Epica & Stream Of Passion @ Corporation

Way back in the mists of time, some tickets were purchased to an upcoming Epica gig with an as yet unnamed support. These were extra special VIP tickets, affording us certain extras such as meeting the band, getting out of the cold early, and getting a spot right up front. Having a spot right up front was a bonus for me because I had taken my camera along. Marvellous.

Stream Of Passion

I have never seen Stream Of Passion before, but I nearly have. Back in 2007 I was to see them at the Boardwalk in Sheffield, but visa issues meant the gig was cancelled. We didn't find out until we got there, so we went back to the pub. I thought no more of it. But here they were! And very good they were too.

 

 

 

Epica

After seeing Epica supported by ReVamp last year, we knew what a good show they put on. They didn't disappoint. Althought it may seem controversial, they definitely sound much better live than on studio albums.

And they were very nice, if a little cold, bundled up inside Corp in winter coats.

 

 

 

Professor Elemental feat. Northern Oak

March 3rd saw a very unusual night at the Corporation in Sheffield. The mighty Northern Oak were providing support for the eccentric, the dapper, the tea-obsessed Professor Elemental! A cracking Northern Oak set, punctuated by burlesque turns from one Kassandra Killjoy, preceded an evening of hair touching, animal dancing, and free-styling cephalopods. The local steampunks turned out en masse, and the room was awash with goggles, hats, and general fine attire. Quite fitting. And the evening ended with a never before seen folk metal/chap hop crossover extravaganza as Northern Oak supported the Professor in a rousing rendition of Fighting Trousers. Here are a handful of photos to mark this stupendous occasion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epica & ReVamp @ Corporation, Sheffield - 12th March 2011

After much waiting, the day finally arrived and Epica played the Corporation, supported by Floor Jansen's ReVamp. We knew it would be a busy night, and we weren't wrong. The queue was right up the side of Corporation, and rightly so.

ReVamp took the stage by storm. A great set, a great sound, and the crowd loved it. The place was packed from the off. This could easily have been a double-headliner. Floor Jansen commanded the stage, and the crowd, and whipped the place into a frenzy.

After being suitably warmed up, Epica took to the stage and continued in ReVamp's loud, heavy footsteps by keeping the crowd psyched until the very last. The buzz was palpable, the sound was staggering and the showmanship was top notch. Every band member played their part in making this a rip-roaring metal event from the moment the music started until the crowd carried it into the street.

I've been to many gigs, but can't remember one recently where there was such a surging, heaving crowd reaction. Horns were flying, voices were shouting and the room was alive. One of the best atmospheres of any gig I've attended in recent years.

Of course, I took my trusty camera along to try and capture the moment to share with you all. I hope the pictures do it justice.

Lacuna Coil @ The Corporation, 28th September 2010

They said it would never happen. They said we were dreamers. But on September 28th, 2010, Lacuna Coil returned to the Corporation, their first visit since the heady days of 2006 when I first ever saw them live. Of course, we've seen them since. Back in January we hauled ourselves over to Manchester for the Shallow Life launch tour, but here they were playing our favourite local metal venue, next door to one of our favourite pubs. How could we possibly miss it?

Mark from Troika

Two support acts were playing that cold Tuesday night; Troika, a local band, and Slaves To Gravity, who were supporting the whole tour. I really enjoyed Troika's set. The band have a quirky amateur demeanour but the music is amazing. Really talented local bunch of Sheffield lads. I'll be checking their music out again in the future for sure. Possibly find a gig to go buy CDs direct from the band.

Slaves To Gravity were up next. They're not really my cup of tea, I'll be honest. Little bit too much grunge and posturing for my taste, but the crowd loved it. I love finding that a band I would never normally listen to put on a show that gets the crowd going. The atmosphere is what makes live music special.

Slaves To Gravity

After a wait that felt like an eternity, as it always does while waiting for Lacuna Coil to come on stage, the house lights dimmed. A hush descended, just for a moment, and the crowd went wild.

And what a show they put on! Starting out with Underdog and I'm Not Afraid from Shallow Life, this proved to be a very varied show with some delving into the band's back catalogue. Classics like Honeymoon Suite and Half Life made an appearance, as well as long standing favourites Swamped and Heaven's A Lie.

Karmacode stole most of the show, with eight of the eighteen tracks played from that album. Fragments Of Faith and Our Truth are a must, and of course, what would a Lacuna Coil show be without a sing-along to Enjoy The Silence? Shallow Life came in second, with six tracks including I Won't Tell You and Spellbound. The setlist was expertly put together, effectively mixing classics and recent fan favourites to keep the pace throughout the entire set and into the encore.

The Corporation once again shone as a live venue. While Manchester Academy 1 was an impressive venue, it lacked the intimacy of the Corporation. At the larger venue, you watch a show. At the Corp, you are part of it. I was very excited when I found out about the gig, and now I can safely say it's the best Lacuna Coil gig I've ever seen. Simply awesome.