Scary Little People and a Whole Lot of Laughs

The Date: 17.11.2006
The Place: Lempäälä, Hakkarin liikuntahalli and Tampere, Yo-talo.
The Album: Carnival of Rust

I entered the Lempäälä's gig place (a huge gym hall) just when the gig was about to start. I hugged the row of cheerleaders that was situated in front of the mixing table and took a place next to them. The audience consisted mainly of adolescent in the various stages of puberty. When the gig started we all were shocked of the amount of screaming and yelling that came out of those little peoples' mouths. It was actually pretty frightening. Suddenly the front row was packed and many young girls were lifted in the shoulders of boys, it reminded me of mushrooms popping out of the grass. We didn't even try to go among the crowd, we had our own little party there at the back. LDG joined us also and hugged the row and then Mako came by, also to hug us all.

For a brief period of time I went to stand at the bleachers so I could see more, but after a couple of songs I joined the rest of the group. It was so fun just to goof around with the galls, to spin our hands the certain way during Sorry go round, to mimic playing a rhythm egg during CoR, to jump around during Gravity (this time I actually had room around me, so I didn't have to worry about stepping on someones toes).And when the Late goodbye was played, the Cheerleaders waved their multicolored glowing lollipops and the rest of us phones, Jani noticed that and just cracked up! Also during that song Mark tried to get the audience to sing along, but that didn't quite work out. Just before CoR was played, Jani stepped in front of the microphone and gave a speech that today's epistle was about dark things and tragic love (or something like that) and Mark had to practically steal the microphone from him.

During the gig Marko was throwing 'Christmas presents' among the audience. One landed straight in front of my feet where LDG picked it up and kept it. It was a pair of white male socks, decorated with the autographs of Mark, Ollie and the Captain.

The gig lasted about an hour and then I asked if LDG could give me a ride to Tampere. She said yes and also decided to try and find out, if there was still tickets left to the yo-talo gig. Before we left the gym hall, I noticed CoR-poster, fastened to the main door that led outside. I also spotted two security guys and asked them, if I could take that poster. The guys didn't know at first, but then the other one said that go ahead. They also joked that I should not take the whole door with me, or to brag about the poster to my friends, until I got home.

When we entered the yo-talo at 11.15 pm we were amazed that there were still tickets left. The last time Poet's were at yo-talo, the gig was sold out couple of days before the gig. I had already bought my ticket via the Internet, but LDG then bought hers. We were also amazed that the front row was still practically empty. At once we reserved places there and stuck there like glue. Slowly the front row started to fill up and Maaru showed up as well. We also talked to two girls that were at a Poets-gig for the first time. One of those was planning to ask Mark to sign an autograph onto her breasts, but we said that that might not be the best of ideas...
Then two loud and obnoxious girls appeared just behind me, they kept pushing and turning and shouting to the phone. I had the urge just to grab the phone and throw it away, but that might have led to a cat fight, so I just endured it. The gig started a bit after midnight and the place was totally packed and we actually had to fight so we could keep our places.

And then my mind goes a bit fuzzy of all the excitement but I do try to remember things that weren't the normal routine. Ollie had minor problems with his guitars and his 'earphone'(or whatever that is) throughout the gig but it didn't bother much. Jaska and Mark played and sang some catchy tune (sounded really good) while the others were tuning their instruments. Mark shook hands with the front row, as did Ollie. Mark said something of the gig place (I didn't hear what, the speeches usually tend to sound porridge-like at the front row) and some girls answered something like 'noo, you don't see right, this place is full' and 'come to Ilosaarirock'. Those comments made the whole band burst to laugher. The girls repeated the Ilosaarirock comment a couple of times and Mark said that maybe they try to be there. The same girls reached out and messed with Ollie's hair when he was playing near them. Ollie's guitar was somepoint almost upside down when he played, the neck of the guitar touched the stage.

When LDG and me mimicked the rhythm egg playing during CoR, Ollie noticed it and bursted to laughter. During Stay, instead of singing the little things-part, Mark sang something complete different, sounded good. But now I don't remember the words...(help me out here girls). After one song Ollie jumped off from a speaker and just missed Mark. Mark showed him that it was 'this close'. Ollie's guitar lurched almost out of control when Ollie was taking a sip of water. LDG waved the socks she got to Ollie and he saluted her. Some people from the audience gave Mark a wooden bracelet and devil's horns.

The band rocked like hell, they were in a really good mood, the audience was great with the sing along parts and I had the best of time partying with LDG. Mark said thanks to an unbelievable great gig and that they always have the best gigs in Tampere. I agree (I also count Lempäälä and Hämeenlinna as suburbs of Tampere, lol).

When the gig was over, the audience kept clapping and yelling for a while, but it didn't pay off.
For LDG the Christmas came early, she got one of Jari's drum sticks and a card that was listed the songs that were played this time. We stayed there for a little while dancing and goofing around and one guy tried to hit on me. I wasn't that impressed. Then Petri walked by and hugged us and after that I noticed one guy that I know from Tampere scifi scene. I talked with him and his friends and it turned out (or so they said) that they have known the Captain for 12 years and they are his fans. Also one of his friends was amazed that I am Battlestar Galactica fan and he was totally mesmerized by my eyes. Funny!

Then it was my time to run to the buss stop and go home. I have been hyper for the last 3 hours. Maybe it is better to get some sleep now.

Falling

The Date: 3.11.2006 

The Place: Helsinki, Club President 
The Album: Carnival of Rust

The moment I entered the club with the Cheerleaders I felt I was out of place, like I didn't belong there. It kinda reminded me of the Awalon-club, but luckily the mirror ceiling was missing here. And the dj wasn't so good. After we had got ridden of our coats, we went to say hi and hug Petri and Mako. I immediately felt better, their welcome was so warm and happy. I just have to buy a new shirt sometime soon, I only got one..But I don't have money for everything and if I have to choose between a gig and a shirt, the answer is obvious.

After a bit of touring and mingling, Toola, LDG and me hit the dance floor and thus reserved also a place in the front row. The stage was sooo tiny, that reminded me of Awalon also. It was decorated with Christmas lights and there was also a bouquet of flowers and I do believe there were also some white and red striped lollipops between the flowers. Between the stage and the audience were metal bars that I hate.

Then the familiar sounds started and the band entered the stage. The stage was so small that I could make eye contact with everyone. But I'll have to admit that Mark's and Ollie's eyes are the ones that make my heart skip a beat. Just can't help it. And so the party started. I was so happy to hear Gravity after a long time, me and LDG just jumped up and down during that song, as we do always. And then, I heard all the way/4 you for the first time live. My arms were filled with goosebumps and I really cried during that song. It is so beautiful that it almost hurts. And my eyes weren't the only ones filled with tears in the audience.

The guys were in a good mood and why not? The had just won the Europe music awards best Finnish act the day earlier and this was the victory party. The gig lasted hour and a half during which
-Mark showed us a towel that said: we can't hear the singer's voice at all
-Mark was handing out raisins from a plastic bag
-both Mark and Ollie sang/played on top of speakers, located at the corners of the stage
-Mark had a very tender moment stroking at Ollie's guitar
-singing along and clapping along went really nice, the audience was pretty good
-Mark was handing out drink ticket's that were only valid in the bar for that night
-Something was said about that bouquet of flowers but I didn't hear it
-both Ollie and Mark noticed me
-when Illusion and Dream was played, Mark handed me a red bull can and this time I kept it for myself.
I really needed it, this time I didn't even try to take a water bottle with me. So I was also able to raise my red bull and say here's to you *grin* Afterwards I realized that I hadn't even thanked Mark for that, I just had grinned like a madwoman. So, thank you =)

When the gig was over, LDG found a paper at the stage and grabbed it. There were the speeches that were used between the songs and she was happy as ever. Then when Einari came to the stage, she waved the paper at him and he took it and offered her raisins instead. LDG was devastated, but she had to settle for the raisins. The rest of the night we danced and laughed and also witnessed how some lady was practically throwing herself at Mako. Luckily LDG went to buy a shirt then and thus saved the poor guy. Then I had to say goodbye to everyone and literally run to the train station. I couldn't help but smile the whole way to my friend's place. I had fell in love with Poets of the Fall, again.