LIVE: GHOST – May 12, 2018

Venue: The Fillmore

City: Detroit, MI

Date: May 12, 2018

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

Ghost is a favorite of mine and has been since their debut release.  Out with new vocalist Cardinal Copia, the band is out recruiting fans on their current Rats On The Road tour, which stopped in Detroit last week to a packed house of rabid fans.  Once the time came for them to hit the stage and deliver their musical sermon, all bets were off as they kicked the night into gear with “Ashes” and set the bar for the evening.  Through the course of the evening, they would play at least one track from each release, including their two EP’s.  In a brave move, the aforementioned “Ashes” and the bands latest single “Rats” both come from the bands upcoming release Prequelle, to be released June 1.  The fans that filled the venue were excited to hear new material blended with the bands catalog.  The band and crowd fed off of each other through the tracks and moved toward a killer version of “Absolution” that saw guitar solos take the spotlight at times.  Once we were off and running, Cardinal and his Nameless Ghouls dipped back into the bands debut release and delivered a strong one-two punch of “Ritual” and “Con Clavi Con Dio” that demonstrated the evolution of the band, yet how well the newer material ties to the bands previous releases.  From there, the band blended the older material with the newer, split over two ‘acts’.  Demonstrating their ability to entertain, the band presented the show with a couple different outfit changes for the “new” frontman of the band, the inclusion of Papa Nihil, and banter from the frontman we have come to know and love.  The fans at tonight’s show broke a pattern of new songs being time for a beer or bathroom break and held their ground to take in the music, lyrics, and overall vibe from the material and its delivery.  Regardless of who is underneath the masks, the nameless ghouls have a firm grasp on the material from the new release as well as the catalog, playing each song as the audience has come to know and love them.  Hearing other favorites like “He Is” and From The Pinnacle To The Pit” made the evening, as well as fan favorites “Square Hammer” and “Monstrance Clock” to close out the show.  While I cannot wait for the new disc to be released (just ordered my limited edition CD with bonus tracks), I look forward to hopefully more live dates near Detroit so I can venture out once again and bask in the glory of Cardinal and his Ghouls.  If you want to catch a show full of great rock and roll as well as a visual spectacle, be sure to grab tickets when they stop near you.

Setlist: Ashes – Rats – Absolution – Ritual – Con Clavi Con Dio – Per Aspera ad Inferi – Devil Church – Cirice – Stand by Him – Miasma – Jigolo Har Megiddo – Pro Memoria – Deus in Absentia – Spirit – From the Pinnacle to the Pit – Faith – Year Zero – He Is – Prime Mover – Mummy Dust – If You Have Ghosts – Dance Macabre – Square Hammer – Monstrance Clock

Complete set of GHOST show photos HERE

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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries