Tarja & Marko “Living the Dream” @ Z7
25.09.2024 Konzertfabrik Z7 Pratteln, Switzerland
This week somehow has a bad vibe, everything that can go wrong is going wrong and it doesn’t seem to be just in my case. Monday – motorcycle accident, Tuesday – search for lost dog, Wednesday – Tarja & Marko stuck at customs…
Many have been looking forward to this event for almost a year: Tarja Turunen and Marko Hietala united on stage. As if Nightwish were back in their former glory. But what many people somehow didn’t realize: It’s two solo sets by these two exceptional talents and not a complete show of both united – however, you can look forward to a few songs together.
This concert was actually supposed to start at 7pm on a Wednesday, but unfortunately there were problems at the border and the bands were still stuck at customs when the doors opened. The incredible crew at Z7 pull out all the stops to make this concert happen anyway: Musicians are picked up at customs without further ado and the essentials are driven to Pratteln, in order to give the hundreds of waiting fans the show they wanted after all. The crew keeps the fans constantly informed and do their best to get everything on stage as quickly as possible.
After a good hour’s delay, the opening act from Switzerland, Chaoseum from Lausanne, finally start their set. It must be an honor for these guys and their nu-metal, being part of this package. Their sound doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the evening’s music, but they put on a really good show and singer CK Smile’s clean vocals are particularly impressive. Although the band was only founded in 2018, they have already shared the stage with some big names, such as Soulfly, Eluveitie and Tarja as support on their 2019 Russian tour. What a good start for a band from small Switzerland. Their music offers a lot of variety and creates a good atmosphere.
After a short changeover (and another 30min delay), Marko Hietala finally enters the stage with his colleagues, wearing a kilt and not being barefoot for once. You get the feeling that the delay makes him feel uncomfortable and he seems a little insecure – how will the fans react) But most of them are just happy that they can finally see Marko live. His quieter songs go down well with most of the audience. Sometimes he loses himself in his little anecdotes and somehow seems almost shy on stage. You can tell that his voice is still not fully recovered. A few days ago, a show had to be canceled because Marko’s illness, which was of course a bitter disappointment for the fans who came to see him and Tarja united on stage again.
Marko offers many English songs, but also one in Finnish from his album, “Isäni ääni”, in order to show his softer side and that such a powerful voice can also sound very soft and tender.
Then the first announcement that makes us tremble…. A video … released in March … someone still has to take the stage … which she does immediately. Tarja arrives for the performance of “Left on Mars”, which gives the atmosphere in the hall just the boost it needs to celebrate Marko and his men properly when they say goodbye after an encore. The band thanks the Z7 crew for making this show possible and then leaves the stage wistfully, knowing that it was the last show of the tour.
After an incredibly short changeover, the time has come… the diva of metal, the grand dame of the metal opera, is ready to wow her fans. As always, Tarja Turunen lights up the stage with her charisma. Even if you can tell she’s a little stressed, her smile couldn’t be brighter and she enjoys whirling around on stage. She repeatedly addresses the fans with short announcements and moves some to tears. The gratitude she radiates is phenomenal and you always get the feeling that she is 100% enjoying what she is doing here.
Unfortunately, some songs have been canceled due to the delay and many who arrived by train can only enjoy one song by Tarja, which is of course very annoying. But those still present have forgotten the long wait and enjoy the show of the Finnish “diva”. A short piano interlude from Tarja and then – the highlight for everyone, the moment when Marko Hietala takes to the stage to perform three songs with Tarja and then promises to be back shortly. Of course, everyone is still waiting for Phantom of the Opera or a Nightwish hit, for which they have to wait until the end, then the hall goes wild for the long-awaited encore “Wish I had an Angel”. A little over a year ago, Z7 was the place where Tarja and Marko finally appeared on stage together again for the first time in 18 long years, and now this…I hope it wasn’t the last time! I’m hoping they make albums together, write songs together… and maybe in the distant future it will be like ABBA… the real Nightwish are back… It won’t happen, but it’s a nice fantasy.
With “Until my last Breath”, the laying down of the microphone on stage and a loud “It’s done”, Tarja and her musicians close the show and thus also this “Living the Dream Tour”. A great show that was put on despite many hurdles and problems. Once again a huge compliment to the Z7 crew, without you this evening would never have happened. THANK YOU! You are the real heroes. You rocked it!
