Bad Copy

My night kicked off with a warm cup of coffee and chilly fall weather as I headed to the venue. An ideal start to an exciting night. I’ve been a fan of Avatar since high school, and I was very excited to capture their performance. I had seen the band back in 2016 at a music festival, and I remember their set being very energetic. With that in mind, I headed into the venue brimming with anticipation.

Opening the show was Spiritworld, a heavy metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada. I hadn’t heard of them before, but I was excited to see what they had to offer. The band came out with all cowboy attire, and bedazzled suits. As soon as the lead singer entered, his energy was infectious. He moved from every corner of the stage, and continued to engaged with the crowd. Their set consisted of fast paced blast beats, and catchy riffs. I thoroughly enjoyed their set.

The second band, Alien Weaponry, is a three-piece thrash metal band from Waipu, New Zealand. Their performances are known for incorporating Māori language and cultural elements. The trio entered the room with great enthusiasm, exchanging a knowing look before launching into their set. The band shared amazing chemistry throughout their set. Alien Weaponry manage to hit that tricky balance of having a unique sound that is their own, while still solely basing their sound on something that is familiar. I had a great time capturing their performance.

The final act of the night is Avatar, a groove metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. Their mission is rooted in theatrical story telling, high energy and powerful performances. The first time I saw them was at Sonic Boom in 2016. They immediately caught my attention, and I was very eager to see them again. As I made my way to the front to photograph the show, I noticed the endless clown make up in the crowd and the theatrical set up onstage.

The band emerged with electrifying energy, each member stood on a moving platform as it glided to the front of the stage. The lead vocalist wore a black cloak, and held a glowing lantern. They opened with “Captain Goat,” the third track from their new album Don’t Go In The Forest. After the first song, the band immediately dove into their jam packed set. The crowd increases their excitement as Avatar takes over the rest of the evening.

One of my favorite moments of the night was when guitarist Jonas Jarlsby sat upon a golden throne while playing “Glory To Our King.” It was an unforgettable moment and a thrill to photograph. Throughout their set, they maintained an interactive relationship with the crowd, keeping everyone engaged and energized. Fans were moshing, singing, and sharing a communal release of energy. I had an absolute blast capturing their performance and was truly impressed by their talent.

Check out my photos below: