Who needs the Inferno festival, Norway's annual multi-day parade over Easter weekend. Philadelphia (and the Trocadero in particular) are doing their best to replicate that overseas shindig, albeit completely by accident. April 1st (no joke) saw OVERKILL kick off a 25th anniversary tour (review here), ably supported by five other internationally signed acts. The next evening, it was Finnish power metallers SONATA ARCTICA's turn to use Philly as a springboard into North America and a few days hence, it will be a full scale, one-night invasion from their countrymen FINNTROLL, SWALLOW THE SUN and MOONSORROW. When it rains it pours!

In a flip-flop of last night, when the "kids" were outnumbered, the fact those on the floor could sing the Power Rangers theme for the instrumental POWERGLOVE speaks volumes as to who was in attendance. Between bands, was fun to see the enthusiasm for a mere beach ball volleyed through the crowd, much like my initial concert experience back in '78, although a second deck celebration in a theater is a little different than reaching the next tier of the Spectrum! With a giant backdrop of a wolf, beneath the Fins' logo, Sonata Arctica ran through sixteen songs, making sure everyone in the band was highlighted at some point.

On keyboards, Henrik Klingenberg looked the part of the Mad Russian, Rasputin, eyes rolling skyward, seemingly disconnected from the goings-on around him. Frontman Tony Kakko, in white button-down shirt seemed in a festive mood, offer observations about the band, songs and crowd, throughout the night. Truthfully, it took a little while to get a gallop going, four songs to be precise, after 'Flag In The Ground', a sedate 'Last Amazing Grays' and 'Paid In Full'. It was '8th Commandment' that saw the audience sing along, Kakko on his knees at the front of the stage. 'As If The World Wasn't Ending' ended with Kakko joking that Ecliptica is now ten years old, "Going to school, playing computer games," like it was really a child he'd birthed. 'Fullmoon' followed, as he delivered a back-heel kick to the rump of guitarist Elias Viljanen, who then chased the singer across the stage with an improvised Chuck Berry duck walk. Turning serious for the next introduction, Kakko asked how many had actually read Shakespeare, not merely a movie. "He and I share something beyond both liking beer.." as he led into 'Juliet', where he threatened to wear holes in the knees of his camouflage pants. He lamented the fact that their last tour had forsaken any material off Winterheart's Guild, which was rectified this night by including 'Broken' and speedy, crowd-pleaser 'The Cage', which closed out the main set. Apparently fans complaint are heard! During the latter track, Kakko ripped a pick from the taped strip on Viljanen's mic and proceeded to strum the guitar, while it's occupant covered his eyes, in mock horror. 'Black Sheep' was a high point, as was the first ever live airing of 'Dead Skin', which gave way to matching solo spots for Klingenberg and Viljanen.

Promising just a two song encore, 'In Black And White' came first, then 'Don't Say A Word', the crowd mimicking Kakko's vertical pogoing. As an appreciation, they broke into the requested 'Vodka' (alcoholic rendition of 'Hava Nagila') and closed with 'Everything Fades To Gray'. Having seen the band in their homeland just two months prior, sort of disappointed 'Replica' couldn't make the trip, as well as oldies like 'Kingdom For A Heart', 'Wolf & Raven' or even 'San Sebastian'. Minor complaints and there's always next time.

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