The Fox Theater in Oakland California is a majestic venue reeking in old theater style. Originally opened in 1928, the theater went through a $75m renovation in 2009 to bring it back to it’s original grandeur. It has become a staple of touring artists stopping in the Bay Area. Tonight’s stop was Epica and Sabaton’s fifth stop on the Tour To End All Tours. This tour is in support of Sabaton’s latest album War to End All Wars.
Epica was up first with their symphonic style metal and operatic vocals. This Dutch sextet really puts on a show. Visually stunning, Epica sounded as good as they looked. By the second song, a sizable mosh pit formed and, according to Simone, was one of the fastest forming pits at one of their shows. The entire band looked polished and like they were having a blast on stage and the audience wholeheartedly approved. As the set progressed, they worked the ample stage allowing everyone in attendance the full experience.
One of the standouts of the night was the keyboard player, Coen Janssen. He not only had a keyboard on a swivel that spun 360 degrees on stage, he also had a portable arched keyboard that he ran around the stage with. I have never seen one quite like it. Super cool! At the end of the set, we were all hoping for a few more songs but, alas, the set was over and it was time to make way for Sabaton. This was my first time seeing them live and I hope it won’t be the last.
Epica are:
Mark Jansen – rhythm guitar, growled vocals, co-lead vocals
Coen Janssen – keyboards, synthesizer, piano
Simone Simons – lead vocals
Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums
Isaac Delahaye – lead guitar, backing vocals
Rob van der Loo – bass
Setlist
1.) Alpha – Anteludium
2.) Abyss of Time – Countdown to Singularity
3.) Sensorium
4.) Victims of Contingency
5.) Unchain Utopia
6.) Cry for the Moon
7.) Storm the Sorrow
8.) Code of Life
9.) Beyond the Matrix
10.) Consign to Oblivion
When Sabaton hit the stage, you could feel the energy ramp up a few notches. The crowd exploded as the first song started and kept the pace the entire set. Sabaton is one of those bands that the visuals match the song to a tee. The video screen behind the band played news clips and animations of the battles each song depicts. Joakim is an amazing front man, constantly keeping the energy up often times running from side to side of the stage. The entire band was decked out in urban camo pants and guitars to match. The stage, lined up front with barbed wire, rifle and helmet mic stands and featuring a full sized tank as a drum riser. Yes, you read that right, they had a freakin’ tank on stage!
Everything about the performance was perfectly synced, from the videos to the lighting imitating lightning storms. At one point Joakim called out a fan holding a Swedish flag and asked if they were really Swedish or “a meatball eating on Sunday at Ikea Swede.”. He then collected the flag and wore it as a cape saying his super power would be making flat packing furniture. When the next song began he gave the flag back to the now excited fan and continued on. The encore consisted of four songs. The two of them were chosen by the guitar players. ”Swedish Pagans” was the first choice and stripped down version of Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” was the second.
Sabaton are:
Joakim Brodén – Vocals
Pär Sundström – Bass
Chris Rörland – Guitar
Tommy Johansson – Guitar
Hannes Van Dahl – Drums
Setlist
1.) Ghost Division
2.) Stormtroopers
3.) The Red Baron
4.) Bismarck
5.) The Attack of the Dead Men
6.) Soldier of Heaven
7.) Steel Commanders
8.) Carolus Rex
9.) Gott mit uns (Sung in Swedish)
10.) Night Witches
11.) Dreadnought
12.) Shiroyama
13.) The Last Stand
14.) Christmas Truce
Encore:
15.) Primo Victoria
16.) Swedish Pagans
17.) Master of Puppets (Metallica cover) (Beginning)
18.) To Hell and Back
This stop on the tour made me even more of a fan of both bands. Since this was an early stop on the tour, do yourself a favor and get your tickets to see them. I am pretty sure you will not be disappointed. I know I will be in attendance the next time they come though the Bay Area.
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Photographer of about 10 years, I have been shooting concerts for about 8 of those years. I started to get serious about concert photography about 6 or 7 years ago and now try to shoot as many as I can. I shoot mostly rock but, have done some country and big band stuff. I love music and since I am nowhere close to being a musician, this is a way I can be a small part of what, in the words of Henry Rollins, “gets me through the highs, the lows and everything in between”.
