For fans, it has been a long five months or so since Finnish symphonic-metal band, Nightwish, announced their Australian tour.
Venues across the country sold tickets at rapid rates, and Melbourne was no exception. While plans for an upgrade on the iconic music theatre is underway, the theatrically-themed Forum Theatre waited patiently for the equally theatrical band (11 January).
Click here for photos from the show.
Tassie metal rockers Taberah are an excellent choice to open for international acts – they have it all. Musical skill, catchy songs, stage presence and the jokes to make the soberest of the crowd chuckle and grin.
They have opened for Motörhead (handpicked by Lemmy apparently), Hammerfall, Ace Frehley (ex-KISS), Paul Di'Anno (ex-Iron Maiden), Tim 'Ripper' Owens and more. Prime experience in preparation of European headlines – why not? And they planted their flag proudly, deep in the foreign soil using the Forum's sound system to almost capacity.
Nightwish - Image © Carl Neumann
Right on time, Nightwish filled the stage, the venue, the street, and the city, with their symphonic metal fit for kings, queens and the gods above, and below.
If there is a main reason that I am a music journalist and photographer it is this human oddity: goosebumps. That's right, measly little goose bumps. I've seen hundreds of shows. Either I have thick skin, so the little, temporary pimples have trouble raising up or it just doesn't happen that often. But it did on this night – a whole body emporium of goose pimples.
Floor Jansen - Image © Carl Neumann
While the mesmerisingly beautiful lead singer, Floor Jansen, commanded the crowd (and my goose pimples) with her solstice vocals and Marco Hietala (bass and vocals) demanded attention with his delicious undertones, the Melbourne crowd were singing and clapping along, euphorically pleased.
Nightwish - Image © Carl Neumann
The only disappointments? No 'Bye Bye Beautiful' or 'Amaranth'. If I knew it was going to be that good, I would have booked in to cover the entire Australian tour!
Nightwish - Image © Carl Neumann
Click here for photos from the show.
