PAGAN FEST 5/1 Review!!!!!!!

Diabolik

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Sep 30, 2005
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HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First off....attendence was fantastic. For all you non beleivers on how big folk metal is getting.....look at that crowd. I would say between 700 to 800 people. That place was very crowded. I got stuck in traffic and got a late start due to a slow person getting ready. Traffic was a pain in the ass too. Walked in about 6:20 and Earthen was setting up.

Earthen: Once they get thier act together they will be a pretty decent band. They were very sloppy and I think the male singer had to work so they had a fill in guy. He still had great stage pressence. The female singer seemed almost scared to be up there. All in all...they are a band that really needs to tighten up and they will be pretty good. I know they had short notice but this was a very important show. large crowd, great acts on the bill and you really want to impress the crowd. I think they did a decent job at it.

Eluviete: Holy Frikin Crap. This is a "LIVE" band. On CD they are pretty good. Live it is like a heavy metal circus. That band could write the book on putting on a great stage show. They knew how to work the crowd. The flute / bagpipe guy was nuts. He got everyone into it. My eyes did keep on drifting over to that very cute weird piano / wind up keyboard thing player. I thought the last few songs were not the best they could have chosen. They really started out strong. One of the best live bands I have seen in a long time. They may even make it in to my top 10. I expect them to be back. The crowd really got into them.

Tyr: Great band. Not so great live. I think following Eluviete was a bad choice. Solid band and very good live. But after following Eleuvite...you are going to fail. Thier set seemed very very short. Just as they got steam it was over. The fat bass player really needed a shirt or armor or something. It sounds like they are coming back in the fall from what they were saying. They were really getting into it though. Just after 8 people on stage going to 4 is kind a hard act to follow. Great to hear "Hail To The Hammer". Wish they played "The Edge"

Turisas: Best band of the night. Wish they skipped "One More", I thought that song really bought down the crowd. The crowd seemed to be really into them. The only downside of thier set was the piped in stuff. It was great and powerful but I began to wonder...how much else is piped in? They knew how to get the crowd going, everyone was singing along and just plain happy to be there it seemed. I was shocked to see that they had a replacement accordian player...damn! She was very beautiful and really into it. It is crazy watching these people play the folk instruments. After Turisas I moved back. Got tired of being knocked into by the mosh pit and stuff. Plus I wanted to shop for CD's.

Ensiferum: Very Very great live band. Very tight. The crowd was eating it up. I never realized they were this popular actually. Everyone was screaming and really getting into it. They played a variety of stuff which was great. It was great to hear "Victory Song" live. It was nice that they didnt waste anytime on stage with banter...they kept playing song after song.
I really hope they come back.


Along with bands....I got to meet and talk to many forum memebers...

Ken: Always great to see you. Wish we had more time to chat.

Rob: Now you see how the public loves the folk metal! keep that in mind next year. it was great to see you. I love busting your chops, all in all you are still a cool cat. We may not see eye to eye on lots of things but I can look past that.

Jose: always great to see you. Cant wait to see how our pictures look.

Shadowlioness: did you not recognize me at first? Thanks for taking my pic with Jose.

Pate and Vege: will talk to you guys more on friday or saturday.

Deadheart: Super cool guy. I hope to talk more with you. It is funny how we bickered online here and there but got along great in person. I will stop by the sound booth on friday to chat some more.

Lance King: super nice as ever. I will spread the word on the Scelerata disc as much as humanly possible. maybe Rob will bring them over next year. Thanks again for the Derdain CD. maybe it was me talking about now that I think about it. thanks again.

Brit: will definetly hook up more this weekend. great to finally meet you in person.

Cephlapod: if looks could kill. I would not be here writing this right now. Damn. I havent got dirty looks like that in a very long time. Maybe you were just in a bad mood or something but damn. A smile and a nice Hello goes a long way.

hopefully I will run into more on friday and saturday....hopefully I didnt leave anyone out.

The dealer tables were killer.

Picked up at CDinzane.....

Ancestral : The Ancient Curse
Twisted Tower Dire : Netherworlds double CD
Kaledon : Chapter 3 the way of the Light
Kaledon : Chapter 2 The Kings Rescue

at the Nightmare Booth...

the new Scelerata : Skeletons Domination
Derdain : New Era part 1.

also at Haven picked up

Battleroar: Age of Chaos CD/DVD
Ancient Rites: Rvbicon


It was an amazing show. The crowd was totally into it. I have a feeling that we will be seeing a Pagan Fest 2. If all the shows are like this. Damn.

great time.
 
Eluveitie and Turiasis ripped the place apart last night. Tons of movement, entertainment and good songs.

TYR and Ensiferum were very boring bands to shoot last night (photography of course). Their music did not do anything for me either.

To be honest, I am a power metal fan and never listened to any of the bands that performed last night. I have come to the conclusion that bands really need to hire that extra guitarist or bass player so that you can allow your vocalist to take care of the singing and entertaining. If this is not done, I get a camera full of the same 3 or 4 shots.

Rob and Chris... please talk to the lighting guy for me!!! Tell him to add some fog (but not too much) and shy away from the red and orange lights. Blues, greens and purples make for much better pictures. I would estimate that 80% of the show last night was in an amber hue. This is bad news for the photographers. I am not being bitchy, I am simply looking for a little help to get you fellas and the bands performing the best possible shots.

On the brighter side, the place was packed and everyone was having a great time. I am really looking forward to tonight and Saturday's shows. See you all there.
 
I agre...when Turisas came out to that purple lighting...it looked cool as hell as they stood there on stage. I hate that damn super bright white light they flash that makes your eyes hurt. Eluviete was so damn fun to watch. They are freaky looking guys, but put on a damn great show.

Norm...are you that guy with the long blond hair in a pony tail upfront?
 
Diabolik.. nope. That is Sam. I met him last night. Seems to be a really nice guy. I was the guy with a yellow shirt and dark hair.

Sam, if you read this, please post a link so I can check out your portfolio. I have seen you at almost every show I have shot at the Pearl Room, but I have never seen any of your shots. We are using the same camera, so I expect your shots to be killer.

I also met Bill last night. He drove in from Grand Rapids, Michigan for the show. He was shooting Nikon equipment. I would like to compare his shots with mine, since all of us in the pit were obviously shooting the same shots. Hopefully, I made the right choice going with Canon gear.
 
I thought last nights show was simply amazing. One of the best package tours I've seen in a long, long time. I enjoyed all the bands immensely, but I would have to admit that Diabolik hit the nail on the head with his comment about Eluveitie's performance. Also, I felt the same way about Tyr's performance. They played Hail to the Hammer and said this was there last song and I couldn't believe they were done. It seemed they played for like 15 minutes.
 
here is hoping for Pagan Fest 2!!!!!!!!!!!

Turisas
Korpiklanni
Alestorm
Equilibrum

that would be killer.

This is not my genre of expertise, but from all the bands of this ilk you have played for me Bob, Korpiklanni is definitely one of the best.

I could see Enslaved headlining one of these fests someday.
 
I'm disappointed at the live reviews for Tyr. I am/was really looking forward to seeing them as I love the album I've heard. =/