I have been to many gigs over the years.  But what I have experienced attending Charlotte Wessels Tales from the Six Feet Under gig is something I can’t compare to anything I have experienced before.

I don’t often travel abroad for the sole purpose of attending a gig, and when I do it’s normally with friends.

This was different in the sense I had never met anyone going in person before.  Our only regular contact had been through the Discord server linked to Charlotte’s patreon. Yet I knew this was a gig I could not miss. 

From the time I got to Utrecht, about a day before the gig, I got to met with people who have travelled all over the world to attend.  We all shared the pre-gig excitement as well as the excitement of meeting in real life for the first time.  This made the build up to the event itself even more exciting! How often can you say you know most of the people around you at a concert place?

I managed to get a nice spot, just a couple of rows away from the front.  Although TivoliVredenburg is designed in such a clever way you always feel you are close to the stage.

Marcela Bovio was fantastic opening the gig, her performance was full of emotion, especially one of the songs dealing with personal health.  Then it came time for the main act.

From the very beginning, Charlotte appearing on the centre stage playing clarinet to the Six Feet Under intro, it was clear the intention was  to create an atmosphere through visuals, staging and lighting, in which Tales of Six Feet Under tracks would be delivered.

The music swiftly switches to Human to Ruin.  One of my absolute favourites.  Charlotte’s impeccable delivery of the vocals as well as the addition of TImo, Otto, Sophia and Joey turn the song into a total metal anthem. 

The music swiftly switches to Superhuman, another one of my favourites. Each track comes to life in a completely different light with the full band, who are visibly pleased to be playing together again.  Charlotte pauses a few times during the gig and openly says she is savouring being on stage again.

As well as the impeccable performance of the songs, the addition of dancers to tracks like Afkicken, Venus Rises and Cry Little Sister creates such an unique mood that is difficult to put into words.  Suffice to say Charlotte is an artist that is opening a new frontier when it comes to music and visuals,

 an atmosphere I have never experienced in other metal concerts.  It is very clear Charlotte has taken care of every detail of this performance to make it truly special.  

I loved every minute of this concert and did not want it to end.  

Some of the most memorable moments were Afckiken performance. The combination of the track and the staging: the dancers, the visuals.

Another highlight is Cry Little Sister,  there was something about Charlotte singing her heart out combined with the melody and staging that makes this song a real emotional one.

 truly sings her heart out on that one.  

Also loved  The Final Road Trip, when Eliane Anemaat joins on the stage.  Impeccable performance, crazy high notes and fantastic chemistry of Eliane and Charlotte on stage.

And of course special mention to Fool’s Parade, which Charlotte performs alongside Alissa White-Gluz (who had already joined for the growls of Toxic).  Fools Parade was a total surprise for all attending.  It was great they managed to fit it in, specially considering how busy the setlist was for the occasion of the release show.

There are so many more special moments of that gig I could mention.  Have I already said I loved every minute of it?  Such a great night.  Made even more special by looking around and seeing all these masterpieces finally reunited!

But the weekend did not finish when the concert was over.  Next day we had the pleasure to join Charlotte  for a hangover hangout at Gys.  It was now Charlotte’s turn to get to meet some of the community  that had started off during the pandemic with the launch of her Patreon and it was obvious she was there to make the most of every minute going round all the tables and talking to all of us.

I came away from this concert on a different high.  Feeling we had all witnessed the birth, progression and fulfilment of a new phase in the life of an artist, marked by this very special concert.  I could not wait for more to come!