Ghost gets spectral in sold-out Nashville arena

This past Saturday, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, marked my third time seeing the band Ghost. It seems that each time I see them perform, the audience grows in size. My first experience with the band was at the Crouse Hinds Theater in Syracuse, New York — a venue with a 2,700-person capacity. I remember thinking that Ghost was one of the most unique and innovative bands I had seen in a very long time. From their stage design to the crew dressed in black Ghost gear, walking down the aisles with incense and masks, it felt like they had a truly creative team behind their live performance concepts.

My next experience came two years ago in Nashville at Ascend Amphitheater, which holds around 6,800 people… and I’m almost certain that show was sold out. Although shorter in length, that performance had a much bigger and more energetic feel than the first. I remember the band’s visual aesthetic had evolved since their early days of face paint; each member wore a black suit paired with a steampunk-style alien helmet.

The show felt larger than life and cemented my love for this band. 

Finally, this past Saturday, Ghost played one of the biggest venues in Nashville, Bridgestone Arena, which holds nearly 30,000 people and it was completely sold out. The entire arena felt electric as strange chanting church-like music echoed through the loud speakers. 

I’ve sadly never been able to see a band like KISS live in my lifetime, but I can only imagine that Ghost is taking up the mantle of that kind of legendary live act. Ghost has it all: pyrotechnics, smoke cannons, lasers, and even a massive illuminated Ghost logo hanging above the stage. The far end of the stage featured a massive LED screen, made to resemble stained glass windows like those found in a church.

It was, quite honestly, one of the best visually choreographed shows I have ever seen.

Even if Ghost’s music was terrible, which it absolutely isn’t, the show would still be entertaining on visuals alone. The setlist this night included many newer songs from their most recent albums, which are excellent if you haven’t checked them out. I felt this particular set showcased the softer side of Ghost, as they performed many of their lighter songs. Personally, I’m a big fan of their heavier material, of which, unfortunately, they didn’t play my favorite song “Faith”.

That aside, it was a spectacular performance from start to finish. I highly recommend anyone who’s even the slightest bit curious about the band to catch them live before ticket prices climb even higher than they already are. It’s an entertaining spectacle to say the least! This show definitely earned a 10 out of 10 among the live performances I’ve seen this year.

Photography by Derek Jones

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