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Nightwish concert

On August 22nd an incredible event in music took place. An experience so passionate, ethereal and all together heart bleeding-ly stunning that it took me this long to be able to find words to describe it.

Nightwish played New York City.

Who's Nightwish? Who's Nightwish?!!?!?!?! I'll tell you who Nightwish is: They are simply the greatest thing to happen to music since the invention of the pentatonic scale!!!! This phenomenal melodic metal group hails from Finland. In 1996, Nightwish originally consisted of three members; Tuomas (keyboardist), Tarja (vocalist) and Emppu (guitarist). Jukka, the percussionist, was soon added to the ensemble and played with the other members on their first recording, April 1997. The next month, they were signed to Spinefarm for a two-record deal. That December they played for the first time in Kitee. They played very few sets after that due to Jukka and Emppu's army service and Tarja's schooling. But on an up note, Spinefarm took them on for another record. 1999 bought the coming of bassist Sami Vänskä to Nightwish. They recorded from August to October. Oceanborn was released on December 7th and took Finland by storm. In spring of 2000, Oceanborn was released to the rest of the world and had equal success. Despite rough times, the band remained tight for the recordings of Wishmaster and Over the Hills and Far Away. Sami Vanska departed from the project and Marco Hietala, of Sinergy and Tarot infamy, stepped in to Nightwish. They changed their booking company and manager that same year. Their fans remained devout as ever. Nightwish had since then recorded two albums, Century Child and Once.

So the concert.... The venue was B.B. King's House of Blues in New York City. You may guffaw, but it makes good stuff for a metal show. Usually in a metal venue, you got the pit and two feet to the bar, five feet to the exit. But at King's you got the pit, plenty of room on the side of the pit to take pictures, a spot to eat should you thrash yourself hungry and a nice bar to boot.

Lullacry opened for Nightwish, that's pretty much all I can say for them. Nightwish came onto the stage and there was pandemonium. The crowd was in reverent revelry at the coming of these gods of music. They opened with "Dark Chest of Wonders" off of their new album Once and followed with "Planet Hell". They also played their own cover of "Phantom of the Opera". They pumped up the crowd with the explosive "Dead to the World". The crowd then was lulled by "Nemo" and "Sleeping Sun", which bought me to tears. Tarja took a moment offstage to rest her silver cords and do a costume change. While she did this, the remaining members covered "Symphony of Destruction", downing vodka and beer as they played. Megadeath was put to shame and the pit was roused to frenzy. Tarja returned and performed "Bless the Child" with all the control and power that is her wont. They also played "Walking In the Air", a beautiful cover from the movie "The Snowman". The final song heard was "I Wish I Had An Angel". The members of Nightwish, to my shock, left the stage with tears in their eyes, moved by the great reception of the fans of New York.

I am proud to say that I walked away from the concert with Marco's pik and a bottle of water from the stage. The bottle reeked of vodka. Did I wait for an autograph? Sure I did. But Nightwish remained closeted in the back room, drinking the night through.

I was completely lifted by this concert. Anyone who has the opportunity to see this band perform, I urge you to take the moment. It is rare indeed to see a band of this caliber of both talent and technical mastery.

By Laura Kaballa

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