by:'Joshua Kreger'
Glenn Love and Interface opened up, both igniting energy in the crowd. Then came Mind.in.a.Box live, consisting of Stefan (Stev) Poiss (vocals, keyboard), Gerhard Höffler (drums), Adam Wehsely-Swiczinsky (guitar), and Roman Stift (bass). Markus Hadwiger, who writes the lyrics and is responsible for the progression of the storyline inherent to the band's music, was not active in the performance, but instead watched from the audience. The very fact that the band members chose to come to North America for their second live show set fears to rest that it might be years before they would be traveling to this side of the Atlantic. Dedicated fans traveled from the surrounding areas - many from the United States - to catch this increasingly popular group live on stage. For many of them, it was surely like being a part of history. Heather Slutter drove up from Pennsylvania with her boyfriend and a mutual friend to see the show. 'The lyrics were outstanding and they allowed me to understand a greater insight not only into the songwriter's mind, but also helped me to gain insight into similar experiences in my life,' she said when asked of what she thought of the performance. Rachel Feder, also from the United States, journeyed from Long Island, New York, saying of the music of Mind.in.a.Box, 'It is truly a work of art all its own - powerful and intense!'
The performance was energy-filled, driven by live instruments, which added an entirely new element to the music. For many, hearing these songs come to life on the stage was a unique experience, bringing to animation those tracks which, for thousands of people, were only ever heard in reproductions of the original studio recordings. The reaction of Mind.in.a.Box listeners to the news that the band has gone live has rippled through the community, with people involved in the scene from across the world now waiting in hopes that their hometown will be the next host to this innovative new sound.
After returning to Austria, the band took some time from its schedule to answer questions about the Montreal performance, and their future concert plans. Their responses shed light onto their future touring plans and hinted at the possibility of a return to North America.