115: Dragonforce. Aptly named.
Holy Shit.
From 9:45 until 11:15 my ears were violated.
I liked it.
I don't care how bad work's been these past few weeks, all I can say is this: I'm addicted to a new band, and a new genre of music. Powermetal. It's symphonic metal without the symphony, but still the empowered opera-esque voices. I'm enthralled. Completely enthralled.
Six men, all with hair longer than mine has ever been, and tight pants, playing rediculously good guitar.
I can't go into detail how much they rocked right now. They were fast. VERY fast. The music was insanely paced, and the power behind it was nothing short of miraculous. And the lead singer and I even had a moment, which was pretty obvious.
See, all the guys around me were clapping, hands over their head, my arms were crossed, as we all know, I do nothing overt, and don't scream. Especially in public.
He looks to me during a guitar solo and does a clapping motion with a questioning look on his face, I've been smiling through the show, but smile broader as he actually notices me among hundreds of others. I shrug. He reacts with a "But I've got you smiling" expression (that involved a hand motion), and I nod, and smile more, and he understands that I'm a bit controlled during concerts, however, by the end of the night he did get me to throw up the horns. He should be proud.
This is also the first concert I've seen with a stand on stage that has fans under it to blow up men's hair to accent it's long and light nature. I was not only impressed, but sort of jealous... when I had a pony tail it never had air support.
Did I mention the tight pants? Yeah, really tight pants. Leather too... not Pleather. Real dead animal on this man's lower body.
Bad-Ass.
The concert was beyond compare, they cracked jokes, they played videogame music as well as the opening theme to "The Simpsons" On guitar. Fans tossed cigarettes on stage and one of the guitarists (Frédéric Leclercq) picked it up, had it lit, and then threw up the horns to the audience out of either relief for his lungs or respect for his fans. This happened twice more during the show.
There were little jokes and games, like the lead ZP Theart kicking Frédéric in the ass while he was doing his solo (and Frédéric didn't make a mistake.) or ZP getting water to wet his fans (quite likely women in white shirts) so he stuffs the microphone most of the way down his pants and into his crotch (not that there seemed to be any room, but he managed it), then smiled as he looked down at the microphone.
The mic stand for Sam Totman has a beer holder. And he can down a beer in the time between two songs, he did. It was impressive.
Most of the band is European, the members are
ZP Theart - Lead and backing vocals (Who has no real personal information in the website)
Herman Li - Lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals From Hong-Kong originally, moved to London at an early age. Sam is inspired by some videogame music from the late 80s and early 90s. Herman formed the band, and is the signature member, being self-taught and intense with his guitar, but he always works with Sam.
Sam Totman - Lead and rhythm electric guitars, backing vocals Originally from England, but moved to New Zealand at an early age, Quite a comedian, quite a musician.
Vadim Pruzhanov - Keyboards, Piano, backing vocals Vadim was born in the Ukraine, and plays a keyboard on a guitar strap with a distortion bar on the neck. It's fuggin' amazing. Vadim studied piano from 8-11, quit then, and since 12 has rocked out on his own, his speed and frantic talent remind me of a Metal Art Tatum. It's insane. (He moved to London to pursue a career, and is 23... he's only 3 years older than I am and he's this amazing...)
Dave Mackintosh - Drums, backing vocals Little is said about him, but he carries a mean and almost humming beat. Easily just as talented as the rest of these men.
Frédéric Leclercq - Bass, backing vocals Funny, and French, (which is why I had trouble breaking his accent) Fréd proves that the men of Dragonforce really are from all around. (Though I think ZP might be American, his accent shifted a lot, and sometimes vanished... also I heard someone say it.) Frédéric aparently is not only an accomplished linguist, (english, french, and german) he also seems to be able to swear in most languages in europe.
Oh and one song called for lighters, I had my zippo... it was nice being the first and last one lit, since everyone else's cheap no-refil plastic lighters burned them long before mine even heated up all the way.
I also lit a really hot metal chick's cigarette for her, came up and offered too, didn't bother getting a name, I figure I'm in Lakewood for one month left, might as well just be a gentleman, catch some interest, then vanish for a time.
That and it's in my nature to be a tease, and I'm definitely enjoying the freedom of being able to converse, or share a smile, and not let anything come of it.
Nap time before work!
-A very worn out Dylan, but it was so fucking worth it.
Post-Posting: Oh and did I mention they not only play DAMN fast, but each song averages at 7 minutes? Stamina of the fingers? I think so!
From 9:45 until 11:15 my ears were violated.
I liked it.
I don't care how bad work's been these past few weeks, all I can say is this: I'm addicted to a new band, and a new genre of music. Powermetal. It's symphonic metal without the symphony, but still the empowered opera-esque voices. I'm enthralled. Completely enthralled.
Six men, all with hair longer than mine has ever been, and tight pants, playing rediculously good guitar.
I can't go into detail how much they rocked right now. They were fast. VERY fast. The music was insanely paced, and the power behind it was nothing short of miraculous. And the lead singer and I even had a moment, which was pretty obvious.
See, all the guys around me were clapping, hands over their head, my arms were crossed, as we all know, I do nothing overt, and don't scream. Especially in public.
He looks to me during a guitar solo and does a clapping motion with a questioning look on his face, I've been smiling through the show, but smile broader as he actually notices me among hundreds of others. I shrug. He reacts with a "But I've got you smiling" expression (that involved a hand motion), and I nod, and smile more, and he understands that I'm a bit controlled during concerts, however, by the end of the night he did get me to throw up the horns. He should be proud.
This is also the first concert I've seen with a stand on stage that has fans under it to blow up men's hair to accent it's long and light nature. I was not only impressed, but sort of jealous... when I had a pony tail it never had air support.
Did I mention the tight pants? Yeah, really tight pants. Leather too... not Pleather. Real dead animal on this man's lower body.
Bad-Ass.
The concert was beyond compare, they cracked jokes, they played videogame music as well as the opening theme to "The Simpsons" On guitar. Fans tossed cigarettes on stage and one of the guitarists (Frédéric Leclercq) picked it up, had it lit, and then threw up the horns to the audience out of either relief for his lungs or respect for his fans. This happened twice more during the show.
There were little jokes and games, like the lead ZP Theart kicking Frédéric in the ass while he was doing his solo (and Frédéric didn't make a mistake.) or ZP getting water to wet his fans (quite likely women in white shirts) so he stuffs the microphone most of the way down his pants and into his crotch (not that there seemed to be any room, but he managed it), then smiled as he looked down at the microphone.
The mic stand for Sam Totman has a beer holder. And he can down a beer in the time between two songs, he did. It was impressive.
Most of the band is European, the members are
ZP Theart - Lead and backing vocals (Who has no real personal information in the website)
Herman Li - Lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals From Hong-Kong originally, moved to London at an early age. Sam is inspired by some videogame music from the late 80s and early 90s. Herman formed the band, and is the signature member, being self-taught and intense with his guitar, but he always works with Sam.
Sam Totman - Lead and rhythm electric guitars, backing vocals Originally from England, but moved to New Zealand at an early age, Quite a comedian, quite a musician.
Vadim Pruzhanov - Keyboards, Piano, backing vocals Vadim was born in the Ukraine, and plays a keyboard on a guitar strap with a distortion bar on the neck. It's fuggin' amazing. Vadim studied piano from 8-11, quit then, and since 12 has rocked out on his own, his speed and frantic talent remind me of a Metal Art Tatum. It's insane. (He moved to London to pursue a career, and is 23... he's only 3 years older than I am and he's this amazing...)
Dave Mackintosh - Drums, backing vocals Little is said about him, but he carries a mean and almost humming beat. Easily just as talented as the rest of these men.
Frédéric Leclercq - Bass, backing vocals Funny, and French, (which is why I had trouble breaking his accent) Fréd proves that the men of Dragonforce really are from all around. (Though I think ZP might be American, his accent shifted a lot, and sometimes vanished... also I heard someone say it.) Frédéric aparently is not only an accomplished linguist, (english, french, and german) he also seems to be able to swear in most languages in europe.
Oh and one song called for lighters, I had my zippo... it was nice being the first and last one lit, since everyone else's cheap no-refil plastic lighters burned them long before mine even heated up all the way.
I also lit a really hot metal chick's cigarette for her, came up and offered too, didn't bother getting a name, I figure I'm in Lakewood for one month left, might as well just be a gentleman, catch some interest, then vanish for a time.
That and it's in my nature to be a tease, and I'm definitely enjoying the freedom of being able to converse, or share a smile, and not let anything come of it.
Nap time before work!
-A very worn out Dylan, but it was so fucking worth it.
Post-Posting: Oh and did I mention they not only play DAMN fast, but each song averages at 7 minutes? Stamina of the fingers? I think so!