Ghostkid rocks the stage at Ace of Cups in Columbus, Ohio, on their “Hollywood Suicide” tour.
Performing live is more than getting on stage and singing a song; It’s about sharing your music and creating an atmosphere that people can relate to. Performing is about showcasing your favorite work and building bonds with the people who came to support you. The ability to truly captivate an audience is a talent—and it’s one that Ghostkid has in spades.
Ghostkid is a German-based metalcore band that’s been active since 2020. Their current tour, “Hollywood Suicide,” follows their newest release of the same name. It is their second studio-length album and has captured the attention of many metalcore fans. The band has been touring around North America with fellow metalcore acts Hawk and Crucifiction, both of which poured their all out on stage. At this stop of the tour, the bands were joined by two additional openers: local acts Silent Home and Dread Engine. The show kicked off around 6:30 p.m., and let’s just say I’ve found some new favorite local bands.
Even though the bill was incredibly long, there was a great turnout for every band. Local openers Silent Home and Dread Engine did a great job of bringing the crowd together, urging people to get closer and engaging in some creatively playful banter.
Crucifixion was up next on the bill and they blew it out of the water. I can’t say I’ve ever seen a frontman run across the stage as much as lead singer Salem Vex did. The band has more of a hardcore sound, which rilled up the crowd. Starting up circle pits and mosh pits seems to be Salem’s secret talent.
Next up was had Hawk and their set saw a lot of crowd participation. I saw people moshing, singing, and even shedding tears during the emotional songs. This is a band I’ll be sure to keep my eye on.
To close out the night, Ghostkid consumed the stage. There is something truly special about this band. They cultivate a mysterious and edgy atmosphere with their attire and makeup. Full face paint and contacts give them a truly unique look, and they used them to full effect. Throughout their set, the crowd was laughing, cheering, and banging their heads like there was no tomorrow. To say the crowd loved them was an understatement. The band returned their love in kind, offering words of encouragement and support through their songs as well as after the show. During the song “SUPERNØVA,” I even received some love when their bassist Stanislaw “Stanni” Czywil, ruffled my hair.
After their set, they even stopped by the merch booth to talk to fans and sign merchandise. I stopped by to chat with Stanni, and he was incredibly sweet and easy to talk to. It’s not often a band has me fangirling after just one show, but I can confidently say their show turned me into a lifelong fan. Their unique stage presence and heavy sound called to my metalhead soul, and I answered. If you have a chance to catch a stop on their tour, don’t hesitate! I eagerly await their return to Columbus and look forward to seeing how far Ghostkid can go.
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