It was a night most Tuesday on the 18th inst (as of this rambling) at Sydney Opera House; a night most Opeth, with a dash of Horse; Caligula’s specifically.
Before their performance, I knew only of Caligula’s Horse‘s name, and had a vague idea of their sound. Seeing them live, I was fortunate enough to learn of their style. Dynamic, big, cheesy… a band willing to go on stage with no shame or embarrassment. A band going full ham, and it was wonderful to behold. Going on stage in front of an audience is a hurdle for a lot of people as it is; to be willing to be on stage and to give it your all and be passionate about your art, is worthy of respect.
Essentially, Caligula’s Horse played and performed excellently. Well worth checking out.
Opeth… what is there to say? They took to the stage and tore through their songs. Mikael Åkerfeldt’s stage banter was, as always, quite enjoyable. Seeing a band go through their songs and enjoy themselves is always a delight, so Opeth didn’t disappoint here. They didn’t disappoint at all, really. They played well, they played hard, and they sounded good. Crisp, clear, and dirty, all when necessary. Just great sound.
The Last Will and Testament saw only three songs played, which was a shame. At this point in their career, Opeth’s discography is lengthy and so there’s a lot of material to choose from. There’s songs that they are likely less willing to take out of a set for whatever reasoning which, naturally, reduces setlist flexibility. However, it would’ve been nice to see more of the new album played, and perhaps some deeper cuts, too. I can only imagine there’s some fan expectation for some songs, too. Given the strength of their discography, however, the last thing I want to see is Opeth become narrowly defined when it comes to their live performances.
That said, everything fit together quite well. What was performed sat nicely next to the songs on either side, and it was enjoyable overall. Opeth might be a little more still on stage these days; time comes for us all in one way or another, but they still perform with a good deal of energy, giving the songs the presence they rightfully need. At the end of the day, a strong performance is satisfying to experience, regardless of which songs come from the stage.
It had been too long since Opeth’s last visit; hopefully the next is sooner, rather than later.
Opeth are currently on tour in Australia until the 24th of this month. Tickets for the Australian shows are available here and here.
The Last Will and Testament is available here.