1/12/2024 0 Comments Montage music hall rochesterThe band members shook extended hands and, with linked arms, gave us a bow, reminding us that it’s all performance but performance impossible without and only a few steps away from the crowd.Īs the lights came on, Adam asked me if I was happy (I had loudly expressed some dissatisfaction after Katatonia’s last Toronto show). But even then they remained slightly tongue-in-cheek and amusingly nostalgic, sneaking in a short homage to Entombed’s “Demon” before striking their closing chords. Oddly, to me at least, it was “July” off The Great Cold Distance that finally drove a small horde into a frenzy, inspiring a short-lived mosh pit and a couple of violent flailers who looked poised to hurt someone (I was hoping, I admit, that they’d quickly knock each other out).įor their final song, Katatonia brought us back to the band they are now, playing “Forsaker” off 2010’s Night is the New Day. The few moments we spent with Tonight’s Decision were among my favourites (I had never heard “For My Demons” live before), but two tracks where Nyström and Renkse switched places were a close second, with Anders’ growls taking us back to Dance of December Souls and Brave Murder Day. Songs like “Teargas” and “Clean Today” had me singing, but a chorus of Kata-lovers sang along to nearly every track. Highlights scattered throughout the set took the place of end-of-the-night treats. And Renkse, uncharacteristically, spent a fair bit of time away from his mic stand, including a few minutes singing beside a guitar-playing Nyström for a while. The heavy metal vibe was echoed and extended by second guitarist Per Eriksson, who, along with bassist Niklas Sandin, would interact with the crowd and even headbang at times. The intro to “Don’t Tell a Soul” featured an unexpected jazzy swing, but beyond that, changes were mostly slight shifts in tone or attitude – Anders Nyström’s leads sounding a little more “heavy metal” than usual, or Renkse’s voice sounding more penetrating and clear (youthful?). The performances were pretty faithful all around to the original spirit of each release, though in some cases (like “For My Demons”) the arrangements were slightly adapted for live delivery. We were treated to one solid set roughly two hours long: 2001’s Last Fair Deal Gone Down played straight through plus album tracks or B-sides from every other major marker in Katatonia’s official musical history. To put it plainly, most people seemed to be having a helluva lot of fun both on and in front of the stage. On the whole, the melancholy atmosphere the band’s music tends to evoke gave way to something more light-hearted, lit through with a sense of ease and enjoyment. “Isn’t that rock and roll?” he asked, after explaining the band’s decision to not to take any nights off. They greeted their fans warmly, and frontman Jonas Renkse took a moment or two between every few songs (often during a guitar exchange) to address us, and even joke a little. It was Katatonia’s first time in Rochester and they seemed genuinely pleased to be there, if not in the city specifically, then at least on the small riser before us. Getting ourselves and our equipment inside was not nearly as smooth as we’d hoped, but we had everything settled just in time for Katatonia to walk out and play the opening chords of “Dispossession.” While Adam squeezed his way a few steps toward the front with his camera (it was a small room and a small crowd so we were already close), I moved to a more central location, seeking the best angle for listening and viewing combined. Turning onto a couple of mostly deserted side streets, it was reassuring to see the neon glow of the venue’s vintage marquee and a small mass of black-shirted bodies coagulating around the lit doorway. Hellbounders Adam Wills and Laura Wiebe caught the fourth of seven such gigs scheduled in North America, crossing the border into New York State to see how our southerly neighbours would welcome one of our favourite bands.Īfter a delicious dinner at The Owl House and a little downtime we wandered out into downtown Rochester to find The Montage. To celebrate, the band is playing a little more than a handful of headlining shows on the nights when current tour mates (and fellow Swedes) Opeth have decided to take some time off. Katatonia, the Swedish kings of melodic gloom, are enjoying a couple of anniversaries in 2011 (as you may already know – see Katatonia: Twenty Years Down the Road). Review by Laura Wiebe, Live photos by Adam Wills
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