The best day of my life. Ever since I’ve returned home from downtown Portland the other night, I’ve been doubted. But, if you were me, and you had just experienced what I had, you’d be saying the same. I’ve been awaiting the Opeth concert for a season or more, and I knew it would be epic. My loving boyfriend, Ace, had bought me tickets as an early birthday present. I could not have been gifted better! As the days and hours became closer to the show, I became more and more excited, and yet calm, content in the knowledge that I would love every moment of that day. And I did. My day started at work, where they promised to let me go home early if I had come in and set up and done all the prep. I felt alive and purposeful with my knife and tongs in hand, food becoming one with my passion. Once everything was set up and ready, I left for home and took a glorious nap. Yes, the nap was glorious. I had opened my window, so birdsong and sunlight filtered in and made my dreams pleasant and intense. Then Ace and I got ready and left for dinner, at the fabulous Il Piatto. I had my favorite, gnocchi, and I felt full but not yet at the comatose level, it was perfect. We then made our way to the venue and there was no line, what a blessing. As we head in, I notice the crowd, which is relatively small, but intense. I saw one guy with tape over his hat that said “M. Akerfeldt for President” and on his shirt ‘Why vote for change when we can vote Progressive?”. I couldn’t have agreed more. Opeth’s logo was emblazoned on a high tapestry and most of the crowd had gathered in front of it. I snapped a photo of that. The opening act blew my mind. They are a band from New York named Three, a five man band consisting of vocalist/guitarist, bassist, rhythm guitarist, drummer and a separate percussionist specializing in old fashioned drums and shakers. If Dream Theater and Pink Floyd had a child that they fostered in South Africa native tribes, this would be Three. The sound they produced was mesmerizing and enchanting, with a folk and trip sound that made me want to dance in circles and head bang at the same time. I recommend checking them out… And the second act, Between the Buried and Me, who have visited Portland in the recent past, was so disappointing that I almost wanted to shake my head in shame. The band embers themselves were so extreamly talented and amazing, the songs they played (a set of 2 songs, each about 15 minutes) would have blown my mind, IF ONLY THEY HAD PLAYED AS A BAND! There was no group mind, no goals of energy that were the same. It was as if they had all written parts for the songs and emailed them to each other, got together and practiced a few times to get the timing right, and said, all right let’s go make some money. I hope they can pull it together, because I think they would be an amazing addition to the prog scene as it’s coming now.

As for Opeth, need I elaborate more on their amazing stage presence, especially of Mikael, they gracious way in which they wield their instruments and talents for us all to bathe in? I’ll not go on and on about how much I idolize and love this band, even with the two newcomers, who are by the way, and excellent addition. They opened with Demon of the Fall, which Mikael confessed later was normally their encore. I couldn’t think of a better opening. But the second song they played, and at that moment I felt higher than I’ve ever been! I felt something of my spirit straining so hard to get out and join the music in its myriad dancing that I would have gladly expired just to let my spirit have its wish. They played Master’s Apprentice, and it will forever be the best moment of my life. Ace, no one could have gotten me a better present. And they played it, and every song, so well, so Perfectly! and I will to my last breath recall the bass thumping my entire body and the notes humming in my head, along with the masterful voice and words.

They played only one song from their newest album, and I was so blown away at how brutal it was! As for the rest, they played Wreath, In My Time of Need, and Serenity Painted Death. I’m sure they played more than that, and I can’t quite recall which songs they were unless I’m actually listening to the album. But by the gods it was, glorious. It made my heart sing even louder to hear Mikael announce that this was one of the best times they’ve had in Portland. They had spent time downtown, in the mall and Pioneer Square, and I hope and wish that perhaps they had eaten in my restaurant, which is just 2 blocks away. My new goal is to make sure they stay in the hotel my restaurant is in when they come back this fall. Ah, yes, they said they’d return for the tour of their new album in the fall.

Ace also bought me an Opeth hoodie, which is the best thing ever.

And now, to the PaganMetal Fest, which is now acclaimed as the best show I ever had the pleasure of attending. Openers Oakhelm were Portland natives, and pretty fucking good, I can’t wait to go to more of their shows. Suidakra, from Germany, were the next band and those fuckers were metal! Next, blessedly, were Eluvietie, and they were the best act of the night. The stage presence of this band is like none other, with as many band members and instruments as they had. I can’t describe it well enough, look them up on youtube, along with all the other bands I’m mentioning. Then came Tyr, with their loyal following and Hammer-ness, you couldn’t go wrong. After them twas Turisas, who came decked in warpaint and furs. They got the crowd moving like no other show I’ve ever seen. We, all of us, were jumping and clapping. How often is it, that at a metal show you see every person, even those back in the bar, fucking dancing? They got us singing and moshing and that was the last I could take. I spent so much energy that I was ready to collapse, and so left before Ensefirum, though I’m assured they were amazing as well.

I can’t say anything negative against any of the bands that played last night; everything was amazing. I feel more inspired now than ever to take up my musical passions that I’ve let flounder in the wake of cooking. I want to dance! I want to inspire and remind of past glories, of days when we were all truly alive, and not zombies to corporations and “entertainment”.

Time will tell…look for pictures up soon on my myspace account.

Forgive me, I’m now taken by the irresistible urge to dance and sing.

Twilight and Beauty,

Salome