Not one, not two, but three concerts in Athens and one in Thessaloniki are included in the schedule of this year’s Blind Guardian tour even if the third concert in Athens was a last-minute addition due to the postponement of the band’s visit to Israel because of the war that broke out there. George Terzakis was at Floyd on Friday and Sakis Nikas on Saturday to give us their impressions. Let’s see what happened..
Back to the best indoor venue in the capital, under a new management, with a new name and a different layout which I personally prefer to the old one. Return also for the much-loved Bards in our country, who are adored by the Greek audience and the two sold-out shows prove this, since Floyd has a capacity of two thousand people. The opening of the first day was dreamy with the titanic “Imaginations From The Other Side”. The crowd screamed “where are these silent faces…” so loud that it outdid the band itself. Now, I don’t think talking about their performance is necessary. They never disappointed and they never will. The only objection was the long pauses between songs, since Hansi was in great mood and didn’t stop talking. That kind of thing robbed the concert of a better flow.
As for the setlist? They always had surprises in store for us and this was destined to be repeated. I don’t think anyone expected “Skalds And Shadows”, except maybe those who see the setlist from previous shows and have a “I know what they’re going to play” attitude. We don’t care that you know. Shut up. Also, who would have thought they’d play “Brian” from their first demo in 1985 when they were still called Lucifer’s Heritage? Otherwise, their very good last album “The God Machine” was represented by three songs and of course “The Bard’s Song – In The Forest” is the best concert song in the history of concert songs. The atmosphere that the band and the audience put together was more than fantastic. Finally, the thing that kind of spoiled the night was the very bad sound. But first concert was at the Floyd, I believe the team running it will see what went wrong and fix it soon so we can have even better experiences in the future.
Setlist: Imaginations From the Other Side, Blood Of The Elves, Nightfall, Ashes To Ashes, Violent Shadows, Skalds And Shadows, Born In A Mourning Hall, Deliver Us From Evil, The Bard’s Song, Majesty, Traveler In Time, Sacred Worlds, Lord Of The Rings, Brian, Valhalla, Mirror Mirror
George Terzakis
We all knew that Guardian would change the set list on the second day – in their usual way – in order to satisfy all those who were there on Friday. So there was a palpable anxiety about what we were going to hear. Again the Floyd venue was sold out but with no signs of…pressure anywhere which we have to credit the organisers for not overselling tickets. The complaints that were rightly heard about the sound on Friday were well taken care of and so the sound at Guardian’s second show was spotless. The crowd early on had created a great atmosphere and I am sure you can all imagine what happened on hearing the first note of “Imaginations…”!
Guardian were – as always – in top form with Hansi being in great shape, smiling all the time and never stopping talking between songs. Andre played everything with his characteristic ease and made you wonder how it is possible to stay the same in appearance all these years while the ever reliable Marcus was there to contribute to the guitar feast that Guardian offered us. Not that the rest of the band was lacking, right? Highlights…? Obviously the different songs that were played including “Banish From Sanctuary”, “Time Stands Still”, “The Quest For Tanelorn” and “Wizard’s Crown” (incredible choice!). Needless to say, I think, what happened during “The Bard’s Song” or “Nightfall” with the crowd singing at the top of their lungs reminding Hansi that Greece is the second home of Guardian.
Two hours later we were leaving “full” from another landmark Guardian concert. See you again on Wednesday with Guardian’s last show in Athens…
Setlist: Imaginations From the Other Side, Blood Of The Elves, Nightfall, The Script For My Requiem, Violent Shadows, Skalds And Shadows, Time Stands Still, Deliver Us From Evil, The Bard’s Song, Banish From Sanctuary, Majesty, Sacred Worlds, The Quest For Tanelorn, Wizard’s Crown, Valhalla, Mirror Mirror
Sakis Nikas
photos from the official pages of Blind Guardian and Floyd
