Fugazi

I also noticed a very emotional moment in the last episode when Lotte sang what appears to be a very personal song about sexual violence, and Floor was moved to tears. I don't know of a translated video, but there's some explanation on the VOX website. https://www.vox.de/cms/sing-meinen-song-2022-traenen-beim-tauschkonzert-das-steckt-hinter-lottes-song-so-wie-ich-4975884.html

It has now been 15 years since Anette was introduced as Tarja's replacement in Nightwish. Lots of water has gone under the bridge since!

Yeah, I consider myself lucky because I don't think they're making lots of money on these American tours of small venues. It's probably more about fan service and travelling the world rather that becoming rich and famous in North America. And for that, I'm thankful even if this was a very short tour compared to what they did in the past. Seeing them live is moving and memorable. 🤘

Wow, this is a whole new band around Marco Heubaum the founder... 👀 It's a sort of Delain move to clean house. This Ambre Vourvahis seems to be pretty new to the scene: https://themonster-factory.com/en/cb-profile/ambrevourvahis Former guitarist Philip Restemeier had this to say about the lineup change: https://www.facebook.com/philip.restemeier

We know the song already, there's no big surprise here but here's the video from Sing Meinen Song today with English subtitles. Mauern (Lotte) by Floor Jansen, Rammstein-style! 🤘 https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8b34sr I don't know, from this video I get the feeling that Floor is not that fluent in German? She's mostly smiling and laughing but not really engaging in conversations.

A couple of pro recordings from Paaspop have been released: Fire - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgMbh_oRkWU Phantom Of The Opera - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbw8WQUfceo Pretty cool stage, and great performances! 🔥

Ok, so two nights in Los Angeles and still no changes to the setlist. Here are some YouTube recordings: Los Angeles 2022-05-20: Noise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iek5fLSTFT8 Planet Hell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYsh_wrlFH8 Tribal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wazxf76Ss1c Élan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhM5ttH52dI Storytime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BDQYzpwVAQ She Is My Sin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Pty1bbhAhs Harvest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9aKoHvlIN0 7 Days to the Wolves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1m4PNbmxgI Dark Chest of Wonders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW-6H_1fWQw I Want My Tears Back https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R7kz6r0HiY Ever Dream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_DEhouNRCQ Nemo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsO4C-WydWM How's The Heart (acoustic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxnbIlXO4r4 Shoemaker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jbiNDnuKVs Last Ride of the Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEUflTtM9Y0 Ghost Love Score https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b14GUQm_qg The Greatest Show on Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Rg4XOdhoA Ad Astra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hse9BpHOnbM (amazing extra long final note!) Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaX-JP-lohRXPcJFXcz7evwI63vTYq4TX Los Angeles 2022-05-21: Noise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVCrgWRaY8c Planet Hell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgFFhEYwWfo Tribal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c7axCFYgAA Élan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rr_HkBhSMQ Storytime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO8wJ6zz36s She Is My Sin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUG3oL7IzEE Harvest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELAfVSlvhCk 7 Days to the Wolves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoVHkSO8r4w Dark Chest of Wonders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNEzg6I8Z8s I Want My Tears Back https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwXSxOkBxaw Ever Dream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unMcKeh8Lb0 Nemo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51gQmSWBTUY How's The Heart (acoustic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXTdYN6ZiwY Shoemaker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi0POIeZa4M Last Ride of the Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Dzb4J0_GY Ghost Love Score https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abPcavhRsEk The Greatest Show on Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpBRvzLOFJg Ad Astra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2OcO0rmyp8 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaX-JP-lohRV335bUUYWodQ01oKIehzrI It's the end of this leg of the tour, and the whole gang is looking a bit tired! Next stop: June 2nd in Finland for the start of the festival season! https://twitter.com/NightwishBand/status/1528405601943969792/photo/1

More teasing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6neOol6zXJY

Now would be their best chance to shuffle the setlist, playing twice the same venue. It would be just like the (slightly different) twin virtual shows. I'm not betting on it though! Just for fun, let's see how many shows Nightwish played in North America on previous tours: Wishmaster World Tour: 2 (both in Montreal) Summer Of Innocence Tour: 3 (Atlanta-Montreal-New York City) Once Upon A Tour: 12 in the USA (plus 3 cancelled shows) then 3 in Canada (Montreal-Toronto) Dark Passion Play World Tour: 24 in 2007, 32 in 2008 (split in two legs, not including 5 cancellations), and 10 in 2009, total 66! 😮 Imaginaerum World Tour: 28 (split in two legs) Endless Forms Most Beautiful World Tour: 27 in 2015, 27 in 2016 (including one festival, not including one cancellation), total 54 Decades World Tour: 34 Human Nature World Tour: 11 🤔

A new Outlanders single -- The Sleeping Indian, featuring Joe Satriani and Nkoye Zifah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfIu8cPJ1ow Tarja says: I have been feeling the calm energy and connection with the nature since ever I stepped on the island of Antigua for the first time. The island is inspiring and always soothing my soul. We found a holiday home for my family very near of the mountain guarding the area called Sleeping Indian. From the distance, you can easily discover the complete, majestic figure of an Indian Chief laying on the ground and facing the sky. This mountain, ever present in our days in the island, inspired me to write a song for Outlanders with Torsten. This time I wanted to use my voice merely like an instrument to enhance the ethereal feeling I had with the harmonies, the wind, and the pulsating waves at the shore. I also sampled my voice and played around with it. Torsten suggested to ask Antiguan local rapper Nkoye Zifah to participate in our song. It was a great idea that I loved right away! It is the first time I work with a rap artist on a song, and I really like it since it makes The Sleeping Indian pop out from the rest of the album. Nkoye wrote the text for the rap himself based on the history of Antigua. The experience was great and Nkoye is a beautiful person I had the chance to meet, so I am very grateful to him for doing this. Last, but not least, what to say about our guitar guest, Joe Satriani, that has not been said before? He, as always, gives me goosebumps with his way of understanding music. His sound and style of playing are just so unique. When I conceived Outlanders, I had in mind a kind of music that could transport you to another place or state of mind. I could hear in my head a sound like Joe's filling up the space around. I love the mix and the boundaries we decided to leave behind with Torsten when jumping into Outlanders. I am sure you will enjoy Joe's playing on The Sleeping Indian. Thank you once again Joe! Play it loud! Hope you enjoy our new creation! https://www.tarja-outlanders.com/

News on the Delain front: Ludo Cioffi, a death metal guitar player from Italy is the new (live) bass player. He also sings in his main band Nightland. https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cdv0DEcFHKh/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

I'm running late on updating those shows! Here's the San Francisco setlist, no surprises here. To be updated with available recordings. San Francisco 2022-05-18: Noise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV4ftop8kdk Planet Hell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMEK-hg26aI Tribal Élan Storytime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR38nBs06jQ She Is My Sin Harvest 7 Days to the Wolves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puQctz7TYcY Dark Chest of Wonders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2q8sN8Ctsg I Want My Tears Back Ever Dream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhFdsdH3Md0 Nemo How's The Heart (acoustic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy4UUSVLoIE Shoemaker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWZf6pQMB_I Last Ride of the Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaLalk1IGdE Ghost Love Score https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dZv15tm_C0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3cNg8mBDwo The Greatest Show on Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBW3ca-_Dzc Ad Astra https://youtu.be/eBW3ca-_Dzc?t=1001 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaX-JP-lohRV9LlpR1lsuyyY0EXe8WH_c

Floor is gearing up for a second single release soon: May 26, title yet unknown. https://www.facebook.com/events/2932974923678031 And a new pink look 👀 https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=558677398952450&set=a.210323117121215

To be updated as recordings become available. Denver 2022-05-15: Noise Planet Hell Tribal Élan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCcOj2wO7HY Storytime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKlwISjsUMg She Is My Sin Harvest 7 Days to the Wolves Dark Chest of Wonders I Want My Tears Back Ever Dream Nemo How's The Heart (acoustic) Shoemaker Last Ride of the Day Ghost Love Score The Greatest Show on Earth Ad Astra Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaX-JP-lohRVanKmM5Lz-N5SZI9iHjl65

The performance is even better with Kelvin's story -- hearing how much this song meant to him, then having Floor singing it like there's no tomorrow... just wow! 😮

Crewish album will be out in the Fall: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=511563503737157&set=a.213219350238242

The uilleann pipe player on that song, Davy Spillane, seems to be quite a renowned musician, judging from his credits. I don't know if he sings, play guitars, and perform magic tricks though. 😄

Well, given that no European symphonic metal bands has ever had a huge success in North America, even including Nightwish, every fan here must be a bit special to them and a Canadian fan seeing them twice in separate cities must certainly not be that common!

This was spotted on a Discord, Nightwish sound tech Kimmo Ahola has started a touring blog for the North American tour, and there is a little insight into what the band and crew are doing between the shows. https://pointti.fi/nightwish-2022-tour-blog-osa-1/ It's all in Finnish, but the Google translation is acceptable: https://pointti-fi.translate.goog/nightwish-2022-tour-blog-osa-1/?_x_tr_sl=fi&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp Of note, he liked the new Toronto venue, the crowd in Montreal was as loud as in South America, and there aren't many sidewalks in Seacaucus NJ. 😄 -- In other news, tonight Nightwish plays Denver. It has been a regular stop on every North American tour but also where the infamous "karaoke" show took place the night Anette was sick during the Imaginaerum tour -- the "Denver Debacle" or "Miracle", depending on your POV.

Also, a better-than-average quality recording of most of the Toronto show is available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfOBi_5gfSAg2bk6yZnK0A/videos I will add it to the Toronto playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaX-JP-lohRVX14dDRZhgN0ZLEcD95xcI

Wow I thought they were dead and buried -- for no reason other than they don't seem to be able to keep their singer. They're even worse than Nightwish. 😋 So who will it be this time? For you guys who don't know about Xandria, they're a German band who will be remembered for a record number of lead singers. Here's what Lisa Middelhauve (the second singer) had to say when Xandria parted ways with Dianne van Giersbergen (their fifth!): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100050451941657

To be updated, not much available online right now. Edit: Full show, including Beast In Black: part 1, part 2, part 3 Minneapolis 2022-05-13: Noise Planet Hell Tribal Élan Storytime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_9S0_J55m4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPJLxN9QWEk She Is My Sin Harvest 7 Days to the Wolves Dark Chest of Wonders I Want My Tears Back https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iew07a42Uro Ever Dream Nemo How's The Heart (acoustic) Shoemaker Last Ride of the Day Ghost Love Score The Greatest Show on Earth Ad Astra Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaX-JP-lohRXT68d06zVtB6HthS0kJ9oX

Important update from Troy: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=540935177434749&set=a.279030673625202

A few quick comments on this batch of songs: Floor Jansen – Call You Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5poW3TQiiqY This is one where Floor turns the emotion up to 11, and it makes for a much better song IMO. Nothing against Kelvin Jones, he's just not pouring his heart in it! 😁 Floor Jansen – Mauern https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB-1_3HhB5k I love how this one turns slowly to metal, and German sounds especially well suited to metal singing. Can't wait to see this one on video. And it does makes me wonder how many of these songs (if any) will make it to Floor's solo concerts. Floor Jansen – Anfassen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgOwXeHNTCE Nice one, the band sound certainly more at ease with rock/metal than the Beste Zangers guys! The Nightwish/Northward/Floor covers: Lotte – Noise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBEHz6XemEk I like it! The minimalist dance music arrangements and singing are very much to my liking! Reminds me of the DJ Orkidea remixes, with a voice to fit. Clueso – Sleeping Sun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHxNEoct_j4 What the vittu is this? I mean, the song is okay but is Floor supposed to be awed/flattered by this? 🤔 Kelvin Jones – Storytime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s5oGYEdXFk ☮️ A version that Crewish could have come up with! The spoken part is a bit weird, but fun nevertheless. Elif – Fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms4QoKD6ljM 🔥 I like this woman and the way she sings -- here and elsewhere -- but I would have expected something further removed from Floor's performance. Johannes Oerding – While Love Died https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXEKOZO5_mc 🎹 100% for the effort, but I can't say this is for me. SDP – Amaranth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8NKlLIPQ4M ⚒️ Another version worthy of Crewish! Pretty good. The duets: SDP & Floor Jansen – Amaranth (Sing Meinen Song, Vol. 9) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv8vIUctpbo I love how Floor goes for a harsher sound on this version than how she normally sings live. Looking forward to the video! Floor Jansen & Kelvin Jones – Call You Home (Sing Meinen Song, Vol. 9) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcLMCt5qttQ Nice duet, but honestly Floor's solo version is perfect as it is. I would have liked a duet with Elif or Lotte, but it was not going to be.

Next up: Chicago 2022-05-12: Full concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj22Ie7g_20 Noise Planet Hell Tribal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68kymxMMRKs Élan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVHxas822Dk Storytime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-oVwEX5neQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP81dfC1gAk She Is My Sin Harvest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wg-jnW_tIg 7 Days to the Wolves Dark Chest of Wonders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs0TD8ZhqAE I Want My Tears Back Ever Dream Nemo How's The Heart (acoustic) Shoemaker Last Ride of the Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxZkktBwlVM Ghost Love Score https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3SNDv-PWeY The Greatest Show on Earth Ad Astra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVQnVZoqSmk Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaX-JP-lohRUqFurk93FXGFFA3iGCFFlS