BogFires took the chance of checking HIM performing in one of the band’s strongest markets, celebrating their recent “Screamworks…” album. We attended the gigs in Manchester Academy 1 and Newcastle O2 Academy, both venues with a capacity of some 2.000 guests. Manchester was sold out, and Newcastle didn’t have many free places either.
HIM is apparently experiencing a peek in its public recognition in UK. In addition to a recent cover story in Metal Hammer magazine, Kerrang! and Big Cheese covers were both also decorated by Ville Valo’s face. When I arrived in Manchester, I spotted the first Heartagram T-Shirts and beanies right outside the Piccadilly train station, and by the considerable number of HIM fans wandering in the city center it was not difficult to tell which band was playing there in the evening. In Newcastle we noticed that the first fans were lining up outside the venue already by noon, almost 10 hours before the gig would start. And the pirate T-shirt sellers outside the venue, appearing after the Manchester show, are always some kind of a sign of larger reputation.
In the gigs, the band also received a warm welcome. Hardly ever have we witnessed as loud audience. The band enjoyed the attention and played tightly with a seemingly good mood. The atmosphere rose perhaps a bit higher in Newcastle, possibly due to the slightly nicer venue with a more theatre-like construction and consequently enhanced feeling of closeness. There it was, however, more challenging to master sounds that were somewhat better in Manchester. Concerning the visual output, the gig was rather restricted, as usually in the HIM case, but beautiful and well-thought lights nicely changed the moods according to the needs of different songs. Ville’s talks between the songs also reflected the good spirit, even though most of them remain pretty much unclear at least to the balconies.
The gender division among the audience seemed to be quite even in the UK, and various age groups were also presented. Newcastle might have had a larger attendance of younger fans. In general, the newer songs were slightly better welcomed than the old ones, but the old classics also received quite a celebrative response. As the personal opinion, Buried Alive by Love was the tightest moment in both sets. Setlist as such comprised no surprises, as they were identical in both gigs and with most other evenings of the tour. Perhaps well so, as the set seems to be very consistent and offers a good overview of the HIM catalogue.
The L.A. mood rockers Dommin is supporting HIM in this leg. They offered a nice show with hooky songs, grand sounds and good vocal performance. There are a lots of bands that this group is compared to, and personally I felt a few moments with distant references to ones such as The Cult, The 69 Eyes, even Danzig, and yes… Elvis.
Warm thanks to HIM management for including us in the guest lists.
TMK
HIM setlist (both gigs):
Like St. Valentine
Right Here In My Arms
Rip Out The Wings Of A Butterfly
Heartkiller
Join Me In Death
The Kiss Of Dawn
Katherine Wheel
Poison Girl
Buried Alive By Love
Disarm Me (With Your Loneliness)
Your Sweet 666
Wicked Game
When Love And Death Embrace
Encore:
The Sacrament
Scared To Death
The Funeral Of Hearts
