Ghost

Hippodrome Performing Arts Center | 5/8/16

By Jay Oakley

Ghost have been on a rising missile with no shortage of fuel and nothing in their way. Coming off their Grammy for Best Metal Performance with "Cirice," Ghost continues on the Black To The Future tour. Ghost has always been very partial to Baltimore and always makes a stop here ever since their first performance on US soil at Maryland Deathfest in 2011.

This particular show had me curious when it was announced. I've seen Ghost many times but always at a concert hall, designed with a big open floor. The Hippodrome is a seated venue that specializes in Broadway-style theater. That didn't stop anyone. No one sat in their chairs for the show, everyone sang and had a blast. Watching the fans in the crowd became almost as fun as watching the band.

Opening with "Spirit," "From The Pinnacle To The Pit" and "Stand By Him." I've always found "Stand By Him" to be a standout song in the set and always encourage anyone who is interested in Ghost to give it a listen to start out. This tour also introduced the Sisters of Sin, a couple of satanic nuns who walk the crowd serving the "Body and Blood" to the crowd.

After performances of "Cirice," "Year Zero" and "Mummy Dust" Ghost slowed it down a little for a semi-acoustic version of the Roky Erickson song "If You Have Ghosts" from their covers EP of the same name.

Closing out the show with "Monstrance Clock" who Papa Emeritus III said is the song Ghost likes to close out the show with because it allows the band and crowd to have a collective orgasm together. Always a stellar show, Ghost is worth every penny.