Giants in the playground

The date: 3.2.2005
The place: Tampere, Klubi
The album: Signs of Life

The atmosphere before the main act was somewhat drowsy. Bleak was able to enthuse some people to even jump around with their energetic ‘boy-metal’ but it was obvious, who the audience had come to see. When the clock approached midnight, the house was full and expectations high. When the curtain opened, Poets of the Fall started with Don’t mess with me and the audience went crazy. From that moment on Poets had the audience mesmerized.

I was surprised that Late goodbye and Lift were played quite early, it is usual that those kinds of hits are stored for the end of the gig. It was so great to hear audience sing along with those songs, but I also remembered lyrics from other songs too, and I managed to get some approving smiles from Ollie, when he noticed that.

On the stage there were two Personas, with initials. Mark’s poses were dramatic and seductive and his gestures sometimes almost feminine. And Ollie’s solos were awesome, that guy sure knows how to use his hands. The other guys (including the Captain) were there just to play good music, but those two were there to perform.

The stage in Klubi is perfect for those who are at the front row, because there isn’t any apparent space or borders between the band and the listeners. You can get so close, that you could just reach out and touch the band. But the band could also touch you, and that Mark did. He shook hands with almost the entire front row. But one blond haired woman had special treatment, up to the point where Mark pulled her up to the stage, hold her close and sang to her. We all of course cheered, but I bet every girl wanted to be in her place. Throughout the whole gig the band showed great attention and respect for the audience and we worshipped them like gods for that. We have seen too many bands treat fans like garbage, it was nice to see some appreciation for change. Mark actually said that we blew his mind.

In the middle of the gig someone shouted ‘take your shirt off’ and ‘take your pants off’ and after a while, Mark pleased us by taking his sweater off, but he still had a tanktop under it, damn!

After the gig was over, the dramadance remix played, so I did get my chance to dance :)

All in all, it was a spectacular startup for the tour and left both the audience and the band satisfied and craving for more.