Epica in Chicago
Last night, I went to go see Dutch band Epica with Jim, Cathy, Jo and Kristen at the relatively new Logan Square Auditorium. I stand by what I said last time I was there. Okay venue, so-so acoustics, and because of the way the speakers are positioned, it's hard to hear much right in front of the stage.
Anyway, I was the only one with a VIP ticket for early entry, so after resolving a mix-up by the vendor I had bought my ticket from, I had a chance to meet the members of Epica (and Oliver from Kamelot, who was filling in for Epica's Coen on the keyboard).
The poster Epica (and Oliver) signed:
I asked Oliver how Kamelot's new album is coming (as they announced on their website they're planning to release it in six weeks), and he told me they're working on it but he thinks I'll like it. I'm not entirely sure what that means, but knowing Kamelot, I'm sure it'll be good.
Mark, the creator of Epica, also said that the next Epica album will be fast and heavy much like the current one.
Anyway, I managed to grab a spot right next to the stage (as will be evident by the pictures), though I put Kristen in front of me when everybody else came in.
The first band up was local act Sacred Dawn.
This is, I think, the fourth time I've seen them as an opening act, and they've never failed to impress (and like Jim said last night, their recorded stuff doesn't do their live performance justice). I think they played all new songs this time as I didn't recognize any of them, but even though they were a bit darker than before, the performance was still top notch.
Next up was Montreal-based Blackguard, a band that blends death metal with folk influences. I randomly discovered them on Myspace a couple years ago under their previous incarnation (Profugus Mortis).
While I wasn't expecting too much from them, they put on a fantastic and energetic show. Oddly enough, their best song was "Farewell", a track from their next album. Their set was good enough to convince me to buy their current album after the show, and the whole band signed it:
After Blackguard came Threat Signal, an Ontario-based metal band.
Their set wasn't nearly as good as Blackguard's, though, and although they performed well, their sort of music wasn't really my thing.
But Epica, the main act, was definitely worth the wait, and they put on an amazing show.
(Mark and Simone from Epica)
Their set was mostly hard and fast with a few slower songs mixed in, much like their newest album. While this is the fourth time I've seen Epica, this was the first time I saw their new guitarist, Isaac Delahaye:
(Mark and Isaac performing)
Because I did move around slightly during the show, I ended up behind two girls who kept catching Mark's attention.
He kept spraying water at them throughout the show, but it seemed that every time he did, either they would duck or he would simply miss, and either way I always got hit. It was alright though; the place was quite packed and the water helped me stay nice and cool.
Anyway, below is a somewhat accurate setlist for Epica's show (some of the songs are in the wrong order, but I don't think I've forgotten any of them, and if I have, I'll come back and edit this post). For anyone interested in checking them out, I'm adding the album the song comes from in parenthesis for each song (TPA = The Phantom Agony, CtO = Consign to Oblivion, DC = The Divine Conspiracy, and DYU = Design Your Universe)
Samadhi (DYU)
Resign to Surrender (DYU)
Sensorium (TPA)
Unleashed (DYU)
Martyr of the Free Word (DYU)
Quietus (CtO)
Tides of Time (DYU)
Blank Infinity (CtO)
Star Wars Empire Theme cover (yes, really)
The Obsessive Devotion (DC)
Seif al Din (TPA)
Design Your Universe (DYU)
And an encore of:
Cry for the Moon (TPA)
Consign to Oblivion (CtO)
An excellent show indeed.
If anyone wants to see the rest of the pictures (and there are plenty), I posted them here, and I have high-res pictures available if anyone wants them.