When I return Angel Dust is finishing up. It is a warm May evening. The music can be clearly heard from outside the building so I stay outside, listening to the music, and listening to the comments by the fans outside. There is a large group outside talking about Opeth. They have come only for Opeth's 50 minutes of music and have no interest in hearing the other groups. Talk jumps back and forth about the various albums - there are five Opeth albums now - and particulars about different songs. These are FANS - avid, and impatiently awaiting the start of Opeth's music.

When Angel Dust finishes, there is a flood of people coming out the door, and the Opeth fans gather to enter. I am one of the last to go in, and I work my way around to the side of the low stage where I can sit on the edge, write my notes, and take some pictures. It is very hot inside. People are packed tightly against each other with standing room only. There are a few stools along the bar in back, and they are all preempted by the radio station that is advertising the Opeth/Nevermore concert.

Long before the sound check is over the fans are chanting Opeth, Opeth. When the door in the back opens, and they come in - Martin Lopez to the drums, Martin Mendez to the far side of the stage where he picks up his bass guitar, lead singer Michael Akerfeldt to the center stage, and Peter Lindgren on the near side - the noise becomes a sustained roar of delight.

Akerfeldt nods and smiles, Lopez rattles his drums, Mendez and Lindgren play a few notes on their guitars. The crowd quiets and Akerfeldt introduces their first song very simply: White Cluster (from Still Life.) The first notes are drowned out by a roar of approval from the crowd. There is a little bit of room in the front row of the crowd. Several of those standing there take advantage of the space to do head banging. Farther back, the listeners have to be content with slightly moving their heads, or tapping their toes. There just isn't room for anything else. Peter Lindgren through out the program is doing his own head banging. His fingers fly over the guitar never missing a note. Lopez is hidden by the drums and by the tall rack of audio equipment. I only get a glimpse of him now and then.

After the applause and shouting at the end of White Cluster the fans begin calling out their favorite titles. Foremost among them is Leper Affinity from the new album - Blackwater Park. Akerfeldt smiles, but puts his finger to his lips and whispers Shhhh. The crowd laughs, but quiets. He expresses his delight at being here in the Mason Jar; thanks all for coming to hear them; thanks the guys that drove them to the hotel where they could enjoy that marvelous swimming pool and says, "This next song is for you guys who drove us. I don't remember your names - you know who you are. This is for you." But instead of playing Leper Affinity, they play Drapery Falls (also from Blackwater Park).

There is no room on the stage for much display, but Mendez moves from center front, within reach of the fans, to his place by the far mike. Between songs they pick up the bottles of water, drink a bit, and splash some on their faces. It is HOT in there. Very few lights are on - a couple red lights, and a blue one, but it's springtime in Arizona. Outdoor temperatures are in the 90s even at this hour of the night, and The Mason Jar is so packed that the air conditioning can do little to keep it cool.

The next song was from one of their older albums, unknown to me, and Akerfeldt did not introduce it by name. Some of the fans recognized it, though. Akerfeldt said he'd just let the drums start it and as Lopez began playing there was an intake of breath, a whisper of Yes, from some of the fans. It might have been Forest of October from their first album, Orchid, but I'm not sure.

Akerfeldt introduced their 4th song by saying, "Here's an odd little piece from the My Arms Your Hearse album. We don't always play it, but I think you'll like it." It was new to me. I only knew the songs from Still Life and Blackwater Park. I came to the concert that night intending to buy another of their albums, but not sure which one. This song settled that matter, and I left with My Arms Your Hearse. The song is titled Credence. Lopez begins this one with taps to the cymbals - light little taps like rain falling. The guitar notes fall in and around the cymbal. Everyone is still and quiet during this piece. It is simple and melancholy. But the applause at the end of it was some of the loudest of the night.

Their final piece was again from Blackwater Park. The fans finally got their wish as Leper Affinity was played. The energy was almost visible as band and crowd interacted. The glow on Akerfeldt's face as he sang said, "This is what makes it all worthwhile. This is what it's for." Lindgren's face was mostly hidden by his long hair as he whipped it back and forth, but his fingers flew faster than his hair. I couldn't see much of Mendez through this piece because he stayed directly to Akerfeldt's right but the music poured from his bass in waves. I could glimpse Lopez now and then as he leaned forward to reach drums. His face too, said, "This is why we play."

There was a moan of disappointment when the guys put down their instruments and waved good-bye. None of us were ready for the music to be over, but it was time to turn the stage over to Nevermore.

One thing in particular impressed me about Opeth's performance. They turned the volume down on all the speakers. It was still loud, could still be heard in every corner of the club, but it was never distorted. This was in direct contrast to God Forbid who turned everything up so much that every note was distorted and unpleasant.

I was very surprised when so many people left after hearing Opeth, and didn't stay for Nevermore. Nevermore was the headlining group, but Opeth drew the most fans. I would like to see Opeth on a big stage. I have a feeling they could put on a great show. But in a small, intimate setting like the Mason Jar the music becomes the all-important thing, and music is what Opeth is all about.