The usual faces were collected on the sidewalks beyond the venues front doors, haggling over prices. “Tickets! Tickets! Who needs tickets?” A couple up ahead asked how much and were told “twenty-five bucks cheaper than in there” which was met with laughter and not so much as a brief pause of the feet. I imagine they changed their minds with haste shortly afterwards, though.
Roadies handed out copies of the groups latest release, “Decades”; a best of CD containing a collection of tracks over the band’s two decades and three frontwomen. When the gate cost is an astounding $88.50 before taxes and service charges, treats like this are affordable – and still very much appreciated. The stages had been prepared and sat in silence but would be close to an hour before it saw any action.
Finally, the house music subsided and a ten-minute intro piece fell over a hushed and full Mtelus theatre (I’ll never get used to calling it that). Then a snooty yet comical voice came over the P.A system, asking the audience to travel back through time with the band, with their music but moreover, by refraining from cell phone use during the show. Adding that people weren’t really interested in their poor quality video clips anyway. A grand gesture that mostly fell on deaf ears.
In the haze of stage light, a shadowy figure emerged perched on a chair. With a flute at the lip and another traditional looking wind instrument tucked under arm, he began the evening’s entertainment. His tune encouraged his fellow musicians out from behind the curtains as one by one they assumed positions in front of the now boisterous audience. Drummer Kai Hahto hoped up onto his drum riser, throwing a fist skyward, firmly gripping the sticks of his trade. The beats he lay down on this night will be nothing even remotely similar to the first time my ears and he met. Hahto was once known as the machine-gunning beast that pummeled ears and skins alike for a nasty beauty of a band known as Rotten Sound. Also part of Wintersun for a time before joining Nightwish.
Opening with “End Of All Hope”, as singer Floor Jansen stepped into the limelight at center stage, dressed in leather and looking ready to go to war. The contrast in height between bassist Marco Hietala and guitarist Emppu Vourinen is childishly amusing – let the two have great chemistry. In fact, the entire band, despite several key changes, are a tight group.
The band churned through two decades worth of material, covering a bit of everything and were fantastic throughout the process. The massively popular troupe pleased a packed MTelus theater throughout, many of whom chanted back lyrics and roared with applause at every opportunity.
Nightwish are one of the most popular bands ever to hail from Finland, with album sales in excess of 900,000 copies. Considering the likes of HIM; that is an impressive feat.
Setlist
Intro
End of All Hope
Wish I Had an Angel
10th Man Down
Come Cover Me
Gethsemane
Élan
Sacrament of Wilderness
Deep Silent Complete
Dead Boy’s Poem
Elvenjig
Elvenpath
I Want My Tears Back
The Carpenter
The Kinslayer
Devil & the Deep Dark Ocean
Nemo
Slaying the Dreamer
The Greatest Show on Eart
Ghost Love Score
