Concert: EPICA. Design your universe North American tour part II
Date: November 30, 2010
Venue: Denver, Bluebird theater
First: NuclearBlast did this thing where they were giving out positions on the guest lists, both Tatiana and myself won spots on the guest list! We got in for FREE!!!! Yay!!!
This concert had to be the best so far. Everything about it was just awesome! They had an internet broadcast of the concert like the week before the Denver show and, of course, I watched it. That was when I found out that The Agonist was one of their opening acts. Now they are a newish band but I already LOVE them. Their singer sings both growls and clean vocals and she has an amazing voice! She was the reason why I was drawn to the band.
Anyways, since the Agonist was up first we wanted to get their early to make sure we didn't miss them. We got to the club about half an hour before the doors opened. We met some cool people in line, had a nice convo and all. When we got in we went to the merch stands and I got an EPICA martyr of the free world shirt an Agonist shirt and three bottles of water then pretty much ran to the ground floor by the stage. Didn't get first row (right up on the stage) but second row is just as a good. We met some more cool people while we were waiting for the show to start. I wish conversation was always as easy as it is at concerts.
When the Agonist came on stage I was excited. The singer was great, they played my favorite song second (after the intro/no lyrics song). Headbanging started here. There's nothing more awesome than getting into the show right off the bat. During their last song (unfortunately I can't remember their set list T_T) Danny (the guitarist, who was standing in front of us most of the time) had a solo while Alissa was singing. Mostly everyone was cheering on Alissa (nothing wrong with that) but I was rocking out to Danny's playing. I did my scream, the really high pitched one, and had the horns pointed to him, head banging and all that fun stuff. We made eye contact (I know that sounds like a stalking fan but it's true!!!) for a few seconds before he went back to rocking out. THEN when they were done he tossed his pick right to me! BUT I'm such a loser with slow reaction time. (when ppl say "think fast!" and throw something at me I'm like "huh?" and I get hit). SO I didn't catch it! ='( I was looking around for it for a while before I gave up (someone said it was probably in my clothes 'cuz I was REALLY layered up so it seemed likely). Cool thing, Tatiana managed to grab one of the drum sticks! Though it would have been really awesome if I had a pick and she a drum stick from the same band, alas it wasn't meant to be.
The next band was Blackguard. OMG...I don't know why I didn't like them before (they were always a band I meant to check out but never got the chance to). But after seeing them live...I would love to see them live again! They are soo energetic on stage! Serious headbanging continues! The bassist (I don't know their names yet) was really crazy. I, and a lot of other people, touched his guitar while he was playing! He even bopped someone on the head with it! They were all so energetic, very much involved the crowd. They are truly entertainers and musicians. I didn't even know their songs and I still was jumping up and down and screaming my head off for them!
The last opening was Scar Symmetry, a band that I like. I am familiar with a few of their songs but I can't say that I'm a HUGE fan or anything like that. They were awesome live though. They were also energetic (though I don't know if they topped Blackguard in that category). The crowd seemed to love them, many people were singing along with them and even I did for the few parts that I know.
Finally EPICA. After the second song, Simone did the intro thing and said something about the crowd sounding good (more along the lines of EPICA must have been doing good because the crowd was so loud). THEN she said, and I quote to the best of my memory, "there is even someone here screaming loud enough to break glass! Where are you?" Who else could she mean but me? I screamed, the really loud and high pitched one! I didn't hold it for as long as I know I can because Simone leaned back and even took a few steps back and said, "Wow (or was it ow?) I think I'm deaf! It's a good thing I know all the songs, at least I hope I know all the songs!"
(Major fan girl squeal here). Of the hundreds of people there, Simone singled out my scream! ME! She recognized me! After that I turned to Tatiana and did an "omg squeal", which the guy in front of us laughed at and asked me if I was happy. OF COURSE! (also, the guy behind me joked that I should stop that scream after Simone's deaf comment!) After the third song I let out another one of those screams, which caught Isaac's attention and he pointed at me and smiled! Yay for my annoying (and probably obnoxious) scream that gets peoples attention!
On a side note, I do feel bad for the guys that were in front of me. I didn't want to scream in their ear but I couldn't help it! I hope they don't harbor any bad feelings for me after that. I know when Mark did the girls vs. guys thing I made a few people wince. Unlike at the Apocalyptica concert the guys in front of us weren't jerks so I really feel bad about that.
Okay, other memorable things....Tatiana managed to get Yves's attention and they were holding eye contact for a good few seconds, he even wiggled his eyebrows at her! Gosh, I just love when bands interact with the fans! Simone also pointed the mic in my general direction a few times (I love being so close to stage!) so I got to sing into the mic a few times! =)
The rest of the show was just as amazing! EPICA is really an amazing band!
I can't wait to see them live again!
Just for memories sakes: after the concert we rushed to the bus stop so we could get to Market Street Station before the last bus to Boulder left. So we were sitting in the station, dazed and repeating "that was awesome"! when some guy tried to start a conversation with me/us. First he mentioned my Marines beanie but after I just did an initial "yea..." nod he mentioned the drum stick that Tatiana was holding and started asking us about the concert. Most of the conversation was between him and Tatiana, though he was sitting next to me and he kept hitting on me. I smiled, tried not to laugh, a few times which encouraged him. It was flattering but would have been even more so if he weren't drunk. He backed off after an "she's hott" comment when Tatiana agreed with him and wrapped an arm around me and we leaned against each other. Hahaha!
Anyways, the night ended with hot coco and I'm pretty sure I fell asleep with a huge grin on my face.
Another awesome night in Denver!
