I came to the venue an hour early, to find what seemed like a hundred people already waiting in the queue. Perhaps I could have left a bit later and still get the wonderful place in the third row just opposite Tarja, but I just couldn't stay home any longer.
Obviously I had to defend my third-row place a little bit afterwards, especially during the first support. They weren't worth watching much, though, so I could spare some time for that. Calling themselves Cry Excess, they played something that sounded like dance version of pop-punk. Simple instrumental parts, some mediocre screaming/singing. One or two decent songs, then it all turned disco. No wonder they had to reach for help of a scantily clad female dancer in the middle of the stage.
According to my hasty youtube research, the second band would play industrial /progressive metal with vocals that didn't fit the style. Hollow Haze surprised me in a very positive way…