Silver Spring, MD – The first time I caught Avatar back in 2019 I fell in love. After feeling the energy and power of their performance as a supporting act, I knew I had to capture them as the headliner. I had a mission, the only question was, would I survive?
On the evening of May 25, 2023 at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD I got the chance to find out. Words cannot do justice to the performance the Jonas “Kungen” Jarlsby (guitar), John Alfredsson (drums), Johannes Eckerström (vocals, trombone, piano, balloon animals), Henrik Sandelin (bass), and Tim Öhrström (guitars) delivered to the moshing surfing crowd.
Emerging from the backlit fog to the sound of clanging bells, John took the stage with robotic movements and a zombie stare, beating the drums with the bells (a fun way to start) and before we knew it we were moving to “Dance Devil Dance“. We never looked back. After Johannes announced our hero had returned again, we knew “The Eagle Has Landed” was up next. I really love the video for this song. While I know it is not entirely a political theme, I can definitely see political connotations in it, do you?
A quick change (an overcoat) took us to “Valley of Disease” after which it was announced he was going to tear the fucking house down as they had come all the way from a foreign country to take our women and our jobs! Yes, we were going to have a good time tonight. Bringing out the animal in all of us they took us into the “Chimp Mosh Pit“.
Enter the king (Jonas) to solo leading into “Bloody Angel“. It was here that I noticed how synchronized their head banging was. It was a blast to watch! Before “Puppet Show” Johannes started flashing some skin. The audience started chanting, “Take it off, take it off”! He paused, thought a bit, pulled down a suspender, and replied, “Uh uh… I saw the ticket price, this is all the undressing you’re going to get!!” He did notice, in our eyes, that we were indeed all dirty! LOVED IT!! The song, as it turns out, is a fairy tale about a king. Not a good king, he is a “total dick” (King Richard?). He did not know it was all a ruse with the strings being pulled from behind the throne (metaphor!). I think the best part of this was seeing Johannes disappear from stage and emerge in the upper deck. First, making a balloon animal (he is good at it!!). We were confused initially because he made it look like… well… a dick (in reference to the king?), but then it ended up being a puppy (so cute). To round out the Puppet Show, he finished on the trombone!!
After “Do You Feel in Control“, which included an awesome guitar duel between Tim and Jonas, a gift was delivered to stage! A box, with balloons and Johannes was opened in front of John. This was indeed a party. There was no better time to dance a “Black Waltz” Once the dance came to an end, Johannes showed his range again, in the piano, with “Tower“. It was here that he told us that we did not only come to see them perform metal, but they came all the way from Sweden to see us. WOW.
Rounding out the set as “Colossus” (a solo Tim rocked), “Let It Burn” (more Tim solo and some rocking John drums), and an appearance by the King (Jonas) himself (after John assaulted the audience with a two-gun confetti salute to welcome him) with “A Statue of the King” (such a flattering ceremony).
What would a great show be without a great encore? Coming back on stage, they had the crowd roaring!! After “The Dirt I’m Buried In” Johannes held an auction to determine the number of songs in the encore… all that was left to do was to play 1… 2… 3 more songs? 5? 10? When he announced 1, they all booed and he ‘threatened to leave’. Yes, Johannes, we felt your power as you announced 2 more songs. We also know the greatest act of rebellion is to ‘give a fuck’. I never thought about it, but you are right, in our short lives, we only have a small number to give!! Vocals, trombone, piano, and now a philosopher. One could expect no more!! They finished with “Smells Like a Freakshow” and “Hail the Apocalypse“.
And then the night was done. I think back to the first time I saw Avatar as a supporting band, I thought they were great! As a headliner… FCK n A (my generation) sums it up well. The “five lonely Swedish assholes” (as Johannes described what they would be without the audience) killed it!! They are a must see! Here’s hoping I get to experience them at a festival later this year! That should round out the performance trilogy!
Avatar Photo Gallery
Avatar Setlist
Dance Devil Dance
The Eagle Has Landed
Valley of Disease
Chimp Mosh Pit
Scream Until You Wake
Bloody Angel
For the Swarm
Puppet Show
When the Snow Lies Red
Do You Feel in Control
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
Show Date: May 25, 2023
