Did Halloween come early in Huntsville? Nope, it was just Ghost headlining the Propst Arena. It’s easy to see why some locals may have been confused, as fans came dressed in black, and some even painted their faces up as their favorite versions of Papa Emeritus.
Before the headliners, Spiritbox opened the night with a short 30-minute performance that played a solid introduction for the evening. Though it was just a quick set, every member of the hard rock group got to shine, as the band did a solid job of mixing its instrumentals with lead singer Courtney LaPlante’s hauntingly beautiful vocals. And for LaPlante, Friday night was extra special because she grew up in Alabama. As LaPlante told the Huntsville fans, she usually doesn’t speak a lot during the group’s set but had to recognize that she was getting to play a show in the state she once called home.
Following the openers, Mastodon took the stage with a strong performance, with the Propst Arena fans cheering once they finished. While the instrumentals and vocals were solid, the band got fans invested early. Lead guitarist Brent Hinds made sure to say “Roll Tide” a couple of times, which received plenty of applause. An appropriate time to make that mention as the University of Alabama kicked off its football season the following day. Most of Mastodon’s set fixated on tracks from their latest album, “Hushed and Grim,” which was released late last year. While the group performed newer tracks, that didn’t bother the Huntsville audience. In fact, once the band left the stage, several crowd members discussed how much they enjoyed the performance, proving that newer can be just as good.
As time passes, Ghost’s stage show continually grows, as evidenced on Friday night. While some of the band’s work can be a little dark and dreary, the group smartly started the showcase with “Kaisarion,” an upbeat, almost 80s-sounding track. When the opening guitar notes rang through, the audience went wild as the nameless ghouls on instrumentals got a chance to shine early into the set. Not long after that opening, Papa Emeritus emerged, and the Huntsville fans added the first of many loud cheers during the group’s performance.
One unique trait about Ghost is that the instrumentalists have their faces hidden in dark masks and thus are referred to as nameless ghouls. Fans have nicknamed the ghouls over the years, but only lead singer Papa Emeritus (real name Tobias Forge) has an official name in this plot. While he is the star of the show, the group does a solid job of not overdoing it. There were several moments during Friday night where Papa Emeritus demanded that fans not focus on him and instead pointed to the instrumentalists, who were stellar during their shining moments.
That said, in some ways, a Ghost show feels like a pop concert wrapped up in a metal performance. Throughout the evening, Papa Emeritus underwent wardrobe changes, including an anti-pope costume with a sparkly hot, a tophat, and, last but not least, a sparkly jacket for the final tracks of the evening. When Papa Emeritus wasn’t on stage, the nameless ghouls got to shine, including a concise guitar rendition of “Sweet Home Alabama” because it was only fitting when in Alabama.
One standout moment during the performance came during “Miasma,” an instrumental track. While the ghouls showcased their skills, a glass coffin was wheeled out, with a previous Papa inside. The stage crew used a defibrillator to restart his heart, first shooting sparks, before the former Papa rose during the second attempt. He was then handed a saxophone before playing a solo to close out the tune. As fans have learned, Ghost breaks down the traditional metal stigma, turning those on their heads. After all, what screams more metal than having your own currency with Papa Emeritus’ face printed on them or even using an ample amount of confetti? While Ghost may not offer the traditional hard rock concert, the group knows how to deliver a good time.
Later in the Ghost’s set, Papa Emeritus noted that the band does not play Alabama often. He apologized and stated that the band would change that in the future. From the reaction, those on hand Friday night would not complain and will probably be lining up to get their tickets once that show announcement occurs.
Words & Photos: Zach Birdsong