[ATTENDED: October 25, 2019] Ghost
A few years ago Ghost had just popped on my radar when I saw that they were playing the Fillmore in Philly. I didn’t go, but a friend of mine took his son and said the show was outstanding.
Before getting tickets for Starset, I had bought tickets for C. and I to see Ghost. I had heard that their live shows were tremendous and I was pretty excited to bring him to a show like this. When I looked for tickets, I knew we wouldn’t want GA Floor, but I didn’t know if we should go straight back or close to the stage on the side. I chose close to the stage and I was pretty happy with the location although C. thought it would be better straight on.
I had no idea we’d be going to see two concerts in two nights. But it was fun for him to compare the two styles of venue–club vs. arena.
Starset has a backstory and Ghost has a backstory too. Ghost’s story is pretty fascinating.
But before getting to that I have to say that this show was spectacular. Holy cow was it fun–the band was fantastic. The stage set was incredible and Cardinal Copia was an amazing front man.
Now, onto the story of Ghost.
The lead singer the band has been a succession of “demonic anti-popes.” On the first album the singer was Papa Emeritus. During a concert in the band’s hometown of Linköping, Sweden in 2012, Papa Emeritus was ostensibly retired and replaced by a supposedly new vocalist, Papa Emeritus II. In 2015, Papa Emeritus III was introduced to coincide with the release of Meliora. Papa Emeritus III was retired at the end of Ghost’s 2016-2017 Popestar Tour (being physically dragged off stage at the end of the final show), and a new character, Papa Emeritus Zero (now known as Papa Nihil), was introduced immediately afterward. For the band’s most recent album the singer is Cardinal Copia. Copia is described as being unrelated to any of the Papa Emeritus characters and whose costume consists of either Cardinal vestments or a black or white tuxedo alongside a prosthetic mask with black eye makeup and the multi-colored eyes which had been present in each Papa character.
The entire band was anonymous for many years until a lawsuit in April 2017 by former Ghost members over a royalties dispute revealed that Papa Emeritus was in fact Tobias Forge. Nevertheless, the rest of the band are anonymous “Nameless Ghouls” who wear virtually identical, face-concealing costumes. For a short while, the Ghouls were identified by symbols, but that has been abandoned.
– lead guitar
– bass
– rhythm guitar
– keyboards
– drums
Phew.
The band came on a little later than I’d hoped (I really imagined we might be home by 10:30). They played some classical music over the speakers while people found their seats.
Then the lights went down and the full amazing stage set was revealed–an elaborate church-like construction with incredible stained glass windows, stairs and multiple entryways.
The Nameless Ghouls came out on stage and I was thrilled to see that they were going to use the platforms that were really close to us. So even though C. wanted us to sit straight back from the stage (and I agree that would have looked better), it was great having the Ghouls (and Cardinal Copia) come within just a few yards of us throughout the night.
The show opened with the opening song from Prequelle “Ashes” and then like the album, it segued in to “Rats.” This is the song I know best and I was surprised that they opened with it as I assumed it would be an encore. But as C. rightly pointed out…it opens the album, dad.
Cardinal Copia was in his red outfit and his voice was amazing. I was so impressed with how good he sounded. I’m not sure what kind of mask he wears or if it is makeup and small prosthetics, but his voice was clear and easy to understand. Especially his repeated cries of “Trenton…Are you with us?”
I knew a few Ghost songs, but I didn’t go crazy listening to them ahead of time. So I was constantly amazed at how good and frankly how catchy their songs were.
Even though Prequelle is their newest album, they actually played one song more from the album before that, Meloria like “Absolution” and shortly after that the extended jam of “Devil Church” (which is only a minute or so on the record).
But I think the newest songs, like “Faith” might be the catchiest, dare I say poppiest?
After the first six songs, Cardinal Copia left the stage and the Nameless Ghouls took over. I didn’t know what to expect, but soon enough the guitarist in front of us started to do a guitar solo. It was okay. Then the Ghoul on the other side of the stage did a similarly okay guitar solo. And then I realized that this was a duel.
“Our” Ghoul would play something and then “their” Ghoul would counter. Their Ghoul was all about the hype. And I noticed that while he was playing our Ghoul was waving him off dismissively. Then our Ghoul walked to center stage and played a wild solo while their Ghoul watched and tried to shake off what he was seeing. It was surprisingly funny and a nice show off of skills. Then their Ghoul played a solo which was amazing…until he took his hands from the guitar and the music was clearly piped in over the speakers and the duel came to a hilarious end.
They started playing “Crice” and Cardinal Copia sang to the fans in the front row, crouching down and reaching out but always staying a fingers length apart.
Cardianl Copia left the stage and the band jammed the instrumental “Miasma.” While they played the song, we were in for a surprise when Papa Nihil came up to the top of the stage and played a ripping saxophone solo. We couldn’t see him very clearly from our vantage and this is where center seats would have certainly been better, but it looked like Papa Nihil (who is ancient) collapsed and had to be helped off. I assume that Tobias Forge is Papa Nihil too?
After the song, everyone left the stage and the lights went dark. Smoke started filling the stage and out walked these these three characters. They wore long robes, large hats and beak-shaped masks. They prowled the stage, walked around, looked at everyone and then left.
As the lights went up, Cardinal Copia came out on stage riding a tricycle. 
Seriously. He was in a white suit that looked very mafia. He preened for us, showing off his muscles and being generally studly. This also helped explain the T-shirt I had seen that said Cardinal Crossing. I thought it was just funny I had no idea it referenced something in the show. I also love that it’s in a youth size.
In this white outfit, he sang the slow “Ghuleh/Zombie Queen.” The first half is quiet and pretty and after a brief organ interlude, the second half is really rocking.
The band started playing a very pretty “Helvetesfönster.” It is mostly keyboards–there were two female Nameless Ghouls on top of the set on two different sets of keys. That’s where the drummer was, too.
Then the Cardinal came out in his long black robes to sing the super catchy “Spirit.”
After a few songs from their debut album (including the rather creepy “Satan Prayer”) he came back out in his final costume change–a black suit mirroring the red one he started with.
They played one of the catchiest songs of the night, “Year Zero.” This song was particularly notable because when the chorus came around, they shot a wall of fire up into the air. I had already been impressed by their stage setup bu this sent it over the top. I’m not saying that fire is automatically impressive or anything (and this had nothing on Slayer in terms of heat), but it was a very fun touch. Especially since this was the first show that C. had been to where fire was used. We could feel the heat very clearly from where we were seated. He told me he wasn’t really focused on the stage when all of a sudden he felt hot. Now THAT’s a good seat!
After a taped interlude of the very lovely harp-based song “Spöksonat,” the Cardinal appeared at the top of the stage to sing the rather pretty “He Is.”
I was also quite tickled that during “He Is” one of the Nameless Ghouls came up to the top of the set and played a keytar solo. She was fawned over by the other Nameless Ghouls who stood around her playing while she wailed away. Noting says Satan like a keytar, right?
That song and “Zombie Dust” come from Meloria, but “Zombie Dust” stands out because earlier in the night I pointed out the confetti cannons to C. And they were finally put to use in this song as zombie dust was sprayed all over us.
Throughout the night, Cardinal Copia was very funny–joking with us in various ways. Before this song he asked us if we wanted to feel our butts wiggle and have our taints tickled. Well, this song would do that for us. When the song was over he asked us if we had felt our taints tickled. When the response was not to his liking he said we could try that again, and when he asked again if our taints wee tickled we should respond accordingly. Which we did. It was twistedly fun.
Recently the band has released a new 7″ single of the absurdly fun and catchy song “Kiss the Go Goat.” 
As they started to play the song, someone in the front tossed a small stuffed goat animal on stage. The Nameless Ghouls noticed it, but when the cardinal saw it he did, indeed kiss the go goat. right on cue.
They ended the set with the fun “Dance Macabre” (which sounds an awful lot like mid period Blue Oyster Cult). It seemed like it would be a good show ender, but they had one more song for us.
Cardinal Copia asked if we wanted one more. Technically this would be the encore even though no one left the stage. They began the ridiculously catchy “Squarehammer.” It was a fantastic ending to the show. Especially when sparks rained down from on top of the stage.
It was such a fun show. I couldn’t believe how visually stimulating it was. I took so many pictures and videos it was crazy–there was always something to document.
I also couldn’t believe they played for two hours. It was a full show. They played twenty songs and yet at least three of these songs are a minute long–there was just so much going on between songs and during the Cardinal’s costume changes, that it filled out two hours.
I even enjoyed that at the end of the show in good theatrical fashion, all of the Nameless Ghouls lined up with Cardinal Copia. They held hands and they all bowed for our approval.
After the bow, the Ghouls were walking around waving to people and throwing lots and lots of picks and sticks to specific people in the audience. The exit music was “Sorrow in the Wind” by Emmylou Harris. What a fascinating choice.
C. wanted to cut out right away (he has no patience for hanging around…kids today). But I encouraged him to stay around long enough to see someone in the front row throw a “Hail Satan” banner up on stage which made everyone laugh as a Nameless Ghoul placed it gently on the stairs (no picture available).
I enjoyed this show so much and I think C. did too (although he was really tired after me keeping him up so late the night before). However, when I asked him which location he enjoyed more (regardless of the band) he said he preferred the club! A boy after my own heart!
When Ghost comes back (with perhaps a new Papa?) I will be there. This time with, I hope GA tickets. And maybe C. will come with me too.
SETLIST (that’s zombie dust on the right)
TAPE: Klara stjärnor (Jan Johansson song)
TAPE: Miserere Mei, Deus (Gregorio Allegri song)
- Ashes ¶
- Rats ¶
- Absolution ⊗
- Faith ¶
- Mary on a Cross ⊕
- Devil Church [with extended jam] ⊗
- Cirice ⊗
- Miasma ¶
- Ghuleh/Zombie Queen ∞
- Helvetesfönster [partial] ¶
-
Spirit ⊗
-
From the Pinnacle to the Pit ⊗
-
Ritual €
-
Satan Prayer €
-
Year Zero ∞
TAPE: Spöksonat -
He Is ⊗
-
Mummy Dust ⊗
-
Kiss the Go-Goat ⊕
-
Dance Macabre ¶
encore -
Square Hammer ♣
TAPE: Sorrow in the Wind (Emmylou Harris song)
€ Opus Eponymous (2010)
∞ Infestissumam (2012)
⊗ Meloria (2015)
♣ Popestar EP (2016)
¶ Prequelle (2018)
⊕ Kiss the Go-Goat EP (2019)
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