Concert Review: Ghost – Baltimore, MD – 9 July, 2025
Today’s initial prospect of heading to Baltimore early and venturing through the city was altered due to the near-100° temperature. We set off around 3 and it took a full three hours to arrive: quite frustrating as the city is a mere 82 miles away.
The streets were crawling with Ghost fans: some donning face-paint, several with nun costumes and more same-band-as-the-show t-shirts than I’ve ever witnessed. We parked on the fifth floor, knowing full well that the exit would be a lengthy departure. As doors opened at 6:30, we hung out in the AC before joining a couple who was pre-gaming. We all walked in together just as the skies opened, reminding us why we appreciated purchasing attached-to-the-building parking in advance. The long line to enter was due to the usual ticket and security checks, but also so phones could be stored in specialized pouches. This regulation meant we got no pictures whatsoever but also resulted in fans being more engaged, chatty and connected. Fast forwarding a bit, a guy beside us filmed a few clips of the band before being escorted out for doing so. Good! While I love to snap a few pics, living and breathing the moment hearkened back to concerts of my youth where, sometimes lamentably, no footage exists outside of my ever-fading memory. I digress.
Kairi and I waited in the merch line, got beverages and I chatted with some folks while waiting before proceeding to our seats, promptly for the 8pm start time. The stage was surrounded by tall curtains and our seats, in section 123, offered about as good a view as possible for our budget. Religious choral music echoed and we eyeballed the staff preparing to drop said curtain but as the lights dimmed, Ghost started with Peacefield via live video. When it did drop, the vantage of the large stage impressed and Papa skipped around with his usual jovial energy. The five-piece band is now joined by a trio of singers, two playing keyboards, but the stage backdrop felt subdued: a pair of monitors flanking the octet and not much else.
Banging out back-to-back new songs was unsurprising, with Lachryma following, each offering catchy choruses and pristine production. Spirit succeeded and Per Aspera Ad Inferi was an older one that Kai and I were less familiar with. What followed this, however, was a run of pure magic, mixing old, new, poppy, dark and altogether riotous fun. Faith and Majesty sounded utterly phenomenal: catchy breakdowns, spot-on drumming and Papa’s voice leading through the darkness. He spoke briefly afterwards about the state of the world and shocked my progeny with The Future Is A Foreign Land, one of her favorite songs. After a quick instrumental interlude, Cirice began, the single that truly started my fascination with the band. We were both in awe of the song choices and that sentiment did not diminish as the night continued.
Though I wasn’t familiar with the lone song from the debut LP, the next seven songs were absolute perfection, weaving the middle records with banger after banger. Highlighted moments include thrusting arms in the air, chanting, “Hail Satan” while pyrotechnics melted our faces off. The chanting chorus of Rats. The soothing beauty of He Is. Then there’s the progression of the stage show: while fire is necessary, the evolution of the large screen behind was remarkable. Changing from religious iconography to animated videos, exploding graphics – the entire presentation felt like it was worth the extra bucks the tickets cost. Massive bursts of shredded money (confetti) filling the air, Papa levitating in full uniform for an entire song – all were bombastic and thrilling.
Concluding with Monstrance Clock, one of my favorites, the crowd felt a bit weaker than I’d have hoped, but since encores are no more reliant upon crowd participation (and to be fair, Baltimore was indeed excited) a trio of songs would wrap up the night. Kairi’s face lit up upon Dance Macabre and the performance’s finale, Square Hammer turned all stage screens into video of the crowd. By this point, Ghost had accomplished it all and it was just bonus joy, icing on the delectable cake. The driving chorus evoked unbridled zeal: “Are you on the square? Are you on the level? Are you ready to swear right here, right now, before the devil?” The screen displayed devil horns jabbed skyward everywhere. The huge screens projected make-up laden faces, Papa plush dolls that were sold out front, joy gushing in all forms. A large Ghost logo descended behind the band and sparks spewed out around it. Smoke bellowed across the stage. And among the thousands, Kairi and I were jumping up and down to the beat – with our neighbor joining in. As it all concluded, sparks were raining down, Papa, arms outstretched, looking up, donning his purple jacket – absorbing the energy, represending the ultimate showman. An altogether brilliant show on all levels.
Superlative adjectives and a killer setlist aside, the best moment of the night was easy to pinpoint. Darkness At The Heart Of My Love. A song I almost dismissively enjoy, and one whose lyrics I don’t particularly retain, a certain phrase stuck with me while plucking at those chords of my heart: I’m with you…always. Looking left, I could see an enormous smile on Kairi’s face. Far less concerned with the overarching scheme of life and this concert’s place in it – she was having a great time. As the evening progressed, I secretly spied similar innocent emotions: wonder, anticipation, shock and surprise! The quieter moments produced poignant appreciation, exuberant enthusiasm during more explosive ones. This show was superb, one whose excellence was compounded by her excitement. Despite decades of age separation, the result is the same – an experience neither of us will ever forget.
Full Setlist:
- Peacefield
- Lachryma
- Spirit
- Per Aspera ad Inferi
- Faith
- Majesty
- The Future Is a Foreign Land
- Devil Church
- Cirice
- Darkness at the Heart of My Love
- Satanized
- Satan Prayer
- Umbra
- Year Zero
- He Is
- Rats
- Kiss the Go-Goat
- Mummy Dust
- Monstrance Clock
- E: Mary on a Cross
- E: Dance Macabre
- E: Square Hammer