An Evening with Ghost and Volbeat.
As I walked into the venue from the parking lot, I could see the popular Texas State Fair’s Ferris wheel and immediately I felt at home. The Fair Park Coliseum in Dallas, TX is one of the most popular venues in the city. It is probably worth mentioning that I’ve never been to a show here before and was immediately impressed upon heading for the doors. The stage inside the hall — like a perfectly designed maze — was at a height of about 10 ft with a catwalk up the middle, allowing concert goers to experience a great panoramic view from all seating areas around the massive space. The venue environment presented quite a challenge for photographers to capture ideal shots, however, but this is about the fans so no complaints at all. What made this show remarkable was the time and care taken to transform a concert into an experience — from the music to the lighting — it was clear from the beginning that this should and would feel much more like a work of art.
The day was cold and wet, and for a Saturday in Texas, that can be tough to bring people out and about. But not tonight, thousands of fans flocked to a sold out stadium to be part of a night to remember. Between Ghost, Volbeat, and Twin Temple, all three bands earned their place in the hearts of every fan in the building. After two years of isolation, quiet, and pandemic-riddled life as we knew it, this was a much needed return to normalcy in every sense of the word. Myself and my partner, Sonny Reza, had anticipated a spectacle, but had no idea how blown away we’d be.
So let’s get to the music!
Twin Temple:
“Let Satan send the flames of Hell to cast out sexism, send the flames of Hell to cast out racism, send the flames of Hell to cast out ignorance!” This was among the first words from Twin Temple to start their set, and the night. Considering what has unfolded in this world for the last two years, those words resonated with everyone. This was also our first time seeing this band and we were shocked at what unfolded. I had never considered the musical juxtaposition of satanic visual imagery and 50s swing sound. It was like seeing the Addam’s family minus the comedic value. I could feel the passion throughout their whole set. Sonny mentioned how the fans described their unique sound as “Satanic Doo-Wop”. And we agree, there could not have been a more proper way to describe them, and at the same time, there could not have been a more proper opener to this show. Donned in their red vintage outfits from the 1950s, this set the tone for the rest of the evening. Bravo, Twin Temple. Bravo.
Volbeat:
Now picture this. Johnny Cash and Elvis walk into a black metal bar and get into a brawl with the first person they see. Turns out that the person was “Modern Day Rock n Roll” and BOOM…outcome is Volbeat. It’s very interesting to see a band such as Volbeat have so many black metal connections, and this includes fans within the black metal community. As a huge Johnny Cash fan myself, I’ve been a fan of Volbeat for quite some time now. Sometimes, I may take flack from some of my other hardcore heavy metal peers, but Volbeat speaks to me on a whole different level because of their musicianship. They deliver every time in the live setting and today was no different. The massive curtain with the bands lettering dropped to start their set – and from the first song, the energy of the crowd never let up (I almost forgot to shoot photos because of the many times I bobbed my head to their songs). Let me tell you that it’s a good thing when that happens. They closed with “Still Counting”, and ending with a song of that caliber left me, Sonny, and the thousands of fans around us more than satisfied. Volbeat have certified themselves as modern ambassadors of rock and roll, and it’s not everyday you see a Danish band accomplishing that here in the States. They have toured with the likes of Metallica, Gojira, and Slipknot – And tonight, touring with Ghost only adds to their arsenal. Undeniably heavy, yet so catchy. Volbeat were meant to be on the biggest stage.
Ghost:
Ghost has proven once again that they are one of the biggest bands in the world of heavy metal.
You don’t have to be a Ghost fan to enjoy a Ghost show and that’s an understatement. Ghost is a band who really places value in musical theatrics and visuals. I will admit, I’m not a huge fan of their sound, but to each their own. I was probably the only one there who felt this way though (maybe not), but they are slowly winning me over. Thousands of dedicated fans showed loyalty to a well-deserved headlining band tonight and I say that with a passion. I may not be a huge fan of the sound (again, don’t hate me), but I would show up to see them again anytime. ANY. TIME. Imagine if Blue Oyster Cult had a baby with Satan, we would get Ghost. I feel like I could go on and on with a band such as Ghost. Sonny has been a fan of them dating back to 2012 – when they were fairly still new to the heavy metal community. He mentioned to me during the show that they opened up for Opeth ten years ago, and his first thought was that this band could be headliners real soon. Fast forward to now, the love for the band has grown like wildfire in less than a decade; Ghost is now a prominent headliner on any stage setting in the world. The legendary presence of frontman Tobias Forge (aka Papa Emeritus IV) reminded us of Bruce of Iron Maiden, James of Metallica, and even Randy from Lamb Of God. That’s how big this band has gotten, and whether you like it or not, they will only be getting bigger. Papa changed in and out of his several breathtaking costumes throughout their hour and a half set as the Nameless Ghouls continued to perform, and they performed in such a manner where the chemistry between them was so tight and flawless. As much passion was shown from the fanbase, the same passion was matched by the members of Ghost. The two groups of people fed off of each other and it was a sight to behold. They were having fun during their set, making the experience that much more memorable. To finish their night, Ghost closed with the ballad-like gothic-rock favorite “Dance Macabre”, a fitting way to end this spectacle. There was fog, confetti, and Ghost dollar bills (yes, that’s really a thing) filling the air as Papa made his final bow into the darkness. The crowd was in awe as the coliseum lights came on again. Not a single face was seen frowning or dissatisfied. Smiles and tears of joy were seen on many people during this time, and I took it all in. Sonny then turned to me and asked “So what do ya think?” – I replied, “Wow”. Wow indeed Ghost. I applaud you.
Final thoughts:
When this show was first announced last year, I Immediately sent the flyer to Sonny and said, “This is the show, this is THE show that we need to cover”. I’ve been excited for this one, for what seems to be forever. And I’ll just say it: What a show! It was worth every waiting moment. Three totally different genre-based bands blending together. Whoever thought, “Hey, let’s get a show together involving Ghost, Volbeat and Twin Temple and send them on tour and more importantly to Dallas, TX!” deserves all the hugs and high fives from me and tens of thousand of fans. I don’t know who you are but hey, I see you. It’s amazing seeing so many fans showing support to these bands who have put their lives on hold to give them this level of entertainment, and not to mention still being in this pandemic state. Music is life for us and this night definitely serves as a testament. As I sit here, I am reminded of how this is my least favorite part — writing the review because it means that it’s now in the past and I’m not in that specific moment anymore. However, I now have a mental scrapbook and this show has left its mark for me and Sonny. Plus, we have all the photos so when we are old and grey, we can show the grandkids what these shows were like. Lastly, Sonny was so kind to grab me a Volbeat shirt while he got his own Ghost and Twin Temple shirt. Grabbing our merch and walking out into the cold night never felt better, and yet, I have never felt more at home. Probably now more than ever. Support your bands, wherever you are. Support your music, wherever you are. Until next time, cheers to a wonderful night, and cheers to YOU, the fan.
Cory Hodges aka Schwag – Signing off.
