Stratovarius was incredible in Cleveland last night. \mmmmm/
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:13 pm
The Cleveland crowd was not the typical laid-back metal crowd most bands are used to seeing from Americans. When Stratovarius came out and played "Maniac Dance," we went nuts. Stratovarius proceeded to play a near-perfect setlist, playing just about everyone's favorite songs from Fourth Dimension, Episode, and Visions. They even teased us by playing a little bit of Paranoid at one point.
Timo Tolkki and Jens Johansson had these great staredowns where they would either be playing mind games with each other or trying to one-up the other by playing something more impressive. Johansson is an amazingly entertaining performer.
About the \mm/ thing... my friends and I were all near the front row (probably in the 2nd or 3rd), and one of us had this idea where we would merge all of our \m/ signs (the sign where you clinch your first and extend your digit and pinky fingers). So it basically turned into all of us holding our fists together in the air while the outer two would extend a pinky, making the "longhorn" version of the horns. When we did this for Into Eternity (the opening act), one of their guitarists broke into a big grin when he saw it, and their bassist and vocalist just started cracking up when they saw it. Later, when Stratovarius came out, vocalist Timo Kotipelto actually looked at our group at the end of Maniac Dance and requested that sign. We did it, but also got a little help from the people around us this time. He then informed us, "That's a good one."
This concert was everything I wanted it to be. Stratovarius and Into Eternity are both incredible live bands, with very charismatic band members. Stratovarius is a top-tier live band, definitely on par with the likes of Iron Maiden, Kiss, and GnR. Best songs of the night: Maniac Dance, Hunting High and Low, Black Diamond.
I would have liked to have heard "Phoenix," which is my favorite song, but I'm definitely not complaining with what I got.
01 - Maniac Dance
02 - Speed Of Light
03 - The Kiss Of Judas
04 - Paranoid / Legions
05 - Twilight Symphony
06 - Will The Sun Rise?
07 - Bass Solo
08 - The Land Of Ice And Snow
09 - United
10 - Against The Wind
11 - Season Of Change
12 - Father Time
ENCORE:
13 - Coming Home
14 - Destiny
15 - Hunting High And Low
2ND ENCORE:
16 - Forever
17 - Black Diamond
Timo Tolkki and Jens Johansson had these great staredowns where they would either be playing mind games with each other or trying to one-up the other by playing something more impressive. Johansson is an amazingly entertaining performer.
About the \mm/ thing... my friends and I were all near the front row (probably in the 2nd or 3rd), and one of us had this idea where we would merge all of our \m/ signs (the sign where you clinch your first and extend your digit and pinky fingers). So it basically turned into all of us holding our fists together in the air while the outer two would extend a pinky, making the "longhorn" version of the horns. When we did this for Into Eternity (the opening act), one of their guitarists broke into a big grin when he saw it, and their bassist and vocalist just started cracking up when they saw it. Later, when Stratovarius came out, vocalist Timo Kotipelto actually looked at our group at the end of Maniac Dance and requested that sign. We did it, but also got a little help from the people around us this time. He then informed us, "That's a good one."
This concert was everything I wanted it to be. Stratovarius and Into Eternity are both incredible live bands, with very charismatic band members. Stratovarius is a top-tier live band, definitely on par with the likes of Iron Maiden, Kiss, and GnR. Best songs of the night: Maniac Dance, Hunting High and Low, Black Diamond.
I would have liked to have heard "Phoenix," which is my favorite song, but I'm definitely not complaining with what I got.
01 - Maniac Dance
02 - Speed Of Light
03 - The Kiss Of Judas
04 - Paranoid / Legions
05 - Twilight Symphony
06 - Will The Sun Rise?
07 - Bass Solo
08 - The Land Of Ice And Snow
09 - United
10 - Against The Wind
11 - Season Of Change
12 - Father Time
ENCORE:
13 - Coming Home
14 - Destiny
15 - Hunting High And Low
2ND ENCORE:
16 - Forever
17 - Black Diamond
*
Despite the crappy ass local band the promoters squeezed in there (they were horrible, probably the worst opening act I've seen since As I Lay Dying), it was an AWESOME show. I had seen them twice in Mexico, but never this close. The setlist was the same Lucid posted, Against The Wind was probably my favorite, followed by Destiny and Will The Sun Rise? 
Oh well, I got to shake TK's hand tho 
(he looked REALLY good btw