The first time I saw Ghost was April 23, 2016, at the Rialto Theatre in Tucson. Even then, they went big, full church set, stained glass, smoke curling across the stage, and a performance that felt more like a ritual than a rock show. Nine years later, after chasing them across three states, this Phoenix stop marked my fifth Ghost concert, and I walked out feeling the same thing I felt the first time: totally blown away.
I had my camera for only the first three songs, but from the moment the lights hit, I was reminded why Ghost is such a gift to photograph. The smoke, the angles of the spotlights, Tobias Forge emerging in his latest Papa guise, Papa Perpetua, every second looked like it was made for a frame. The pyrotechnics weren’t in full swing yet during those opening tracks, but the stage design and sheer presence made every shot feel larger-than-life. After that, I set the camera down and got to experience the rest as a fan, which gave me the best of both worlds: capturing their energy as stills frozen in time, to then stepping back to take it all in for my memory bank
The theatrics, once the full church scenes rolled out, were unreal. Smoke poured across the stage in waves, and when the pyros hit, you could feel it back to where I was seated. The stained glass glowed like a cathedral lit from within, and Tobias orchestrated the entire thing like a dark ringmaster. One moment, he had the whole arena wrapped in gothic solemnity, and the next, he had thousands of people laughing with his sarcastic banter. That balance, deadly serious songs punctuated by dry humor, is what makes him such a unique frontman. The band itself sounded as tight as I’ve ever heard them. The Nameless Ghouls traded riffs with surgical precision, the bass was thick and pulsing, and the drums felt like they were driving the whole arena forward. Tobias’ voice carried with clarity and strength, from whispering falsettos to booming choruses that filled every corner of the Footprint Center. “Cirice” still hits like a dark hymn, and “Square Hammer” had the crowd singing so loudly it was almost drowning out the PA. But it was “Mary on a Cross” that stood out, sly humor wrapped in a massive melody.
My partner, who was seeing Ghost for the first time, said that particular song gave him strong Tenacious D vibes, and honestly, that’s a perfect comparison. There’s dark humor baked into Ghost’s DNA, and it comes through even at their most grandiose. That’s what makes Ghost so different. They’re not just about the visuals, though the visuals are stunning. The music stands on its own, big hooks, layered arrangements, airtight musicianship, songs that stay stuck in your head long after you hear them. From photographing three songs in Tucson back in 2016 to photographing three songs in Phoenix in 2025, and seeing them in three other states in between, it’s been wild to watch Ghost grow into a full-blown arena juggernaut. Five shows in, they’ve only gotten better, and I’d bet the next one will top even this. Can’t wait. But for now, I am totally blown away…again.
Setlist via setlist.fm
Klara Stjärnor (on tape)
Miserere Mei (Gregorio Allegri song on tape)
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
Prime Mover
Umbra
Year Zero
He Is
Rats
Kiss the Go-Goat
Mummy Dust
Monstrance Clock
Skeleta by Ghost is out now via Loma Vista Recordings. Read our review here:
ALBUM REVIEW: Ghost – “Skeletá”
Buy Ghost music and merch here:
https://amzn.to/4fHLus6
ISABEL UZCATEGUI
Follow her work here: