Goth-pop band Vision Video turns trauma into art

The band Vision Video is a goth-pop band out of Athens, Georgia, whose frontman Dusty Gannon has found a bit of viral social media fame.

The group will be in Detroit on Wednesday, Nov. 9 for a headlining show at Small’s Bar in Hamtramck. Like a lot of bands that may fall under the genre of ‘goth,’ their songs have a strong dose of politics and personal angst. Gannon says most of the songs on their debut album, Inked in Red, were written while he was processing his experience as a combat veteran serving in Afghanistan.

“Ultimately, my experience in Afghanistan was mild compared [to others] but it was still terrifying,” Gannon says. But, he says, the trauma was nothing compared to being a paramedic in Metro Atlanta through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Honestly, there was way worse trauma from that [being a paramedic]. There were times when it felt like a war zone, with active shooter situations, gunshot wound victims… All the music that we’ve done has been a way to transmute negative energy [with the hope] of connecting people to something positive,” he says.

Gannon’s social media fame has been growing quickly through highly theatrical, heavily goth-style videos on TikTok — and a character he created called “Goth Dad.”

@visionvideoband Did you know #gothdad has a theme song?! Well, now you do! #goth #gothic #gothstyle #gothmakeup #funny ♬ original sound – Vision Video 🎃 Goth Rock Band

“That’s how Goth Dad was formed, like wouldn’t it be funny if there was this guy who was a 50’s Midwestern, hyper-wholesome dad who was also hyper-goth,” Gannon says. “I thought the juxtaposition was so funny… and then people started finding comfort in these videos.”

Gannon says “Goth Dad” has evolved into a desire to share a vision of positive masculinity through a positive male role model.

Catch Vision Video at Small’s in Hamtramck on Wednesday, Nov. 9.