Kamelot / Dragonforce @ Fillmore Silver Spring 11/18/2015

I went to see Kamelot at Silver Spring (~$29) as another part of their North American Tour (leg 2).  They were supposed to come to 4/27 to Baltimore Soundstage, but that was cancelled due to a state of emergency in Baltimore (!) and riots, etc. I was there for the VIP experience, but a little before Dragonforce was set to start, they turned on the house lights and announced all the insanity. They did play an early show a couple days later (due to the curfew(!)) but I was not able to make that show :( Unfortunately my notes were lost regarding timing and who all I saw at this show (not as many due to another conflicting show, and um... not everyone loving Kamelot)- but I think at least a couple people I knew were there.

Moshing' like the Fahrenheit...not at all

Blind Guardian / Grave Digger @ Baltimore Soundstage 10/27/2015

I went to see German power and true metal legends Blind Guardian w/ Grave Digger ($30) at the Baltimore Soundstage. Blind Guardian's last US tour had been years before (I'd never seen them) and Grave Digger hadn't been to the US on a full tour at all. I saw Bobbie and Armon, Dan and Bonnie, Dan, Daniel G, Ti, Dorothy, Marie,and Renee there.

BLIND GUARDIAN

Iris Divine / MindMaze / Dogs & Day Drinkers @ Club Orpheus, Baltimore 8/1/2015

I went to see Iris Divine with MindMaze, and special guests Dogs and Day Drinkers at Club Orpheus ($12) in godforsaken Baltimore. There were a number of people I knew there- Russell, Tom, Lacy, Bobbie, Lauri, Xtina, Gary, Mujeeb, and Josh.

Iris Divine

Nightwish / Sabaton @ Fillmore Silver Spring 5/14/2015

I went to see Nightwish's last stop on their Endless Forms Most Beautiful tour ($35) at the Fillmore, Silver Spring. This was the last stop on the tour. I saw Keddy, Martin and Vicki, Lauri and Danica, Bridget, mari, Dorothy, Paul and Christine, Patricia, ETHAN, Russell, Tom, Scott, Marie and Rolland, and Dylan and Deidre! I know Lacy, Chris Crazy-Wolf, Spencer, and Ray were there but I didn't see them. I was so pumped when this show was first announced, an then extra amped when Sabaton was added! I'd been waiting for this excellent lineup for months!

Within Temptation / Amaranthe at Rams Head Live 10/7/2014

I went to see Within Temptation ($30) at the Rams Head Live. They brought the amazing Amaranthe with them this time. Last time, I went to PA to see them.  I had seen WT in 2011 last. I met up with Bridget D, Mari, their sisters, Spencer, Ray, PhotoRay, Lauri, Danica, and I think Bobbie and Nick were there too. This evening there was also Butcher Babies at Soundstage and Deicide /Inquisition/ Spetic Flesh/ Carach Angran at Empire, but that didn't prevent this show from being pretty packed!

WITHIN ALL YOUR TEMPTATIONS

Sonata Arctica / Delain/ Xandria @ The Trocadero, PA 9/5/2014

I went to see Sonata Arctica in Philadelphia ($24) at the Trocadero due to scheduling conflicts at the Baltimore show.  I actually met up with Chris (whom I had seen at a Face Melting Friday) and his gf Lindsey and Lyndsey at the show! I also met with Ken and Dave (Mindmaze fans!) and chatted with a couple other interesting fellows about an old Batman comic, and another Steve.

Not Iron Maiden, not from England, they are Sonata, from Finland

Primal Fear/Arctic Flame/ Flag of the White Rose/ Mindmaze @ Baltimore Soundstage 4/29/2014

I went to see Primal Fear ($24-27) up in godforsaken Baltimore at the nice Baltimore Sound Stage.  After some initial parking difficulties and an almost altercation with some guy, I scampered thru the rain to the venue.  I saw Dave, Mike A, Milla, Bobbie, Nina, Tom, Avi, Brittany, Brian B and Renae there!

Iced Earth / Sabaton / Revamp/ A Sound of Thunder @ Empire 4/21/2014

John, Kate, and I went to see ICED EARTH (with others) at Empire ($27). There were a ton of people there- Scott, Milla, Brittany, DanPaytas, Amberley, Ethan, Paul n Christine, Neil and Michelle, Brian B, Ciara, Sean, Jason, Dave, Nathan with a J, Ariel, James, otherSteve, Bobbie, Sako and Greg,  Greekgirl, Miss SketchyLindsey, Marie, Avi, Nina, Josh, Jesse, Chris, Renae, Ray, Tony Dio, Mike AG, Joe H, Mari and Bridget, Steve Miller, Chris Crazy-Wolf, Daniel G and Nick, and maybe one or 2 more??? whew!  I was super pumped for this show because I'm a huge Iced Earth and Sabaton fan. oh and ASOT is one of my top local bands and I was curious about the ReVamps.

Overkill/ Kreator/ Warbringer/ A Sound of Thunder @ Empire 11/22/2013

I went with John to see Overkill headline on this night of thrash ($30!) at Empire/Jaxx. Now, this was a pricey show, but it was a night full of thrash. This was a nearly if not sold out show (a rare sight at Empire these days!), so it was strangely crowded. I saw Dorothy, Ariel y su Mujer, DanPaytas, Scott, Bobbie, Dave, Tom, Brittany, Ms Lindsey, Nathan with a J, Ray, Michelle, Neil, Nicole and Dan, and more!

Rock Harvest II: Ashes of Ares/ A Sound of Thunder @ House of Rock, 11/7/2013

I went to the much metaldramafilled and kind of Pricey ($25) Rock Harvest II to see Ashes of Ares and A Sound of Thunder. This was the first concert of 3 shows at the House of Rock that was initially slated to have like 30 bands of various fame levels, but many rarely seen, to play for the charity Fallen Blue. Various reports of bands dropping off, reasons why, conflicting stories, and a tiff with Metal Sludge's Stevie Rachelle all fed into the who is actually playing factor. Bands dropping off until and including the day of! This is no Maryland Deathfest here, people. I did see a number of people including Nick and Bobbie, Dave, Tom, Brian B, the A Sound of Thunder crew, and maybe someone else.

Kamelot/ Delain/ Eklipse @ Baltimore Soundstage 9/3/2013

We went to see one of my favourite Power metal bands of all time; KAMELOT in godforsakenbaltimore. We saw not as many people as we usually see- Dorothy, Lindsey, Marie (and her dood), Annie, and photographergirl. Bobbie and someone else were allegedly there but we didn't see them.

Pentagram / A Sound of Thunder/ Despite Charm/ Sons of Eddie @ Empire 8/3/2013

I wanted to catch A Sound of Thunder again, Sons of Eddie, and wanted to check out Pentagram (again, after dropping the ball when they opened for Down). I saw a bunch of people there- Neil n Michelle, Dorothy n Thereze, Brian B, the Sound of Thunder gang, Mr Nina, Bobbie, Dave, Metal Chris, and I think maybe a couple more people.

Amaranthe/ The Kobra and the Lotus @ The Note (West Chester, PA) 7/18/2013

We were on holiday and happened to be able to journey up north to see number 1 dance metal band Amaranthe in West Chester, PA. This venue was actually not that far from us (2hr or so drive, normally)- which is good information for the future as well. We saw Bobbie, Nick, and Carolyn from MD there as well!

Holy Grail/ Strong Intention/ Area 52 @ Metro Gallery 7/1/2013

I went with John and Kate to see HOLY GRAIL ($10) up at the Metro Gallery (never been there before). There were a TON of people... that I knew there. Outside the venue, met up with Lindsey (who was going to another show), and met Dorothy, the Day Drinkers and Dogs (Dan, Robin, Erich n Eric) Jen P, Bridget, and Zach (Strong Intention- finally got to see them!)! So 11 (including myself) of the about 50 people there I knew. 1/5 of the crowd. That's madness!

Mago de Oz/ Metanium @ Howard Theater 5/22/2013

We went to see Mago de Oz ($45!!) at the swanky Howard Theater in DC. It was a night of light wallets, as mine def felt thinner at the end. We saw Dorothy, Henry, and Henry 2 there. And a TON of my Spanish (ok probably not Spanish, probably Hispanic rather, but you know what I mean) brothers.

Raven/ A Sound of Thunder/ Cab Ride Home @ Empire 4/19/2013

I went to see Raven w/ A Sound of Thunder (and Cab Ride Home) last night. I  noticed that the doors opened later than anticipated, so I actually got there in time to see all bands, for once. I actually saw more people than I expected there- Dave, all of ASOT (of course), Mr. Nina, Sako n Greg (Wolverine), Those Mexican metal guys (who aren't Mexican), Gerber, Christina n her dude, THAT GUY FROM CAB RIDE HOME (Chris) , Neil n Michelle, guy from Ripper, maybe someone else!

Sonata Arctica @Empire 12/9/2012

Went to see Sonata Arctica @ Empire (Jaxx), with Arsis and Yesterday's Saints. Milla and I went, and met up with Ulrich and Trigger. We also saw Dorothy, Ruby, her friend Jessie, and that Moonsorrow guy (whew). ($15 from an opening band). There was a good size crowd (and for a rainy Sunday night, too!), as power metal seems to draw some decent crowds.

 

Kamelot @ Empire 9/14/2012

Went to see Kamelot with Milla, John, and Kate as the final show of the metal show gauntlet this week. I got tix before hand ($20) from the local band A Sound of Thunder. Cassandra Syndrome and A Sound of Thunder opened for them, but we got there too late to see Cassandra Syndrome. There were a lot of people there, the floor was packed. It was even rough as we had to park further away. I was looking forward to this show for a while, as I am a big Kamelot fan. Dorothy showed up at some point too- I think she has some business dealings with Alissa from the Agonist. Dave was there too and we totally chatted about METAL and WRESTLING. cool!

Smyphony X @ Baltimore Soundstage 9/11/2012

I went to see Symphony X (w Aries) @ the Baltimore Soundstage , show II of the metal show gauntlet week. I forgot how far Baltimore is...maybe I shoulda gone to the DC Show instead...X_X; It also was a bit pricier than anticipated ($28 bucks...pretty sure the site had $23 as the quoted price...). Dorothy was at this show as well. This show was pretty well attended- about 130 or so people (including the opening bands). It was my first time at the Soundstage, which is smaller than Jaxx/Empire. 

Sabaton @ Empire- 5/21/2012

Went to see Sabaton @ Empire (Jaxx) with Milla n John. Got some cheap tickets from local favourites A Sound of Thunder, so that was even better. About one hundred people were there (kind of a poor turnout, but it was a Monday and it was raining earlier). The good part about that was that there was plenty of personal space then! I think attendance may have also been affected by the show in Baltimore the previous night. I don't know how that show was how many people went to that one, but a couple people who did go then were here too!

As we got there, we heard some sort of string music, sounding like masterpiece theatre. Very surreal. I think it was the...interesting... choice of opening band 'Amphibious Apes' some sort of avant /indie band. We stayed in the hallway and chatted with Josh from ASOT instead.

Eventually we made our way in to see what merch there was and um drinks of course. Sabaton had some CDs, including their double live (all $15@), so I made a note to get that one later. They had 3 patches for $10@, and some t shirts that I didn't think were particularly interesting. ASOT had their usual stuff and some new wristband. I think I was expecting more shirts for Sabaton.

ASOT came on a little after 8:30 and played until about 9:20 or so. They played mostly newer stuff (which was mostly fine cause their new album is very good). Milla was trying to start a pit, but I didn't think there were any really great moshing times. At one point, Nina demanded to see the best windmill. I had no chance, but Milla, with hair down to her waist was a sure winner. A girl who looks like she doesn't go to metal shows was pretty active and they threw her a shirt. I think that was fine cause  hey, lets make a new fan. We already come to all the shows :3  ASOT sounded good as usual, but their set seemed shorter than usual.

Sabaton when played their opening intro (Europe's "The Final Countdown", I'm sure other people were singing along we me... I think). They stormed out to the stage with energy equal to if not more than last year's performance (at Jaxx). With that much anticipation and energy flowing i don't see how anyone would not have a great time!  They sounded good from the right side of the floor, but then I went to my usual back/middle spot and the sound was a lot more even. I was headbanging constantly.

Setlist wise, it was good to have some different songs from last time, but I really wanted to hear "Screamin' Eagles" :(  Regardless, it was a pretty well rounded set. Some of their songs work very well with the crowd participation ("Swedish Pagans"). I mean there was so much positive energy that they got me jumping up an down ("Primo Victoria" I think) and *very* briefly in the pit ("Attero Dominatus" I think).

Sabaton had a bunch of new people (google for the band drama), but I detected no weak links. On oddities-

• There was what looked to be a faux vagina (part of a fleshlight?) on one of their mic stands
• There was a huge stuffed orange animal that the singer was holding up at one point on stage near the end
• a roadie w/ a sombrero stumbled on the stage during "Metal Crue"
• the singer put on some shirt that  someone threw up at the stage (a um Saw IV shirt I think), soaked it with his sweat and threw it back
• Getting a shout out during "Metal Crue"

My favourite part- during "Metal Crue," near the end, the singer got up on the monitor and is looking out on the crowd, and points at me and My Rainbow- "Long Live Rock N Roll" shirt and motions back and forth across his chest (indicating he's seeing /reading my shirt)- and "the RAINBOW takes you Home!" Since "Metal Crue" is one of their tribute songs to other bands they like/were influenced from and RAINBOW is one of those bands, it was a nice touch. I was totally marking out after that \m/

Picture/drawing
A Sound of Thunder photos
Sabaton photos

I think all had a great time. I mean at least John and I were totally still pumped the next day from this \m/


Setlists

A Sound of Thunder

• Tubular Bells intro
• ? (older song..Walls?)
•  Fight til the end
• Night Witch
• Calat Alhambra
• Murderous Horde
• Out of the Dark
• A Sound of Thunder

Sabaton

• The Final Countdown (intro tape \m/)
• Intro: The March to War
• Ghost Division
• Uprising
• 40:1
• Cliffs of Gallipoli
• Midway
• The Art of War
• Into the Fire
• Carolus Rex
• Swedish Pagans 
• Attero Dominatus
• The Price of a Mile
• Coat of Arms
• Primo Victoria
• Metal Crue

alt version: http://www.metalsetlists.com/showthread.php?p=468190#post468190