Concert: Killswitch Engage, In Flames, Protest the Hero, Between the Buried and Me
Posted on September 10, 2009 at 1:21 pm by admin
The concerts I go to just seem to keep getting bigger and bigger. The venue this show landed at was Arrow Hall – but was I in for a surprise! Arrow Hall is situated close to the airport because it used to be an airplane hanger, making it the biggest venue I’ve been to so far. I’ve heard that former airplane hangers don’t get very good sound, but the spots where I got to hear the bands from were good, and firecrackers were thrown into the air (or perhaps it was set up by the venue?) for every band once during their set.
With people still piling in Between the Buried and Me hit the stage with their style of music that’s so eclectic, people probably shouldn’t get it – but fortunately still do. They only played 4 songs during their half hour set, and while it seemed strange that Between the Buried and Me would tell people that they’re playing their last song so early, it was 13 minutes long. If only more bands would take that gamble.
Famed Canadian act Protest the Hero was next. I’d seen them on 2 previous occasions, the first time touring on their first album, “Kezia”, which didn’t quite seem to go over as well live as one might think, and the second time there were sound problems at the venue. The “Fortress” songs are a bit more straightforward, and spend a little more time hanging on live aspects of the songs. They weren’t quite as nuts on stage as they’ve been previously, instead focusing more on playing before the funny and silly stage banter.
In Flames was a band who’s toured tons, and is still touring lots after all these years. Lots of my friends have seen them live, but this was my first time. Their set seemed well-rounded, ranging from newest songs to some old ones, though being a bit more focused on some slightly newer songs, opening with “Cloud Connected”, and closing with “Take This Life”. Vocalist Anders Fridén comes off nearly picture perfect recreating the vocals on the album in a live environment. There was plenty of headbanging action from those with long hair, and after doing it this long, I’m surprised they haven’t broken their necks.
The band of the night was Killswitch Engage, who opened with an old one, “My Last Serenade”. Guitarist Adam D. dashed around the stage in a headband, daisy dukes, a golden cape and a tiny tuxedo shirt which vocalist Howard Jones simply exudes confidence. Behind them were risers with 2 sets of stairs for Howard Jones to run up on, though most of the time when he was up there he was obscured by smoke. Almost all the songs were video songs and single that people were familiar with and could easily sing along with, the ones I’m most familiar with being “My Curse”, “Darkness Falls” and my personal favourite, “Life to Lifeless”. Hats were thrown on stage along with other items, and Howard even adorned a few, with the exception of a CBGB’s hat which he said he’d be taking home. After begging for one more song, everyone got what they wished for “Holy Diver”, a cover by a man who’s name rhymes with Rio, or Theo, or Neo.
In the end, every band played near perfect, and there were no snags as the lights and smoke drew upon every band.
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