Anathema in Circus, Helsinki, September 27, 2012

... or maybe this could also be called "How Anathema totally shook my world for one evening". I was on the fence for a while, whether to write about this at all, as emotions can dumb down just because written words can be so dry, and I don't really want to transfer the feeling I got from Thursday evening into anything else than it was. But I also know that humans forget, and part of me wants to re-live those moments again, even if through text form. 

Like some other of my favourite bands, Anathema have gone through quite a change in style and essence over the... 20+ years they have been in the spotlight. Again, we have had hoardes of pissed off fans. I would like those fans to ask themselves though: how would you feel if your surroundings expected you to remain on the level of a 5-year old toddler for the rest of your existence? Exactly.

Photo lent from here

I can't really analyse this, I guess. It was a flow of musical genius, expressiveness, closeness. One of those rare moments when you realise that people on the stage might actually be enjoying this more than people in front of the stage (how is this even possible?) Random shouts from the audience (by timid Finns, might I add) like "This is fucking awesome!" are perfectly appropriate.

Vincent Cavanagh's voice is unique and unforgettable, you can't really confuse it with anyone (or -thing) else. And I don't know whether it was him or very smartly solved sound in general, but you could actually understand what he was singing about. (So tired of mumbling live vocalists :) ) Lee Douglas has potential to get on your nerves when her voice goes to the heights that it should actually avoid (on records), but she was much better on the stage. As a backup/partnering vocalist she is very good, but I don't think I'd like to listen to her excessively. That being said, "Natural Disaster" did sound wonderful. Guitar solos were transcendent.

I think Anathema took quite a liking to Helsinki audience, encore dragged to 5 songs. After the gig, before we had even made half way towards the exit, poof! the band was already in the entrance area, giving autographs, taking photos, talking about the show. Take that, you bands who sell mega expensive VIP ticket packages that basically contain all that same stuff (yes even you my beloved Katatonia). They were very warm and very genuinely seemed to care for their audience. It made me feel very humble, thinking they have been making music for over two decades now, and still to maintain such spirit :)

My treasure, signed by Vincent Cavanagh, Daniel Cavanagh and Daniel Cardoso.

So what to say in conclusion... Maybe this would be suitable. Jan, who has no previous experience with Anathema and had only heard one album to the date, stated that it was (probably) the best gig he has been to (and him and I both have been to quite a few). I need a bit of time for my feelings to completely sink in and compared to all the other shows I have seen, but I am already pretty confident saying it is definitely in TOP3, if not the best.

So, that ended up to be quite a praise, but Cavanagh bros & co totally earned it that night. 

Setlist: (not a 100% sure if I got all, and specifically, in which order, but that is how I managed to reconstruct in my mind, with a little help from setlist.fm):

1. Untouchable, Part 1 (Weather Systems, 2012)
2. Untouchable, Part 2 (Weather Systems)
3. Thin Air (We're Here Because We're Here, 2010)
4. Dreaming Light (We're Here Because We're Here)
5. Angels Walk Among Us (We're Here Because We're Here)
6. Deep (Judgement, 1999)
7. Everything (We're Here Because We're Here)
8. A Simple Mistake (We're Here Because We're Here)
9. The Beginning and The End (Weather Systems)
10. Universal (We're Here Because We're Here)
11. Emotional Winter (Judgement)
12. Lightning Song (Weather Systems)
13. The Storm Before the Calm (Weather Systems)
14. Closer (A Natural Disaster, 2003)
15. A Natural Disaster (A Natural Disaster)
16. Flying (A Natural Disaster)

Encore:

17. Internal Landscapes (Weather Systems)
18. Fragile Dreams (Alternative 4, 1998)
19. Orion (Metallica cover)
20. Empty (Alternative 4)
21. Panic (A Fine Day to Exit, 2001)

Highlights: All Judgement songs, Fragile Dreams, Panic, Flying, Thin Air