So, because of various mishaps like with my knee, I got to bed extremely late. Around 6-7 in the morning. For all of you partypeople, this may not seem late, but to me it is, since I had been up since 7 the day before. But some things, like cleaning an open wound full of stones and filth, is something you have to do. Which is bad for me, because I cannot deal with my own blood. I can fix other people easily, but get dizzy and nauseous by my own blood and wounds.
My plan was to catch Delain in the morning, but had to give it up because of the knee. I need a certain amount of sleep to function, or more, to function without having my brain whining about too little sleep. I can’t enjoy things properly if I’m tired, you see.
So, I stayed in the tent a bit longer and once I was up and running, or well, not running, no running on this little leg, I first hit the pharmacy store for proper sterile compresses and proper cleaning fluids and bigger bandaids, and I was back in the tent to keep clean and disinfect the wound, and in all honesty, aside Delain my first band for the day was Toto at 19, so I had plenty of time.
When all was done with the wound I hit the streets and dashed immediatley for the festivalarea. Not because I was late, not because I had a band I wanted to see… but because I had to get to the one place I’ve been waiting the entire YEAR to visit….
Hot Shot Records.
I can honestly say that is my number one favorite record store in the entire world. I could fucking pay to go to SRF only to visit that store, I shit you not. So finally, after a year of waiting, I was in the little piece of heaven on Earth. The biggest mistake on my part though, was that I had forgotten the long list of rare bands and CD’s I was looking for, but it didn’t matter. In my desperate tries to find and Delain CD’s I stumbled upon a very familiar name.
Dionysus.
My heart started to beat a little faster. The album I had found was NOT “Anima Mundi” which was the album that was on my list, but I picked it out anyway. I kept on looking through the Dionysus albums, but “Anima Mundi” was nowhere to be found. Damn. Well, Dionysus is good anyway so I might as well take their other albums.
Then I noticed, that “Fairytales and Reality” was a little bigger, I figured it was some limited super duper deluxe including a DVD version, and you know, why not? Why not get the best? But then I noticed it wasn’t a super deluxe edition, it was actually just a bundle of two Dionysus albums. And when I turned it over about 90° to check what the other CD was…. my heart practically stopped, and my eyes teared up.
“Fairytales and Reality” was bundled with no other album than my long lost friend, “Anima Mundi”.
I am not, under any circumstances exaggerating when I say I literally teared up when I finally found the album I’ve been looking for for so long, that I’ve longed so much to have. Oh god. The relief. Seriously, I can’t even properly explain the relief.
When most of the shock had laid down, I looked through some other sections and stumbled upon a few Nostradameus albums, which I remembered I was looking for. Same here as with Dionysus, I first found and album I was not looking for, but hey, I like the band so who cares? Gladly, I managed to find “Words of Nostradameus” as well after a bit of looking. So. Three Dionysus albums and two Nostradameus albums later I left Hot Shots for the first time this year in favor of getting something to eat before Toto. And I took the opportunity to catch the last few songs of Slash while eating, nice company.
TOTO
I went down to the parkinglot (and did not get lost this time!) to drop off my newely bought CDs and made it back LITERALLY on the SECOND that Toto’s intro started. Talking about making it just in time, huh? I got pretty good spots on the side of the stage, so I’m more pleased than ever.
They opened the show with “Running out of Time” and was well recieved by the audience. The continued on with “I’ll supply the Love” and the show was on.
Since these entries will cover an entire day of concerts, I’ll keep all the reviews pretty short. But what I can say is that the set was close to perfect. And it’s not really all about the band on stage, but also the atmosphere. You can say what you want about pits with headbanging and jumping around and stuff like that, but nothing beats the calmness and the epicness of witnessing a band like this, in the sunset. I’m talking about “Africa” in the freaking sunset. By that time, the knee and the broken fridge was all forgotten and it was all worth it.
That’s the effect music should have on you. Thank you Toto, for the most epic first gig of the festival.
HAMMERFALL
Right after Toto, I headed over the Rock Stage which is opposite side of Festival to catch up with the templars in HammerFall. I had spots pretty far in the back, but that’s what you get. I’ve come to notice I’m ALWAYS in the back when it comes to festivals. Why is that.
Anyway, they started off on time with “Hector’s Hymn” and continued down the same setlist, more or less, they had had throughout World Wide (r)Evolution tour, to my dismay if I may add. It’s really the same old story – same songs over and over, just changed the opener to “Hectors Hymn” and replaced “One More Time” with “Bushido”. Aside that, all the same old goodies are there – “Bloodbound”, “Any Means Necessary” (I do love this one though) and so on. But what can you expect from a festival gig?
But aside this, they were really good. Good energy on stage, despite having the sun straight in their eyes.
DEF LEPARD
So, from Rockstage, back to Festival stage. When it was time for Def Lepard to hit the stage, the darkness had started to lay its cover over the festival, which was absolutely perfect considering their massive light show. They opened the whole set with “Rock! Rock! (’til you drop)” and continued on with “Animal” and “Let it Go”. They were planned to have a greatest hits set of the night, but I must admit… I was almost to mesmerized by the lightshow to think too much about the setlist.
It was like a big crossover between Katy Perry’s Prism tour and Lady Gaga’s Fame Monster Ball. The lights from Katy, and the stage set from Lady Gaga. Different road signs and various animation on big screens accompanied with well designed lights made this show a delight, not only musically but also visually.
Thanks you, Def Lepard!
MICHAEL MONROE
After Lepard it was run time deluxe. Or no running, like I said, but fast walking over to Sweden Stage which on the other side is a bit further away from Festival stage. While passing Rock stage I asked myself if I shouldn’t see Ghost instead. They were about to start 15 minutes after Michael, so I figured I could see how I felt about it once Michael got on stage. I’ve seen Michael Monroe, and Hanoi Rocks for that matter, quite a few times, as recent as last year, but I’ve never seen Ghost. And since my platypus in crime wasn’t there, I figured I could perhaps go see them for her.
Sadly, for Ghost, once Michael Monroe hit the stage I kinda forgot all about it. Michael… he has this certain kind of energy that is just so contagious it almost makes you wonder what he’s on, and I assume he’s like me, high on life.
The set was as good as a Michael Monroe show always is. High energy, good tunes, well played and all that. And of course yes, the mister was climbing high in the stagebuildnings this time as well. He really did this already in the Hanoi Rocks days.
But. I can’t deny, that I kept looking over my shoulder to see the distant lights of Ghost. And still pondering. Should I stay or should I go? My love for Michael kept me there for quite the time, but as it got closer and closer to the end, I dashed in the middle of the last song in favour of catching Ghosts last song, to at least snap some pictures of Papa Emeritus III, which I had planned to have printed for my platypus.
GHOST
I made it pretty much in time for “Monstrance Clock” to begin, and I realized I knew the lyrics. And why did I know the lyrics? Because this is the same song Lordi kept playing when setting up their stage during Tour Force One. Who would have thought! It was a good ending, thanks for that Ghouls and Papa.
With all of this being said, I hit the tent and hit the bed immediatley. Never before have I had to stay up this long at Sweden Rock. What just happened.
// Sara
Sara Hammerzmith 