14th of November is special date for me, but after this weekend I have another date I'll never forget. I was one of those lucky ones that we went to Gagarin 205 to watch ULVER performing on stage. The doors had opened from 19:30 and since I was really anxious for this performance (I can't say concert since it was much more than that) I was there at around 19:45. By the time I entered the venue, I got a bit disappointed. Only 1/3 of Gagarin205 was full. Fortunately, during the one hour and 45 minutes that we waited for this long time awaited moment, the club became full; but with the wrong people. Those living creatures that they wished they'd be even animals, were mumbling all the time, like they were in a coffee shop or a night club. If you are not in the mood for a performance like this one or you are unable to shut up for almost an hour do something else; go for a coffee or do something else! Don't spoil it for us too.
Anyway, it was around 21:30 when the lights went out and took me to another dimension. The light show was binding beautifully to the music and the videos were astonishing. The sound was very good but there were moments that it could have been better. Everybody gave their best during those 55 minutes that they were on stage. The band was a bit distant from us but I didn't expect anything different. Kristoffer is a great performer and he managed to put us in the mood of their music. They played, of course, songs from their non Black Metal past but that didn't disappoint us. We knew that that was the case. I can't remember the exact setlist. Believe me that was the last thing that I'd do at that moment. I was really touched while I was listening to Not Saved and Little Blue bird, I moved with the sounds of In The Red I loved Rock Massif and Like Music. It's such a pity that the trip only lasted for about an hour. While the rest of the musicians were leaving, Kristoffer took the microphone to thank us and he said that if we stayed for about 20 more minutes, he had a surprise for us. Only a few idiots left. Better for us.
I was talking with some friends of mine during those minutes and we were all thinking the same thing: Is there a possibility to listen something from their fist days?. From the time that I saw some Marshal cabins and heads on stage, I was sure that history was about to be written. Kristoffer came out again, followed by Ravn and Khal Drogo (from NOCTERNITY if I am correct) on guitars and Merkaal and Lethe (from ORDER OF THE EBON HAND) on bass and drums, respectively. And then we started listening to the first notes from I Troldskog Faren Vild. Most of us couldn't even believe what was going on. As Kristoffer said, they didn't even rehearse it once! They just went on stage and performed. Ok, maybe they lost a note or two, but come on! Those guys were playing a song from the first ULVER album, with Garm on vocals!
After that, the lights went on and we were still in ecstasy! A great performance from a huge bald like ULVER is. I really hope that they will perform live again and I'm going to be there to see them again.
PS: Sorry about the lack of photos, but since I didn't have a photo pass and the light show wasn't the one to take descent pictures. But there a video I found at youtube from that magic moment at the end.
