De Oosterpoort, Groningen, Netherlands,
17th April 2005
This was my first visit to see the band play live. I had been listening
to their music for some three months at this point, and so it was with plenty of enthusiasm and expectation that I set off
on my travels. I arrived in Groningen a couple of hours before the show, and it was immediately evident that - even in this
little town - the band had quite a following. Many of those attending were dressed in various WT gear, or, in the case of
the women, beautiful gothic dresses. I had been charged with obtaining some items for friends back home as well as for
myself, and a visit to the merchandise stall was the first port of call. That done, I enetered the main hall just in time
to see the support band (Autumn) play. They ran through a brief set and deserved their applause at the end for their efforts.
It had now reached the moment that we had all been waiting for
- you could sense the anticipation! A huge curtain had been lowered to the front of stage with the WT logo in the centre,
the lights dimmed, and the opening bars of 'Intro' started to play. As the music merged into 'See Who I Am'
the curtain dropped to reveal the bandmembers...this was it, I was finally seeing them live - and I was awestruck. Sharon
walked onstage with the air of a princess and to rapturous applause.
As the band worked their way through most of the songs from
'The Silent Force' album and some older numbers too, it was evident that it was not just the audience enjoying themselves.
Their set was played with a passion I don't ever recall seeing previously in a live arena, Robert and Ruud frequently running
across stage and exchanging places on their podiums with Sharon weaving
her way in between them. As 'Forsaken' took its turn in the setlist we were encouraged to join in, with most of the pit jumping
in unison with the bandmembers! The show was completed with pyro effects added at suitable intervals - nothing new on the
rock music scene of course, but a dramatic addition which to be honest I had not been expecting.
As we reached the finale with 'Ice Queen' I could feel the goosebumps
right down my back. I wanted this show to go on...and on... but alas I would have to wait for the next time! At the end, Martijn
came down to greet those of us gathered along the front row - and this finished off a wonderful evening perfectly. It had
been a special experience, the first of many, that I shall never forget!
Astoria, London, UK, 4th September 2005
Five months on from my first WT show, and I heard they were on
their way to London! This day will be remembered, if nothing else, for being extremely hot. I had bought two tickets for myself
and a friend (whose birthday had occurred a couple of weeks previously) and we spent the morning having a look around the
markets of Camden - well worth a visit provided you have an unlimited purse/wallet!
In the evening we dropped into the Ben Crouch Tavern (just off
Oxford Street) for a bite to eat and a beer, and were fortunate to meet those nice people from fellow gothic metal band Adastreia
who were doing likewise!
We made our way along to the Astoria where a huge crowd was already
gathered, the queue stretching right round into the adjacent square. Whilst I now knew what to expect during the evening ahead,
it was my friends' first WT gig and thus she did not. After some rather heavy handed security, we were let loose into the
venue and managed (despite the queue) to obtain places in the third row.
The support band tonight was Cathedral, perhaps not the best choice
although the four songs they performed they did so well enough. Then it was time again for WT to appear, and with the place
resembling a sauna the show started. The set was very similar to that which I had heard in Groningen, but performed once again
(despite the heat) with the same verve and enthusiasm. Poor Robert had sweat pouring off his head like a river, and Sharon
was doing her best to keep her hair out of her face as she indulged in a little headbanging! There were no pyros this time,
as the venue is too small to accomodate them safely.
What perhaps surprised me the most was the audience reaction. At
this time WT were not so well known in the United Kingdom, and yet they were greeted with the same (if not a bigger) welcome
as that in Holland. My friend meanwhile had diligently learnt her lyrics and was having a great time, especially when the
turn of 'Mother Earth' came! She was lost for words after the show, but later described this as 'the cherry on the cake' of
that autumn.
It had been another fine evening, and we elected to see the band
again as soon as possible - selecting Paris that December as our choice. Events were, however, to turn out a little differently...
Schanspop, Siddeburen, Netherlands, 28th Spetember 2005
A week or so after the London gig, it became apparent that the
Paris show would not go ahead. We were soon to learn that this was because Sharon was pregnant and due to give birth at around
that time, although herself and Robert had done a fine job of keeping this little secret under wraps! Of course, time told
that she had a beautiful little girl which the couple christened Eva Luna, and who has now become a celebrity in her own right!
I was determined to see the band one more time this year, and it
was a case of finding something with adequate time to organise, and which fitted in with the Nightwish and Season's End gigs
I was already attending. This show fitted the bill perfectly.... Travel was hurriedly organised, and after a flight,
a 15km walk, and a train right across Holland I finally arrived. I was stunned - this place was tiny, nothing more than a
small village! Welcome to the world of the Dutch music festival!!
The show was due to take place in a huge marquee (feestent) and
I was amongst the first to be allowed in. Given how small was the 'village' there were a surprisingly large number of people
there, and it wasn't long before the support band came onstage. A Status Quo tribute band this evening, but they were remarkably
good and whipped the crowd up suitably for what was to follow.
By now everyone was used to the format for 'The Silent Force Tour',
especially as many had attended the huge Java Island show that summer which I had sadly missed. One girl next to me actually
recited the predicted setlist off by heart!! I think it was at this point that I realised I was a true fan, this gig coming
just three weeks after my last one.
The band came onstage and people just went crazy. This was the
last show of the year, and everyone was going to have a ball. The highlight for me had to be Sharon setting her gaze on me
as she sang the words 'give me a sign you're okay' during 'Memories' - a special moment and one which made me feel at last
like a part of the regular 'WT crowd'. We had pyros, fireworks, and rather a lot of silly string sprayed onstage at the end
as the band and entire crew took their bows.
Not before what seemed like a near catastrophe though, as one of
the fireworks hit a light and left the latter hanging precariously by its chain from the gantry... we later discovered that
this was a prank by the crew (a regular event for the final show it seems). Sharon was clearly humoured by this, trying (and
doing very well) to contain her laughter, while Robert proceeded to perform a little circular dance with his finger placed
atop his head as he did so! It was cool to hear 'The Other Half (Of Me) performed live too, Robert's grunts sounding excellent
as he duetted with Sharon.
All in all, a fine way to end the years' events and definitely
one of the best WT shows that I have attended.
Rockweekend, America, Netherlands, 22nd April 2006
It had been a long wait through the winter... the original
plan had been to see the band on their very first gig of the year the previous day, but all 5,000 tickets had already sold
out. However, this provided a ready alternative, and with Epica, After Forever, and Saxon also on the bill over the weekend
proved to be a great way to kick the year off. The weekend was spent on the very
friendly campsite, with excellent egg muffins for breakfast!!
WT were the closing act of the whole weekend, and on the 21st I
had wondered where all the other fans were...they duly appeared on the 22nd though, and by 14.00 the front row was already
full. It was great to see them again, Sharon this time wearing a pure white dress. The setlist was similar to that of the
previous year, but with a different running order - 'Deceiver Of Fools' commencing proceedings as opposed to 'Intro/See Who
I Am' which came later. Basically a mini-version of that which they had used at Java Island.
The stage decor too was unchanged... the huge stone pillars and
angels were still present, with some fresh ivy wrapped around Martijn's keyboards and Stephen's drumkit (that from the previous
year had started to look a little worn!!).
As usual, the band performed an incredibly tight set with all the
usual favourites and went down a storm with the crowd. With no disrespect intended to the other bands who had attended over
the weekend (After Forever especially had given us a particularly dynamic performance) there was no doubt who most people
had turned up to see... testimony to WT's rising status in the world of rock music.
Download Festival, Donnington, UK, 10th June 2006
Just a few brief notes here... this was an extremely short set,
due to the time constraints imposed by the organisers only some 35 minutes long. Nevertheless, we were treated to what amounted
to a 'greatest hits' compilation which comprised the singles from 'Mother Earth' and 'Silent Force' albums, plus 'Forsaken'.
I actually managed a live link up at this show with a friend of
mine living hundreds of miles away! She had asked if I could say hello to Ruud from her, and when I sent her back an SMS saying
he had spotted my banner and given a thumbs up I received one in return saying 'I'm bouncing around the room'!!!
On the down side, Sharon was hit by a bottle launched onstage from
the crowd. Tradition it may be at UK festivals, but there really is no place for this sort of thing - anywhere.
1st Official Fanclub Day, Utrecht, Netherlands, 2006
Not a gig in the true sense of the word but worthy of mention here.
This was a first real opportunity for fans from around Europe to meet up and get to know one another, and a chance to see
the band in a more candid setting. I had travelled across from the UK with two fellow fans, and we met some others in the
morning at the main train station in Utrecht. By 10.00 there was a fair queue, some even having brought along their national
flags!
A programme of different events had been organised. These included:
a lookalike contest, a presentation by Sharon about the different dresses she has worn during gigs over the years (demonstrated
with the aid of some rather dodgy mannequins!), a raffle (during which Robert proudly gave away various rare items and some
bootleg t shirts confiscated from South America!), and a question and answer session. The latter provided one of the highlights
of the day when two members handed over a folder containing re-worked lyrics for all the band's material with a cheese
theme - a bit of fun which had started when one of them mis-heard some lyrics once before. Robert was heard to say 'We have
some very...original...fans'!! At the end, the entire band came onstage along with the WT babies making their first public
appearance!
On the more serious side, WT played four songs with the aid of
some fanclub members who were allowed to go up onstage and play the instruments they had learned. And we were also treated
to a live set by Delain - the band founded by former WT member Martijn Westerholt with Charlotte Wessels, and featuring guest
appearances from (amongst others) Marco (Nightwish) George (Orphanage) Ad (Epica) and of course Sharon (WT).
There were also opportunities for chats and photos with WT, and
an assortment of stalls selling various items.
The day finished off nicely with a pizza meal, and an ice-cream
from a rather friendly seller who opened his doors especially to serve us - see, WT fans are priviledged!!
Huntenpop, Varsselder, Netherlands, 12th August 2006
This was another of those Dutch festivals located seemingly in
the middle of nowhere!! It fitted in very well for me, as I was going on holiday that week anyway - so a small diversion en
route was fairly easy to arrange.
WT were due on stage mid to late evening, and as I did not arrive
at the site until gone six there was only a small amount of time left to browse amongst the stalls and grab a beer. As usual,
a large crowd was present, including members of the official 'play Jane Doe' army!!
As the set opened, I have to admit I was a little disappointed:
some of the usual decor was missing, and the lighting seemed somewhat below the norm. The band were, however, as accomplished
as ever, and half way through we were in for a surprise. As 'Memories' closed, Sharon came forward onstage and announced that
they were going to try out one of the new songs they had been writing!! This was 'The Howling', a song written by the band
for a video game by the name of Chronicles Of Spellborn. It was the debut live performance of this track, and I was chuffed
to bits - along with everyone else. The song sounded great live, with Sharon's head getting plenty of exercise during the
breaks as she headbanged away! Cool too was a chance to hear 'The Promise' and 'Caged' live once again.
I was of course delighted to obtain one of the setlists at
the end of the show with that debut performance, and the evening was ended with a glass or two of wine and a wave
from the band as they left (some friends and I having waited backstage for a while afterwards).
Cult And Tumult, Veldhoven, Netherlands, September 2006
This was my first time seeing the band live in an open-air venue,
and so a little bit special. I have always found that there is a little more atmosphere at such gigs. Veldhoven is effectively
a suburb of nearby Eindhoven, and this festival takes place across the town with several mini-marquees erected at various
points. There were also street entertainers and the usual selection of refreshment points.
WT were due to play the main stage, which had been erected in the
main square alongside the clock tower - the whole making for quite an impressive sight. As had been the case throughout 2006,
the set began with 'Deceiver Of Fools' with the crowd getting thoroughly involved from the off. The traditional show of lighters
twinkling away as Sharon sang 'In my heart there is a place...' (and again during subsequent ballads) was effective as it
was atmospheric - contrasting with a clear, starry sky above and the lit clock tower off to the right.
A small extension to the stage had been erected towards the front
centre, and Sharon made effective use of this throughout the show along with Ruud during his guitar solos. It was a larger
stage overall too, giving the boys plenty of space to move and jump around! Jeroen's bass sounded particularly effective as
it rebounded off the neighbouring buildings.
There was a moment, about half way through, where Sharon's mic
seemed to give up... I later heard that this was the crew up to their tricks again (as had happened a year previously in Siddeburen)
but she carried on with thorough professionalism!
This was the final European show of the 'Silent Force' tour, a
run of almost two years, the band's only remaining commitment for 2006 being a trip to Japan. After the show I met with two
friends who had travelled up from Spain for the gig, and it was mentioned that some fans were actually trying to get plane
tickets to go out to Japan!! 'If only' I thought to myself... it had been a wonderful two years though!
What Have You Done video-shoot, Koko club,
London, December 2006
As we approached Christmas, I received a text message I had not
been expecting... it was from a mate, inviting me to join him and some others with WT in London for their new video.
I presumed he meant some kind of presentation, but further enquiries revealed that this was for a live shoot!! Time off work
and train tickets were rapidly arranged, and before I knew it I was outside the Koko club in Camden, London.
We were 'extras' whose job it was to play the part of the 'crowd'
in the background for the video. There were two groups: around 20 or so WT fans, and another slightly larger group of people
from a local agency. Everyone got on very well, and I think most people made some new friends during the course of the day.
The shoot itself was hard but enjoyable work. This was our
first taste of the song, destined to become the first single plucked from the album 'The Heart Of Everything', and featuring
Life of Agony singer Keith Caputo who was also present. It received a superb response even from the non-WT people...
The storyline followed a theme whereby Sharon and Keith had been lovers, but Keith was a detective while Sharon
was a villainess and having committed a crime the latter could no longer carry on her affair with him! In the part we filmed
on this day, Keith had 'pursued' her to a club somewhere in the Far East, where she was performing a gig with her band (portrayed
by WT of course). She has Keith thrown out by security and goes on the run with him in pursuit, but unable to catch up before
she jumps from a cliff.
During the course of the day, we must have done in the region of
15-20 takes of the song, including parts for the various mixes which were to be released. Unusually, much of the clip was
filmed from the rear of the stage, looking 'through' the band towards the audience. This was later edited to include shots
of Sharon taken from the front (on this occasion wearing an Oriental style dress), and other parts which Ruud told us had
been filmed the day before in another location (these included the 'chase' scenes).
At the end of the day, there was time to chat with the bandmembers
and obtain some souvenir photos before heading off for a well-earned pint. We nearly succeeded in persuading Ruud to join
us too!!
A day with a difference, and a rare chance to see behind the scenes.
It was hugely enjoyable, and an honour to be a part of the proceedings. The videoclip was later released to promote the single,
although a second (more basic) version was also made and ultimately gained greater coverage.
Astoria, London, UK, 14th April 2007
I had loved every minute of the concerts I had attended on the
previous tour, and my expectations for the new set were just as high. The band's new album 'The Heart Of Everything' had been
released a month previously, and most people had welcomed it as another masterpiece. Having heard the new songs, I couldn't
wait to hear them live too as I felt the new heavier feel would be very effective on stage.
The day started early, and I caught up on sleep on the train to
London - I had been working until 10 p.m. the previous night! I arrived at the venue at around 11 a.m. to find some 15 people
already there - some had turned up as early as 8 a.m! It was another warm day, just as my previous visit to this venue had
been, and a long wait until the doors opened at 18.00. However, everyone was in an upbeat mood and we chatted and played cards
to while away the time. The local religious fanatic turned up too, telling us how 'we were all doomed because we were wearing
black' but was swiftly despatched back from whence he came!
18.00 came and finally we were allowed in. Lauren Harris provided
the support, but I felt that her act was somewhat weak (albeit with a somewhat energetic drummer). The pit quickly filled
up however, and it wasn't long before the heavy beats of 'Our Solemn Hour' started echoeing around the place. One by one the
band members came on stage and took their places, led by Stephen, then Martijn, then Jeroen and finally Robert and Ruud. Sharon
appeared as the vocals kicked in.
The entire production has been overhauled. Gone are the stone pillars
and ivy, replaced by two huge stone lions guarding a red ramp in the centre of stage. Two further ramps either side for the
guitarists, and everything surrounded by some large uplighters. To the rear, a projection onto the backscene featuring a silhouetted
London skyline (this can also currently be seen on the bands' official website at the top of the pages). All in all, very
effective!
There was no question of people not already knowing the new material
- the audience was up for it from the off (more so even than on the previous tour) and when Sharon invited us to sing Keith
Caputo's part in 'What Have You Done' no one resisted the opportunity! 'The Cross', 'Hand Of Sorrow' and 'The Truth Beneath
The Rose' all sounded as powerful and fantastic live as I had expected. The heavier sound really works so well when fused
with the other elements.
Not that the band restricted themselves to the new songs. Instead
of cutting much of the older material out, they had in fact extended the length of their set to almost two hours, and so we
had renditions of many of the former favourites as well... only 'Aquarius' and 'Running Up That Hill' had been dropped from
the previous setlist.
Another new feature was an acoustic element (played by Ruud) during
certain songs - notably 'Frozen' - for which an acoustic guitar on a stand was brought onstage. Further proof of his prowess
as a superb guitarist, although best allowed to shine during the main guitar solos in the new material.
The previous Astoria gig had left me speechless....this one simply
blew me away!!
Le Bataclan, Paris, France, 21st May 2007
Just a month on from the London gig, and I was back for more! Having
missed out on Paris in 2005, and with a move abroad looming large ahead of me it somehow seemed appropriate to attend this
show - and of course you couldn't hold me back, especially after the previous one.
I flew out on the Saturday, spending a day having a look around
eastern France (this being one of the areas I had been thinking of moving to) and then travelled up to Paris on the Sunday
where I met up with some friends for a superb Italian meal. Our efforts to find a bar afterwards were eventually rewarded,
before we headed back to our respective hotels. Robert has taken to doing a huge leap at the end of the set these days, and
I did a passable impression of this on the steps down to the metro - almost destroying my mobile phone in the process!!
The following morning we were up reasonably early to assume our
places in the queue, along with a large contingent from the French fanclub. Delain were providing support, and they arrived
mid morning, followed by WT's tourbus at around lunchtime. The bandmembers alighted one at a time, Sharon being the last and
promptly getting mobbed by a good 50 or so people requesting autographs and photos. I was one of the lucky ones, and this
gave me the opportunity to congratulate her on the video for the new single 'Frozen' which had been premiered a week or so
previously. It's a powerful video dealing with the subject of abuse, not an easy subject for anyone to tackle - but the band
have done this successfully on the new album, covering topics as diverse as war, religion and suicide.
The gig had been sold out for quite some time just like London,
and when the barrier pulled back there was a huge crowd amassed. Inside came the usual dash for the front, where Delain's
instruments were ready in front of those for WT. Half an hour or so of listening to yet more Linkin Park songs on the p.a.
(what is it with venues and Linkin Park, I ask?!).
I had only seen Delain live at the previous years' Fanclub Day,
and so I was expectant - and I was not disappointed!! Silhouette Of A Dancer' was followed by 'Shattered', and then we were
in for another surprise... Sharon joined Charlotte on stage for the first time ever to sing her part in 'No Compliance' and
how beautifully their voices intertwined too! Another one of those unforgettable moments... The set was completed with 'Frozen',
the wonderful ballad 'See Me In Shadow', 'The Gathering' and a rousing finale with 'Pristine'. Delain may have been support,
but they could easily have been billed as a main act, such was their quality and enthusiasm. Martijn Westerholt is certainly
to be congratulated for bringing together such a superb group of musicians, and such fantastic compositions.
It was time for the main act however and, with the place resembling
a steam-bath, WT took the stage. One cool aspect of the Bataclan is that there is no security barrier, so you are literally
only a few feet away from the action. The set was identical to that which I had seen in London some four weeks back, the crowd
no less enthusiastic. And although pyros could not again be used for safety reasons, a novel idea was the use of real flames
in the uplighters for the second part of the show. Despite the intense heat people still made plenty of noise and there was
plenty of lively jumping too during 'Deceiver' and 'Forsaken'. It was the band I felt a little sorry for, but as usual they
just took things in their stride and delivered yet another polished performance. Once again, the new songs sounded excellent.
Afterwards it was time to stock up on merchandise again, followed
by some refreshing cold drinks in the adjacent cafe - much needed by all! It wasn't long before the bandmembers came out,
and there was plenty of time for chatting with them (topics ranged from the American tour from which they had recently returned,
to football, to Robert's sandals!!). Autographs were obtained, and some of the girls had even made up a little song to sing
them 'We're Not Going Home Yet'!!
That, however, was what we soon had to do. After walking my friends
back to their hotel, it was time to head for home...
Two Special Concerts
During the winter of 2007-2008, the band performed two special shows
in Holland. These shows were of a much larger scale than that which we usually expect, much
in the vein of the infamous Java
Island concert back in 2005. I was lucky enough to secure tickets for both, and this is the story of
two very special weekends…
Beursgebouw Arena, Eindhoven, Holland, 24th November
2007
It had been a long wait. Months. But the weekend had finally arrived for the first of the two mega-gigs! Both expectations and excitement were high, and so I set off for Holland. As it was a rather special occasion, I decided to treat myself to travel with
a business airline and landed at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport mid-afternoon on the day before the show. This left me feeling nice and relaxed for the weekend ahead. I had arranged to meet with friends in the hotel on arrival in Eindhoven, and set off on the train. It wasn’t long before I received a text message
asking “Where are you?”. “On the way, won’t be long! Where are you?”.
Back came the reply: “In the hotel bar!”. No surprises there then!! Finally I got there, and found my friends.
There were a few other WT fans already there too, and this turned into a steady flow of arrivals
as the evening went on. Most fans had, like ourselves, chosen to stay at the Holiday Inn (temporarily
re-named the Within Temptation Inn) as it was almost right beside the venue. It wasn’t long
before it emerged ghtthat the band had made the same choice too!! A nice bonus, and probably as close as any of us will get
to sleeping with WT!!! After a few drinks our group set off into town to find something to eat.
Virtually every restaurant was full, and we ended up settling for a McDonalds. There was a short panic as we left when, for one moment, I thought I had lost my precious gig ticket whilst inside. How relieved I was to find
it nestling in the bottom of my rucksack! As we walked back to the hotel, we could hear the band
finishing off their rehearsal inside. We paused briefly, and were rewarded with
an impromptu chat and signing session as they left!! Back at the hotel, Sharon and Robert arrived
to a chorus of cheers from a now large group of assembled fans in the lobby. The atmosphere was building, and you could sense
that everyone anticipated something amazing for the following day. Some of us stayed up chatting
into the early hours, and there was a short “WT karaoke” session with several fans
playing assorted tracks on their iPods and singing along! There wasn’t much point in trying to sleep anyway –
an early call beckoned in the morning…
After a few hours rest in my room, it was out into the bitter cold at around 6 a.m.
to get a decent place in the queue. I walked over to the Beursgebouw and, amazingly, there were already about 20-30
people there – including some members of the French WT fanclub who had driven through the night to get there and were now asleep in their sleeping bags!! More people arrived as the morning wore on. The entire WT
back catalogue was played… there were games of Ludo… photos taken… a huge cheer when a large portable heater
was brought out to help keep us warm… and various items propelled by and over the waiting crowd, including a cushion
which eventually disintegrated in a mass of feathers. At about 17.00 one of the doors opened and
from behind the metal barriers we could catch a glimpse of the inside of the arena. But it was just the guy putting out the
rubbish. He was cheered anyway! Then, finally, the moment was here. Out came the security to an even bigger
cheer and a massive surge towards the barriers. Ten or so minutes later we were finally allowed in and all hell broke loose.
Trying to stay with your friends was impossible, it was just a case of run like hell for the front!! I finally ended up a
little to the left of centre as you looked at the stage.
The arena was massive. There were balconies around the edge with various bars and eateries, whilst in front
of us had been erected a truly massive stage. To the rear was a giant three part video screen, then a platform which housed
Stephen’s drumkit and Martijn’s keyboard. The giant angels (previously used on ‘The Silent Force Tour’)
had been set up behind each of these. In the centre was a staircase, flanked on either side by huge blocks on which artwork
from ‘The Heart Of Everything’ had been applied, and on top of which sat several large uplighters. A lot of effort
had clearly gone into the whole set-up, promising a superb evening ahead. And so it turned out…
There were two support bands, the first of whom was Agua de Annique. This is the new project of
Anneke van Giersbergen, formerly of The Gathering. They performed a fairly short but very accomplished set of material from
their recent album ‘Air’. Several of the songs were very mellow, and it was a great
way to ease into things and start building to the climax which would be WT. They rightly deserved their applause at the end,
and I acquired the album which is excellent when I returned to the UK. Anneke’s voice suits the music very well, and she has the ability to alter her style from high pitched
gentle lyrics to a far more raw style.
Next up were Threshold from the United Kingdom. It was time to turn things up a notch, and these guys did so with
venom!! It was only a short set, but I was nevertheless quite impressed (not having seen Threshold previously). Their music
came across (to me at least) as quite Maiden-esque, and the guys showed plenty of energy on stage
– including some impressive drumstick tricks! I felt that the audience didn’t get as involved as they might have
done, but that was perhaps because WT were next and some people were getting rather impatient…
The moment finally arrived and, amid a crescendo of noise, WT entered the stage.
Unusually it was ‘Jillian’ which kicked proceedings off, and Sharon appeared atop the staircase via a lift, in a fantastic red dress. As we proceeded
with ‘The Howling’ and ‘Stand My Ground’ she removed two parts of her outfit, leaving just a red corset
and black mini-skirt underneath. The audience were loving every moment and singing along to every
song, and WT were as usual enjoying themselves just as much. As expected there was a multitude of special effects: smoke,
fireworks, and pyros all featured, whilst the three part screen behind them featured either clips from the band’s videos
or footage loosely appropriate to the lyrics of the song being played. Some of these appeared to
have a 3D effect and looked most impressive. ‘The Cross’, ‘What Have You Done’, ‘Hand Of Sorrow’
and ‘The Heart Of Everything’ finished off the first part of the show, ‘WHYD’ going down particularly
well with the crowd.
Next followed a short interlude, with black- and white-costumed characters on stilts providing
the visual entertainment. The stage set-up was changed a little with a mini drumkit for Stephen and several chairs being added.
The uplighters were lit too, the flames providing an intimate atmosphere. WT reappeared along with a cellist, and with Ruud
carrying an acoustic guitar. Sharon appeared once more, this time in a white dress, and we were
treated to a live acoustic version of ‘Forgiven’. Even better, it was followed by ‘Restless’ –
a song which I have longed to hear live ever since I have been a fan. Next was ‘Somewhere’
with Anneke returning to duet with Sharon.
Their voices worked superbly together and the song sounded fantastic in an acoustic setting. And finally ‘Memories’
finished off the second part of the show.
After another short interlude, we entered the third part of the evening. The guys
resumed their positions as ‘Our Solemn Hour’ started, and Sharon appeared this time wearing a black dress with matching feathers around the shoulders and carrying a sceptre.
Her entrance was supreme, rising from beneath the floor to the top of the stairs on the chair featured on the cover of THOE.
You could sense that no one in the crowd expected such an entrance, and it inspired us all still
further. By now my voice was wearing out with all the singing, but there was plenty more to come…. ‘The Other
Half (Of Me) was next, with George Oosthoek guesting. His grunts worked exceptionally well with Sharon’s vocals, and this number was once again a hit with the audience. ‘Angels’,
‘Mother Earth’ and ‘Frozen’ followed, and then a special moment for me…. They played ‘Jane
Doe’!!! Having waited nearly three years to hear this song – one of my personal favourites – live, I was
going wild!!! So was everyone else… To finish off this part, was ‘The Truth Beneath The Rose’. This sounded
amazing in such a huge setting, and more 3D style images behind gave it a truly epic feel.
Of course this wasn’t the end….quite. ‘Deceiver Of Fools’ received its usual reception
from the crowd, with everyone jumping in unison, and ‘All I Need’ followed – a song with a very special
meaning for me, and probably the moment I was at my quietest during the show. No one wanted it to end, but it had to. ‘Ice
Queen’ provided the grand finale, accompanied by a huge storm of paper confetti. Some of us had brought along confetti
of our own which ended up either on stage or covering our neighbours in the crowd. It was truly a party atmosphere, and a
fitting end to what had been a simply amazing evening.
Back
at the hotel, some people stayed up to greet and thank the band as they returned. And then it was time for a well deserved
rest….But whilst a fantastic weekend was nearing its end, and the journey home was uneventful, more was yet to come
just a couple of months later…
Ahoy Arena, Rotterdam, Holland, 7th February
2008 (with Metropole Orchestra)
‘Black
Symphony’
A
little over two months on, and the second of the two special gigs was upon us. This time, WT were due to play with a live
orchestra, the first time this has been done. My girlfriend came with me on this occasion, and it was her first time seeing
WT – what a way to start!! It was also my birthday on the same weekend, and I could not have asked for a better gift…
We flew out to Germany in fact. This was because we had also been due to see Epica there the night after WT, but sadly the
former show was cancelled. This time it had proved impossible to arrive much in advance of the gig, and so having checked
into our hotel in Rotterdam and changed it was time to head for the venue. This in itself was something of a challenge as we were
both unfamiliar with Rotterdam and the curiosities of its Metro system (having bought tickets we then found that the barriers
only accepted ‘Smartcards’ and had to jump through behind someone else!!!). Eventually we arrived however, and
found that many people had already entered the arena. As we both wanted merchandise, we stopped off at the stall on the way
in – fearing there would be little left after the gig.
Once
inside, an even more amazing sight than that in Eindhoven greeted us. The stage seemed bigger still. Upon it the positions for the orchestra were already set
up, and there was a central walkway to the front. Once again there a huge video screen, and this time two further screens
(one to each side) which would feature close ups of the band during the performance. Given the sheer size of the venue, these
were well justified. Despite our late arrival, we were lucky enough to obtain places reasonably close to the front, albeit
a little to one side. The heat was intense, and we were relieved to find mobile drinks-sellers wandering around the arena
floor.
Eventually
the house lights dimmed, and the support act came onstage – none other than Keith Caputo (who of course features on
the WT single ‘What Have You Done’). My first reaction was probably that of everyone else – Keith would
almost certainly be doing a live duet with Sharon during the main set. He performed a decent set, and for a small fella he has a fairly powerful voice.
All
eyes now fell on the centre of the stage as we awaited the orchestra taking their positions. They were greeted by a huge cheer
when they did so, as we all knew the band would not be far behind… However, we still had a little time to wait as the
show started with an orchestral intro (not featured on any of the band’s albums) accompanied by the title ‘Black
Symphony’ displayed on the video screens and followed by various imagery. It was an unexpected and fantastic start.
Eventually the band members arrived too – the boys wearing white jeans and black leathers, and finally Sharon, once more in that amazing red
dress. ‘Jillian’ again started proceedings, and the crowd went crazy. The effect of the orchestra was immediately
noticeable, with the music having a far more power. ‘The Howling’ once more followed (accompanied by the video
trailer from the Spellborn game), proving a hit with everyone and especially my partner with this song being one of her favourites.
‘Stand My Ground’ followed, and then one of the evening’s highlights: ‘What Have You Done’ with
(as we expected) Keith Caputo partnering Sharon on stage. They certainly did the song justice and sounded superb together. ‘The Cross’,
‘Hand Of Sorrow’ and ‘The Heart Of Everything’ finished off the first part.
Anyone
who thought that there would be fewer special effects with the orchestra occupying a large part of the stage was mistaken.
These were once more firmly in evidence, just as they had been in Eindhoven, and coupled with the mixture of video clips and
some amazing ‘gothic’ imagery on the video screens made the show complete – it seemed that everything which
could be packed into one show had been. That imagery itself is worth a separate mention – for example, at one point
we had an image of the Grim Reaper who then slowly disappeared behind two massive ‘doors’ on the screen.
Next
up was an acoustic part. This was very similar to the Eindhoven show (see above) except that Restless was replaced by ‘The Swan Song’. This was a really
nice surprise, and sounded excellent in this more intimate setting. It was also a song I had not heard live previously. The
orchestra played its part in this section too, gentle strings adding to the atmosphere in contrast to the more powerful effect
created by the whole ensemble during the more upbeat songs.
Part
three again started with ‘Our Solemn Hour’, and this seemed to grab the crowd even more than the last time. Or
maybe it’s just me… Sharon was by now wearing the black dress once more, most fitting as ‘The Other Half
(Of Me)’ was next and George took to the stage also dressed head to toe in black, amid an array of strobes and firecrackers.
Following this came ‘The Promise’ which, whilst I have heard the song live before, was a rare pleasure. ‘Angels’,
‘Mother Earth’, ‘Frozen’ and ‘Truth Beneath The Rose’ finished off the main show –
‘Mother Earth’ sounded particularly impressive with all those extra instruments on stage!
The
encore was identical to that in Eindhoven, except that Sharon appeared in a short mint green coloured dress to many people’s surprise. ‘Ice Queen’
wound things up as usual, with confetti several inches deep on the floor as it ended – yes, we were wading around in
the stuff and playfighting with it too!!
After
the show, we were lucky enough to grab a few brief moments with Sharon and Robert. This gave us the opportunity to thank them
for their efforts in putting together both of these amazing shows, and obtain a couple of pictures.
In
conclusion, Within Temptation did us proud. The performances were near perfect and full of energy and enthusiasm, and the
crowd was totally captivated on both occasions. Both were evenings I shall never forget. If I were to have one criticism it
would perhaps be that I would have liked to hear a little more of the older material and maybe ‘Blue Eyes’ or
‘Sounds of Freedom’ (the ‘B’ sides from the recent singles) – I believe the latter would have
sounded fantastic in such a grand setting. But you can’t have everything, can you? The question now is: what on earth
can they do next?!?!
