Photos: Csilla Kajtar
After a year’s break, Avatar‘s spectacular metal circus roared back to the Empire Live in Albany, NY last Sunday. Devoted fans started gathering early in the morning, vying for prime positions near the stage. The venue was electric with anticipation, ready for the band’s performance.
As the show started, the stage, under a stark crimson glow, set a commanding scene. Each member, in a disciplined stance, was handed their instrument by drummer John Alfredsson with robotic precision. The intensity in the air ramped up as singer Johannes Eckerstrom, in his iconic clown makeup and flaunting a wide grin, took the stage. Their opening song, “Dance Devil Dance,” started an unforgettable evening.
Energy radiated throughout the venue, with the crowd’s enthusiasm palpable in every corner, including the crowded VIP and photography areas. The setlist for the night, a mix of 19 songs from six albums, leaned only slightly towards their latest, Dance Devil Dance. The audience’s reaction was especially memorable during a softer arrangement of “Tower,” performed solo by Eckerstrom on piano. In an ironic twist, a group in the audience formed an energetic ‘rowing circle’ during this subdued number, a testament to the night’s unpredictable and lively atmosphere.
Avatar’s showmanship and delivery are always exquisite. Having experienced their shows multiple times, one anticipates a flawless performance from them, and Sunday night was no different. All elements of their production: lights, choreography, transitions between songs, as well as the exquisite musicianship were on point. Ample headbanging and synchronized hair windmills provided the audience a chance to join in. On this tour, Johannes embraced a more vivid clown persona compared to previous albums. His antics included emerging from a box with balloons, appearing on the balcony and crafting a balloon dog, all of which elevated their unique metal circus atmosphere. The setlist featured all hits, including favorites like “Smells like a Freakshow,” “Paint Me Red,” “Hail the Apocalypse,” and “Colossus.”
After a steady rise on the charts over the years, 2023 marked a significant year for Avatar, with their track “The Dirt I’m Buried In” reaching number one in the US. Their current tour, in support of Dance Devil Dance, is the most extensive they’ve undertaken, a fact proudly announced by Eckerstrom from the stage.
Avatar will continue their US journey alongside Ice Nine Kills and In This Moment on the “Kiss of Death Tour,” before moving on to a European leg from January to March next year. Their Albany fans are already hopeful for a next visit in 2024.
Setlist:
Dance Devil Dance, The Eagle Has Landed, Valley of Disease, Chimp Mosh Pit, Paint Me Red, Bloody Angel, For the Swarm, Puppet Show, When the Snow Lies Red, Do You Feel in Control?, Guitar Battle, Black Waltz, Tower, Colossus, Let It Burn, A Statue of the King, Encore: The Dirt I’m Buried In, Smells Like a Freakshow, Hail the Apocalypse.
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