Nightwish brings their brand of Operatic Goth
to the Uptown Theater in Kansas City
with Sonata Arctica & Delain
On the eve of my favorite holiday, Saint Patrick’s Day, Nightwish and friends paid a visit to the historic Uptown Theater in Kansas City. It had been a while since I had visited the venue, and was reminded of how great it was to see a show there. I am glad to see it getting more great acts.
Photo by Amber Miller
To start off the night was Delain, hailing from the Netherlands. Described as a “symphonic metal band”, I guess because they had a keyboard player. The started the night off just right. The beautiful, yet powerful vocals of Charlotte Wessels bellowed threw the acoustically tuned Uptown Theater as if they were made for her. If you were able to look past the stunning Charlotte’s Light Saber inspired mic stand, you could hear a great metal band that puts on one hell of a show.
Keeping the night going was Sonata Arctica from Finland. We had the pleasure of speaking with front man Tony Kakko before the show and could tell by his energy and great since of humor that we were in for a great set if he carried that in to the show. The house was not disappointed, Tony brought his fiery, playful self to the stage and shared with all in attendance. To me they had what could be disrobed as a 80’s power metal sound to them that had a little bit of Scorpions to it. The star of the night for me out of all the bands was guitarist Elias Viljanen. This dude could whale. After hearing him start to destroy that guitar I was fixed on him the rest of the set. He was amazing. If, I mean when, you see them live take the time to watch him play, hell, look him up on you tube after you read this. You are obviously on the internet now!
Photo by Amber Miller
Closing out the night, the bell of the ball, was Nightwish. Let’s just say their Night did not start out as well as they had Wished. (yeah see what I did there, I’m and idiot lol!). Everything started of great until bassist Marco Hietala had a little bit of a meltdown. Halfway through the opening number Mr. Hietala decided that his bass might sound better while being slammed on the stage and then walking off. The band played on through the first song and even the second before realizing they were down a member. They all then the left the stage with only the lovely Floor Jansen returning and informing us that there were some “technical difficulties.” Floor also let us know that if they were not fixed soon that she would be entertaining us with her stand up routine and if that were the case we were all pretty much screwed. A few moments later and a few attempts by Floor to humor us, the band made its triumphant return to the stage. Before starting to play Mr. Hietala issued an apology to the crowd explaining that his nerves were a little shot and this was not exactable and that he was deeply sorry. After they that they went on and played a great show for the Uptown audience.
Photo by: Amber Miller
Now to paraphrase the great Paul Harvey “Now here is the rest of the story.” Turns out the reason that Marco may have been a little on edge is because for the last several weeks all of the bands on this tour have been fighting the flu and have not been able to get over it. I am sure it is hard to get away from when you are on a tour bus, so close to everyone that the bug just keeps getting passed around and just won’t leave. Also from an inside source we learned that his batteries dying in his ear piece and thinking it was the venues’ sound being faulty was what sent him over the edge. Look I get it people and you should too. We have all be sick as dogs and not wanted to perform our duties, hell most of us would just call in sick and jump in bed and say fuck it. It would be easy for these bands to do the same and cancel the tour and fly home and get well for the next round, but no, they are sticking out and giving the fans what they want. So Marco, don’t worry about it man, you are only human. It takes a bigger man to come back out and admit he was wrong and apologize. For every one in Delain, Sonata Arctica, and Nightwish that have been fighting their way through the sickness and putting on a great show, we at RockRevolt Magazine salute you.
Ace Sims – RockRevolt Journalist
Nightwish
Photo Credit: Amber Miller
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Sonata Arctica
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Delain
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