On one of the most beautiful days Los Angeles had to offer, the reining royalty of symphonic metal, Nightwish, held court at the foot of the infamous Greek Theater. Located in the midst of Griffith Park, this scenic venue was the perfect setting to host such a melodic act. With thousands in attendance, dedicated Nightwish fans drove from all over to witness the phenomenal live performance that this band is known for, and there was simply no way that anyone left this event disappointed.Â
The stage was adorned with nature-esque props and featured traveler imagery on the backdrops, very much in tune with the adventurer theme in Nightwish‘s most recent album, Endless Forms Most Beautiful. Lighting played a significant role in the literal interpretation of the music, with various illuminations bringing the stories to life.Â
The show opened with the first track of the new album, A Shudder Before the Beautiful, which brought the energy directly into the crowd, much like setting the mood on the CD. The set list featured some of the band’s most energetic songs, intermingled with beautiful ballads. The acoustic song The Islander was also thrown into the mix, which beautifully showcased the musicians’ talents.
Vocalist Floor Jansen is no stranger to the stage, and she most certainly stole the night with awe-inspiring vocals and theatrical expressions! One of the most impressive features of Nightwish are how true the sound is to their albums. Jansen truly brought the music to life with her own uniqueness, yet honored the songs performed by past Nightwish vocalists at the same time.Â
Keyboardist and composer Tuomas Holopainen displayed his virtuosic genius and mastery of the keys, while Kai 
Hahto really rocked it out with perfect synchronicity on drums. Bassist and vocalist Marco Hietala has a skill-set and talent like no other, and most certainly brought his passion out on stage. Emppu Vourinen was dynamically intense on guitar, exuding an energetic and enthusiastic performance throughout, while Troy Donockley brought a creative inventiveness to the mix with a variety of unique instruments that enhanced the musical experience even further.Â
Separately, each individual artist in Nightwish is stellar; put them all together and it is nothing short of magic. One of the most notable aspects of the band’s performances are the fact that they always play with a smile on their faces – artists who truly love playing their art for the world – and it shows.Â
The encore featured fan favorites Ghost Love Score and Last Ride of the Day, which was the perfect “icing on the cake” finish to one amazing show.Â
NIGHTWISH
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Set List:Â
- Shudder Before the BeautifulÂ
- Yours is an Empty Hope
- Amaranth
- She is my Sin
- Endless Forms Most Beautiful
- My Walden
- The Islander
- Elan
- Weak Fantasy
- Storytime
- Dark Chest of Wonders
- Alpenglow
- Stargazers
- Sleeping Sun
- The Greatest Show on Earth
- Ghost Love Score
- Last Ride of the Day
If you have the opportunity to see Nightwish live, it will be a concert that you will never forget. Check out their tour schedule at the links below and pick up their new album, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, everywhere!Â
Review and Photographs by: Anabel DFlux, Senior Writer and PhotojournalistÂ
NIGHTWISH is:Â Floor Jansen – vocals, Tuomas Holopainen – keyboards, Marco Hietala – bass & vocals,Emppu Vuorinen – guitars, Jukka Nevalainen – drums,Troy Donockley – Pipes, flutes & whistles
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