The Old Rectory, Sutton Benger
Saturday, 5th July 2025
Some concerts are more than just appearing on a stage, playing the music, taunting the fans with a mock end before the obligatory encore, and tonight was one occasion when it transcended that simplistic description and it became a true event that, for anyone lucky enough to be there, will remember for a long time.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Ghost of the Machine, firstly I need to ask where have you been? Then I need to provide a bit of background which will, hopefully, make the rest of the review make sense and allow you to appreciate the humour and sheer enjoyment of it all.
A few years ago Ghost of the Machine went on tour with Spriggan Mist and ever since then there has been plenty of banter between the respective lead singers, Charlie Bramald and Baz Cilia, and the gist of all the jokes tend to revolve around dancing and its place at Prog rock concerts. A seemingly innocuous subject that somehow manages to stir up passions on both sides of the debate along with providing plenty of scope for mirth. To those not in on the joke it can seem to be far too serious but for the rest of us it is hilarious and hard not to be sucked into one side of the debate, or the other.
So picture this, Ghost of the Machine are due to play a concert in a small, obscure, but beautiful, Wiltshire village. They promised a memorable experience, which is par for the course with their concerts, but as his arch nemesis, Baz, turned up everyone was expecting the jokes to be a free additional part of the performance.
The laughs arrived but from an unexpected direction. Thanks to the left field humour of the event host Rod Moore-Bardell, there was a face to face confrontation between the two singer and, care of his pre-recorded version of Don McLean’s American Pie, resplendent with new lyrics that bordered upon pure genius, the audience were left in stitches. Charlie even succumbed and, even if he is no John Travolta, he did eventually allow the music to dictate his moves. He might not have got a high score in Celebrity Come Dancing but the judges would have been amused. [A video is available at The Ghost of the Machine Facebook Fan Group]
Once the ice had been broken, and the tone of the evening had been set, it was time for the show, proper, to start and oh what a show! Dressed in bondage trousers and a hooded cape Charlie looked like a modern version of Igor from Young Frankenstein, only with better posture. From the first seconds he made it clear that despite a band overflowing with talent and skill, he was the one to focus on. Like Prospero he cast a magic spell, or master Puppeteer, so that the audience were captured in his thrall with no escape, even if they wanted to.
The first set comprised of their superlative debut album, Scissorgames, and playing the most of the album, from Scissors to Scissors (Reprise) they captured the energy of every track as if each song was an act in a piece of musical theatre. Charlie performing each character and emotional nuance as if he were living it. Having seen them perform the set many times it is hard to pick a highlight but, to me, the were two stand outs. January’s Child, as always, grabbed the attention but we also witnessed a rare treat. Dead to Me, a song that by all accounts, has only ever been performed twice in concert, was a stripped back beauty. With just Graham Garbett on guitar, Mark Hagan on keyboards and Charlie on vocals, they faithfully capturing the dark atmosphere of the album track.
While all this was happening on the stage, some of the more daring and stylish members of the audience were committing the ultimate Prog heresy – they were dancing! The moves were wild but, as Charlie’s mum was one of the gyrators, he could hardly stop the show in protest.
Then, in what seemed like the blink of an eye, the first act was over, making me think that time had sped up and they had somehow shortened the songs, but they hadn’t.
The interlude was long enough for the band to rest, change and mingle while the dancers could rest and plan for the second half of the show, while the rest of the audience could catch their breath, top up their drinks and prepare for part two. A short break but for the eager crowd it could easily have been judged as too long.
Then, decked in a greatcoat, Charlie returned with the rest of the band. Hitting the ground running they launched into Keepers of the Light. Part two had started and this time the whole of Empires Must Fall was on the menu, with each delicious song served with the same energy and passion as the first half. All great songs but the stand out for the second set was Panopticon, and thanks to fading of the daylight, the laser effects added to the atmosphere and intensity of some of the other songs as well. But the show was not all about Charlie. The as yet the other unmentioned members of the band deserve accolades as well. Scott Owens, with his guitar was magnificent, Stuart McAuley, on bass was a solid stalwart while Andy Milner’s drumming was firm and inspired – they all deserve greater accolades but the review would be a lot longer if I were to provide those. But the entire ensemble was more than just a band working and performing together. There was banter full of humour that showed that they were far more than colleagues, they were friends enjoying what they were doing, the pleasure of entertaining obvious for all to see.
Once again the set flew by and it was time for the encore, Mercury Rising, and, inspired by the earlier gyrations, a much larger section of the audience were in front of the stage grooving away to time signatures that would probably stop most people from dancing, but not the Ghosties, we were made of more determined stuff.
I wish that the concert could have lasted longer, but, having played their entire catalogue of recorded material they had given their fans everything and left us all happy. We had witnessed a wonderful event and, as it was unique, we will be able to boast about it for years to come, whether those we are talking to want to hear it or not.
SETLIST
Scissors
Mountain
Just for Reference
January’s Child
Dead to Me
Scissors (Reprise)
– Interval –
Keepers of the Light
Days That Never Were
Panopticon
Fall Through Time
The One
After War
~ Encore:
Mercury Rising (Parts I & II)
MUSICIANS
Charlie Bramald – Lead Vocals, Flute
Graham Garbett – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Mark Hagan – Keyboards
Stuart McAuley – Bass
Andy Milner – Drums
Scott Owens – Guitars
LINKS
Ghost Of The Machine – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | X | Instagram
