(no subject)

[violachic]

So this is the special All-Night-Insomnia-I-Have-To-Be-Up-For-Church-Choir-In-Three-Hours Edition of Winter Stircrazy DefCon 1 YouTubing. Just in case you were wondering what excuse I was going to give.


Anyway.


A few days ago I posted this video of the Progressive Metal band, Apocalyptica

and I haven't been able to stop watching it. I'm absolutely and completely and totally fascinated.

I'd never heard of "progressive metal" before. I've never been a huge metal fan, to begin with. I mean, I don't hate it, and I certainly don't think its crap or anything. I just haven't gravitated towards it. Although to be honest, "Enter Sandman" has always kind of given me the creeps.

Turns out, what I needed to be hooked in, was cellos.

I remember noting from the get-go on this video that I was absolutely floored by the amazing technique these guys have, so I was not surprised to find that they are all graduates of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland.

The other thing that impressed me about them is that they are using acoustic instruments with pick-ups, not elecric instruments. You can't get that kind of sound out of electric instruments. I can't see their bows closely enough to tell what they're using, but it must be a carbon fiber bow, like the Coda Bows, or something similar- a regular wooden bow would never hold up under what they do I'm totally wrong. According to Wikipedia articles about each member, they use amazing, old instruments and bows. Man, if I tried to play like that I'd snap by bow in two in about twelve seconds. Color me even more impressed!

Anyway. I really could listen to them forever. I love watching them.

In fact, I love watching them so much, here's another video*:

*don't worry, kids, spring is coming!

Comments

[rosindust.livejournal.com]

Apocolyptica was a great high school experience, since everyone was into Metallica and couldn't reconcile "hair cello" metal.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I bet :-) I don't think Apocalyptica was something that was really known at my high school. It was pretty much Nine Inch Nails. I'm glad to have discovered them now, though, they're really fun.

[cinder.livejournal.com]

Very cool... I must admit, they're a little disarming to watch since I'm mostly used to non-progressive metal. The musician in me goes, "I can't think of any way to head-bang with a flute" (which was my instrument). Cellos are awesome!

[grayleo.livejournal.com]

It's probably dangerous to tell you this, but they will be appearing at the house of blues in chicago on april 27th - tickets go on sale this weekend :)

just consider me your one-stop info shop for all things "prog metal" :)

[violachic.livejournal.com]

You know, as awesome as that would be, I'm not sure I'm quite up for that yet. How about I borrow some albums first, get fully indoctrinated? :-) Maybe some warmup concerts first or something- I've never been to a concert in somewhere larger than the Park West (Indigo Girls both times), except for the Counting Crows at the Aragon, and I hated that venue with a passion. I might be traumatized by a Prog Metal concert at the House of Blues!

[tectle.livejournal.com]

I do believe this is when I sneak in and quietly mention that they'll be at the House of Blues come Sunday night.

Just your sadistic neighborhood turtle...

[violachic.livejournal.com]

*sigh* yes. *pokes turtle with a stick*

[tectle.livejournal.com]

Can't afford it either? What really burns My shell is that the night before Margaret Cho is in town and I can't afford her either.

[violachic.livejournal.com]

Nope. Although, to be honest, if I had that kind of money to spend on an event I'd probably spend it on seeing Eddie Izzard in May than this. But someday, maybe.