Omnium Gatherum Lights The Way to Skyway Studio B
Sleepy Sundays deserve to have a bit of metal injected into them, good thing Omnium Gatherum would be filling that prescription at Skyway. And of all places, Skyway Studio B! An intimate melodic show was ahead.
Wasn’t my first time at Skyway Theatre, but was my maiden voyage with Studio B. They have a nice selection of different sized performance areas to host groups. Skyway Theatre being the largest and main concert stage, have seen many shows there. Very solid viewing areas and vibes. Great space for metal shows, which is my typical feast. Barfly is their sultry lounge space, followed by The Loft on the fourth floor and self-described “gothic-centric” Studio B.
Now, I don’t want to color this review with a sour note, but it is needed to get out there. After checking many dozen times for the opening act, including last week and a few hours before leaving for the show, doors were at 7 and music at 8. It did feel a touch odd especially since it was a Sunday night show, but it’s metal so maybe the bands just wanted a later start post dinner. Who knows, but I would be going by what was on the website and socials. Arriving at 7:30pm with what was supposed to be ample time before Hinayana would be on, was puzzled by the lack of people waiting by the doors. Usually there will be a decent portion of patrons pouring in a little before the opener, but there were only a few lonely souls getting their bags checked. Seeing the sign on the doors “Doors At 6. Music At 7.” My heart sank. Was really looking forward to seeing all three bands. I opened my phone, of course their Instagram had 6pm now as the door open time. Even more confusing when I opened the browser on my phone and the times were what I had still (7 doors, 8 show.) Hate when hiccups like that happen. I was not the only frustrated fan, few other people throughout the floor were chatting about it. Didn’t take my complaints to the poor bartender who had nothing to do with it, got my Surly Furious Tall Boy for $11 and waited patiently for the two bands I would be able to see.
Studio B is a mood all its own. The custom looming chandeliers dot the ceiling, giving it a haunted club from yesteryear atmosphere. Big black pleather couches for you to hang out on, a few tables so you can set your drink down if you need to. Was really digging it. Studio B is a smaller space, but there was a good amount of folks to make it seem a tad more bustling before Aether Realm came on.
Though they have been a band since only 2010, Aether Realm put on a show as if they had been around for much longer. And in a good way. It felt as if I had been transported to a show decades before. Where you could feel the music. Vincent Jones (their vocalist and bassist) demands your passion and your humor. Bringing out their honorary plushie mascot Toast before starting their set, he went back to chill out on their bus. Jones is such an electric frontman, engaging the small but mighty crowd with ease between songs. He invited us all to welcome little Dennis to his first metal show. Dennis’ parent messaged Aether Realm on Instagram to let them know it would be his first metal concert. Having never experienced anything like this, knew we as a group of music lovers would make sure it was a stellar one. Jones announced that we should start him off with an easy shape, and do a circle pit. They jest about doing different orientations of pits, good to start the kid off with a classic.
Their sound was perfect. Shout out to the talented technicians for not cutting any corners and presenting the audience with top notch quality. It can be quite annoying, and seem as if you are wrestling with a finicky demon when it comes to audio. The band even shouted out their tech during the set, I was not the only one who noticed. Guitarist OG member Heinrich Yoshio and Chris Jones (a new add as of this year) were magical to watch together. No band member stepped on any toes, drummer Tyler Grisham was hard to see but not to hear. Melting into the set, I caught myself closing my eyes at times just to feel the songs. I now understand why bands book here. Fantastic.
When spying that Omnium Gatherum would be performing at a club venue, knew it would be a great show. Did NOT expect it to be my one of my favorite performances of the year. Wow, was I so so wrong. They brought arena act energy to small but mighty Studio B. Although there was a smaller turnout the band played as if it were a packed house, jumping right into their opener “The Last Hero”. The set was heavy with songs off the new album, but sprinkled in were familiar tunes like “Frontiers” “The Unknowing” and “Gods Go First”.
Omnium singer Jukka Pelkonen nor the other band members couldn’t hide their smiles or enthusiasm, as the souls who ventured into Studio B that night were as ecstatic and boisterous as any crowd after each song ended. After one song in particular Jukka claimed to the audience, “Fucking A!” There were also several group headbang sessions where the whole crowd was in sync with each other during the many grooves Omnium Gatherum provide. After it seemed like they had just started playing, the bands encore period was upon us. The ethereal ambience of “Luoto” began playing over the speakers. The band returned to the stage to finish the song off themselves before diving into “New Dynamic” and a throwback to 2011’s album New World Shadows by wrapping up the evening with the title track.
“Road Closed Ahead” was played over the speakers as the band gathered together to take their highly earned bow at the end of the show. While making our way to the merch tables, saw that Omnium Gatherum’s bassist Mikko Kivistö was hanging out. Had to say thank you and tell him how amazing the show was. Exchanging a few pleasantries with the talented Finnish musician, he commented on how they love to entertain at all levels of venue. They just played a show that summer at a metal festival for 35,000 and can vouch they do not drop the reigns at more intimate sets.
“We bring the same show anywhere we go.” Hell yes you do.
