[ATTENDED: September 5, 2021] Avatar
When Avatar announced they were playing TLA I knew I wanted to see them again. When they opened for Babymetal, I was blown away by what a show they put on–for an opening act. I imagined that when they headlined, it would be even more amazing.
It wasn’t more amazing (I was actually more impressed by their lights last time) but it was certainly a lot of fun–an even more fun since the audience was there to see them.
Their gear was set up and then a small drumkit was brought to the front of the stage (which was pretty unusual). Then the five of them walked out and stood in a tight v formation. After a lengthy pause with all five of them staring at us, drummer John Alfredsson began hitting out a loud snare beat. Then the guitars started playing and singer Johannes Eckerström–dressed like a ringmaster, his face covered in white paint with (scary) clown makeup on–began singing the fantastic growling anthem “Colossus.” The band played the entire sing in that tight V shape and from my vantage point when both guitarists played the same solo it was like a multi-armed beast on stage.
They followed that up with “Let it Burn” and then the stage went black. The crew removed the tiny drum set and the band left the stage briefly while Alfredsson climbed up on top of his full sized kit. When the band came back out they utilized the full stage and when they started “Silence in the Age if Apes” (the actual first song on the new album) the full synchronized headbanging extravaganza was under way.
Both guitarists take some time to show off, although never for too long. In fact, when they started soloing, it was usually over by the time I had the camera ready. Jonas “Kungen” Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström (“he’s single, ladies”) both took turns at the front of the stage. Although it was Jarlsby who stood up front to play the slow pretty intro of “Bloody Angel.” (more…)
