06.08.2011 Avantasia

Wacken Open Air XXII

Wacken (Germany)

(Pentax k-x with Tamron SP AF 17-50mm 2.8 XR Di II LD Asp IF and Sigma AF 50-150mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

After we just passed the first saying goodbye of this day with Matt Barlow it again meant saying goodbye. As Tobias Sammed wants to work more actively on his main project Edguy. Due to this and also due to the organizational efforts his metal opera Avantasia needs this should be the last gig. For this once more really everything of distinction was there.
Avantasia is living not only on the genious compositions of Sammet but mainly also of the huge number of guest musicians supporting him on and on at the songs. Tobias first stood solemn during the first song "Twisted Mind" on stage and hidden between sunglasses but already during the second one "The Scarecrow" he got backstop by Jörn Lande. Parallel in the background as background singer Amanda Sommerville was constantly present and later during "Farewell" also as main singer at the front of the stage. But not enough with that. On next song "The Story Ain’t Over" Magnum front men Bob Catley appeared on stage and bringing up the rear finally Michael Kiske who first appeared on stage during the fantastic "Dying For An Angel" as well as Kai Hansen who was really great during "Death Is Just A Feeling".
The weather meanwhile decided to turn into rain which did not harm the atmosphere in front of the stage. Loudly it was sang along during all songs like the only top-10 hit "Lost In Space" and the ocean of arms during "Farewell" (the "pussy ballad" like Tobias called it) was really impressive. Later Kai Hansen was not only on microphone but also taking his guitar. Tobias was not getting tired in emphasizing that this would be the ultimatively last Avantasia show (let's see how long this will last) but after "The Wicked Symphony" it should not finally be over. The end was finally reached after several encores closing with "The Sign Of The Cross" ending in "The Seven Angels". As afterwards all musicians were standing at the front of the stage that was really a very special moment.
All in all it was a wonderful show with the who-is-who of the German metal scene. But of course it is an immense effort to get all these musicians together (some of the songs were even not sung by their original artist this evening). Currently Tobias is telling that he wants more time for his main project Edguy but I am curious how long that will last. It would be a pitty if there would be no such great songs in future.