[ATTENDED: February 10, 2022] Ghost
C. and I saw Ghost a couple of years ago and the show was amazing. I knew I’d want to see them again. We sat close to the stage but kind off to the side. It was actually an amazing view and we were really close to one of the risers that the guitarist and singer came to.
But for this show i got us floor seats (just behind the pit). The seats were close but not quite as satisfying. We did get an amazing view of the set, but it felt just far enough to not be really in it. And, having seats meant that we couldn’t move away from the tall people in front of us. (Plus, if we were in the pit we would have had a pretty good chance of getting one of the seemingly endless amount of picks and drumsticks they doled out).
But that’s beside the point, because the performance was great. The curtain dropped and the amazing stage was revealed. Stained glass windows of the former Papas, the stairs and platforms and the Nameless Ghouls playing.
This tour was ostensibly to promote the new album. But Ghost’s new album isn’t out yet. And, since they were co-headlining it meant that their set was cut short (who exactly does a co-headline tour benefit? Not the fans.). But that also meant that this was like a greatest hits show.
After playing a new song “Kaisarion,” he began the first of man sing-alongs with “Rats.”
I was delighted with how “funny” the show was last time. Because they had less stage time, this show did away with some of the fun. Lead singer Papa Emeritus does some wardrobe changes and the Nameless Ghouls places some instrumental songs to keep us occupied while Papa is backstage.
Last time, the two lead guitarist Ghouls had a showdown. This time, there was a much briefer contest. But it was still funny, with the Ghouls pantomiming on stage. At one point one of the Ghouls played a high note that squealed into feedback. One of the other Ghouls had to run over and make it stop in what looked like a possible usurpation of lead guitar status. And it was very amusingly when Papa shoved away the guitarists when they would be where he wanted to stand.
They played a bunch of songs from Meliora, and older album. They were catchy and the crowd was really into it.
The lighting was always great–conducive to whatever the songs were about.
After a new song “Hunter’s Moon,” they played some songs from Prequelle.
Some jackass had been calling out for “Year Zero” for much of the show. As C. pointed out–it’s a popular song with a great sing along chorus–of course they’re going to play it.
There was a guy in front of us who was really really into the show–waving his arms and acting out lyrics (even the Nameless Ghouls weren’t doing that). It’s a little disconcerting when you now some of the words.
There was even a brief keytar solo during the show! The band has added some Ghoulettes to round out the family, one of whom plays keys and tambourine.
They played a rocking “Mummy Dust” complete with confetti cannons. Although for whatever reason, the confetti all blew off to the right side of the stage and never really made it past the pit.
And then Papa told us that they had three songs left. Volbeat felt so endless, I couldn’t believe that Ghost was almost over. They played a cover of “Enter Sandman,” I guess they did the song for the Metallic covers album. It sounded really good.
Then they ended with two of their biggest, catchiest sons, “Danse Macabre” and “Square Hammer.”
I had such a good time with them playing “Kiss the Go-Goat” last time, that I was sure they would encore with it. But they didn’t. There was no encore. Sure the final band gets to do an encore! But no. And their set was only an hour and fifteen minutes. While Volbeat played an hour and twenty. Boo!
But man it was so much fun to see them again. Like last time, they ended the show with an tapes recording on an Emmylou Harris song (which is weird). They handed out picks and sticks and waved to people and were generally fun and delightful.
Clearly, next time we see them we need to get pit seats
Oh, and how cool is it that were playing at Devils stadium?
| 2022 | 2018 |
| TAPE: Imperia ⇑ | TAPE: Klara stjärnor (Jan Johansson song) |
| Kaisarion ⇑ | TAPE: Miserere Mei, Deus (Gregorio Allegri song) |
| Rats ¶ | Ashes ¶ |
| From the Pinnacle to the Pit ⊗ | Rats ¶ |
| Mary on a Cross ⊕ | Absolution ⊗ |
| Devil Church ⊗ | Faith ¶ |
| Cirice ⊗ | Mary on a Cross ⊕ |
| Hunter’s Moon ⇑ | Devil Church [with extended jam] ⊗ |
| Faith ¶ | Cirice ⊗ |
| Helvetesfönster ¶ | Miasma ¶ |
| Year Zero ∞ | Ghuleh/Zombie Queen ∞ |
| Ritual € | Helvetesfönster [partial] ¶ |
| Mummy Dust ⊗ | Spirit ⊗ |
| Enter Sandman (Metallica cover) | From the Pinnacle to the Pit ⊗ |
| Dance Macabre ¶ | Ritual € |
| Square Hammer ♣ | Satan Prayer € |
| TAPE: Sorrow in the Wind (Emmylou Harris song) | 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) |
⇑ Impera (2022)
⊕ Kiss the Go-Goat EP (2019)
♣ Popestar EP (2016)
¶ Prequelle (2018)
⊗ Meliora (2015)
∞ Infestissumam (2013)
€ Opus Eponymous (2010)
I were looking forward to this show although we both groaned a bit when we saw it didn’t START until 9PM. Good grief.
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