I'm going to be real with you, Ghost are my favourite band of all time, which comes at no surprise as this recap will be covering TEN, yes thats right, shows over the Re-Impera European Tour 2023.
My Journey took me through 5 dates in France, before heading to Amsterdam, Berlin and finishing off with three Festivals, Download (UK), Copenhell (DK) and Tons of Rock (NO).
I'm not the type to just rock up at a Ghost show half hour before doors, nope. You will find me early hours of the morning mingling with other fans, but that's part of the whole Ghost experience. Love 'em or Hate 'em, Ghost fans are some of the most creative and passionate I have ever met, making the long hours of queuing fly by!
For the headline shows of the tour, we were opened with Lucifer and Spiritbox in France and joined by the amazing Halestorm for Amsterdam and Berlin.
Whilst we knew this would be a continuation of the 2022 Impera-tour, at the first show back in Rouen there was still a sense of not knowing what was about to happen. With the fresh release of the bands latest EP 'Phantomime', what new songs would be in store for us?
As the band ripped into the bold but familiar sound of 'Kaisarion', those who know the band well noticed a change of two of the Nameless Ghouls, as well as a new 3D backdrop.
The set continued as it had the previous year from 'Rats' all the way until 'Hunters Moon'. Then came the first of the new additions to the set, the bands cover of Genesis' 'Jesus He Knows Me' before jumping back in to the staple and old school fan favourite 'Ritual'.
Next came the dramatic costume change for 'Call Me Little Sunshine' where we see Papa Emeritus IV cladded in the iconic blue cloak and regalia of this album cycle. Whether you are up close or far away, it's impossible to miss the attention to detail that goes into this show. Papa then returns, one mitre less but equipped with a thurible for 'Con Clavi Con Dio'. Those close enough managed to get a smell of the burning incense swinging from side to side.
'Watcher in the Sky' and 'Year Zero' are definitly numbers for those interested in pyrotechnics with the contrast of fog and fire between numbers. Soon it was time to revive Papa Nihil for 'Miasma', because what's a Ghost show without a saxophone solo? Following with the TikTok favourite of the last year, 'Mary On A Cross'.
Things take a heavier turn from the chart topping number as we literally have 'Mummy Dust' thrusted into our faces, before moving onto the next new addition to the set, and a number that during the first show I think took all of us on the barrier out emotionally, 'Respite on the Spitalfields'. Many fans had been begging to hear a live rendition of this song, and finally our time had come, and it did not disappoint. Out of the seven shows I saw them play this live, (it was cut from the festival shows), we had a 100% success rate of tears.
Ghost are one for emotional whiplash (I mean that in the best way), as after a brief moment, Papa returned to the stage in a blue sparkly jacket, each night made a speech that was not short of a stand up comedy routine before closing the show with 'Kiss The Go-Goat', 'Dance Macabre' and 'Square Hammer'.
Ghost are one of those bands I feel every music fan should see live at least once. Believe me, as someone who went to see them as a casual fan the first time, I became hooked instantly, within the space of a few months booking up shows left right and centre, flying across the globe to see them. Since April 2022, I have now seen the band 15 times! If that isn't a statement for how good a live show is, then I don't know what is.
The festival shows I felt were a little bit of a tease, because I knew what was missing. Shorter sets, less pyro, but a good taster, however as I said to all my friends seeing them for the first time at Download Festival, "there's so much more, you need to go to one of their own shows". I just hope they take my word for it.
Average Setlist (Non Festival):
Imperium
Kaisarion
Rats
Faith
Spillways
Cirice
Hunter's Moon
Jesus He Knows Me
Ritual
Call Me Little Sunshine
Con Clavi Con Dio
Watcher in the Sky
Year Zero
Spöksonat
He Is
Miasma
Mary on a Cross
Mummy Dust
Respite on the Spitalfields
Kiss the Go-Goat
Dance Macabre
Square Hammer
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