When I started The Versatile Virgo many moons ago, I initially planned for live concert coverage to be a major part of this website. But of course, with the unexpected shifts we’ve had to adjust to in the 2020’s, those plans had been postponed as show cancellations and reschedule dates were continously announced. Thankfully though, the 2022 concert season is looking VERY bright. And for me, things kicked off with Obscura live at Preserving Underground this past weekend.
Located in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, Preserving Underground may look like a church from the outside. But on the inside, it fulfills a headbanger’s needs with a record shop up top, and a venue underneath. The venue itself is actually quite a ways away from me. But when I saw there was an Obscura live show coming up, I knew it was worth the adventure.
Obscura Live In Concert – The Openers
Before Obscura was set to take the stage as the headliner, there were three opening acts.
Pittsburgh’s Victims of Contagion started things off with a high energy performance. Not only was vocalist Chris Edison moving all over the stage, but he also made it a point to walk into the crowd. Thus, making their performance even more engaging. This was also the band’s first performance in 2 years!
Photo: Courtnee the Virgo
The progressive heavy metal band Interloper followed that, giving a performance so good, we had to grab their vinyl for our collection. And just before Obscura was set to hit the stage, Vale of Pnath gave us a brutally heavy headbanging experience. Both Vale of Pnath and Victims of Contagion were absent bass players for Saturday night’s performance. But that didn’t stop them from bringing the heaviness!
The Obscura Live Experience
This was my first time seeing Obscura live, and it was also my husband’s first introduction to them period. Neither of us have been able to stop talking about Obscura since. To say their set blew me away, is an understatement.
Photo: Courtnee the Virgo
While the show took place in a former church basement, Obscura sure had a way of making it feel like a stadium event. Throughout their set, Obscura gave a larger than life performance. Yet, they quite literally preserved that underground feeling of the fan to band experience where you’re not just AT Obscura’s concert, you’re IN it.
Fans had definitely started to inch closer and closer to the stage as Obscura played. Eventually, there was only maybe a foot between the band playing and us concert goers in the front row. But Obscura urged fans to come even closer, in a “punk rock” way as frontman Steffen Kummerer said on stage. And with no barricade, fans were now basically maybe an inch or so from these musical powerhouses. You might think as the performer that this would be kind of nerve wracking- to have an excited crowd essentially in your personal space. But that didn’t deter Obscura. In fact, they seemed to embrace it. The closer fans got, the more captivated and entranced they became. And that seemed to motivate the band to go even harder, almost as if the fans and Obscura were directly playing off of each other.
Photo: Courtnee the Virgo
But one of the coolest things about Obscura’s live performance was watching the fun they seemed to be having on stage, especially frontman Steffen Kummerer. Even through his deepest growls, an ear to ear smile would wash over him throughout the performance that gave off an “I’m just happy to be here with you” vibe. That feeling of togetherness and appreciation makes Obscura absolutely magnetic to watch on stage.
Photo: Courtnee the Virgo
As for the setlist, Obscura went with a mix of new and old songs dating back to some of Obscura’s earliest work. They even went as far to ask fans what they wanted to hear for the last song. The room gave three different answers: New, Old, and Both. So Obscura obliged, giving us fans a 3 part finale starting with “When Stars Collide” from their 2021 release, before closing the show with two older tracks, and paying homage to Death’s Chuck Schuldiner.
Photo: Courtnee the Virgo
Where To See Obscura’s 2022 “A Valediction” Tour
This tour has taken Obscura through some parts of North America already, but there’s still more to come! Obscura will also be touring throughout Europe and the UK this fall. Check out all of their upcoming tour dates here on their website.
Concert Photo Gallery
Check out the full gallery with photos from the show below! All photos are taken by me, Courtnee the Virgo!
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