Guardian of the Blind!

"We are following the will of the one
Through the dark age
And into the storm"
~Into the Storm - by Blind Guardian

Well, greetings to all my loyal readers! I've safely arrived after the Blind Guardian concert in Vancouver. I must say it rocked my boxxorz to the maxxorz. My goodness, words cannot do justice to the awesomeness that the show was. Let's just say it was the best of mix of geeks and metalheads that could ever be put together. It made for some very interesting conversations throughout the night

"This is a Blind Guardian concert. This is going to be the biggest group of outcasts ever"
"The biggest group of outcasts since Jesus and the disciples."
- Rod responding to a fan

"I wish we had some lightsabers so someone could have a duel to entertain us."
- fan outside the Commodore Ballroom

"I failed my dragon riding licence exam last week. I can only ride rancours."
"Dude you can totally pick-up chicks with a rancour!"
"Except it eats them"
[ . . .] conversation shortened due to ridiculousness.

"I have get to the front of the crowd boots +3!!"

"This is taking so long. i should have brought a game table and we could have played"
"I attack the orc. I roll a six. Do I hit him?"
"Yea, you kill him, he was hanging on by a thread."
- the obligatory D&D convo held by Rod and another guy while waiting for Leaves' Eyes

"Stop. Be quiet now.
Out with the light
Then up and down it goes
Fly
Out it goes!"
~Fly by Blind Guardian

I was so totally stoked by the time BG hit the stage, it was ridiculous. Hansi, Marcus, Andre, and Fredrik tore that stage up! I was so pumped. They played all the songs I wanted to hear! Valhalla, Fly, Skalds & Shadows, And The Story Ends, And Then There was Silence and The Bard's Song were all music to my ears. It was like taking a quadruple billion dose of Audio Ecstasy. I don't think I spent more that 30 seconds total on my feet during And The Story Ends.
I was so excited to hear Fly. I wish one of my friends could have been there for since that the only metal song she actually likes...doesn't find completely annoying? I don't know. It would have been awesome...but I LOVE THAT SONG!!! It's so raw and powerful when it's played live.

"I know that Vancouver is not the coldest place in Canada. But I think that you are still well acquainted with ice and snow. Acquainted well enough to walk with us through the halls of VALHALLA!"
- Hansi moments before launching into Valhalla

I loved rocking out there. I totally found what I'm passionate about. I'm passionate about intense, heavy music. And speaking of passionate intensity watching the band play was soooo cool from Andres leads, to Marcus' riffs and swirling hair, Fredrik playing like a beast on the drums and Hansi's voice was as driven, raw and on-pitch as I have ever heard it on the Live CD and DVD. I wanted to play chapel this coming Friday just so I could attempt to give all you here some of the intensity that they gave me. So I'm going to try and bottle it all up for next weekend's (Nov. 26) Sunday Night Praise. If all is well with the world you should see me at my most driven and passionate (hopefully).

"We feel that you deserve a few more songs. And that you probably don't care how tired we are. So here it is! Imaginations from the Other Side!"
- Hansi just before the three encore songs.

I cannot do this show justice on a mere blog. You'll have to come visit me, hear the tales, see the merchandise and view the photos. Until next time...

"The only thing you have to do Vancouver, is the same thing you've done all night...just try to be a little bit louder"
- Hansi before The Bard's Song

"And then there was silence
Just a voice from another world
Like a leaf in an icy world
Memories will fade away"
~ And Then There was Silence by Blind Guardian