The energy comes alive when people congregate to witness music that everyone clearly enjoys. It is something that is truly magical and is impossible to put into words; it is simply a feeling, a part of your soul that ignites when in this type of setting. Avatar is one of those bands that the fanbase has such a genuine love for; you can feel the passion and happiness bleeding off of the people around you. It is well deserved, because not only is Avatar an incredibly talented band with some of the best songs, but they also put on one of the most memorable live performances. This is exactly what they did once again on November 12th, 2025, at The Revolution Concert House in Boise, Idaho.
Before Avatar took the stage, the band SpiritWorld graced us with its charismatic presence. These five guys, in their Western-style imagery and heavy thrash metal compositions, were a fun way to get the night going. SpiritWorld is out of Las Vegas, Nevada, and began in 2017. It includes members: Stu Folsom (vocals), Randy Moore (lead guitar), Matt Schrum (rhythm guitar), Nick Brundy (bass), and Preston Harper (drums). They have a really fun energy that is enjoyable to watch and get hooked on, with catchy riffs and great stage presence.
Alien Weaponry was the second band to take the stage, who I have been a fan of for many, many years, so I was beyond excited to catch them live again. This metal band out of New Zealand has lyrics consistently based on their Maori culture. They begin their sets with Henry de Jong (drums, backing vocals) taking the stage and chanting a Moari haka that is extremely moving and impactful. After Henry finishes, his brother Lewis de Jong (vocals and guitar), and friend Turanga Morgan-Edmunds (bass, backing vocals), take the stage and represent their culture most purely and genuinely. Their stage presence is powerful and incredibly enjoyable to experience. I highly encourage you all to catch an Alien Weaponry show at least once!
As the venue darkened, the back of the stage opened up, and in single file, the members of Avatar walked onto the stage, with Johannes Eckerstrom (vocals) leading the way with a lighted lantern. John Alfredsson (drums) drumset comes into view as a two-piece that conjoins together almost magically. The band immediately starts harmonizing, “Captain Goat” while a blue light and a fog sweep around them. It was a fantastic way to begin their set. The crowd increases its excitement as Avatar takes over the rest of the evening. One of my favorite moments of the night was when Jonas Jarlsby (guitar), Tim Ohrstrom (guitar, backing vocals), and Henrik Sandelin (bass, backing vocals) came together, with Eckerstrom playing the piano, to showcase a beautiful moment of musicianship and brotherhood while playing “Howling at the Waves”. I was also very excited to see them hammer out the heavy song, “Blod”, which is one of my favorites. They are a group of incredible musicians who not only are impressive to watch because of how talented they are, but are a real spectacle to visually experience. Always worth the time and effort to see!
PLEASE SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC!! These bands work hard to entertain us and give us a safe place to enjoy life. Make sure you are honoring them by showing them support.
Our incredible photographer Katarzyna Cepek was at the show taking breathtaking photos. Here they are below!
