The Pageant in St. Louis hosted the St. Louis date of HIM’s North American tour, with Dommin, Drive A and We Are The Fallen in support.
Drive A opened with jeers from the crowd and their performance brought mixed reviews, leaving the majority I spoke with unimpressed.
Dommin (Front man Kristofer Dommin, bassist Billy James, keyboardist Konstantine
drummer Cameron Morris) gave an energetic, passionate performance with their “Dark Holiday” among the crowd’s favorites.
We Are The Fallen were next with American Idol contestant Carly Smithson, former Evanescense members Ben Moody and John LeCompt, drummer Rock Gray and bassist Mary O’Brien. Unfortunately, Smithson’s vocals were overshadowed by the band and were difficult to hear. Comparisons of We Are The Fallen are inescapable and while the sound is indeed similar, We Are The Fallen held their own and the crowd reacted well to their set.
HIM (vocalist Ville Valo, bassist Mige Amour, guitarist Linde Lindstrom, keyboardist Emerson Burton and drummer Gas Lipstick) thrilled fans with a mixture of material starting with their latest release “Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice.”
Front man Ville Valo entertained the crowd with witty banter and clever stories. The band as a whole seemed to enjoy the show as much as the fans. At one point, a fan threw his prosthetic leg onto the stage for the band to sign. Each band member signed the limb as the crowd cheered and roared with laughter.
HIM’s performance was a true testament to their excellent musicianship, showmanship and true professionalism. Sound and guitar issues were handled with humor and patience showing true professionalism.
As a long time, dedicated HIM fan, I’ve seen them several times live and they have yet to disappoint, but this show was the best I’ve seen from them. As another fan stated after the show, “They were truly connected with the audience and totally present.”
HIM’s Set List:
Like St. Valentine
Right Here In My Arms
Wings of a Butterfly
Heartkiller
Kiss of Dawn
Join Me
Wicked Game
Buried Alive By Love
Disarm Me With Your Loneliness
Killing Loneliness
Poison Girl
Katherine Wheel
Funeral of Hearts
Encore
Scared to Death
When Love and Death Embrace
For more information about and tour dates visit www.heartagram.com