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Tonight was show number one on a thirty-odd date European trek that ends in Norway in March. As Johannes (ringmaster/frontman/ex-Baseball Furies leader) mentioned later on during the gig, the first night of the tour, the first gig of 2019, brought some trepidation. But that was perhaps just for show as these guys didn’t seem nervous at all.
An Avatar gig is a well-drilled, well choreographed event. The increased capacities of the larger venues enable a larger production, and this show is incredible. Thanks to Youtube and social media, much of it won’t come as a surprise to those attending any of the future gigs. It’s almost like not wanting to give away spoilers to a movie, and one is wary of saying too much. So let’s just say that the stage set-up is immense. It involves a pulpit, a throne, some indoor fireworks and drummer John Alfredsson perched high up on a riser behind one of the sexiest drum kits ever. Move along, nothing to see here.
The citizens of Avatar country packed the venue from the minute the doors opened, and had their ears caressed by the best pre-show music ever piped into a venue. Thirty minutes or so of broadcasts from a fictional radio station, extolling the virtues of all things Avatar country. Think GTA Vice City soundtrack as done by Matt Parker and Trey Stone from South Park. Lots of subtle jokes, adverts, and a few bars of the Rainbow classic ‘Kill The King’. Then the lights dimmed. When the lights rise, Johannes is atop his pulpit, towering over the masses. The intro to ‘A Statue Of The King’ starts up and Johannes begins to sing in a narrative voice “on this glorious day we’re all citizens” and the adoring citizens are bellowing the same words back to him as one. Unlike the video for the same track, The King is not dropped onto the stage by helicopter, and he takes up position alongside the others. When the Melo-death segment arrives, the crowd erupts as the band puts on a top notch display of windmilling. It’s incredible watching the front rows headbang in perfect unison. Alfredsson is battering the living daylights out of his kit while wearing a restrictive tunic. A musician suffering for his art – we salute you sir!
No time to pause for breath as it’s full steam ahead into ‘Legend of the King’ and The King is now sitting comfortably on his throne, shredding. Fellow guitarists Tim Öhrström on six strings and Henrik Sandelin on four, flank the throne and make for quite a sight when they synchronise their headbanging. Johannes is incredible to watch – flamboyant, uber-theatrical with a killer voice thrown in. His range is powerful and at home handling both clean vocals and growls. He stays in character when he takes breaks to address the crowd. When he introduces ‘Paint Me Red’ he jokes “If you don’t know the words, then fake it. Three songs and I haven’t nailed a single word!”. When his pulpit is carried off stage he takes his place in the windmilling front line. Very, very visual.
With seven studio albums to choose from it’s a lengthy setlist. Seventeen songs in total, hitting a combined 105 minutes mark. With the lights and the show this is a real value for money ticket. ‘Bloody Angel’, an intense ‘Get In Line’, ‘The Eagle Has Landed’, ‘Tsar Bomba’ and everything aired from ‘Avatar Country’ are just some choice picks from the evening. Before ‘Smells Like A Freakshow’ Johannes talks at length about people judging others on their appearance, crossing the road to avoid them, that kind of thing. He begins in what seems like his normal everyday voice, before swiftly returning to his more theatrical character voice. It’s a nice touch and gives us all a fleeting glimpse of the man behind the greasepaint. After a very quick change into white tunics, the band is back for an almighty closing one-two of ‘The King Welcomes You To Avatar Country’ and ‘Hail The Apocalypse’. Security is working overtime as the surfers are coming over in droves. It’s chaos, but a calming kind of chaos. There’s something quite reassuring about a sold out venue losing their minds to a band that, through sheer hard work, is beginning to reap the rewards. File under – not to be missed.
Review – Dave S
Images – Dave Jamieson
