Scandinavian bands are often heavy on the double-bass drums, jagged guitar barrages, and growling vocals, but those who care to seek will surely find there’s a more progressive side to those who dwell with the Northern Lights. Finland’s Sonata Arctica is one band that breaks free from the hard-core template, and on Sunday, September 16th, the quintet came to Hollywood’s Key Club for an evening of prog-rock that included Echofreeze, Kings Field, Resistance, and The Agonist.
Following sets from the four supporting acts, a kind of Middle-Eastern-sounding melody played over the loudspeakers, while a chant began from the crowd: “Key-tar! Key-tar!” – which was in reference to the shoulder-strapped keyboard instrument played by Sonata Arctica’s Henrik Klingenberg, who soon strode on stage and nodded to the fans. The audience roared while Henrik tickled the keys dramatically, and on came his bandmates: guitarist Elias Vilnanen, bassist Marko Paasikoski, drummer Tommy Portimo, and singer Tony Kakko, bursting into the opening song, “In Black and White,” with many in the crowd singing right along. There was plenty more audience participation to come, including “whoas” and “heys” during “Victoria’s Secret.”
Sonata Arctica’s members proved to be affable showmen, smiling with pleasure to be playing to such a welcoming Hollywood crowd, through a hefty set list that included “Broken,” “Tallulah,” and “Full Moon,” to name just a few favorites. A surprise sing-along came during the intro for “My Land,” when Tony goaded the crowd into singing “Old MacDonald,” insisting that if folks in Texas and Arizona would go along with it, then surely this L.A. crowd shouldn’t be lightweights about it. Sure enough, Tony soon had the house mooing, quacking, and oinking, emphasizing every single “E-I-E-I-O!” Next, a martial beat and a steady build led into “Don’t Say A Word,” a powerful piece that followed by “The Cage,” which featured the whole band singing. Finally, in true Scandinavian tradition, it was time for a chaser of “Vodka,” with everyone grinning and the whole house cheering. Sonata Arctica may have come from the land of ice and snow, but they surely brought some progressive sunshine with them to the Key Club this night.
