The center of the web

The dreamhack festival this winter has really stepped it up a notch when it comes to the live music (and the music in general too actually).

Detektivbyrån

Detektivbyrån

One of my newer favourits “Detektivbyrån” just had a well appreciated small and intimate performance on the big stage. The only band in the history of Dreamhack to be prompted for an encore by the audience. Very interesting consert indeed!

There has been around 8-12 bands so far and pretty much all of the bands in my genre are really great! Some heavy metal, some rock and alternative rock. Has been some nice surprizes.

JulieHally, strange and awesome.

JulieHally

Live drum concert – Super Mario Theme =)

Super Mario Drummer

SCAR SYMMETRY, which were new to me.

Scar Symmetry

Preparing for his departure from the online game in which we met, a friend of mine announced his plans for a dramatic “exitbang” which had me rolling on the floor in fits of laughter.

While he quite innocently was trying to sum up the act of slamming a door on one’s way out a room in a single appropriate English word, the use of exitbang in relation to a female player named Marge took my not-so-innocent mind to some very interesting PG-rated places indeed.

As a result I have added this smile-inducing word to my vocabulary: exitbang – the act of making a dramatic exit OR a quick farewell of a more physical and intimate nature just before parting.

Douglas Adams and John Lloyd in their book “The Meaning of Liff” have come up with a few new words of their own.  Here are three of my favourites:

• duntish (adj.) - mentally incapacitated by a severe hangover.
• fring (n.) – the noise made by a light bulb which has just shone its last.
• wike (vb.) - to rip a piece of sticky plaster off your skin as fast as possible in the hope that it will (a) show how brave you are, and (b) not hurt.

There are few words which can describe the concert at “Hovet” (Stockholm Globe Arenas) where Muse performed, without doing them incredible injustice. A few I can imagine would suit best are “Amazing”, “Incredible” and “Magnificent”. As the fore-band, which had a very questionable sound, gave room for the stars – the great anticipation began. Lights dimmed, shadows were moving in the deep distance, and finally… enormous masses of people fell into a united state of continuous screams and applause..

Massive introduction

As the scene was revealed and the opening song commenced, the trio with Matthew Bellamy dressed up like never before, began their storied show. Setting the standard of the evening by delivering the massive and soul piercing Muse sound and ascending on three gigantic podiums which gave the audience an overdose of awesomeness, especially in contrast to the fore-bands previous show (which one might suggest was just a little too creative).

Favourits

As a definite and undisputed Muse fan I can honestly say I was hoping to hear a couple of songs which was not included in the repertoire, such as “Screenager” and “Map of Your Head”. Other than that the playlist was absolutely flawless. The new album “Resistance” had obviously been released just in time for the audience to attune to, for there was nothing but deafening screams and whistles for the initial 40 seconds of each new song. And as Matthew toned his voice down, the emotional sound of audience lyrics was heard thru out the arena atmosphere.

The peaks of total chaos and audience mass-movement was caused by the obvious spot-on songs; “New Born”, “Plug In Baby”, “Starlight”, “Knights of Cydonia” and the featured song “Resistance”.

All in all

As a moderately frequent concert visitor I can without hesitation confirm that this was by far the absolute best and best performed concert I have attended to. This includes concerts like “White Snake”, “Joe Satriani”, “Santana” and naturally all the bands from various festivals, who’s foul performance wouldn’t suit in comparison here.

The generally massive and unique Muse sound was undeniably there. Bellamy’s inhuman voice managed to peak in a way one wouldn’t think was possible live. The Muse concert gets 4.5/5.0. Being 0.5 points from the absolute perfect experience.

On a cool Wednesday night I was lured in to a tropical endeavor within the damp depths of St. Eriksplan (Stockholm). I had but heard of the legendary caves and catacombs lying beneath the, for a laymans eyes, civilized outer cover. Fate showed me and my fellow comrades the bar, nay – the experience, nay – the phenomenon of Tiki bar.

• Some say, a key ingredient of their drinks is used for summoning succubi creatures..
• Some say, the rite of entrance involves virgin sacrifice..
• What’s certain is, you are never the same man after entering.

After a couple of beers at the commoners pub me and my company felt the urge for breaking the pattern of a regular Wednesdays afterwork. Since one of my companions had already “went Tiki” before, the suggestion to venture there was made but not so easily embraced. Since the Tiki bar at St. Eriksplan is but an abstract state of mind without space or time reference, there is no telling how to get there or how long it will take. For our fellowship the movement took roughly 20 minutes, while estimation was generally around 7 minutes.

On the journey there were great confusion and disillusion as to where the road were taking us. Some were discouraged and made attempts to deviate from our epic quest, but overall the group morale was held high and weaker members were boosted by the spiritually steadfast ones, rendering them able to carry on when hope seemed all but lost.

As our group finally were mentally ready for the experience of Tiki, the doors to the bar opened with a breeze of expectation and curiosity. Humid smoke surrounded each one of us and as soon as our eyes were able to see, we were guided down, down further into the damp dungeons of Tiki. The natives assigned a table to us and we sat down without anyone making a sound. The environment was overwhelming. Never had we looked upon such authentic furniture and wall art.

As rhythms started to drum in the distance we grew more comfortable with our whereabouts. Ordering drinks went smoothly even if the inhabitants did not quite understand our naive attempts to pronounce the names on the menu, and the delivery time of our impressive beverages was far longer than average.

The Tiki experience will get a strong 3.6/5.0 from the Fox Force, 2 being the minimum for me to ever visit freely again. Tiki did well for a first time, much thanks to the background music and the impressive stature of the drinks. I am a sure returner.