Avantasia in Stockholm 2019-05-02, live review

7/10

If it comes to Tobias Sammet and his contact with the crowd it’s 10/10. If it comes to Eric Martin and his vocal abilities, “Maniac” is brilliant this thursday in Stockholm, it’s 10/10. If it comes to Geoff Tate and his vocal abilities, “Avantasia” is brilliant this thursday in Stockholm, it’s 10/10. If it comes to Felix Bohnke and his incredible drumming it’s 10/10. Why am I giving the concert 7/10? I will try to explain why in the rest of this review.

First of all the length is not optimal. Three hours and fifteen minutes is too long. The only thing I can compare with is the three concerts that Rush put up at the Globe Arena in Stockholm some years ago. They called it “An evening with Rush” and they were playing around three hours as well. I really shouldn’t compare because Rush is so much better as musicians and even Felix Bohnke is a character in the shadow of Neil Peart. Avantasia have my full respect for doing this concept but they don’t reach all the way. It’s great to hear songs like “Reach Out For The Light”, “Lost In Space” and the incredible “Farewell” who gives me a great feeling and one of the most brilliant moments of all of the 100+ shows I’ve seen over the years.

I have mentioned Eric Martin and Geoff Tate who is doing a great job this night. The other three lead singers isn’t quite as good but Ronnie Atkins is almost there and his energy is absolutely fantastic, it’s the same energy that he is showing in his band Pretty Maids. Jorn Lande on the other hand is a great singer of course but he is a little bit boring and his vocals at Fryshuset is not super great but in that case it might be my fault because I’m standing in a place at the venue where the sound isn’t super great.

Finally it’s Bob Catley fron Magnum and he is a brilliant singer………..in Magnum. I think his vocals is great in “The Story Ain’t Over” but in “Mystery of a Blood Red Rose” it’s not good at all. Bob Catley is the weakest link in the chain this night and if I was free to choose I would have Mille Petrozza or Hansi Kursch instead of Bob Catley on that stage. Another very weak moment is “Moonglow” which, they in a way, throwing away to be a filler. My favourite track on the last album is growing  thanks to Candice Night vocals and Adrienne Cowan is not reaching there at all, and it isn’t sure that even Amanda Somerville had nailed it. To sum it up it was a little bit too long and there was a few fillers but I’m extremely impressed by the band leader Tobias Sammet who is putting the whole concept together.

Who: Avantasia

Where: Fryshuset, Stockholm

When: 2/5-19

Rate: 7/10

Best moment: Farewell

Worst moment: Moonglow