03.08.2012 Kamelot

Wacken Open Air XXIII

Wacken (Germany)

(Pentax K-5 with Sigma AF 70-200mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

Finally the gig that I was looking for so much. After I had seen Kamelot three years ago already on Wacken Open Air, to that time with Roy Khan as singer, so they were back again this year. As Roy quit the band due to his health and also this years tour was made with the Rhapsody Of Fire front men Fabio Lione as substitute, they came now with their new front men.
That was during the last years tour already with them as background singer and was also allowed to perform one song live during which I already thought: Why he was not lead singer instead of Fabio. That should not say that Fabio did a bad job but Tommy Karevik simply perfectly fit aas replacement for the retired Roy Khan. And so I was really happy when it was announced that he now should be the permanent replacement for Roy. The Wacken Open Air was only his third gig as front men yet still he did his thing very good. Directly from the start he integrated the audience into their show and showed that he had a comparable style to Khan but still his very own one. Of course the usual battery of flame throwers may not be missing and guitarist Thomas Youngblood as well as bassist Sean Tibbets, drummer Casey Grillo and keyboarder Oliver Palotai could really show their skills. Background singer was just like the year before Amaranthe front woman Elize Ryd which integrated perfectly into the band. Principally they played "The Great Pandemonium" tour with the name giving song but also old classics like the "March Of Mephisto" during which as usual two masked woman with drums support the band.
Actually it could have been a really great concert. But already shortly before it began I was thinking: "After it you should get your rain jacket out of your tent, just to be save!" but I did not get that far anymore. Luckily already more than half of the concert was over when the rain started to pour down abundantly and I could only run to the press tent to keep my equipment halfway dry. I got soaked to the skin during that short distance and the festival ground looked like a lakescape. My heart was going out to the band as due to the mass of water and the hard wind many fled from the stage but camelot continued routined till the end. That was not what they deserved. But not only due to the freak weather but also to the great introduction of Tommy this concert will last in mind for a longer time!