Get ready for a big text post. Read it if you like me or the band or whatever, I swear there's pictures! :p
So, as many of you may know, I'm just a boy, recently turned 18, from Belo Horizonte. Belo Horizonte, as some of you may know, is Brazil's third biggest capital. However, we don't get symphonic metal concerts here, or anything that's slightly different.
The two biggest capitals here are São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and they get the concerts. So, when Diablo Swing Orchestra announced they were coming here, it was, naturally, no surprise to see it would only happen in São Paulo. Not that I think it's their fault, it's not - but I always knew the producers there were willing to get money, while the producers here just want to make money out of the masses and not the "minorities".
Back at the days when their concert was announced, I was slightly obsessed by their music. I just couldn't listen to anything else. I didn't work then, and as soon as I arrived from college, I would start dancing and singing while listening to their music.
What would I do? Should I miss the concert? Oh, how could I? I knew I would regret it forever (just as I regret missing Tarja's last concerts), so it wasn't a possibility. But I'm 18 and, as my parents aren't rich, I had to find a way to pay for my travel myself.
That's when I got THREE JOBS.
So I could afford my plane tickets and my ticket for the concert. Everything was really beautiful 'till the big day finally came.
It was actually this tuesday. I woke up at 4h, so my father could give me a ride to the place where I would catch a bus to the airport (thankyou, Dad! That's one of the reasons why I love you). I got to the airport just in time to catch my flight at 7h, and once I had never flied, it was actually nice to see my city and everything to São Paulo from above during one hour.
I arrived there around 8h20m, and my legs were shaking. My heart was beating like a drum. I was in a different city, a different state, where I knew no one and nothing. For me to get lost would be easy. Obviously I could get a cab and return to the airport just whenever, but I wasn't willing to do so. I wanted my concert. Only the gods know what I lived to get there :p
To my surprise, I found out there was a bus leaving the airport in a few minutes that would take me to the venue. As much as it was expensive, I was happy for the safety of it. And I won't lie, it was comfortable. But I still think 35 reais (about 18 or 19 dollars) is too much for a bus.
However, at 9h30m I left the airport and entered São Paulo, watching as everything passed by the windows. I could feel my eyes getting wider and wider - my God, that's a big city. "Great Goddess, if I get lost here, I'll have to spent all my money to go back home!"
But one hour later I was in front of Inferno Club, a sympathetic small place where I knew I would see one of my favorite bands ever. I smiled at the sight of two boys who were already there.
For my surprise, one of them was Thiago, someone I met back in 2008, while we were in the line for Tarja's signing session here in Belo Horizonte. So I had someone to talk to. He introduced me to William, his friend, and we stood there waiting. It was 10h30m, and there were only 8h30m left for the opening of the gates XD
For my surprise, the hotel the guys were in was really close. Like, beside the venue. And we saw, few minutes after my arrival, a really tall guy sitting outside and smoking. It turned out to be Pontus.
He was staring at us and we were staring at him. He then stood up and got inside the hotel, and all I could think was: "Oh, shit. Now he thinks we are creeps and no one will leave the hotel 'till the time of the concert."
I'm glad I was wrong.
Few minutes later, he came down again. And this time, he had Johannes with him. Johannes is one of my favorite members of DSO: he plays the cello, which is my favorite instrument ever, and he is a baritone just like me, and I love his voice (althought I don't like mine). They passed us by saying "hello!" and went on with whatever they were doing. I froze, as well as Thiago and William. We could but shyly say "hi" and start laughing nervously.
I know no one is still reading but I have to go on :p
They went back to the hotel through a different way and we crossed the street to stay at the shadow - as many of you probably know, Brazilian sun is searing! So we stood there. A friend of mine who were there in São Paulo for the concert, but with other friends - his name is André Bassi - called and asked if I had lunch. Once I said I didn't, he told me he would take me something.
This is why I love my friends. Bassi, if you ever read this, thankyou so very much for saving my life!
Before he could arrive with my hamburguer, fries and soda, all the guys came down. Then, a few more people arrived. And it was then I had the pleasure to know them!
They were so sympathetic and nice and gentle and kind and I can't think of more words to define them. While a lot of people were talking to the guys, Annlouice, who is one of the best classically trained sopranos in metal, was a little aside, looking as shy as I was feeling. So I couldn't help but go to her and ask:
"Would you mind if I hug you?"
Then she looked at me with the most beautiful smile and opened her arms like a little child, saying:
"Awn, no!"
This is the result. Gotta love her. Thankyou William, for the photograph!
So, right when I was about to ask the guys for a group picture with the band, the producer urged them to go have lunch. So they were going away and I had my hands shaking, but my heart was as light as a little bird. I had met them, and they were nice to me. If I knew I was about to die at that moment, I would still die with a smile in my face.
I had lunch (thankyou again, Bassi!), and the hours went by. So I had the pleasure of receiving a friend of mine there, her name is Bruna. She is my long lost Twin or something, for we are equals in everything concerning our minds. Except in music, but whatever. This is my picture with her:
However, we tried to hang out a little bit. She went to eat something and I was with her, so I missed the exact moment when the guys returned and went to the bar with their fans. Whatever. I know I missed it, but I spent some quality time with my twin :p
We went back to the venue in time to see Johannes taking Annlouice to the bar, but once we didn't know what was happening, I just stood there wondering where had EVERYONE gone, worried someone might arrive and try to take our awesome places in the line :p
More hours went by and my Twin went to her college (did I already mention I missed classes and work to be there? For I did!), and I crossed the street again to wait for the concert. The doors were opened, they washed the venue again, and all of us stood there, talking. The band went to their sound test and eventually, Johannes came out to talk to us. I was really close to him, my legs shaking while I tried my best not to act like a crazy fangirl.
He went back inside and, a little later, the guys went to the hotel. We were allowed inside the venue (not without arguing the security a little bit, mainly Thiago, who would eventually get bitchslapped by the woman there) and I was in the first row, right in front of the cello in that small stage. But my heart was beating like a drum and I could hardly think.
It was the best concert of my life, when the guys came and took over the stage. They have a great energy and the most perfect chemistry. Annlouice's voice is powerful and beautiful, Johannes is great at singing and playing the cello, Daniel and Pontus play the guitar very well (and Daniel sings greatly, too), Anders is a fucking bassist, Martin and Daniel were kicking asses in their instruments whose name I never remember in English, Johan was great at the drums...
I couldn't stop dancing, screaming and singing. I was as sweaty as they all were, while jumping around. My life was perfect when they worn the same little horns we were wearing. These are the two pictures I like the most, so far (none taken by me, so, thankyou, Renan!):
But everything that's good comes to an end, and so did that concert, unfortunately. But at the exit, after I bought my T-Shirt, we stood outside waiting. And when the guys came, I got all the autographs and pictures with everyone I still didn't have. Ana Marília took all the pictures. Please, pretend you can't see how awful I look. Remember I was jumping and sweating for the last two hours, having no sleep and without proper feeding:
Pontus
Daniel Hakansson
Daniel Hedin
Well, after this picture, my memory card was full and I absolutely had no time to reach for another (or that's what I thought), so Ana Marília, always a gentle girl, used her mobile to take the following pictures. Not so good quality, but still... pictures with my idols.
Johannes (I will try to make this picture clearer later. After all, he is my second favorite member!)
Martin
Anders. He was outside talking to us for nearly half an hour before having to go back inside the venue to carry their things. Shortly after they went there, I had to catch the last bus going to Tietê or I would have to offer my body as payment to the taxi driver.
I have a picture with Johan too, but it's too dark :c
However, in Tietê I got a bus to the airport, where I spent a few hours before my flight. I enjoyed the opportunity to sleep a little bit, for I was almost crashing down. I woke up one hour before my flight to make my check-in, all thanks to my phone, who never lets me down :p But I had a nasty pain in my neck due to the position I spent my sleeping hours.
So I slept all through the flight that took me back to my homeland. Coming back home was easy, then - leaving the airport in the bus to the center, from the center to my home. But I brought with me great memories, and pictures, and videos (that's why my memory card was so full :p). And a big yearning for their return.
Don't be fooled not even for one second: as soon as they announce their return, I'll be doing everything again. I'll keep on working and raising money for it. And if Tarja or Níobeth or Therion come - let's forget Therion will be here next tuesday because it was impossible for me to pay both concerts - again, I'll be there.
So these are my memories of the show. No one read it, I bet, but still. Now I have them written down and I'll never forget :p
