The Heavy Metal Cowboy - A source for heavy music concert reviews in the DC/MD/VA Area (old) and NC (new) Includes Metal, Rock, Hard Rock, some Industrial and Electronic
Showing posts with label Arkona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arkona. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Arkona/ Fallen Martyr/ Yesterday's Saints/ Burning Shadows / Vitality @ Cafe 611 10/28/2013
We went up to Cafe 611 to catch Arkona on the first stop of their headline tour! We apparently got there way early, because we actually got to see the first band (unheard of at Cafe 611). We met up with a buncha fun friends- Iri, Ashley, their friend, Larry, Brittany, Nathan with a J, Annie, and even the couple who goes to a lot of these Fredneck shows.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Paganfest @ Sonar 3/29/2012
Went with Milla, Ulrich, and Trigger to see Paganfest North America. This was the first stop on the tour. And the first time that Turisas has done/is doing a headling tour in North America. Pretty cool. Angie, one of Milla's friends from a bit ago, was also there. I recall saying something like "Angie, like the Rolling Stones song?" and "Steve, like Stevie Nicks...but different." Milla and Ulrich had Turisas facepaint. I might do some for Behemoth or 1349.
We parked near city hall (seemed same) and walked over. Actually was the easiest time I've had going to Sonar, somehow. When we got there some band was playing, I was thinking it was the last localish opener. It was actually the 2nd. We later learned for some reason everything was 1.5 hours late. That's right, we arrive around 8 and only one band has been on. It was a LONG night.
There were a lot of interesting people including
Second opener was Deranged Theory , they were alright, the vocalist was in a kilt and a wrestling type belt. He had a polearm, a sword, some God of War blades, and maybe a dagger at various points during their set. They kept on mentioning different video games (Castlevania, God of War, etc.)
So Huntress finally came on and I was pumped to hear them live. Their singer, Jill Janus aka DJ Tusedae aka Penelope Tuesdae, was def working her um...sexy angle. After 30 seconds into their set I was convinced that she had to be a stripper or something previously. She reminded me of a thinner, bustier Doro (not a bad thing). I liked their slightly thrashier more classic sound. Some sort of Wiccan or witch theme, and Jill drank some 'blood' at one point...that sloppily dripped down her mouth and onto her ample cleavage.
I got a photo with Huntress (but had not turned on the flash WTF) and then Arkona came on. They sounded alright, about as good as last time I saw them (with Kamelot), but maybe better since I was a bit more familiar with their songs. I still don't think their songs are really good to mosh to. They sound better on the album, but it is still nice seeing them live. <3 Russian chicks. The crowd was pretty receptive to them, despite some resistance to moshing (and a reported ignoring the request for a wall of death).
Alestorm creeped on around... 11 I think. They came on to some amazing 8bit version of Wenches and Mead. The crowd got a bit more rowdy here. They sounded really good, but their setlist order was kind of odd- it didn't flow as well as last time (again, with Kamelot). I would have rather heard "HUNTMASTER" or "Captain Morgan's Revenge" instead of "Midget Saw," but it was nice to hear that live (hadn't been played before live here). I enjoyed their set the best of the night.
Finally, Turisas came on at like 12:30. Yeah, it was a ridiculously late night- so late that it felt like a Jaxx show. They sounded really good, but a combination of factors (tired, anxious about work, anxious about car, violins lulling factors, not THAT familiar with their songs) had me a bit underwhelmed. The violin parts sounded beautiful, especially when it was their solos. However, I really was in the mood for something less epic and more um...brutal maybe. Too many strings and synth strings too late. Epic is a good word to describe Turisas and their grandiose vision (reminded me of Rhapsody, but less narration). The songs I did recognize sounded good, but just lacked a bit of umph, IMO. They were very professional and tight (and all in facepaint :3 ), which I totes appreciated. The frontman was talking about Pabst blue ribbon and we all booed when he joked about judging Baltimore by this beer. I really wanted to hear Rasputin :(
Picture wise I realized I didn't get any of Arkona somehow. I got a bunch of Huntress (tho I coulda used a damn flash...). Alestorm's ones came out blurry and unusable. And then my phone died right when Turisas came on. Like what happened at damn Iced Earth.
Overall, this was probably my second 'worst' concert of the year so far. First worst being Deicide, so far. But I still enjoyed it for the most part. Just the whole lateness thing killed a lot of enjoyment X_X,
ALSO EX DEO was supposed to be on this tour, but they were not, for some reason :/
Facepaint hyjinx
Huntress photos
me and Huntres
Setlists
Deranged Theory
Huntress
Arkona
Alestorm
Turisas
We parked near city hall (seemed same) and walked over. Actually was the easiest time I've had going to Sonar, somehow. When we got there some band was playing, I was thinking it was the last localish opener. It was actually the 2nd. We later learned for some reason everything was 1.5 hours late. That's right, we arrive around 8 and only one band has been on. It was a LONG night.
There were a lot of interesting people including
- People in Turisas facepaint
- really fat guy with bunny ears
- girl in white booty shorts getting groped by the guy she was with
- someone with some sort of spear
- kilted people
- various armoured people (including a dude in chain mail
- some chick with a short sword
- some guy with a batman tattoo on his chest and some DIRTY ass sweatpants with stains
Second opener was Deranged Theory , they were alright, the vocalist was in a kilt and a wrestling type belt. He had a polearm, a sword, some God of War blades, and maybe a dagger at various points during their set. They kept on mentioning different video games (Castlevania, God of War, etc.)
So Huntress finally came on and I was pumped to hear them live. Their singer, Jill Janus aka DJ Tusedae aka Penelope Tuesdae, was def working her um...sexy angle. After 30 seconds into their set I was convinced that she had to be a stripper or something previously. She reminded me of a thinner, bustier Doro (not a bad thing). I liked their slightly thrashier more classic sound. Some sort of Wiccan or witch theme, and Jill drank some 'blood' at one point...that sloppily dripped down her mouth and onto her ample cleavage.
I got a photo with Huntress (but had not turned on the flash WTF) and then Arkona came on. They sounded alright, about as good as last time I saw them (with Kamelot), but maybe better since I was a bit more familiar with their songs. I still don't think their songs are really good to mosh to. They sound better on the album, but it is still nice seeing them live. <3 Russian chicks. The crowd was pretty receptive to them, despite some resistance to moshing (and a reported ignoring the request for a wall of death).
Alestorm creeped on around... 11 I think. They came on to some amazing 8bit version of Wenches and Mead. The crowd got a bit more rowdy here. They sounded really good, but their setlist order was kind of odd- it didn't flow as well as last time (again, with Kamelot). I would have rather heard "HUNTMASTER" or "Captain Morgan's Revenge" instead of "Midget Saw," but it was nice to hear that live (hadn't been played before live here). I enjoyed their set the best of the night.
Finally, Turisas came on at like 12:30. Yeah, it was a ridiculously late night- so late that it felt like a Jaxx show. They sounded really good, but a combination of factors (tired, anxious about work, anxious about car, violins lulling factors, not THAT familiar with their songs) had me a bit underwhelmed. The violin parts sounded beautiful, especially when it was their solos. However, I really was in the mood for something less epic and more um...brutal maybe. Too many strings and synth strings too late. Epic is a good word to describe Turisas and their grandiose vision (reminded me of Rhapsody, but less narration). The songs I did recognize sounded good, but just lacked a bit of umph, IMO. They were very professional and tight (and all in facepaint :3 ), which I totes appreciated. The frontman was talking about Pabst blue ribbon and we all booed when he joked about judging Baltimore by this beer. I really wanted to hear Rasputin :(
Picture wise I realized I didn't get any of Arkona somehow. I got a bunch of Huntress (tho I coulda used a damn flash...). Alestorm's ones came out blurry and unusable. And then my phone died right when Turisas came on. Like what happened at damn Iced Earth.
Overall, this was probably my second 'worst' concert of the year so far. First worst being Deicide, so far. But I still enjoyed it for the most part. Just the whole lateness thing killed a lot of enjoyment X_X,
ALSO EX DEO was supposed to be on this tour, but they were not, for some reason :/
Facepaint hyjinx
Huntress photos
me and Huntres
Setlists
Deranged Theory
- song about the Headless horseman
- song about Darksiders
- song about Castelvania
- song that sounded like Powerslave
- song about God of War ("Abandoned by god"?)
Huntress
- ?
- ?
- Aradia
- Spelleater
- 8 of Swords
Arkona
- Pokrovy Nebesnogo Startsa
- Goi, Rode, Goi
- Yarilo
- Stenku Na Stenku
- ?
- ?
Alestorm
- 8bit intro
- Shipwrecked
- Wenches and Mead
- Sunken Norweigen
- Nancy the Tavern Wench
- Back Thru Time
- Keelhauled
- Midget Saw
- Rum
Turisas
- Intro
- The March of the Varangian Guard
- Take the Day
- To Holmgard and Beyond
- Violin Break
- The Dnieper Rapids
- One More
- The Great Escape
- Violin interlude 2
- Five Hundred and One
- Rex Regi Rebellis (Finnish version)
- Hunting Pirates
- Stand Up and Fight
- Battle Metal
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Korpiklaani @ JAXX 12/17/2011
Decided it was a great idea to go see Korpiklaani after getting back from Texas on that Wednesday. Like right after I got off the plane I headed to Jaxx to meet Milla for dinner and the show.
Got there kind of early, but we wanted to see Arkona and I was already in VA. We went to get some Pizza at the place across the way. It was pretty good, and we had leftovers. We headed to Jaxx, got tix and heard Polkadot Cadaver who were already playing their set. They, IMO were rubbish. The best song they did was a cover of Billie Jean...and even then...
As the opener was playing, we moved the back bar area and stood around. There was no bartender back there, and there was a guy with a Wintersun hoodie, so we had to ask him WTF he got it from. During this, we notice a police officer in some heavy tac gear come in. Not too surprising, but it didn't seem that rowdy. Then 6 other officers follow after him. WTF is going on?
They make their way to the half of the bar back room that is clear, and some blond girl is in the corner now, talking with them. I suspect it is some sort of assault ... then we notice a bottle of bud light being dusted and some samples and photos are taken from it. The dude in the Wintersun shirt thinks it has to do with underage drinking. They eventually clear out and the old dude who works there is PISSED. Needless to say bar service has stopped for the time being. We were more concerned if the show would be canceled or not.
Milla introduced to some friends that happened to be there too. At about this point I notice some guy with dreads and a beard like that one guy from Korpiklaani. And I flash him the horns and ask for a picture. He obliges with some broken English, he was very nice. I think Milla said something to him in Finnish which he seemed to understand.
Eventually Arkona comes on, and people start to mosh. But the music, IMO is not that heavy. Its not bad, but its not stuff I'd think people would/should be moshing to. But they do. On every song. sheesh. They sound good, different instruments produce a unique sound. But I'm not fully convinced of this moshing madness. All the way from Russia tho. I buy one of their CDs, might as well try to help them out, right? And then we get a picture with one of the band members.Also got a Korpiklaani CD too.
The annoying thing is that there is some smallerish guy who must have been a wrestler who, along with a shirtless drunk bald guy, and a tall dude in a kilt are running the pit. And this include running at each other and impacting on the shoulder. On like most songs.
Korpiklaani finally comes on and they sound a bit muddy. Energetic, but muddy. The sound clears up a bit, but I think their frontman has been drinking or its the Engrish. Either way, he is rambling about something between most songs. The songs themselves sound very good and the crowd is still full of energy (but seems like less moshing than during Arkona). I enter the pit a couple times, even.
Near the middle, Milla and I and her friend are in some ridiculous formation and then I am sideswiped by someone and we all fall, my head def hit the cold hard Jaxx floor. I am a bit furious and def make that known to the short dude who is the 'head of the pit. Then I realize the first rule- don't be a douche, people get banged up in the pit. So we make amends and we get back to the show.
The small guy and the drunk guy tangle up a lot more times, and the small guy basically puts some wrestling holds on another guy and SLAMs him (almost a suplex) to the ground! The small guy and drunk guy charge either other and the drunk guy gets out of the way, in an epic trolling. Hilarious.
Overall a good show, but def more moshing than I expected/cared for. Also was very tired from being on the plane. UGH. Setlist is from saetlist.fm form the GA show the night before. I really only know/can pronounce a handful of their songs. But they def played Iron Fist, Tequila, Korpiklaani, Beer Beer, and Vodka.
Setlist:
Pictures
Got there kind of early, but we wanted to see Arkona and I was already in VA. We went to get some Pizza at the place across the way. It was pretty good, and we had leftovers. We headed to Jaxx, got tix and heard Polkadot Cadaver who were already playing their set. They, IMO were rubbish. The best song they did was a cover of Billie Jean...and even then...
As the opener was playing, we moved the back bar area and stood around. There was no bartender back there, and there was a guy with a Wintersun hoodie, so we had to ask him WTF he got it from. During this, we notice a police officer in some heavy tac gear come in. Not too surprising, but it didn't seem that rowdy. Then 6 other officers follow after him. WTF is going on?
They make their way to the half of the bar back room that is clear, and some blond girl is in the corner now, talking with them. I suspect it is some sort of assault ... then we notice a bottle of bud light being dusted and some samples and photos are taken from it. The dude in the Wintersun shirt thinks it has to do with underage drinking. They eventually clear out and the old dude who works there is PISSED. Needless to say bar service has stopped for the time being. We were more concerned if the show would be canceled or not.
Milla introduced to some friends that happened to be there too. At about this point I notice some guy with dreads and a beard like that one guy from Korpiklaani. And I flash him the horns and ask for a picture. He obliges with some broken English, he was very nice. I think Milla said something to him in Finnish which he seemed to understand.
Eventually Arkona comes on, and people start to mosh. But the music, IMO is not that heavy. Its not bad, but its not stuff I'd think people would/should be moshing to. But they do. On every song. sheesh. They sound good, different instruments produce a unique sound. But I'm not fully convinced of this moshing madness. All the way from Russia tho. I buy one of their CDs, might as well try to help them out, right? And then we get a picture with one of the band members.Also got a Korpiklaani CD too.
The annoying thing is that there is some smallerish guy who must have been a wrestler who, along with a shirtless drunk bald guy, and a tall dude in a kilt are running the pit. And this include running at each other and impacting on the shoulder. On like most songs.
Korpiklaani finally comes on and they sound a bit muddy. Energetic, but muddy. The sound clears up a bit, but I think their frontman has been drinking or its the Engrish. Either way, he is rambling about something between most songs. The songs themselves sound very good and the crowd is still full of energy (but seems like less moshing than during Arkona). I enter the pit a couple times, even.
Near the middle, Milla and I and her friend are in some ridiculous formation and then I am sideswiped by someone and we all fall, my head def hit the cold hard Jaxx floor. I am a bit furious and def make that known to the short dude who is the 'head of the pit. Then I realize the first rule- don't be a douche, people get banged up in the pit. So we make amends and we get back to the show.
The small guy and the drunk guy tangle up a lot more times, and the small guy basically puts some wrestling holds on another guy and SLAMs him (almost a suplex) to the ground! The small guy and drunk guy charge either other and the drunk guy gets out of the way, in an epic trolling. Hilarious.
Overall a good show, but def more moshing than I expected/cared for. Also was very tired from being on the plane. UGH. Setlist is from saetlist.fm form the GA show the night before. I really only know/can pronounce a handful of their songs. But they def played Iron Fist, Tequila, Korpiklaani, Beer Beer, and Vodka.
Setlist:
- Hunting Song
- Päät pois tai hirteen
- Cottages and Saunas
- Tuoppi oltta
- Journey Man
- Juodaan viinaa
- Lonkkaluut
- Vaarinpolkka
- Vodka
- Wooden Pints
- Iron Fist (Motörhead cover)
- Tequila
- Beer Beer
- Yoik Jonne Järvelä
- Kipumylly
- Korpiklaani
- Ii lea voibmi
Pictures
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