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| Johannesburg Eckerstrom of Avatar @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Avatar brought what I think was best described as “avant-garde” metal to The Fillmore to a packed and enthusiastic audience this past Friday night. The Swedish metal group – formed in 2001 by drummer John Alredsson and guitarist Jonas Jarlsby and joined a year later by dynamic lead vocalist Johannesburg Eckerstrom – does not just perform a concert. This was a spectacle combining hard metal, carnival and circus elements and perhaps a bit of vaudeville.
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| John Alredsson of Avatar @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Taking the stage with “Dance Devil Dance” the title song off their 2023 album of the same name, Alredsson took to his drum kit with a bright spotlight and stood delivering thundering strikes in a robot-like motion as curtains slowly twisted to reveal each additional band member in individual pods. Eckerstrom emerged from his pod like a man possessed – delivering unrivaled energy and theater. Meanwhile, Jarlsby, fellow guitarist Tim Ohrstrom and bassist Henrik Sandelin erupted with their massive hair twirling in a move they would execute throughout the night. Avatar could easily set the record for widest circumference of hair travel in a concert.
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| Avatar @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
But it was not just about the hair. Eckerstrom was an absolute force all night. It’s hard to describe the breadth of his performance – imagine if you combined Marilyn Manson, early Alice Cooper, The Joker and a stand-up comedian and gave them excellent vocal range from the lowest groan to the highest notes. He’s one of a kind and incredibly exhilarating to watch live. Whether he was drinking out of his gasoline can, going to the balcony to make balloon animals and play trombone or playing an achingly powerful, yet tender “Tower” alone at the piano, it was impossible to take your eyes off him for more than a brief moment.
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| Johannesburg Eckerstrom of Avatar @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“Dance Devil Dance” led into 2016’s “The Eagle Has Landed” and then back into the new album with “Valley of Disease" when Eckerstrom donned a dark and ominous cape. 'We want to see the best of you San Francisco at your worst on this one' Eckerstrom told the crowd before the band launched into “Chimp Mosh Pit” with a mosh pit taking the center of The Fillmore floor. 'Oh this poor historic building,' Eckerstrom said tongue firmly in cheek 'We are going to tear this whole fucking thing down tonight.' While the crowd was incredibly entertained and witness to a rock n roll explosion, the building remained unharmed.
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| Johannesburg Eckerstrom of Avatar @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
After powerful soloing by Jarlsby and Ohrstrom and a spectacular lighting and laser ending to “Do You Feel in Control?” Eckerstrom emerged from a gift box at center stage with balloons and embarked on a mime-like performance with the balloons before leading the band in the night’s perhaps most brutal song “Black Waltz”. Later, he took the piano to deliver “Tower” the night’s only ballad – delivering an ultra-tedner song with a thundering sub-bass that shook the theater.
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| Avatar @ the Fillmore (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Avatar finished the main set with all the members except Jarlsby, forming reception lines for Jarslsby to emerge with a royal outfit and crown to deliver “A Statue of a King” - quite ironic considering the coronation ceremony for King Charles in England just a few hours later. They returned for a three song encore with Eckerstrom thanking the crowd for demonstrating 'the most important thing you can do and giving a shit.' They finished with “Hail the Apocalypse” before taking a well-deserved bow.
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