played by good friend Sebastien Schultz of Bad Veins. Both Seb and Alan have since recounted the story to me of when they met at the Monolith Music Festival in 2009. Seb walked up to Alan backstage and said "You're Alan from Ghosthustler, right?" Alan said "Yeah." Seb said "I'm the glove." The end.
Spin Magazine writes…
"Must-See Videos - September 2007"
Pitchforkmedia writes…
"...director Pete Ohs comes up with the perfect visual metaphor for the current batch of 80s-nostalgic electro-funk…"
Quick writes…
"...video for the song achieved viral status…"
Dallas Observer - four-page Cover Story profiling Ghosthustler - "...attitude, luck, the Internet, one hell of a video and one hell of a song."
Exclaim! writes…
"It’s a nerd’s dream come true to taste this kind of revenge, and Ohs has made it look as gratifying as you’d imagine it to be."
Gorilla vs. Bear writes…
"Yes, that’s a Power Glove in that cut."
The Dallas Observer Blog writes…
"...sounds great, looks better, and needs to be viewed with the volume turned way, way up."
Party Ends.com writes…
"...the video…gives the impression of a video cassette from the 80’s you found in the garage…"
Panda Toes writes…
"...it’s a low budget flick, but it’s still super awesome and ridiculously hilarious."
Tape Rock writes…
"...Ghosthustler packs a punch - literally in their new video…"
We Shot J.R. writes…
"...Ghosthustler has attracted an incredible amount of attention…"
Blah Blah Blah writes…
"I’ve watched this video over and over and haven’t gotten tired of it yet. MTV2 or MTVU, you listening?"
Rockouts.com writes…
"Early nominee for video of the year…"