Ghost held service at the House of Blues Las Vegas on Friday night, April 25, 2014.
Papa Emeritus II and his band of Nameless Ghouls, led the congregation through a lengthy set of hard rock hymns in honor of the Dark Lord. In spite of the Ghouls’ robes and masks being reminiscent of Darth Vadar, this night was in honor of the original Dark Lord, Satan. I’m not positive whether the Ghost experience is satire or a literal worship of Satan, but either way it’s an entertaining night of evil theatrics and hauntingly beautiful music. The visual impression of Ghost, to those who haven’t listened to the music, is deceiving and this music, while heavy, is vocally clean and melodic. Ghost shows are a lot of fun. I love their creepy, evil performance with the Nameless Ghouls backing Papa Emeritus II through his sermon.
One of my favorite moments of the night was the cover of The Beatles Here Comes the Sun. When interpreted by Papa Emeritus II, the happy Beatles tune becomes ominous, still beautiful, but in a dark way that made me think of Satan as a serpent singing to Eve in the Garden of Eden. Well done Papa and the Ghouls!
Papa Emeritus II of Ghost, surveys the Congregation at House of Blue Las Vegas, April 25, 2014. ©Karen Mandall | www.KarenMandall.com
Set List:
1. Infestissumam
2. Per Aspera ad Inferi
3. Ritual
4. Prime Mover
5. Jigolo Har Megiddo
6. Con Clavi Con Dio
7. Elizabeth
8. Body and Blood
9. Death Knell
10. Here Comes the Sun (Beatles cover)
11. Depth of Satan’s Eyes
12. Stand by Him
13. Genesis
14. Year Zero
15. If You Have Ghosts
16. Encore: Ghuleh/Zombie Queen
17. Monstrance Clock
