Spinal Tap Moments, Air Hugs and Tongue Wiggling

The Date: 9.7.2011
The Place: Seinäjoki, Ilona Live Carnival 
The Album: Alchemy

Mikko and I arrived at the Live Carnival about half an hour before the gig started. At the front gate there were "no colors" -sign and I wondered, what has been going on in Ostrobothnia since I moved away? Has it become overrun by motorcycle gangs? Weird.

There were drunken people everywhere and I was a bit anxious. Nevertheless, there was still a spot open for us in the second row and we planted ourselves there firmly. The gig started a few minutes early, that was a first! We were at the left side of the stage, right in front of a huge loud speaker. Mikko had earplugs, but I hadn’t brought mine. I know, that was stupid but what can you do?

At the beginning of the gig there seemed to be something wrong while Dreaming Wide Awake. Olli was tuning some knobs, Captain mimed playing guitar at someone off the stage and Jaska seemed to be a bit lost. But after a while they figured things out and the gig kept on going. At first I wasn’t in to the mood: the music seemed too loud, it was too hot and some girl wanted to get a better view so she kept trying to run me over with her boobs.

But then my ears adapted, the girl backed off and the music swept me away. It was still hot as hell but it didn’t matter, I was lost in music with my loved one by my side.

Marko's Poet of the Fall character was channeling the overall mood of the audience: a bit aggressive and horny, or so it felt to me. He was clutching his crotch, swinging the microphone in front of his loins suggestively, twirling his fingers on top of his nipples and throwing some swear words among the lyrics.

And this time when people raised their hands as an answer to the question before Carnival of Rust "who of you have come here with someone?", he commented that it was a good thing that all of us weren't singles, otherwise the night wouldn't be long enough and wiggled his tong. He has done things like that before, but this time more than usual. But then there were some tender moments also, like the hugging gesture that encompassed us all and before Roses he said that he wished that he could give us all real roses.

It's been a long time since I have seen Marko doing introductions of the band or the whole band bowing hand in hand at the end of the show. All I remember from the introductions is Marko saying that Jaska plays guitar like Lucifer himself. Jaska changed his shirt at backstage at some point and when he came back, he got huge applause and a lot of cat calls. No wonder, he looked really hot that evening, even before the shirt change. Marko asked what he would have to do to get that kind of appreciation, take his shirt completely off ? But that was just a tease, pffft. Jani seemed to be in a very good mood, his smile lit the stage and I loved seeing him play bass back to back with Marko.

There was a lot of laughter on the stage during the gig. Before the encore songs started, Olli was still missing and Marko quipped that Olli had to go to take a pee. Then he started a joke but he never finished it: a man went to a bar...

After the gig I was exhausted from all the jumping and completely drenched. In addition to that my eyes had a kind of pandaish look because of a runny eyeliner. Someone might have thought that I had been in a shower with my clothes on. Oh well, it was worth it, like always. I spotted a familiar face, it was Carpe Diem that I hadn't seen in ages! I went to say hi and gave her a hug. She was in the middle of an conversation with some people, so I didn't chat long with her and went to say hi to redbossfan. It was nice to meet her but it was a bit difficult to chat while music was playing really loudly so we kept it brief. Better luck next time =)

Misc: Mikko noticed that Olli had a different acoustic guitar than what he had at the Tavastia gig.

Random funny line: (after the unfinished joke) This is the Spinal Tap moment of Poets of the Fall!

Summa summarum: One of the best things about that gig was being there with my love. Our fists pumping the air at the same time, our hands side by side doing the clock winding thing during Locking up the sun in unison with Marko, the looks and shaking our heads while laughing at Marko’s antics, Mikko giving me support to jump even higher during Lift and the kissess we shared. I am such a lucky girl that I can share the band that I love with the man that I love.