Avatar, Veil Of Maya, Orbit Culture – A Sold Out Show So Hot It Set The Fire Alarm Off – Live at Green Bay, WI — Epic Event Center on May 13th, 2023

Avatar took over a sold-out EPIC Event Center in Green Bay on Saturday, May 13 and it was a blast, literally. The pyro was on point with sparks illuminating...

Words/Photos: Chris Rugowski

https://www.chickenortheeggphotography.com/

 

 

 

Avatar took over a sold-out EPIC Event Center in Green Bay on Saturday, May 13 and it was a blast, literally. The pyro was on point with sparks illuminating the band as they began their first song. I knew the night was going to be memorable and heavy. My ears even with ear plugs would be paying the price for admission into this harmonious metal euphony. Being emceed by the one and only Lou Brutus who had been on tour with them since Thursday in Madison, up to Minneapolis, and ending his time with them in Green Bay, the night was one for the memory banks.

The night started with Orbit Culture, who I had never heard before, but soon became a fan after their first song. This Swedish melodic death metal band ripped my ears off, and I loved every second of it. The mix of screaming, growling and singing was perfect. The breakdowns hitting so low felt great, shaking me to the core, given the extra subs put in the venue. One thing I appreciated was how the singer moved from mic to mic, and how the musicians moved around the stage, it gave the eyes something else to look at, and it complimented the act. Sometimes openers can be hit or miss, this band was 100% hit. They got a new fan out of me.

Veil of Maya’s approach was a little darker, literally. It was a very interesting aspect of a very heavy band. It gave an allure of mystery, and it also made you focus on the music a bit more. Although frankly, I don’t know how the musicians play without seeing their instruments, they must practice blindfolded and in the dark – this was the only theory I could come up with. However, under the cover of the limited light all one needed to do was bang their head along to the music because when they hit with the bass, it was another moment of everything shaking. The vocals were solid and I was quite impressed with the musicianship overall. I talked to my friend Decker from Razor 94.7 out of the Northeast Wisconsin area before the show and he said they were one of his favorite bands and have been for a long time, I can understand why.

Then hits the stage, Avatar. Not only did they hit the stage with pyro, but they were also so hot they made the fire alarm go off during the fifth song, not missing a beat after the kerfuffle they went straight back into the song. This is my second time seeing Avatar, and it certainly won’t be my last. The band was having FUN all night long despite the snafu with the fire alarm. This is one band that I wish had a photography clause to allow more than 3 songs because there were so many memorable moments. The lighting was awesome, and the stage plot and design were unique, especially with the curtained door frames that the musicians walked out of. I don’t think my photos are doing total justice to the kind of show this band puts on. At one point vocalist Johannes slipped off stage and ran up to the mezzanine and started making balloon animals and playing trombone. 

This was their largest show to date and that was noted by Johannes saying “You thought you were coming out to see Avatar, you were wrong. Avatar came out to see you.” Fitting for such a night.

One of the most poignant songs of the night was “Tower” when a solo Johannes came out to a piano and played the powerful song, the crowd ended the song. During the intro to “State of the King,” the drummer danced around the stage and shot off giant confetti streamers. That was a riot. Most of all, the band gave us all insights on that Saturday night, the most memorable of them all to me is, “The greatest way to fight back is to give a fuck.” admittedly I don’t know if that was about a song, but it doesn’t matter. Not only is Avatar a band full of theatrics and stage presence, their song lyrics are very deep and they have real meaning behind them.

Of all the shows I’ve seen lately, this one was one for the books. American friends, seriously catch this tour before it heads off to Europe in June and Australia in August.

 

AVATAR ARE:
Johannes Eckerström — Vocals
John Alfredsson — Drums
Jonas Jarlsby — Guitar
Henrik Sandelin — Bass
Tim Öhrström — Guitar

https://avatarmetal.com/

 

 

 

AVATAR ON TOUR:
WITH VEIL OF MAYA + ORBIT CULTURE:

4/28 — Omaha, NE — The Admiral
4/29 — Denver, CO — Ogden
4/30 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Depot
5/1 — Boise, ID — Revolution
5/3 — San Diego. CA — Observatory
5/4 — Los Angeles, CA — Belasco
5/5 — San Francisco, CA — The Fillmore
5/6 — Las Vegas, NV — House of Blues
5/7 — Phoenix, AZ — Van Buren
5/9 — Austin, TX — Emo’s
5/10 — Dallas, TX — The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
5/12 — Minneapolis, MN — Skyway Theater
5/13 — Green Bay, WI — Epic Events Center
5/14 — Moline, IL — The Rust Belt
5/15 — Chicago, IL — House of Blues
5/16 — Detroit, MI — Royal Oak Theatre
5/18 — Daytona Beach, FL — Welcome to Rockville+
5/19 — St. Petersburg, FL — Jannus Live
5/20 — Atlanta, GA — Buckhead Theater
5/21 — Lexington, KY — Manchester Music Hall
5/23 — New York, NY — Webster Hall
5/24 — Boston, MA — Paradise
5/25 — Silver Springs, MD — The Fillmore
5/26 — Philadelphia, PA — TLA
5/27 — Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple+
5/28 — Pittsburgh, PA — Roxian Theater
+Festival date

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