Event:	Stratovarius
Written by:	Doc G., ThePhotoMan
Published:	05.10.2009
Galleries:	Stratovarius At The Warehouse - Calgary, Canada (29.09.2009) by Doc G. (16)

Kobra And The Lotus

Admittedly, I was pretty sceptical of this band upon hearing the studio tracks on their myspace, but in the live setting they proved to be another one of those bands whose music gets a little hampered by the confines of the studio. Unlike many small-time local bands, these guys understand what a concert should be about - 50% music and 50% show, not just playing the most technical riff-raff while staring at the fret boards. Altogether a solid, entertaining performance despite a crowd turn out that left a lot to be desired. The crowd that was there responded very well.

http://www.myspace.com/kobraandthelotus



Viathyn

Next up was another local band - power/prog metallers by the name of Viathyn. Unlike the previous band, Viathyn seemed to be about technical prowess above anything else. While the band did make frequent attempts at showmanship, the stage performance came across as a bit stiff, which is entirely understandable when hearing what was being played - let's just say it required undivided attention at many parts. Although they were probably the weakest band of the night when it came to stage presence, they played flawlessly and were probably the best lead-in for the headliners.

http://www.myspace.com/viathyn



Stratovarius

When watching the openers it was no surprise the crowd wasn't all that big (showing up for the opening bands is never cool!), and that crowd participation was polite but not insane. The surprising part was how the crowd did not expand when the headliners came on. It seemed like an all-out failure in the ticket sales department, which is a bit of a disappointment considering the band played amazingly. Despite the small stage and the fairly empty venue, the band played like they were in front of a sold-out auditorium; the small turn out didn't seem to bother them at all, they were visibly having fun on stage and the crowd gave the same energy back. The pinnacle of the night came during a bass vs guitar duel, in which Laura Porra played possibly the most jaw-dropping bass performance I have ever witnessed.

The night ended without too much of a bang. The lack of massive crowd energy made the whole concert a little bit forgettable despite the fact that all 3 bands put on great performances. I guess Calgary just ain't a power metal town.



*All photos courtesy of James Frayn-Wilks
james@frayn.ca