Madrugada Live @ Παναθηναϊκό Στάδιο, Athens | 24.09.22
Λαγωνικό was at the Madrugada gig, held at Παναθηναϊκό Στάδιο. The band from Norway put on a one-of-a-kind show. On Saturday September 24th, the time finally came to enjoy their return to our country after 2019.
By Dimitris (Bari) Polyzois
The much-loved by the Greek audience Madrugada, appeared at Παναθηναϊκό Στάδιο!
This relationship has lasted over 2 decades, as many years as the band itself has been around, since Madrugada became beloved in Greece from their very first record, the evergreen Industrial Silence. A record which they also performed in its entirety on their last pass through our country, for the band's 20th anniversary.
The concert had built up huge expectations for those who'd already seen the band live, and choosing Παναθηναϊκό Στάδιο seemed ideal to fit the band's ever-growing audience.
And of course the Norwegians didn't disappoint us….
Pop-flavoured support
The evening kicked off with the appearance of Eurovision alumna Amanda Tenfjord. The young singer, sweet and expressive, filled the Stadium with pop sounds, while on one track we also got the participation of the Greek Evangelia, with whom Amanda has collaborated on the song «ΑΜΑN». Clearly the Greek-Norwegian singer was chosen for her ties to both countries, rather than for her musical style, which speaks to a different audience than the one gathered at Καλλιμάρμαρο. So, I can't add much else, since her setlist was too pop for my taste….
The start of an otherworldly ritual
Around 21.20, Madrugada Madrugada made their entrance to loud applause on the stage set up in the middle of the Stadium and kicked off their otherworldly ritual!
It started with tracks from the band's new release, Chimes At Midnight , which has already been embraced by fans and has added a few more great moments to the Madrugada Madrugadacatalogue. one of these is the opener, Nobody Loves You Like I Do, with Sivert Høyem Sivert Høyem blowing us away with his delivery right from the first hello!
His baritone voice, its seductive metallic edge and its unique vibrato give a singular magic to the Norwegian singer's performances, which made him stand out from the very first moment Madrugada appeared.
The rest of the show was just as stunning at Παναθηναϊκό Στάδιο! With songs from their whole discography, sometimes in powerful tones (on tracks like Higher, Salt and Blood Shot Adult Commitment) and sometimes in mesmerizing rhythms (with tracks like Electric, Majesty, Strange Colour Blue) they took on a journey the crowd that had come to live a one-of-a-kind night. All this while Sivert's voice speaks straight to the heart and soul, flooding with emotion whoever surrenders to its musical spells, moving and enchanting them. Unique!
Madrugada Madrugada wanted to promote their latest work, playing 5 tracks from this year's record. Still, the sheer number of songs they performed and the length of the concert, I don't think left anyone with complaints, and Chimes At Midnight Chimes At Midnight is a record worthy of their history.
My personal favourite moment, the simultaneously dark and dazzling Black Mambo from the Norwegians' second record, The Nightly Disease, which blows me away every single time, just like the first time I heard it. I picture Sivert singing "I lock you down with liquor and love" at the back of some dark, seedy underground bar full of smoke, and suddenly all eyes turning in puzzlement to the guy warning them, "Don’t let the children catch you”…
Encore, as we say, we don't want the night to ever end!
And once the first part of the concert wrapped up, and after a short break, the band came back for the encore — though you can hardly call it an encore, with 8 songs, new and old, that got the crowd going. Vocal, Honey Bee, Only When You’re Gone, The Kids Are On High Street sent the night soaring and made us feel fulfilled for everything we'd hoped to see from our beloved band. The night, though, wasn't magical only for us, since the band itself isn't used to playing in venues like this, with such a huge crowd, at least outside Norway. That's why Sivert repeatedly expressed his thanks and his amazement at what they were experiencing. A unique experience for them too!
In the encore we also had the participation of the choir Irida Vocal Ensemble which accompanied the band on 2 songs ( Stabat Mater and Honey Bee) as well as the participation of Norwegian singer Ane Brun with whom they performed the track Lift Me, the first time this happened outside Norway, as Sivert informed us.
The concert at Παναθηναϊκό Στάδιο wrapped up after about 2 hours and 10 minutes with the nostalgic track Valley Of Deception from the band's 2008 album of the same name, while the band left us with promises of a quick return to our country, something I had no doubt about whatsoever….
In conclusion
No point denying it, and with all due respect to the rest of the band's members, Sivert Høyem Sivert Høyem is the cornerstone of the band's whole edifice. Without his voice I don't know if we'd be talking about the same Madrugada Madrugada , or if they'd have had the musical journey they've had, even in certain corners of the planet, like our country.
The band, in any case, always delivers exceptionally live. Their shows will always be an opportunity to reminisce, to sing along, and to be enchanted!
Setlist:
- Nobody Loves You Like I Do
- Running From The Love Of Your Life
- Higher
- Hands Up – I Love You
- Electric
- What’s On Your Mind?
- Help Yourself To Me
- Call My Name
- Black Mambo
- Salt
- Blood Shot Adult Commitment
- Majesty
- Strange Colour Blue
Encore:
- Vocal
- Stabat Mater
- Honey Bee
- Lift Me (Feat. Ane Brun)
- Only When You’re Gone
- Look Away Lucifer
- The Kids Are On High Street
- Valley Of Deception
Photos & video by Dimitrios Mandridis
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