23.04.2011 Serenity

Atak, Enschede (Netherlands)

(Pentax k-x with Tamron SP AF 17-50mm 2.8 XR Di II LD Asp IF and Sigma AF 50-150mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

The Austrian band Serenity could make the start at an unfortunately very weak filled Atak at Enschede. This is maybe also due to the fact that the concert started roughly half an hour earlier than originally planned. I talked after the concert to some other people that arrived only at Midnattsol as they simply did not know about it. That was the simple reason for unfortunately missing the very good gig of the men around singer Georg Neuhauser. Actually they deserved more attention rather than the 15-20 lonely persons being in front of the stage. At least there was a lot of space. Towards the end of the gig luckily there were some more and so finally roughly 150 persons joined.
Presented was very nice made symphonic metal. Mainly of course it was about their latest meanwhile third album "Death & Legacy". Despite so few were standing in front of the stage the band was able to create good moods and especially singer Georg Neuhauser was very intensively interacting with the audience. Support Serenity received additionally by the Xandria front woman Lisa Middelhauve who came onto the stage for some duets towards the end of the show.
A smaller problem was only the space on stage. As there were already many elements for the Leaves' Eyes stage setting placed, there was not much space left over for Serenity. The overall five persons with their instruments and additionally Lisa Middelhauve were there, so only the place at the most rear left behind the loudspeakers / amplifier racks was left over for keyboarder Mario Hirzinger so that he could not be seen by all of the visitors. I also was only able to find him during the second song and I was feeling somehow sorry for him. Anyhow, the gig was a lot of fun and that not only to me.