All Photos By Travis Failey Photography
The Cult of GHOST-iality was out in droves on Saturday night at the chapel formerly known as Amalie Arena in Tampa. This GHOST show was unlike any other I've attended, primarily because attendees had to place their phones in yondr bags upon entering the stadium. This was the first for me and many in attendance, but that wasn't the only anomaly regarding this show.
As everyone knows, 99 percent of the time, there is an opening band or many opening bands prior to the headliner. Well, tonight there wasn't any, and the start time was slotted for 8:30 pm, which was great for the attendees. Why is this, you ask? The Tampa heat had cooled down a bit, and with people lining up early and often getting in to rush for the general admission area, they caught a break from the weather. The floor area had seats but also a designated up-front GA area, which is becoming the norm these days.
Many of the fans wore face paint and extreme papal-type costumes, and their makeup and even themselves might have melted if this were earlier or outdoors at the Fairgrounds affectionately known as the "Hot-Box". Watching the line grow around the venue, then dissipate, then resume in length multiple times, it was obvious that this show was going to be sold out or damn close.
This conclusion was confirmed when we entered the media area by the soundboard. It was amazing to me how this band's fan base has grown since I was introduced to them 10 years ago at their show at the Ritz in Ybor. From a club act to a full-blown arena headliner is impressive, especially with a limited number of radio-friendly tracks and the content of their songs.
The crowd was filled with fans of all ages, with many parents bringing in their kids and the gender split was close to equal, which is very rare. Recently, both the AC/DC show and the METALLICA shows here in Tampa were about 75-25 male to female.
As the opening notes of "Peacefield" were struck, the crowd and the media photographers waited anxiously for the curtain to drop. After a minute or so passed, the stage curtain fell to a big sight and sound explosion, with the ceremony then proceeding for over an hour and forty-five minutes.
GHOST continued with another song from their most recent release Skeletá with "Lachryma" and then went to "Spirit" from my favorite GHOST album Meliora released in 2015.
During the first four songs and most of the set, GHOST's frontman Papa V Perpetua donned a mask and a down-sized costume. But for "From The Pinnacle To The Pit", Papa wore the full purple papal robe and mitre hat as he was attached to a wire in front of a cross and performed as he was hung halfway down to the stage.
Beautiful stage lighting and backdrops changed throughout the set and you didn't know what to expect from a visual standpoint because there weren't any videos online from the tour. This was due to the aforementioned "yondr" bags. These are bags that you have to put your phone into and are sealed. You can access them through the bag, but only in "yondr approved areas" in some parts of the arena.
You hold onto your phone throughout the show, and after it is over, someone from the facility would open the bag and poof, you had your phone back. This was met with split opinions, but man, what a difference it makes to watch just the show once again, like when we were younger and not through the phone above the person's head in front of you.
This was truly an eye-opening experience even though I wish I had my phone numerous times, especially to take notes for this article. Who am I kidding? I also wanted to take pictures of this masterpiece of a presentation. And a masterpiece it was, and I give all the credit to GHOST's creator and visionary Tobias Forge.
After playing in multiple bands of various genres, including the death metal band REPUGNANT, a glam metal pop band in MARY GOORE which is now named CRASH DIET and the punk band ONKEL KANKLE, Forge put all of his focus and effort into GHOST.
He took all his previous influences and merged many others into what you see and hear today. Throughout the course of the night as the setlist progressed, multiple genres of music came to the forefront.
From straight up rock/hard rock in "Call Me Little Sunshine" and "Cirice" to more of a pop feel in "Satanized" and "Darkness At The Heart of My Love", Forge and GHOST knew when to change things up to avoid redundancy during the 22-song set. "Umbra" was a huge standout track from the new album and one that will stay with me.
As "Umbra" started off slowly, it picked up with the incorporation of a cow-bell being played like we haven't heard since the Saturday Night Live skit and of course, BLUE OYSTER CULT's "Don't Fear the Reaper". The song travels like other GHOST songs with a sweeping chorus as multiple instruments and backup vocals sang in harmony with Forge and the crowd. This song and others reminded me of tracks from STYX, JOURNEY and QUEEN mixed in a machete blender with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA.
As the set progressed, GHOST got heavy once again with "Rats" from the Prequelle album. This song lets the musicians shine with duel lead guitars, heavy synthesizers and booming drums from the Nameless Ghoul manning the kit on the back line. "Rats" was arguably the heaviest song, in my opinion, with metal oozing out of its build-up to the chorus.
After "Mummy Dust", GHOST concluded the pre-encore set with "Monstrance Clock". This was a head-shaker for me as I had never heard this one before. Why is this? Just imagine being in a packed arena as this chorus is belted out by thousands of men, women, and children with the lyrics and images of naked men and women spinning on the video screen.
Come together (come together), together as one
Come together (come together) for Lucifer's son (for Lucifer's son)
Come together (come together), together as one
Come together (come together) for Lucifer's son (for Lucifer's son)
I could only imagine if this was being played in the 80's. GHOST would be #1 on the PMRC's hit list and also #1 on MTV's Headbangers Ball and Dial MTV.
Papa came back out on the stage after a very brief pause and addressed the crowd once again and asked if they were having a great time, which was met with a resounding response. There was a three-song encore starting with "Mary On A Cross" and then GHOST went the pop music route to conclude the show with "Dance Macabre" and "Square Hammer".
Both of these songs remind me a bit of KISS' foray into disco with "I Was Made For Loving You" with big choruses, fan interaction, pulsating lights and video and some confetti mixed in for good measure. I even thought of the soundtrack and movie Saturday Night Fever as a possible influence for these songs.
As Tobias as Papa and the 8 Nameless Ghouls took their bow and the attendees made their way out to get their phones released, I thought about my first experience with GHOST in Ybor 10 years earlier. I concluded that review with the thought "Was GHOST only going to get by because of their gimmick or as some would describe as being 'campy', and would their success be short-lived? The answer was provided on Saturday night with a resounding "No" as Tobias' vision for GHOST has completely come to fruition.
From the choice of songs for the set, the visuals, the lighting, the musical accompaniment from the musicians and the choreography were perfect. This show could be labeled an opera or a concept album-type performance even though the songs were from multiple releases. Not one component was missing and even if you weren't familiar with the music, you walked away open-eyed and highly entertained. You could also just crowd-watch all night like I did at times and be amused.
It was refreshing to see so many people engaged in this one moment in time without any distractions. It was also a special event for many new GHOST fans and even veterans of the clergy as right next to us was an 11-year-old with his Pops at his first concert throwing up the horns with a huge smile.
Two girls all geared up and in face paint were behind me singing all night as they have seen GHOST 10 times and were just having a blast. It was great to see that there are fans and bands that are still "defending the faith" as we know it, contrary to some opinions.
GHOST continues their "Skeletour" ritual across the States and will be at a venue near you. Even if you don't aspire to watch a band whose content revolves almost solely around religion with the cross being right side up and upside down, this tour is a spectacle to behold, almost like a RAMMSTEIN performance.
I believe this tour and GHOST specifically should be attended by music and performance lovers at least once before we reach our own "Pinnacle to the Pit".
The tour, which started in mid-April, continues through mid-August with two shows in Mexico City in late September.
Remaining Skeletour Dates:
- 07/17/25 - Cleveland, OH - Rocket Arena
- 07/18/25 - Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena
- 07/19/25 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
- 07/21/25 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
- 07/22/25 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
- 07/24/25 - Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena
- 07/25/25 - Louisville, KY - KFC Yum! Center
- 07/26/25 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
- 07/28/25 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
- 07/29/25 - Milwaukee, WI - Fiserv Forum
- 07/30/25 - St. Louis, MO - Enterprise Center
- 08/01/25 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
- 08/02/25 - Saint Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
- 08/03/25 - Omaha, NE - CHI Health Center
- 08/05/25 - Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center
- 08/07/25 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena
- 08/09/25 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
- 08/10/25 - San Diego, CA - Viejas Arena
- 08/11/25 - Phoenix, AZ - Footprint Center
- 08/14/25 - Austin, TX - Moody Center
- 08/15/25 - Fort Worth, TX - Dickies Arena
- 08/16/25 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
- 09/24/25 - Mexico City, MX - Palacio de los Deportes
- 09/25/25 - Mexico City, MX - Palacio de los Deportes
Check out some more photos from the show!
All Photos By Travis Failey Photography
