Be Here, Now

The date: 28.5.2005
The place: Kouvola, Rytmikatti
The album: Signs of Life 
 
The night started with promising signs.Me, LDG and Anya heard pieces of the soundcheck and it sounded amazing! We actually heard Don't mess with me three times during the evening, twice during the soundcheck and once in the actual gig. During the soundcheck we danced,laughed and enthused like a bunch of teenagers, behind the bars that blocked the way to the downstairs. But it was all because of the music! (or the hormones *grin*) When Mark sang a piece of a song that sounded irish, I can honestly say that it knocked my socks off. It would be so fine if Poets would play some irish songs sometimes, like during the St. Patrics day next year ;) And it was really nice that Mark and Ollie waved at us and talked to us a little too.

When the iron bars were finally opened, it was almost a two hours wait for our fave band, and there weren't even a supporting act to keep us warm. But luckily there were an exellent dj who played Manboy, Live, Velcra and other great bands. So those hours went by pretty quicly, thanks to also LDG and Anya!

When the gig started we were in the front as usual. Mark climbed up to the railing more than once, shook hands, made the audience sang along and jumped all around the stage. But it was a strange gig for me.
I was in the moment, but I wasn't in the feeling at all times. There were moments when I felt disconnected somehow. I don't know, was it the heat (sweat was running on the stage and off the stage ), the audience pulling and pushing, the railing (my arms are still sore for the hanging) or the camera (when Im shooting, I don't have time to concentrate on everything that goes on). Perhaps all of those.

But those moments passed and I was in the feeling again. This time around I focused on Ollies solos and watched closely the way his fingers danced on the guitar. He has beautiful hands. Mark also was giving a lot of attention to Olli; he rubbed his back, held hand on his shoulder while singing someone special,
mimicing his solos etc. It was sweet *smiles* And they played Sleep.Huh, it was the first time that I heard that song live and it sent shivers up to my spine, gave me goosebumbs and made me somehow sad.

When the gig was nearing it's end, Mark came in to the stage (from backstage) a bowl of
chips in his hands. I gestured a little and he did offered those to me. Good chips they were, thank you very much =) After it was all over, they all hugged people, gave autographs, shook hands and allowed photos to be taken. I got my t-shirt Morpho signed by Mark and a hug too.

On the way home I finally figured out, why PotF is so addictive to me. Usually I live in the past, in the future or in my dreams.I rarely even want to think about the present (because I sometimes feel I don't belong here, in this time or in this planet for that matter). But when I am in their gig, I don't think about work, school, the past or the future. There's just the band, me, the audience, camera and the music. I'm in that moment.