affinityband said:
Martin axenrot keeps a constant pace which is every very impressive i find. An immaculate drummer but doesnt put the extra fills and articulation lopez does.
I noticed that as well. Like the fill Lopez does during the bridge in "In My Time of Need". But I agree, Axenrot does a fabulous job.
My short review...
It was an all standing venue so I opted to go in the balcony section. Didn't feel like getting moshed, heehee. Turned out good because I got a perfect bird's eye view of the stage.
This was my first Opeth show and it totally rocked. First off, here is the setlist...
Baying of the Hounds
When
Bleak
In My Time of Need
The Grand Conjuration
Face of Melinda
Deliverance
Blackwater Park
Demon of the Fall
Mikael cracked me up a few times. He gave a death metal growl course to the fans.... He would grunt, then everybody followed him with that. The funniest part (for me) was after Deliverance (which happened to be my fave performance of the evening). After the song was over, Mikael stood there and said... "That was great" .... then he claps..... "That was wonderful" ..... he claps again..... "That was fantastic".... and yet he claps once again!!! Writing this out doesn't make it seem funny at all... you had to see it. It was like he was complimenting himself on the band's performance. Gotta love it.
Awesome guitar solos between Mikael and Peter. I loved when Mike went over to face him and they jammed out together.
It's so much fun watching Martin Mendez. He spreads his legs out so far that he is practically on the floor. His hair almost touches the floor as well as he swings his head from side to side and off rhythm (which is so cool by the way) to the music.
Per did a very nice solo in "In My Time of Need". Interesting to see a keyboard player headbanging with such a frenzy.
And like I said above, Martin Axenrot did an excellent job. Lopez is sorely missed though. I hope he gets well soon for the next tour.
Finally, one cannot leave out the mosh pit!! These guys were great. I was standing right over them and couldn't help from lmao. They were pushing/punching/smashing each other for one moment, then all of a sudden they go back to their original standing positions like none of it ever happened. Like it was just a natural/expected thing to do. Quite a few guys decided to crowd surf and each one wound up in front of the stage. At that point, the security gaurds would take them right out of the air and point to them to get out of the room. As these guys were walking out, they did it while headbanging!!! Seriously funny sh!t!! It was like no matter what happened to them (including getting kicked out of the room) they had to keep their momentum up. These guys don't mess around. hehe.
Mikael said they are coming back in February or March. \m/
My pictures came out lousy, but here is one of Peter giving a thumbs up to the crowd...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v149/witchaywoman/opeth1.jpg
Oh, and did anyone here meet the band afterwards?? I stood out front for quite a while but they didn't come out. Not that I saw anyway. I only saw Nevermore's tourbus.