Amorphis + Before The Dawn
Oct. 15th, 2009 01:32 pmI think I did nothing of interest on the Thursday and Friday after the Ensiferum gig. Saturday however found me trundling over to Jim AKA
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ironlord 's place to get a lift down to London to see Amorphis, supported by Before The Dawn and Amoral. The trip down was uneventful and finding parking and getting to Camden was gloriously simple, leaving plenty of time for a pint and a steak in The Monarch before wandering over to the World's End to wait for doors at 7. There I was introduced to _mauler_ (who I'd seen on various LJ communities and on my friends' pages for probably 7 years now but never actually met in person before) and got another drink in, only to be told by Jim that they'd already opened the doors almost an hour early. My Magners was swiftly downed and we went out to queue up for descent into The Underworld. If I was the 'squeeing fanboi' type then I would have 'squeed' when Before The Dawn's bassist and guitarist came out and stood next to us, but I don't do that sort of thing, oh no, not at all. Luckily I already had a spare ticket for Jim, as it turned out it was a sold out gig.
Once safely downstairs I proceeded to the merchandise stall and broke my "no more band t-shirts" rule to get a Before The Dawn t-shirt. I also got an Amorphis wristband, primarily to stop the aluminium bit on my Wacken wristband from scratching my guitar when I play. Practical!
Amoral were on first, and looked like a bunch of miniature Alexi Laihos. They were competent but ultimately uninteresting to me and I don't remember what they sounded like. I think they were a bit more straightforward heavy metal compared to the next two acts. They were off before the doors were even due to have opened.
Betwen Amoral and Before The Dawn I went to grab some toilet paper for makeshift earplugs (which ended up being unnecessary - Amoral were a little too loud but everybody else was fine) and on the way back bumped into Daniela who I know on Facebook and Last.fm. I really need to stop being surprised when I meet girls and find out they're shorter than me, though...
At maybe 7:15 or so, Before The Dawn came on. They are one of my favourite bands and this was their first ever UK gig so I was quite happy to be there near the front. They sounded great and delivered the goods. In particular their current drummer was a bundle of laughs, playing around with his drumsticks while grinning inanely. One drumstick went flying at one point towards the front of the stage - much mirth ensued. I would have had no idea what they played since I am not one for remembering track orders or even knowing the track names, but thanks to this awesome site I, and indeed you, can see.
Amorphis were on at about 8 or not long after, which seems like a crazily early time for a headliner to start playing, but there you go. Amorphis are one of an almost empty list of bands that I love but hadn't seen yet, so it was great to tick them off the list. They played a predictable set comprised of much new stuff, some really old stuff, and one or two from the middle period, and I think most people went away happy. The performance was flawless and the sound was superb where I was standing, and they made it look effortless without looking bored - a trick that Opeth usually only manage the first half of, by way of comparison. Tomi's vocals were perfect and I think he did a reasonable job of sounding like old vocalist Pasi on the songs that required it. I can't say I approve of his carefully curled moustache however. Overall it was a great performance and it left me wondering why they don't seem to be more popular in the UK, given that they don't really have anything negative going for them.
It was all over by 10pm. All that remained was to go and mingle for a bit, whereupon I was introduced to Ann (who I think is![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hakucho_cygnus ), and then we went outside to grab fast food, and in my case at least, be smiled at coyly by a pretty blonde lady who'd been in the gig. Then it was back up the Northern line to Brent Cross, and some roadwork-avoiding diversions through Dunstable and Milton Keynes, and we were back not long after 1am. All in all, a good day's work.
ironlord 's place to get a lift down to London to see Amorphis, supported by Before The Dawn and Amoral. The trip down was uneventful and finding parking and getting to Camden was gloriously simple, leaving plenty of time for a pint and a steak in The Monarch before wandering over to the World's End to wait for doors at 7. There I was introduced to _mauler_ (who I'd seen on various LJ communities and on my friends' pages for probably 7 years now but never actually met in person before) and got another drink in, only to be told by Jim that they'd already opened the doors almost an hour early. My Magners was swiftly downed and we went out to queue up for descent into The Underworld. If I was the 'squeeing fanboi' type then I would have 'squeed' when Before The Dawn's bassist and guitarist came out and stood next to us, but I don't do that sort of thing, oh no, not at all. Luckily I already had a spare ticket for Jim, as it turned out it was a sold out gig.Once safely downstairs I proceeded to the merchandise stall and broke my "no more band t-shirts" rule to get a Before The Dawn t-shirt. I also got an Amorphis wristband, primarily to stop the aluminium bit on my Wacken wristband from scratching my guitar when I play. Practical!
Amoral were on first, and looked like a bunch of miniature Alexi Laihos. They were competent but ultimately uninteresting to me and I don't remember what they sounded like. I think they were a bit more straightforward heavy metal compared to the next two acts. They were off before the doors were even due to have opened.
Betwen Amoral and Before The Dawn I went to grab some toilet paper for makeshift earplugs (which ended up being unnecessary - Amoral were a little too loud but everybody else was fine) and on the way back bumped into Daniela who I know on Facebook and Last.fm. I really need to stop being surprised when I meet girls and find out they're shorter than me, though...
At maybe 7:15 or so, Before The Dawn came on. They are one of my favourite bands and this was their first ever UK gig so I was quite happy to be there near the front. They sounded great and delivered the goods. In particular their current drummer was a bundle of laughs, playing around with his drumsticks while grinning inanely. One drumstick went flying at one point towards the front of the stage - much mirth ensued. I would have had no idea what they played since I am not one for remembering track orders or even knowing the track names, but thanks to this awesome site I, and indeed you, can see.
Amorphis were on at about 8 or not long after, which seems like a crazily early time for a headliner to start playing, but there you go. Amorphis are one of an almost empty list of bands that I love but hadn't seen yet, so it was great to tick them off the list. They played a predictable set comprised of much new stuff, some really old stuff, and one or two from the middle period, and I think most people went away happy. The performance was flawless and the sound was superb where I was standing, and they made it look effortless without looking bored - a trick that Opeth usually only manage the first half of, by way of comparison. Tomi's vocals were perfect and I think he did a reasonable job of sounding like old vocalist Pasi on the songs that required it. I can't say I approve of his carefully curled moustache however. Overall it was a great performance and it left me wondering why they don't seem to be more popular in the UK, given that they don't really have anything negative going for them.
It was all over by 10pm. All that remained was to go and mingle for a bit, whereupon I was introduced to Ann (who I think is
hakucho_cygnus ), and then we went outside to grab fast food, and in my case at least, be smiled at coyly by a pretty blonde lady who'd been in the gig. Then it was back up the Northern line to Brent Cross, and some roadwork-avoiding diversions through Dunstable and Milton Keynes, and we were back not long after 1am. All in all, a good day's work.
