Article by Sam
For many people tonight, it would be the first time seeing the operatic Finns live. It's also my first time, and what a night to lose my Nightwish virginity. The queue is calm all day, some people queuing from 9 o clock in the morning, but half an hour before doors open it becomes amazingly tense, and every minute drags on as though it lasts an hour. This tension finally reaches a climax as the doors open, and the fans flood in, one by one.
The wait makes this tension last even longer. Instead of a support band, we're landed with a DJ. Not the best way to make the wait pass-by quicker. By 8:00 , we are told that Nightwish will be coming onstage shortly, and the crowd starts to explode with roars, and screams.
Being right on the barrier made this gig all the more exciting. I could easily see everything that was going on. And as the band walk on stage, I feel the crowd push towards them, like the Gods that they are.
They kick straight into the opener of their latest album, Dark Chest of Wonders. Tuomas, with his Indiana Jones styled hat, smacks his keyboard with seeming ease. Emppu and Marco are an amazing pair, and are as entertaining as you can get, playing their instruments with talent, but in some weird positions. You can't help but wonder how strong their leg muscles are...
Not leaving behind two members, Jukka and Tarja. Jukka's drums are powerful, and echo around Nottingham 's Main Hall. This man loves drumming. You can tell. Sadly, for the first few songs I can't really hear Tarja's voice too well, but you can still hear it. And my god, her voice is even better live than on record.
Straight after one of the best songs on the Once album, they go straight into Planet Hell, as we hear the pre-recorded orchestra and choir intro from the album. Jukka's drums come in, more powerful than ever. I can't help but notice how much his drum set shakes and vibrates. The rest of the band kick in and the crowd get their first taste of Marco's insane vocals live. He doesn't disappoint. Marco was one of the highlights of the gig for me. I was always a fan of his voice, but he sounds so much better live.
After this, we get some of their best songs, She Is My Sin, Phantom of the Opera, End of All Hope, and their latest single Nemo (which the crowd lap up and praise). From the crowd's reaction to Nemo, I can see how huge this band are going to be. The goth movement around the world may welcome Nightwish's symphonic metal. It may be but a dream, but this is it.
Nightwish aren't just amazing playing their faster songs, they're also pretty talented with their slower songs, namely Dead Boy's Poem and Sleeping Sun, both played at this gig. Dead Boy's Poem really shows off Tuomas' talents on the keyboards, while Sleeping Sun brings out Tarja's amazing voice, and stuns the crowd, filling up some audience members with pure emotion.
Most people watch Tarja, who looked absolutely stunning as usual, but overlooking Tarja's radiant beauty, and amazing voice, we can see the talent of the rest of the band. As she goes off, "the guys" play us a cover of Megadeth's Symphony Of Destruction. Marco's voice screeches out, and makes Dave Mustaine's voice seem like that of a boyband member. I never truly realised how insane and powerful Marco's voice was until that moment. And I loved every minute of it.
Wishmaster, Bless The Child, Higher Than Hope, Over The Hills And Far Away. How can Nightwish produce song after song, and yet still the crowd love every song? It's an amazing sight to see every song being worshipped by a crowd of fans. You'd have thought Nightwish would have run out of good songs, but I tell you...they left the best for last.
Midway through Dead Boy's Poem, the band blast into Slaying The Dreamer and the whole of Nottingham 's Main Hall move. I've never witnessed something so beautiful go into something so raw and powerful, but that's something that Nightwish have done over the years, producing songs of such beauty, yet with such raw power, and such raw emotion. The whole room headbangs and it's another prime example of Emppu's amazing guitar skill, and Marco's amazing pulse that he provides for the band. Tarja's headbanging and air-guitars also provide much entertainment.
The last song for tonight is Nightwish's upcoming single, Wish I Had An Angel. This is an amazing blend of riff, melody, and male and female vocals. Staying true to their past albums, but also developing majorly with their newer styles. The crowd scream, push and go absolutely crazy, and the band love it. Emppu's smiles, headbangs and positions. Jukka's constant smiling towards the band and crowd. Tarja lapping it up, air-guitaring and loving the attention, while Marco screeches, probably blind drunk. And Tuomas...Tuomas looks so overwhelmed with emotion, constantly smiling out towards the crowd. We all know Tuomas as a shy man, but we know how proud he is of this band, and tonight, "this band" have sold out Nottingham Rock City, in the UK...and Nightwish have had near to no promotion in this country. Tuomas knows this, and he is proud and we can tell by how amazing he plays, and how much he enjoys it.
This gig was nothing short of amazing. The band was friendly and played amazingly. Thank you, Nightwish, for the best gig...ever.
