After long days working as a rural carrier at the United States Postal Service (USPS), James Rizza plays in a Ghost tribute band called Absolution. The band works hard to make costumes and emulate the sound and showmanship of the original band.
“We dress up just like them and try to recreate as much of their showmanship as possible on stage. They're a niche band. After you see them, you walk away saying, ‘I didn't expect that,’” Rizza said. “It sounds like disco Black Sabbath, but I've also heard it called Scooby Doo chase music if you can think of what that sounds like in your head.”
Rizza’s love for music began at a very young age. He would spend his time listening to Boyz II Men, rap, and pop music, but his life changed when he discovered Metallica.
“I was 9 years old when I bought my first bass guitar. My brother walked into my room and handed me Metallica's black album. It changed my life forever,” Rizza said. “When I had my own money, I went out to the store and bought another Metallica album and thought I would start at the beginning.”
He then purchased Metallica’s first album and was inspired by one of the bass solos. After crossing out "guitar" and writing "bass guitar" on his birthday wishlist, he purchased it with birthday money, and the rest is history.
The guitar he purchased that day is still played and still comes to shows with him. Despite being in and out of bands throughout his life, Rizza will always have a strong appreciation for music and performance.
“I like to perform. I like to be the guy that makes everybody laugh,” Rizza said. “I don't like to make jokes. I don't think the center of attention is the right term, but I definitely can entertain you. If you were stuck with me for a day and I was trying to train you how to do my job, you're going to learn how to do the job, and it's going to be entertaining.”
Rizza likes to entertain people during his everyday life. On and off the clock working at the USPS or on stage with Absolution, he is entertaining people and putting smiles on their faces.
“It feels good. It's rewarding in a way that's hard to explain. Right before you get on the stage, you get butterflies in your stomach,” Rizza said. “I know it feels good. It's really energizing to get up there in front of a group, especially like people that are not expecting you to look that way and act that way, and then you get up there and knock their socks off.”
Ghost is a band based out of Sweden and do not tour in the United States often, so dedicated fans love to travel around the Midwest following Absolution to shows. The type of music that they play is not a music style that most people are familiar with, so it is easy to leave a show mind-blown. For more information about Absolution, follow Absolution on Facebook here or email absolution@gmail.com.