My thoughts on each band this year:
While Heaven Wept: Not my thing but they were fun to watch. Didn't catch the whole set, just the last few songs. They sounded good.
Theocracy: Awesome set, one of my favorites of the festival, definitely my day 1 highlight. Put on a quality power metal show including a tribute to Andre Matos with the song "Time" - excellent show.
Sanctuary - One of my friends is all pissy about how Sanctuary shouldn't even be a thing because Warrel Dane isn't here anymore, but Joseph Michael did an awesome job, caught about half the set and it was awesome, so much heavier and fun than the original recording, and Joseph Michael himself is really cool.
Insomnium - didn't watch, only thought about watching because of Jani Liimatainen, but it's not a big loss for me.
Tomorrow's Eve - Okay day 2 was a real snoozefest for me to be honest. Didn't watch Tomorrow's Eve much, I caught some songs but they didn't leave an impression on me.
MaYaN - This was the only band of the festival that I simply cannot stand, so I didn't watch them. Stayed out in the lobby for them.
Galneryus - FAVORITE SET OF THE FESTIVAL and one of the two bands that instantly sold me on PPUSA 2019. Audience's energy was electric and they brought the house down. Most of my friends (who lean toward power metal over prog, mind) agree this was their favorite set as well.
Evergrey - Dullsville, didn't watch. "Hi I'm Tom Englund and I'm a sad boi listen to my angst" no thank you
Paladin - Awesome set, they had a big ol' crane there filming the whole show and they ripped. Super cool guys off stage too. That night Taylor and I found ourselves playing with cats.
They also covered Lost Horizon's "Perfect Warrior" which was really cool.
Subsignal - Another favorite band of the set and the bassist and keyboardist fully acknowledged my enthusiasm especially when they played my favorite song "Even Though The Stars Don't Shine." Their sound in particular was one of the best of the fest imo - everything was crystal clear and warm.
Barren Earth - Didn't watch, not interested
Psychotic Waltz - Wanted to catch at least a few songs but got caught up with a friend I had not seen all festival and by the time I walked in to watch the set they literally played for about 10 seconds before wrapping up.
Oh well
Orden Ogan - This was a fun set, although I didn't stay for all of it. I watched a few songs and they sounded really good live but their whole schtick isn't my cup of tea. Went back, took a shower, came back for a couple songs and left again.
Seventh Wonder - I've always said the only song I wanted to hear them play was Not An Angel but they haven't played that in 10 years or something. So when I dipped out to party at the Artmore and got a text from a friend saying "Dude, Not An Angel." I about launched my phone across the courtyard. Oh well...
Sorcerer - I listened to The Crowning of the Fire King earlier this year and it was dope but I never revisited it. This band KILLED IT live and I'm definitely looking into them more despite not considering myself a fan of much doom. But this? This set was amazing. What an evil, cool sound they have. My buddy Carl got to sing on stage with them.
Jag Panzer - Never considered myself a fan of Jag Panzer... until now. Harry Conklin's voice live is everything. Absolute beast of a frontman and even at the age of 57 he was hitting jaw-dropping high notes effortlessly, and his stage presence was enthralling. Caught the setlist and had them sign it. WOW, what a show.
Caligula's Horse - Between the lights, the band's stage presence, and the singer's voice, this band blew my mind away. And they played "Graves" which made me choke up and shed a tear. LOVE this band, they've grown on me so much since I was sent them last year in my roulette.
Poets of the Fall - Nothing against Poets, I just had zero interest in watching them. They're not bad music, I just didn't care. Opted to drink whiskey in preparation for D&W later that night.
Threshold - I have put more effort into showing that I have given this band a fair shot than any other band I can think of. I just don't like them. I sat through the whole set because Lethean promised me a drink and I never got it because he was backstage with Threshold after their set, so that'll be saved for next year I guess
At least they played Slipstream and Small Dark Lines but everything in between just bored me. Good performers though, the drummer is really fun to watch.
Demons & Wizards - The crowd made Hansi feel like a god more than any other crowd I've seen. And Hansi taking it all in stride walking slowly around just observing the audience was so cool. He's just the best. And I've never heard him sing as intensely as he did that night. The last couple Blind Guardian shows I thought he was phoning in several parts, but he screamed his heart out and between the Iced Earth and Blind Guardian covers, seeing my all-time favorite D&W song (Crimson King) and the electric performance of everyone in the band, this was easily one of my favorites of the whole week. Brilliant choice to end the festival, because this had to be the most fired up crowd of the week.
Now I'm sad because I won't see my friends for another year.
Oh also fuck whoever set Demons & Wizards' shirts at $40 a pop. Ridiculous.
Topic: ProgPower USA XX, Sept 4-7 2019 - Pretty Maids-Evergrey-Seventh Wonder-Dem&Wiz+ (Read 37211 times)