Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City lined up concert goers on Thursday April 9, 2015 for the Nightwish North American Tour 2015. All the way from Finland, Nightwish arrived to promote their new album “Endless Forms Most Beautiful” which made its debut on March 27, 2015 with supporting acts and tour mates Delain and Sabaton. Fans waited excitedly in the rain for the historic venue’s doors to open. Nightwish would soon hear the thundering roar of fans reverberating throughout Hammerstein Ballroom.
From the Netherlands, Goth Rock/ Symphonic metal band Delain opened the show for Nightwish and fueled the set with their 2012 single “Mother Machine” from their third full length album We Are The Others. Lead singer Charlotte Wessels belted out beautifully eerie and emotionally charged vocals. Wesels connected with the audience, kneeling close to the edge of the stage as she sang story like gestures. Following “Mother Machine”, “Get the Devil Out of Me”, “Army of Dolls”, “Stardust”, “Not Enough”, “and “We Are the Others”, fired up the stage for fans and the upcoming performances. Delain will be headlining their own European tour in the Fall of 2015.
The audience kept their places in the standing area of Hammerstein Ballroom, anxiously waiting for Swedish Metal band Sabaton to begin their show. Jumping high onto stage in their trademark black, white, and grey camouflage military pants, representing the bands lyrical references to war and battle. With seven studio albums released, Sabaton also performed songs from their latest album Heroes released May 16, 2014 under record label Nuclear Blast, which Nightwish is signed to as well. Sabaton kicked off their set with their studio single “Ghost Division” from their album The Art of War. Coming to the very front of the stage together, Sabaton formed a wave from the sea of jumping fans once they began to jump with exhiliaration. Impressed by one lucky young concert goer, Sabaton invited their dedicated fan up on stage who announced that he was ten years old. Lead singer Joakim Brodén removed his famous sun glasses and handed them to the young fan who stood to the side of the stage to watch Sabaton perform just inches away and given a once in a lifetime chance to strum guirarist Chris Rörland’s guitar.
With hot performances by Delain and Sabaton, fans were prepared for the performance they had anxiously been waiting for. Nightwish entered the stage with a fantastic light show, which followed the tune to their song “Shudder Before the Beautiful”. The beautiful and talented Floor Jansen performed with strong lead vocals while wind blew through her hair. Even as a Metal/Rock band, Nightwish incorporate celtic rock in their music. Nightwish emanated beauty and culture during their ethereal performance of “The Islander” with bassist Marco Hietala on a double neck guitar. Hammerstein Ballroom was full to the brim after Nightwish performed “The Greatest Show on Earth” from the new album. Nightwish fans were not ready to let the headliners go as they chanted for an encore. It goes without saying, Nightwish were energized and elated to perform “Ghost Love Score” and “Last Ride of the Day”. Nightwish will be back in New York April 16, 2015 to continue their tour at Town Ballroom in Buffalo and will wrap up their 2015 North American Tour May 14, 2015 at Filmore in Maryland. For more information visit the Nightwish website at https://nightwish.com/en
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