As a music journalist, I will go through some great lengths to help bring the story of a show to our readers, but for this one, I had to face so many obstacles that my coverage for this concert almost did not happen. It started Sunday evening when I began to feel ill, this continued through all of Monday and left me questioning if I would be able to make it. I woke up Tuesday of the show feeling slightly better but still mostly shitty, I scrambled to try and get another photographer to cover the show, but with late notice, it wasn’t going to happen. So, with a handful of over the counter remedies and a bottle of Gatorade, I made the two-and-a-half-hour drive to Asheville. As I walked into the venue, I was feverish and struggling to even fathom how stupid my decision was but after the lights dimmed, my stupid decision wasn’t as idiotic as it once seemed.
The tour landed Ghost in a performing arts theater in Asheville, NC., which was very fitting for this band, since their live performance is more of a spectacle than a concert. There was no opening act for this one, just Ghost live on stage for two hours. The band played a mixed setlist of some of their newer music from the upcoming “Prequelle”, due out June 1st, and their older music.
With their newest frontman Cardinal Copia leading the helm of the band of Nameless Ghouls, this show was spectacular. The massive stage design showed that Ghost is a band that is here to deliver something that is missing in the industry now, a once in a lifetime experience. Not just the stage design but the entire lighting set up, massive stained-glass backdrop, and a few wardrobe changes made this show something amazing. This was my first experience covering Ghost live and now I understand why all of the journalists speak highly of this band – they put on a fucking show!
The tour is currently on its tail end with a few more dates left before it ends on June 1st. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, do it – you won’t be disappointed.
Photos © James Geiser
