Tarja Turunen kicked off her US Living the Dream tour in Philadelphia, PA this past week. The first show of the tour was at none other than South Street’s lively venue the Theater of Living Arts.
Chaoseum
Chaoseum opened the show. The four-piece nu-metal band played six songs in total, beginning with Unreal, and ending with My Wonderland. Fans of early 2000s rock and metal will definitely appreciate Chaoseum’s nostalgic sound.
Tarja
Tarja is quite a force to be reckoned with. As soon as the Finnish singer hit the stage, the energy in the room completely shifted. Astonishment mixed with excitement and anticipation filled the air as the music began. Her band consisted of Alex Scholpp and Julian Barrett on guitars, Alex Holzwarth on drums, Doug Wimbish on bass, and Christian Kretschmar on keys. Tarja started off her set with Eye of the Storm, then quickly transitioned into Demons in You and Falling Awake.
Tarja Turunen is one of symphonic metal’s most celebrated artists. Beginning her career as the lead singer of the Finnish metal band Nightwish, Tarja has since made herself synonymous with the genre of symphonic metal. Her solo career has just marked its 15th anniversary this past year, and she is proving that symphonic rock is not dead, but thriving, electrifying, and bombastic. Her powerful vocals never waver, and each note hit leaves you memorized.
Tarja’s supporting band was nothing short of spectacular as well. Wimbish was a notable highlight, his charisma and class on stage were unmatched. Scholpp and Barrett were also fantastic, as the duo added a cinematic flare that pairs perfectly with Tarja’s haunting vocals.
Tarja ended with Innocence, Die Alive, Dead Promises, and Until My Last Breath. The chemistry between the entire band was a delight to watch. It is always invigorating to see band members have such a good time on stage, especially among each other. Once the show ended, the band stayed on stage for several extra minutes laughing, dancing, and cheering with each other, along with the crowd. That camaraderie was prevalent throughout the whole performance.
As a huge fan of symphonic rock and metal, it was incredible to see Tarja, who is such a pioneer of the genre. I highly recommend going to this tour, which runs through June 30th. You can find tickets here.
