Ghost Transforms the Delta Center into a Gothic Cathedral Ritual

Last week in the heart of Salt Lake City, the Delta Center played host to Swedish theatrical metal icons Ghost transforming the venue from a sports arena into a gothic cathedral.  Fans arrived early, lines stretching down the block with many dressed in their ritual best.  Nuns, priests and pope’s all standing in line waiting next to others in Ghost shirts from past tours.  Fans began to fill the arena and the energy shifted from anticipation to electric, most of the people there were repeat ritual attendees, a few were experiencing Ghost for the first time and one woman I spoke to told me this wasn’t just her first Ghost show, it was her first concert ever.  What a way to start seeing shows but it does set the bar extremely high. 

 

There were no openers, which intensified the anticipation and wait.  When the venue lights dropped and beams of light pierced through the torn stage curtains the crowd let out a roar filling the arena.  When the curtain fell and the opening notes of “Peacefield” hit the speakers the entire venue was on their feet cheering the start of the ritual.

 

One of the most noticeable aspects of the night was the phone-free experience that Ghost started on last year’s Skeleta tour.  Fans were required to secure their phones inside a Yondr pouch throughout the show eliminating the usual sea of phones flooding the shows.  The result?  Presentness.  Fans sang, cheered , and absorbed every moment and participated with the show without distractions.  This was the first time I experienced this type of show, and it felt refreshing.  A shared experience not ruined by phones in the way or people taking selfie videos of themselves and friends talking over the band to post on Instagram.

 

The Nameless Ghouls, dressed in their fine attire topped off fittingly with top hats were perfect.  They moved across the stage delivering searing guitar riffs and theatrical flair being everywhere at once on the stage.  At the middle of it all was Papa V Perpetua, Papa appeared in a metallic mask shining throughout the night as he changed into capes and his pope’s best throughout the show always returning to the metallic mask.  His presence anchored the show balancing the part of rock front man and pontiff perfectly. 

 

Besides the musicianship the production of a Ghost show elevates it.  This one went beyond a typical arena show.  There were the lights, pyro and confetti of course, but the stage transformed the view into a gothic cathedral transporting us all into that environment.  That’s what makes it an experience, the gothic aesthetic, that transportive feel and the ceremony of it all are what make the ritual stand out. 

 

When the main set concluded Papa stood at the center of the stage teasing the audience asking us “Are you waiting for more music perhaps?  A few more songs?  The crowd let loose with cheers again and after it quieted down, he said, “Well we do have a few more songs for you” to the roaring cheers of the crowd as they broke into a three-song encore playing “Mary on a Cross,” “Dance Macabre,” and “Square Hammer.” As the band played the venue vibrated with the thousands of fans singing in unison.  

When the final notes faded, applause died off, fans lingered in the venue.  Without phones to capture videos and photos everyone stood soaking in the experience committing the ritual to memory to relive or tell friends about later.  As I walked out, I kept thinking about the woman who said this was her first concert ever.  For a first taste of live music what a way to break it in, it doesn’t get much better than this.