Ghost Reveries 2006 Tour Review

Ghost Reveries 2006

U.S. Tour
Review

Ghost Reveries 2006 US Tour:
Opeth
DevilDriver
Dark Tranquillity
Rave (Milwaukee, WI)
3/3/06
Reviewer: Karma E. Omowale
Photos: Erika Kristen Watt

“This Years' Rendition of the Ghost Reveries Tour Was Larger Than Life, Leaving the Crowd Breathless…”

Perhaps the immense number of mediocre shows we have seen in such a short amount of time have left us jaded but The Ghost Reveries 2006 Tour temporarily woken me our of my pre-empted stupor. Just like the title of this review, all in attendance were rendered breathless after DevilDriver’s and Sweden’s Dark Tranquillity’s respective sets. Bottom line they kicked all sorts of ass! Close to a year ago was the last time we feasted our eyes and ears on DT, during the Soilwork Tour. DD singed our hinnies last month on the Come Clarity Tour with In Flames and of course, we saw Opeth last on their Ghost Reveries World Tour last October. This classic lineup was not one for the beer swilling nü-metal lovin' slackers either, it had higher echelon written all over it. It was too bad the Devin Townsend Band dropped off the tour a couple days prior but overall, we are still batting .1000 here. Speaking of numbers, we heard that attendance totaled to 1,650. Scary that the Rave holds a little more than this…the nearly sold out show was experience not soon to be forgotten; kudos to the one that conjured this tour up! Skål!!

We all know the Lords of Time & Communiqué usually like to wreak considerable havoc on us; they happily rained on our parade again. The casualty this go round was Opeth due to interview with DT (which got cut way short due to a tape recorder malfunction) L. Alls not lost, we did manage to snag a couple of photos of Opeth's performance but way more as previously stated from aforementioned shows, just click respective links for access. I can tell you they led off the night with “Ghost Perdition”. Here’s how the rest of the night transpired:

Lineup: Martin Brändström – keyboards; Martin Henriksson – guitars; Mikael Stanne – vocals; Anders Jivarp – drums; Michael Niklasson – bass; Niklas Sundin – guitars

"You're in for a wonderful evening with DevilDriver and Opeth"! How true was this statement!! It was definitely a portend of things to come as the Gothenburg Gods of Metal did their fair share of entrancing the Rave's Eagles Ballroom crowd. These very words were uttered by a smiling frontman, the magnanimous Mikael Stanne as he introed the first song “Wonders at Your Feet”. The appreciative audience went into hysterics, especially when the band led into their next selection off their latest album Character, "Lost To Apathy". I must admit, I too added to the fold of screams being this is one of my all time DT favorites. Keyboardist Martin Brändström was the highlight, perfect accompaniment to drummer Anders Jivarp and Stanne’s stunning, spine chilling vocals. The string section reigned supreme as well. By the way, I am not showing bias toward this song because it’s a favorite but because fine musicianship and instrumentation were displayed.

During the brief lull after the "Lost to Apathy" a fan shouted, “Play "Treason Wall"!” Stanne chuckled and happily responded, “We can do that! For those of you that don't know this one, it's off Damage Done, "The Treason Wall"!” The crowd went berserk! How cool is that to incorporate a fan request not to mention so early in the set. Stanne’s vocals were riveting along with his comely stage presence, Jivarp showed off his prowess during this song as well. Bassist Michael Niklasson came alive during this number. At the conclusion, Stanne cried out, “Thank you guys good to see you again!” Pointing into the crowd, Stanne spots a tattooed fan, “We have the guy with the coolest Dark Tranquillity tattoo and Opeth!” Stanne beamed. To much of our amazement, you could hear the fan shouting back at the entertaining frontman, “I love DT and Opeth!” Stanne replied, “Well, you’re in the right place tonight!!”, the audience roared. The band ripped into “Damage Done”. This song displays their faultless musicianship; however, they should be this tight considering the band has been at it since 1989, aging seamlessly like fine wine.

“Here’s our new video “New Build”, the crowd erupted. This song displays Jivarp’s mastery on the cymbals and drums as well as guitarists Martin Henriksson and Niklas Sundin. It is clear that DT is light years ahead of your average shrieking death metal band. Not only do these accomplished musicians have matchless talent but they have passion, a quality that is usually devoid of today’s fold. After the conclusion of the song, the band received a horned filled ovation. To intro the next song, a smiling Stanne addressed his hyped audience, “We’ve got some really old stuff for you, are you ready for that?”, the crowd roared. Stanne continued, “This is from the ‘99 album called, The Gallery!”, the crowd lost it! “What do you know about that?”, somehow the volume in the venue got louder than before. More than pleased with the response, Stanne said, “Well that’s good to hear! And if not, get ready for some punishment, all right!” Screams and roars filled the Eagles Ballroom as the band began to play “Punish My Heaven”. It hit like a brick, half way through this song it occurred to me that Mr. Stanne was holding back as it was best heard on “Punish My Heaven”. Knowing the band still has another three weeks left on the schedule; one can understand why Stanne would not go all balls out here. The last time the band played here, he had blown his voice out the previous night actually; it was the Chicago show in fact.

To intro the next song, Stanne taunted the audience with his next statement, “Can you handle more?” the audience proved by their response that they could handle as much as the band was willing to give, and then some. The band received a rousing ovation for the final track off Character “My Negation”. The band breezed through the song as if it was very little for them. After the conclusion, Mikael gave heartfelt recognition to the crowd, “Milwaukee, from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you!”, the crowd went out of control. On to the last and final selection of the night, “Let’s get totally fucked up, this is “Final Resistance”!” This was the piéce de résistance, let’s put it this way, it was hard to figure out if the band fed off the incredible amount of energy of the crowd or vice versa! Either way, it was a hell of a finale! Stanne departed on this final note, “Thank you all, you’ve been fantastic!” 2007 cannot come fast enough for the long awaited return of one of Sweden’s finest! Vi ses snart!

Dark Tranquillity Setlist: Wonders at Your Feet; Lost To Apathy; Treason Wall; Damage Done; The New Build; Punish My Heaven; My Negation; Final Resistance.

Lineup: Dez Fafara – Vocals; Jon Miller – Bass; John Boecklin – Drums; Mike Spreitzer – Guitar; Jeff Kendrick – Guitar

Good and warmed up from the well-delivered ass kicking from Dark Tranquillity, the crowd was more than anxious for round two by one of our nation’s best acts, California grown, DevilDriver. The anxious crowd began to chatter excessively as their nervous energy ran amok during the changeover. During which time, the lighting techs tested lighting rigs from hell as the entire room remained illuminated. Could it be DevilDriver is taping tonight’s show, either that or a video? After the painstaking fifteen minute changeover which seemed like an eternity, especially to the terminally impatient the band took the stage and frontman Dez Fafara addressed the manic crowd, “Fuck Heavy Metal!”, the crowd roared, Fafara continued, “Let’s go Milwaukee! Put your fucking hands in the air!”, the audience did as instructed. The band went straight into their first song of the night (this would also be the point of the program where I apologize for not recognizing the song titles). What I can tell you is that Dez stopped singing at one point and allowed the audience to sing the chorus, especially since they were louder than he was.

During the second song, Dez grabbed a passing surfer girls’ hand. The amount of energy that surged through the Rave could easily be felt for miles around. It was stifling, what a glorious feeling this was. It’s what metal shows are supposed to be about! On to song #3, “The Mountain”, Fafara pointed to the middle of floor then screamed, “Let’s see the motherfucker open up…! That’s John “motherfucking” Boecklin on the drums and Mike Spreitzer on lead guitar!” the venue erupted as the audience gave mad props to the band. The applause that followed the conclusion of the song lasted for eons. To intro the next song, Reverend Dez started up on his empowerment speech, “Don’t ever let anything fuck with your life… fuck with it back! Milwaukee, show me your middle fingers tonight!”, the crowd obligingly did as instructed and in the process, the place went nuts. “You doing okay?” After the rousing response from the floor, Fafara wanted to make sure the balcony wasn't left out. Wasn't that sweet of him?! He screamed at the dwellers in the rafters, “How ‘bout that fucking balcony? Well then sing this Mother Fucker…I Could Care Less!” The balcony and floor screamed loudly then repeated the “chorus”. During the middle of the song Dez exalted, “I can take on the world tonight…it feels so fucking good! Thank you very much Milwaukee for having me in your fucking house!” The grateful crowd erupted. By this time, the entire venue rocked and swayed back and forth. The energy was truly overwhelming.

For the next selection, the Rev was at it again with his next lead-in, “Give your enemies nothing! Fuck the social lies!! Michael Spreitzer…“Hold Back the Day”!” In fact, the song was performed exceptionally well, to the tune of us hearing guitar licks I had never heard before. In the middle of the song, Dez sent some shout outs to his tourmates, “Let’s hear it for our good friends in Dark Tranquillity and Opeth for taking us out again!”, roars could be heard miles away! Directing the crowd to the next song, the fearless leader spoke to his flock, “Every thing in life is either a sin or a sacrifice, period!”, here, here sir Fafara! As the band tore the hell out of that song, the rambunctious crowd created a pit of death. The middle of the floor opened wide, as if a twister had touched down. “Remember what the fuck I said to you, in life never let yourself be “Ripped Apart”!” The crowd went ape shit.

To intro the next song, Fafara let the cat out of the bag the reason why the city of Milwaukee was chosen to film their upcoming untitled DVD. The dissertation got under way by Dez asking the crowd a series of mini questions, “How many people know who DevilDriver is? Have you seen us before?”, an overwhelming response was given from the proud audience. “I’ll be brutally honest, we’re filming for the DVD! It’s time to go downtown…you know what I’m asking for! Everybody in the balcony as well as the floor… I’ve been bragging on you!” Dez had gone on to say every time the band visits Milwaukee that they receive the best applause, etc. so this was their payoff. He implored the entire crowd to move their asses, his battle cry was also infused with humor, “So stop holding your woman’s hand! Better do something worthy of getting laid!”, laughter and screams rang throughout the venue. “No screamo, emo bullshit karate! Take lessons!! I don’t like it! Come see me if you do it!” The crowd tittered but immediately understood the justified scolding. Previously many kids were unjustifiably pummeled in the (pit) mêlée! “I say this every night! Open up, bigger, wider! I want to see the whole place a disaster pit!!” Well I am here to tell you it so was. The floor WAS a disaster pit. It was so wide; you could see the eagled emblem in the middle of the floor. Not rowdy enough Dez shrieked at the crowd, “Fists mother fuckers!”, ahhh, they flew high and hard! “We’re DevilDriver! Thank You for having us in your fucking house! We’ll see you soon with fucking Venom!”, the enchanted crowd erupted with amazement and happiness. Fafara concluded, “Never have I been let down by coming here…NEVER!” the crowd cheered for a while. This was one hell of a set; all laid in ruins. By the way, if I misquoted anything that was said during this performance, reference the DVD and past that, in the immortal words of the good Reverend, “I Could Care Less”! :^o

DevilDriver Partial Setlist (in no particular order) : Nothing's Wrong; Grinfucked; The Mountain; I Could Care Less; Hold Back The Day; Sin or Sacrifice; Ripped Apart; Driving Down The Darkness; End Of The Line.

Lineup: Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, vocals; Peter Lindgren – guitars; Martin Mendez – bass; Per Wiberg – keyboards; Martin Axenrot – drums

Well I am afraid that I cannot report much for Opeth other than the it was an amazing ten (10) minutes of “Ghost of Perdition”. You could hear every instrument: every strum of the guitar by Peter Lindgren and Mikael Åkerfeldt, the beautiful tinkering of Per Wiberg’s keyboards, the masterful cymbalry & drumwork by Witchery’s drummer Martin Axenrot, and the thunderous bass lines by Martin Mendez. It was pure bliss; however, I had to head off for my scheduled interview with Dark Tranquillity’s frontman, herr Stanne! However here are some photos from tonight but we do have pix from their last headlining tour and from the Chicago show from last year’s inaugural Sounds of the Underground. Until next time, hej då!!!

with supporting acts: Dark Tranquillity, Devin Townsend Band & DevilDriver (on select dates)

FEBRUARY:
15 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre
16 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
17 - Towson, MD - Recher Theatre
18 - Millvale, PA - Mr. Small's Theatre
19 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
20 - Louisville, KY Headliner - Music Hall
21 – Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
22 - Cleveland, OH - Agora (DT HEADLINE)
23 - West Springfield, VA - Jaxx (DT HEADLINE)
24 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theatre
25 - Providence, RI - Heartbreak Hotels
26 - Imperial, QC - Quebec City
27 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda (DT HEADLINE)
28 - London, ON - The Drink Nightclub

MARCH:
1 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Orbit [DevilDriver Starts Tour]
2 - Detroit, MI - I-rock (DT HEADLINE)
3 - Milwaukee, WI - The Eagles Ballroom
4 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
5 - Winnipeg, MB - The Venue
7 - Regina, SK - Odeon
8 - Edmonton, AB - Red's
9 - Calgary, AB - MacEwan Hall Ballroom
10 - Spokane, WA - Big Easy
11 – Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
12 - San Francisco, CA - The Pound
13 - San Diego, CA – H.O.B.
15 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
17 - Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
18 - Little Rock, AZ - Juanita's Cantina
19 - New Orleans, LA – H.O.B.
21 - Lake Buena Vista, FL – H.O.B.