The Spirit of Ghost

GHOST
HOUSE OF BLUES, LAS VEGAS
October 31, 2015

“At 10:02, the lights shift, smoke rises and the two shrouds covering the drums and the keyboards are ceremoniously lifted. The pre-recorded church choir takes over speakers, invoking spirits in Latin or backwards English. At 10:10 the stage is bathed in red, then pitch black. After a breath of silence, the Star Trek-y intro for “Spirit” begins to play and an explosion of thrill blows the roof off the House as the Nameless Ghouls take their places. When Papa Emeritus III graces the stage in open arms and flowing robes, the screams of love become so saturating, the band could not be heard at all until after the first chorus.”

http://maximummetal.com/columns/road/col-road.asp?page=142

Sometimes, I love it when I’m wrong.

When I first heard of these Ghost people, I laughed them off as a ridiculous act behind “patchwork prog” with Michael Stipe-ish vocals. In fact, the actual words I used in my Meliora audio review (Aug. 30, 2015) were: “…pretty much just a joke without a punch-line, a hipster salad, and a novelty…Except they’re not.” I felt almost embarrassed that I found myself practically obsessed with this album and referred to Ghost henceforth as “that damn band.”

“Meliora” review – Maximum Metal

But, when I had the chance to see this “damn band” on stage, I had to swallow my words like rancid medicine. The “Back to the Future” Tour was one of the most elegant, energetic, and dynamic concerts I had ever witnessed. Those parasitic songs just animated like fire when performed live. I didn’t feel Satan’s presence anywhere, but I was blown away by the expert sense of theater this troupe has. Far from ridiculous, I was converted.

I even kept my communion wafer to remind me never to judge a Metal band by its masks again.

Ghost – Official Website
Ghost — Official Facebook page

We Are Motorhead and — Damn, Saxon Kicked Some Serious Ass, too…

MOTORHEAD / SAXON / CROBOT
HOUSE OF BLUES, LAS VEGAS – August 21, 2015

 

“Motorhead is a band. You know, that structure where more than one person plays an instrument at the same time as all the other people to organize noise at the same time. It’s not just Lemmy! Three members: Phil Campbell, Mickey Dee, and himself. He’s not “Burt” from Mary frickin’ Poppins steppin’ in time, doing the shuffle with cymbals between his knees. There are other people on stage with him. And though this band is only made of three, they sound like six. Because they’re loud? Yes. Because they’re loud and because they can play.”

http://maximummetal.com/columns/road/col-road.asp?page=138

I felt very honored and fortunate to catch this show — especially when I learned how ill Lemmy really was when he performed that night. Though he seemed a little lost at times, gazing out into the crowd as if he was looking for the witch he may have crushed with his house, he found his way home the instant he put his fingers on the fretboard.

As for Saxon…I ate some crow with a side of fries. Delicious.

“Nigel Glockler’s drum-slaught gave you CPR. The twin axe act of Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt were so balanced and instinctual, flawless in blend and compliment, and the results were explosive. Quinn delivered solos with surgical madness in pristine chaos; beautiful, captivating, and bone-splitting. (The old bastard knows how to drive!) And Nibbs Carter, on the bass, had the most energy, but refreshingly didn’t play into those flashy, silly bass-trickery tricks that get very tiresome very quickly. He just played his ass off, like a true down-home rocker. And as for Biff Byford, one of the most beloved frontmen of his era and today, is a perfect cross between a gentleman and a mother’s nightmare. A majestic, towering presence of wit and mastery, he seduced and worked the audience with ease, and still hit every note with luscious tone and vibrato, as if he had sold his soul for a throat of chrome. Magnificent.”

Motorhead Official — Facebook
Motorhead — official site

Saxon Official — Facebook
Saxon — official site