Tarja Enchants New York City During Her North American “Living the Dream” Headlining Tour

Ryan Murray | Co-Owner | Chief Editor | Contributor | Photographer

r.m.music84@gmail.com

Saturday, June 17th saw Tarja’s incredibly triumphant return to New York City, this time in support of her “Living The Dream” North American Tour! Originally scheduled to take place at NYC’s Irving Plaza, the show saw a last minute venue change to Irving Plaza’s sister venue The Gramercy Theatre, which is where Tarja last performed in NY in support of her ACT II release show on September 9th, 2018.

This is a busy time for Tarja, but you wouldn’t know it, because, as always, she handles herself with grace. Having just come off of the international “Raw Tour” in support of her latest studio solo release “In The Raw” that was originally delayed due to Covid, Tarja finds herself now back in North America where fans are just aching to see her perform live again! This time however, instead of being a part of the “Raw Tour”, this run supports Tarja’s “Best Of: Living the Dream” release, which featured the new studio track “Eye of the Storm.” As if that’s not enough, Tarja’s long-standing side project, Outlanders, finally released in full on Friday, June 23rd. You can check it out HERE!

I last saw Tarja during her Act II release show here at Gramercy Theater in 2018, so I didn’t wanna pass up the opportunity to meet up with her again, so I decided to purchase the VIP upgrade, which included a Tarja lanyard w/ VIP laminate, a Tarja tote bag, a signed tour poster, a signed setlist and a Tarja postcard. We were met outside by Tarja’s Tour Manager who quickly and efficiently checked us in. They were a bit behind, but no one cared because a bunch of the Winter Storm fan club members were too busy catching up with each other, myself included. Once escorted in, we got to watch Tarja and the band during their sound check. While this typically lasts for over an hour, the venue was double booked and so we got about 45 minutes or so, but not a moment felt rushed! After the sound check, we were escorted downstairs for the meet and greet. Tarja and I had a nice three minute chat, where I was shocked because she remembered me right away. Tarja is probably one of the most genuine and kind artists I’ve ever met.

Opening up the show at The Gramercy Theatre was Lausanne, Switzerland’s nu-metal risers Chaoseum. I sadly hadn’t heard of this band before they were announced as the support band replacing Armoured Dawn after they were removed from the tour. This band puts on one heck of a show. Everything from their stage presence, very mature sound, beefy guitars, pounding drums and a deep, rattling bass backtrack (no one was playing bass that night), this band will have even the more shy concert goer ready to jump up and down. With a mix of a nu-metal/metalcore sound, the band is definitely along the style of bands such as Korn, Ill Niño, Static-X and others. I wasn’t sure what to expect of this band, and wasn’t sure how I’d like them live, but they completely blew me away musically. Keep an eye out on this band! I’m really excited to see where the future leads them!

Setlist:

Unreal

I, Sexy Zombie

Dance On My Grave

Smile Again

Until The End

My Wonderland

📸 – Ryan Murray Photography

The moment we had all waited for came exactly on time. Has the lights dimmed, and the gorgeous melody of “The Golden Chamber” intro fills the theatre with its beckoning call. Drummer Alex Holzwarth is the first on stage. As he takes his seat behind the kit, the melody continues. Then the room goes dark again, and the accordion intro of Tarja’s latest single “Eye of the Storm” starts with the rest of the band making their entrance with even louder screams filling the room. As Tarja takes the stage, the room utterly erupts in joy. From the moment she stepped on stage, her presence and powerful vocals captivated the entire audience.

The setlist was a perfect blend of her discography, and even included a Nightwish classic! Each song was flawlessly performed, showcasing Tarja’s incredible range and the emotional depth of her music. The band accompanying her, which was comprised of Alex Scholpp and Julian Barrett on guitar, the iconic Doug Wimbish on bass, Christian Kretschmar on keys, and Alex Holzwarth on drums, was tight and energetic, adding even more layering and intensity to the performance.

Tarja’s stage presence was enchanting. She effortlessly commanded the attention of the crowd, drawing us into her world with every note. Her interaction with the audience created a warm and engaging atmosphere, which if you’ve seen Tarja before, you’ll know that’s just who she is.

The visual production was stunning, with a dynamic light show that enhanced the mood of each song. The combination of the music, stage design, and Tarja’s ethereal presence made for a truly immersive experience.

One highlights of the concert was Tarja’s rendition of “Nemo”! As Christian played the first note, the crowd erupted with even more joy. Another standout moment was her encore, which included four amazingly powerful tracks. Songs like “Die Alive” and the closing song “Until My Last Breath” left the audience breathless with their intensity and power.

Overall, Tarja’s concert at the Gramercy Theatre was an unforgettable experience. Her joy in living her dream is contagious. Her talent, passion, and stage presence created a night filled with incredibly deep and moving music, as well as a sense of connection between her and the audience. Tarja’s concerts transcend the typical concert experience. They have the power to transport everyone in attendance into a deep journey of emotion, unity and strength. If you have the chance to see Tarja live, don’t miss it—it’s a concert experience like no other.

Setlist:

Eye of the Storm

Demons in You

Falling Awake

Diva

Naiad

Oasis / You And I (Tarja solo acoustic) Shadow Play

Enough

I Feel Immortal

Nemo (Nightwish cover)

I Walk Alone

Victim of Ritual