Wintersun @ Irving Plaza 8/8/2013

Oh god this show was seriously amazing. One of the best I've gone to because I lucked out but then I suddenly got all the luck back. I promised myself I see Wintersun again and I'm just so happy to be part of their first headlining tour in North America.

I don't work on Thursdays at this internship so I did as what I usually did on my live day. I wasn't sure if this Wintersun show was going to be as big as when they opened for Eluveitie (which sold out because of Wintersun, not Eluveitie) so I wanted to get there early. To my surprise I was there early enough that I can still see the venue's sign from my place on queue. My 晴れ女ness worked out well because it rained when I got on the train and stopped when I got out and rained two minutes before I got into the venue.
Also, I have to state that I'm not a big fan of recording at concerts because I like to enjoy the show rather than focus on recording. But I thought I would try something new this time and I made the last minute decision to my camera out of coat check and bring it with me.



This show had three openers, so I was thinking it won't get crowded until much later. The bands in order are Starkill, Arsis and Fleshgod Apocalypse. I liked Starkill but I feel oddly guilty for doing so... they come off as a deathcore band. People were already shoving and pushing and crowdsurfing for Arsis which I thought was early... but Arsis' sound didn't catch me at all. By the time Fleshgod Apocalypse came on, I was shoved against the barrier from standing at the second row at the beginning. They put on a interesting set, I just wish I could have heard them better. The live soprano singer was a nice touch.

Now I have to tell you that Wintersun's music is not something I ever heard of before in my life before I got into their music. It's god-tier. It's melodic porn for the ears and soul. I'm unfortunately always anxious and nervous before a concert, but once in there, it's not too important who's playing because the energy makes me feel so alive. But Wintersun's music is so indescribably good that the moment they started playing, I was putty clinging onto the barricade.

Listening to the studio versions of the songs themselves already makes you feel like you're flying through some epic space battle in the winter, but to hear it live with the band members themselves mere feet away from you shredding on their instruments is  A+ and beyond. Since this is a much shorter, watered down version of my actual report on the show... I think the best thing for one to do is to listen to Wintersun for themselves to see what I mean.

Everyone and myself sang our hearts out to all the songs and we even sang to the guitar solos, a first I've seen at a show. It was hotter than Satan's backside but it stopped no one from moving to the music. I headbanged significantly less for Wintersun because I was so busy singing and actually watching the guys on stage.


-SETLIST-

When Time Fades Away
Sons of Winter and Stars
Land of Snow and Sorrow
Beautiful Death
Darkness and Frost
-MC-
Time
Death and the Healing
Battle Against Time
Beyond the Dark Sun
The Way of the Fire
-MC-
Starchild

The show was phenomenal, and nothing less of that. I even got the much-coveted setlist from bassist Jukka, who folded it into a airplane and released it in front of a fan pointing towards the audience. After the show I bought merch and I was about to leave to get my bag at Coat Check but then I bumped into the members of Starkill. They said they would be hanging out the at merch tables and I was surprised to see them around still. So I shakily asked for a photo.

Now, there's douchebag metal artists and there's not-at-all douchebag metal artists. But if you ask me, I think Wintersun guys are genuinely nice people, albeit shy and modest fellows.

Anyways after all that jazz, I decided I would take my time freshening up, getting my belongings together and sit down for a few moments because I was tired. But when I was trying to leave, Irving Plaza staff told me the front doors were locked and I should exit through the back. I thought that was weird but I did and well... I'm glad I took my time, because a door in the hallway opened and out came two guys who seemed to be Wintersun vocalist Jari and guitarist Teemu. I wasn't sure so I called out their names.

It was indeed them. As I said, I'm very braindead after a show because of all the adrenaline and ecstasy of a live, so I did the only thing my brain was registering at the time: ask for a photo.
They were hesitant, and I understood and stated that they may decline if they're in a rush to get to the next venue... But Jari agreed and guess who now has a photo with two Finnish gods? THIS GUY. 

Will I post the photos of me and the guys? No, I'd like to keep that private. Again this report is a much shorter version of the same tl;dr report, hence lack of details, and I'd like to keep the fangirling to a minimum. So yes, I am a happy little camper after that night. This show gave me insight as to "Why haven't I been doing this before?"