Live Reviews : Nightwish & Taberah @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 07/01/2016

Words: Jake Patton

Images: Rebecca Reid

(Click here to view the full gallery)

This year has a very high benchmark. All through 2015 there was numerous shows and offerings that came along which built upon each other to make 2015 one of the biggest years that Australia had seen in heavy music. I often wondered how 2016 would go in comparison, but here we are, little more than seven days into the new year and the benchmark has shifted again thanks to Brisbane’s first international show of the year from Finnish mettaller’s Nightwish. With a line approximately 300 meters long and spiralling around the corner thirty minutes before doors even opened, you could just tell that the night was going to be extraordinary.

Taberah

I must admit that I was a bit shocked upon hearing the announcement that Tasmanian act Taberah was supporting Nightwish. There are a few quality female fronted symphonic metal acts kicking around in Australia that would have been perfect for this slot, but to go with a power metal band? Having never seen the band live I just couldn’t pick why. However, my preconceived notions were quickly squashed upon watching the band, and all I can say is that on this occasion the support band couldn’t have been any more perfect.

Playing an energetic brand of power metal reminiscent of bands like Hammerfall or Sabaton, there is honestly little I could fault about Taberah. Cheesy guitar duels, on-stage high fives, some brilliant solos and probably the most charismatic front man I have seen from an Australian band yet, there was very little that you could fault from their performance.

Taberah

In fact I could only fault one thing with their set and it isn’t even attributed to the band themselves, and that was the lighting. The lighting guy failed here for two reasons; firstly, the changing of colours was all off key with the music and was patchier than a scouts uniform. Secondly, the lighting guy didn’t do the purple and blue UV light trick that the band wanted!

This didn’t stop the band from absolutely swooning the crowd, making this a rare occasion where the crowd was treated to a support band that absolutely smashed their performance out of the park. Reminiscent of treating the opportunity like the ‘one shot’ that Eminem sung about, the band owned every minute of their performance, and if the line at their merch desk after the show was any indication of the reception, then they successfully left with a bucketload of new fans in tow.

Nightwish

By the time that Taberah had walked off stage, I turned around and found that I was no longer standing with space around me, and that the entire venue had been engulfed by a sea of Nightwish fans waiting in anticipation. And for that the band didn’t disappoint. Following the dimming of the lights, the band built up the suspense of their arrival with a musical interlude before storming out into “Shudder Before The Beautiful” to begin their hour and a half long set.

Visually, you can tell that this is a band that is proficient with its touring performance, placing each member in a position so that there is something to see everywhere you look on stage. Tuomas Holopainen, nestled off to stage left behind his keyboards, bassist and backing vocalist Marco Hietala behind one centrally located microphone stand with vocalist Floor Jansen behind another next to him, guitarist Emppu (Erno) Vuorinnen able to freely walk around stage, Kai Hahto behind the drums, and Troy Donockley hidden back stage left a little.

One thing I have to commend the band on is their interaction with the crowd. Whether it be the die-hard fans down at the barrier screaming their lungs out to every syllable of the night, or the people standing behind a draped Finnish flag atop the balcony, it seemed like every single fan was treated to a nod, a wink, a smile or a gesture from band members, which is something that is extremely rare for musicians.

Nightwish

Obviously as one of the band’s spectacles, frontwoman Floor Jansen is simply flawless. Her ability to hit some of the ridiculously high notes is impeccable, but I guess that is what comes with being a classically trained soprano vocalist. Coupling that up with the fact that she is acutely aware of exactly when to take a back seat to Tuomas, Marco, Erno or even Kai, makes this incarnation of Nightwish probably the most complete that I have ever seen them. One thing she did which is often lost to most vocalists was motion to the crowd to watch the other band members during solo’s or other interludes – highlighting just how comfortable the band is as a group.

Musically tonight the band didn’t disappoint. For me, there is something about Marco’s vocal style which just captures you from the get-go. I personally like the songs where he is able to provide input (and these are some of my favourites), and the contrast that he has with Floor is incredibly beautiful. It’s also surprising to see that while not the most overly technical guitarist, Erno just makes everything look so easy.

Focusing more on their latest release ‘Endless Forms Most Beautiful’, while still dabbling in tracks from each of their earlier studio release albums (except for ‘Angels Fall First’) provided the perfect structure to appease to many of the older and newer fans alike. Towards the tail end of their set the band chose to play some of their older songs before giving the crowd a final chance to sing along by closing with ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ (Parts II and III). The band then came together centre stage, locked arms, and took a long, low bow to rapturous applause.

I have big expectations for this year. If this is what is delivered only just over a week into the year, then I can’t wait for what will come later on. Because personally, while for me this wasn’t the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’ (it was close – I’ll give it that), for many it would have been, and if that is the benchmark for shows this year, then it’s going to be a very good year indeed.

Nightwish are on tour in Australia this month. Tickets are on sale now. Get yours below.

Saturday 9th January – The Enmore Theatre, SYDNEY (All Ages)
With Taberah
Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au

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