Seeing Vision Video Live at Star Theater — A Night to Remember
I was so extremely excited to finally see Vision Video live. I’ve been following them for a couple of years now, and when I saw they were coming to Portland—on 4/20 no less!—I knew I couldn’t miss it. The show was held at the Star Theater, a cozy and moody venue that felt like the perfect backdrop for a band with such goth-forward energy.
The night kicked off with two incredible local openers: The Secret Light and Dancing Plague. The Secret Light brought that quintessential darkwave sound—brooding synths layered over pulsing rhythms, like a shadowy blend of post-punk and early electronic goth. Then Dancing Plague took the stage with a heavier, more industrial vibe. Think aggressive synths, driving beats, and haunting vocals that felt like the soundtrack to a very stylish dystopian film. Both bands absolutely killed it and set the perfect tone for what was to come.
Then—finally—Vision Video hit the stage. And it was magic.
The crowd immediately lit up. The energy in the room was wild, buzzing with excitement and love for this band. From the first note, it was clear this was going to be more than just a show—it felt transcendent. Their sound was everything I hoped for live: goth punk, post-punk, and synth-pop all fused together with lyrics that touch on everything from mental health and grief to political resistance. The music hits your heart and your body.
I’ve had the post-show blues for days now. You know the kind—where the adrenaline wears off but your brain keeps replaying every moment on a loop.
And to top it all off, after the show, I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Dusty Gannon himself. He was so incredibly kind and generous with his time. Not only did he chat with me for a bit, but he even answered a few Q&A questions, which I’ll be sharing below. Getting to talk with him made the night feel even more special.
Seeing Vision Video live was everything I dreamed of and more—an experience I’ll be holding onto for a long time.
Q & A With Dusty Gannon
What’s your favorite horror movie of all time?
Definitely "Return of the Living Dead". It's got goths, punks, zombies, gore, laughs, scares, nudity and a killer 80's soundtrack featuring amazing goth/punk rock artists. It's got something for everyone!
Have you ever written a song inspired by a horror film?
Yes! "Let Go of Time" is directly inspired by the vampire movie "Only Lovers Left Alive”. Aside from that I have lots of small easter eggs in our songs, like samples from Night of the Living Dead and the Beyond!
If you could tour with any band (living or dead), who would it be?
I think it would be incredible to tour with The Sound or the Replacements.
What's a city you’ve toured through that totally surprised you in a good way?
I am always totally blown away by Toronto - it's gorgeous, has lots of great venues and really wonderful people. It's very international and therefore has incredibly good food choices.
Any tour rituals you swear by (weird snacks, lucky charms, etc.)?
I eat a lot of hard boiled gas station eggs. It's kind of gross, but getting enough protein is essential on the road and it's a cheap and healthy source.
What’s your favorite spooky season tradition?
The Wild Rumpus parade is my favorite! We have a massive parade/festival where there are usually tens of thousands of costumed revelers and it truly feels like being a kid again on Halloween.
If your music had a monster mascot, what would it be?
I think it would be Frankenstein's monster. My music is made for people who feel like the sum of broken parts, but still have soul and hope despite the horror of it all.