The Concert Thread

Went to Montreal last night for Kamelot, featuring Battle Beast and Sonata Arctica. Club Soda has a capacity of around 900 people, but I would guess there was maybe 750 there, as it wasn't supremely packed on the floor. When I saw Sabaton there in 2017, it was quite packed (explaining why the band has since moved to the larger MTelus venue). The line wasn't too long to get into the venue, Pat and I were joining the line just as they opened the doors.

Merch table was pretty good, decided I liked the artwork from The Shadow Theory to grab a tour shirt at $40 (or $20 cheaper than a tshirt from Iron Maiden). Pat and I decided to camp the soundbooth for this one and we ended up hanging out with the singer/lead guitarist from local Ottawa band Lycanthro for awhile, which was fun. Nice guy, and he gave us a tip on where to catch Battle Beast before the show in Ottawa, so we might very well follow up on that. Battle Beast was quite good, they played 8 songs. They dropped Familiar Hell for The Golden Horde, which I appreciated. I really think Noora Louhimo has a huge stage presence, she is something else to watch. I enjoyed their set and I'm looking forward to their tiny venue headlining show in Ottawa on Tuesday.

Battle Beast setlist: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/battle-beast/2019/club-soda-montreal-qc-canada-539cfbf1.html

I'd seen Sonata Arctica before, but it's been 5 years. I had enjoyed them in 2014 a lot, but their last two albums have been really quite pedestrian and boring, and they played only songs from those two albums (excepting FullMoon, of course). Tony Kakko seemed really out of it to start, and he settled into a pretty bland setlist. With his half-face length bleach-blond hair and his eyeliner he reminded me a lot of people in the 1990s trying to rebel, and the music had a very petulant sound to it. His voice was shot by song 4 and FullMoon was not at all good. I remember it having a lot more oomph. I'd pass on them in the future, very disappointing.

Sonata Arctica setlist: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/sonata-arctica/2019/club-soda-montreal-qc-canada-439cfbf3.html

This crowd wasn't crazy, it wasn't like an Iron Maiden or Sabaton show in Montreal, or even Demons & Wizards from a couple weeks ago, but they were pretty loud for about 750 people. I guess Kamelot really does have some hardcore fans, and they were ready when the band hit the stage. I was impressed with Tommy's stage presence, he was really interesting to watch, although his habit of stopping and pointing at other band members during their solos got a little tiring eventually. One thing that surprised me - I would agree with @MrKnickerbocker that the setlist is pretty pedestrian given the depth of the Kamelot discography, but every song cooked way harder live than on the albums. The drums seem to hit a lot harder, and Tommy really gets the crowd in the palm of his hand. American vocalist Lauren Hart was along for the ride to fill the female vocals/growls, and she did a pretty darn good job in most cases. Definite highlights were Phantom Divine, Rule the World, When the Lights Are Down, Karma, Burns to Embrace, and March of Mephisto. I'd 100% see them again, I really enjoyed their set.

Kamelot setlist: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/kamelot/2019/club-soda-montreal-qc-canada-1b9cf500.html

No new changes for me as of right now:

Sept 17 - Battle Beast feat. Infrared, Lycanthro, Scepter @ Mavericks, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Oct 18 - Ghost feat. Nothing More @ Canadian Tire Centre, Kanata, Ontario, Canada
Oct 30 - Sabaton feat. HammerFall @ MTelus, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Oct 31 - HammerFall @ Mavericks, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Nov 5 - Alestorm feat. Sovereign Council, Aephanemr @ The Brass Monkey, Nepean, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Apr 7 - Powerglove feat. Immortal Guardian @ Mavericks, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Jun 26, 2012 - Iron Maiden feat. Alice Cooper @Comcast Center, Mansfield, Massachusetts, USA
July 14, 2013 - Rush @ Halifax Metro Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Sep 10, 2014 - Sonata Arctica feat. Delain, Xandria @ Mavericks, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Feb 27 - The Iron Maidens, Count Vamp'd, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Feb 28 - Iron Maiden feat. Raven Age @ Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Apr 1 - Iron Maiden feat. Raven Age @ Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Apr 25 - Sabaton feat. Battle Beast @ Club Soda, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
May 27 - Iron Maiden feat. Shinedown @ The O2 Arena, London, England, UK
May 28 - Iron Maiden feat. Shinedown @ The O2 Arena, London, England, UK
Jun 15 - Iron Maiden feat. Ghost @ Hollywood Casino Ampitheater, Tinley Park, Illinois, USA
July 15 - Iron Maiden feat. Ghost @ Budweiser Stage, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Feb 22 - Iced Earth feat. Sanctuary, Kill Ritual, Wolftooth @ The Deluxe at Old National Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Mar 2 - Sabaton feat. Kreator, Cyhra @ MTelus, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Mar 20 - Nightwish @ MTelus, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Mar 25 - Judas Priest feat. Saxon, Black Star Riders @ TD Place Arena, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Jul 28 - Heavy Montreal: Veil of Maya, Lee Aaron, Sword, Pallbearer, Alestorm @ Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Jul 29 - Heavy Montreal: Intervals, Helix, Gloryhammer, Trivium, Gojira @ Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Sept 17 - Paul McCartney @ Centre Videotron, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Sept 22 - Alestorm feat. Gloryhammer, Protokult @ Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sept 29 - Unleash the Archers feat. Striker, Lycanthro, Sovereign Council @ Mavericks, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Dec 7 - Ghost @ Place Bell, Laval, Quebec, Canada
April 3 - Kiss @ Canadian Tire Centre, Kanata, Ontario, Canada
April 5 - Dream Theater @ Salle Wilfred-Pelletier, Place des Arts, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
May 22 - Slayer feat. Lamb of God, Amon Amarth, Cannibal Corpse @ Canadian Tire Centre, Kanata, Ontario, Canada
June 5 - Gloryhammer feat. Aether Realm, Valfreya @ L'Astral, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
June 11 - Striker feat. Unknown, Infrared @ Mavericks, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
July 19 - Def Leppard feat. Tesla @ Canadian Tire Centre, Kanata, Ontario, Canada
Aug 5 - Iron Maiden feat. Raven Age @ Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Aug 24 - Iron Maiden feat. Raven Age @ Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Centre, Noblesville, Indiana, USA
Sept 1 - Demons & Wizards feat. Lizzy Borden, Tyr @ Corona Theatre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Sept 15 - Kamelot feat. Sonata Arctica and Battle Beast @ Club Soda, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
 
Upcoming:
  • 10/11/19 UFO & Armored Saint @ House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
Considering:
  • Guns N' Roses
  • Phil Collins
  • Ozzy Osbourne
I'll go to GNR if I can find a cheap ticket, same with Phil Collins. Ozzy is next year so I'm putting that off for a while. UFO should be pretty good though.

The Early Years:
  • 12/15/02 Neil Diamond @ The Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA
  • 04/09/04 Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken @ The Spokane Arena, WA (Note: did not go to this one willingly)
  • 07/03/04 Fleetwood Mac @ The Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA
  • 09/26/07 George Thorogood and the Destroyers @ The Big Easy, Spokane, WA
  • 06/24/11 Kiss @ The Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA
2012:
  • 07/29/12 Iron Maiden with Coheed & Cambria @ The Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC
  • 07/30/12 Iron Maiden with Coheed & Cambria @ White River Amphitheater, Auburn, WA
2013:
  • 06/24/13 Machine Head @ The Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA ***
  • 09/12/13 Iron Maiden with Megadeth @ Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
  • 09/21/13 5FDP with Halestorm, Sepultura, and 10 Years @ Greyhound Park, Post Falls, ID
2014:
  • 05/05/14 Sabaton & Iced Earth @ The Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA ***
2015:
  • 03/08/15 Machine Head @ The Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA ***
  • 05/29/15 The Eagles @ The Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA
  • 09/30/15 Def Leppard, Styx, and Tesla @ The Spokane Arena, WA
  • 10/25/15 Queensryche @ Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Spokane, WA
2016:
  • 02/27/16 Schism @ The House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV (Note: Tool cover band) ***
  • 02/28/16 Iron Maiden with The Raven Age @ Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
  • 04/11/16 Iron Maiden with The Raven Age @ Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA ***
  • 07/09/16 Alice in Chains @ The INB Performing Arts Center, Spokane, WA '''
  • 09/02/16 Duran Duran @ Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Spokane, WA
  • 11/03/16 Steel Panther @ The Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA
2017:
  • 01/17/17 Chevelle @ The Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA ***
  • 06/17/17 Tool @ The Gorge Amphitheater, George, WA
  • 06/30/17 Sammy Hagar & The Circle @ Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Spokane, WA
  • 07/03/17 Iron Maiden with Ghost @ The T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV ***
  • 08/09/17 Metallica with A7X and Gojira @ Century Link Field, Seattle, WA
  • 09/29/17 The Scorpions and Megadeth @ The Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA ''' (Note: Megadeth meet and greet also side stage)
  • 10/24/17 Mastodon with Eagles of Death Metal & Russian Circles @ The Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA ***
  • 12/4/17 Foo Fighters @ The Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA
2018:
  • 03/01/18 Queensryche @ Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Spokane, WA
  • 06/22/18 Mastodon with Primus @ Marymoor Park, Seattle, WA ***
  • 08/26/18 Alice in Chains, Bush, The Cult, Stone Temple Pilots @ Sunlight Supply Amphitheater, Vancouver, WA ***
  • 09/13/18 Australian Pink Floyd @ Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Spokane WA
  • 11/17/18 Ghost @ The Joint, Las Vegas, NV ***
  • 12/2/18 Metallica @ The Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA ***
2019:
  • 2/4/19 Kiss @ The Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA ***/ '''
  • 6/19/19 Judas Priest with Uriah Heep @ Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Spokane, WA ***
  • 6/22/19 Mastodon with Coheed & Cambria @ Marymoor Park, Seattle, WA
  • 9/5/19 Iron Maiden with The Raven Age @ Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA***
  • 9/6/19 Iron Maiden @ Moda Center, Portland, OR (Note: Skipped The Raven Age)
  • 9/13/19 Iron Maiden with The Raven Age @ MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
  • 9/28/19 Aerosmith @ The Park MGM Theater, Las Vegas, NV
  • 10/11/19 UFO & Armored Saint @ The House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
  • 10/12/19 Billy Idol @ The Pearl Theater, Las Vegas, NV ***
Key:
*** = On the rail/Front Row
''' = Met the band/Meet & Greet

Top 5 most seen bands:
1. Iron Maiden (9)
2. The Raven Age (5)
2. Mastodon (3)
2. Coheed & Cambria (3)
3. Tie between Megadeth, Metallica, Ghost, Alice in Chains, Queensryche, and Machine Head (2)

Edit: Updated concert list so I won't forget.
 
Last edited:
@LooseCannon - glad to hear you had fun! Kamelot are definitely fun live, I’ve just seen that show enough for my tastes.

Personally I find Battle Beast to be far more enjoyable, even if some of their new stuff is pretty bad.
 
MrKnickerbocker said:
@LooseCannon - glad to hear you had fun! Kamelot are definitely fun live, I’ve just seen that show enough for my tastes.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I certainly can appreciate that. Still, I wouldn't hesitate to go again, especially if they start to mix things up a bit more.

MrKnickerbocker said:
Personally I find Battle Beast to be far more enjoyable, even if some of their new stuff is pretty bad.
Click to expand...
I'm curious what they'll play on Tuesday with a full headline show.
 
Ended up missing Ghost but got to see Elton John. Very different show from what I normally attend but he put on a fantastic show and vocally was really strong. He played for just shy of 3 hours and had a vast setlist, left a couple songs out which I was surprised by their absence but with a career as long as his you can't please everybody.
 
Tonight I was bored. So I bought a ticket to Aerosmith. I think my seat is pretty good, so we will see how it goes.
 
Last weekend I went to an event called Power Metal Quest Fest in Birmingham (the city where Metal started). It's a small one-day event which, as the name suggests, is full of cheese. None of these bands are particularly well known and I missed the first two, but Forlorn Hope might interest those of you who are history nerds as their songs are all about historical events. I arrived in time for Control the Storm who are a British band with a female singer - their performance was pretty good but I wasn't too interested in their music and one of their songs sounded like a Heart cover. Luke Appleton is Iced Earth's guitarist who is at a bit of a loose end while Jon Schaffer is touring with Demons & Wizards. He does a solo acoustic shows with a couple of Iced Earth covers thrown in. I called out for 'Dantes Inferno' but he wouldn't play it. :( I don't know anything about Ruinthrone or Memories of Old, but Dakesis are a Birmingham-based Symphonic/Power/Progressive Metal band who organize the event. They're pretty good but their alterego Womenowar, a Manowar tribute band, is way better. Ancient Bards are a pretty cheesey female-fronted Italian Power Metal band, one of the bands whose albums are one long ridiculous and convoluted saga. They were very good and the singer is excellent live. It was a great event overall and I got pretty drunk.

10532

Next I see Killswitch Engage in Birmingham in two weeks. I've been waiting more than 12 years to see them headline again, the four times I saw them with Maiden last year notwithstanding.
 
UFO was pretty cool last night. The played a good set, Doctor Doctor was of course the highlight of the night. Armored Saint was the opening band. They sounded pretty good (better than The Raven Age) but they’re not really my type of band so I went to the bar.

I was very surprised at the amount of people at the show, that venue was way too small. It was packed. Lot of drunks there too.

Also, I bought a ticket to Billy Idol tonight.
 
Collin said:
UFO was pretty cool last night. The played a good set, Doctor Doctor was of course the highlight of the night. Armored Saint was the opening band. They sounded pretty good (better than The Raven Age) but they’re not really my type of band so I went to the bar.

I was very surprised at the amount of people at the show, that venue was way too small. It was packed. Lot of drunks there too.

Also, I bought a ticket to Billy Idol tonight.
Click to expand...
Me & my buddy were just talking about this tour; we LOVE Amored Saint but by the time UFO'S tour reaches Texas, Saint will be dropped and on the way to Mexico. Oh well, already seen UFO live 2x
 
Just got back from Billy Idol. Pretty good show. Solid. The set was very short. Maybe like 70 minutes, and no opening band. (Given it is a residency). I managed to get my hands on a setlist signed by Billy Idol. And yes @Black Wizard, I was on the rail.
 
Collin said:
Armored Saint was the opening band. They sounded pretty good (better than The Raven Age) but they’re not really my type of band so I went to the bar.
Click to expand...

:eek::facepalm::censored::bigsurprise::wtf:

Did you...just place Armored Saint...only slightly above The Raven Age?!???!!!?!

You missed out. They’re one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen
 
Collin said:
You didn’t get to see Dante’s Inferno live.
Click to expand...
Here we see why reaction emojis don't work. I had a whole paragraph of content (something most Maidenfans members can't be bothered with these days) and you react to one little part of it without providing context. Perhaps using the reply button in future might avoid such confusion?

And I have seen Iced Earth play 'Dante's Inferno' - eight years ago on the 'Dystopia' tour.
 
Black Wizard said:
Here we see why reaction emojis don't work. I had a whole paragraph of content (something most Maidenfans members can't be bothered with these days) and you react to one little part of it without providing context. Perhaps using the reply button in future might avoid such confusion?

And I have seen Iced Earth play 'Dante's Inferno' - eight years ago on the 'Dystopia' tour.
Click to expand...
I think I may have been drunk and therefore was not able to type adequately. The sad react was much easier.
 
Collin said:
I think I may have been drunk and therefore was not able to type adequately. The sad react was much easier.
Click to expand...
Well sometimes @Collin,

when-you-say-nothing-at-all-o2.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top