Poets of the Fall – Tulisuudelma, Vantaa; April 6th 2012
After the gig in Hämeenlinna we got too little sleep as usual, but had a good breakfast, before we took a train to Vantaa. Arrived in the early afternoon, met up with C. and went for a walk and a coffee together. The weather was ugly so we spent the remaining afternoon resting in our rooms. Met for dinner around 5 p.m., enjoyed the good food, then checked out the bar where the gig was going to be. It was closed still, but the stage was set up and some very familiar looking guys could be seen walking around. We retreated to some tables in the hallway by the elevators, played cards and listened to the soundcheck. To my great delight a bit of ‘Jeremiah the Peacekeeper’ was played, but only the first few lines were sung. Pitty.
We moved to the bar later. More card playing to pass the time. Unfortunately they did not let us stay there until it was time for admission, so we moved downstairs and got in line. A few friends were already there, but not as many familiar faces as I had expected. Once in front row we sat down, got a few drinks, talked. I had a nice chat with the woman next to me who has known the guys for a long time.
I was really excited. This would be my 50th gig and I wondered if they’d have something special in store for me. Soon I was to find out. The lights went down, Jari snuck in and sat behind the drums, the intro started and the others walked out, Marko being the last one as usual. ‘Kamikaze Love’ is such a great opener. I really underestimated this song a bit on the album and was quite surprised they chose this one to open their shows with. Sure, it’s catchy and it makes a good single, but I had felt the first song every night should be ‘Running out of Time’. By now, however, I was absolutely in love with the tune.
I noticed immediately that Marko was once again wearing the “watch” from the previous night. During this gig I learned what it really is: a heart rate monitor. K. told me he announced his heart rate from time to time. I’ve always thought playing a rock concert and running around on stage should be counted as workout. Good to know it really is. 😉
It took me quite some time to get into the right mood this time around. Why I can’t say, maybe I was a little too tired or maybe it bothered me a little too much that there was virtually no light in front of the stage so whenever the guys came close I could not really see them. Whatever it was, something was slightly off. Still, these guys are too good and watching them is too much fun to leave me cold, so eventually the gig feeling returned. 🙂
I got so many smiles that night, from almost all of them. I enjoyed trying to make eye contact with each one of them at least once, but didn’t fully succeed. Maybe next time. ‘Roses’ and ‘Temple of Thought’ are always highlights for me, both being songs I love very much and can never get enough of. During ‘Roses’ Captain randomly walked over to Jari and gave him a shoulder massage. I felt how tight my shoulders were from carrying the camera all night and wondered where I’d have to sign up to be next in line. 😉
Marko had some fun with the railing at the front of the stage. It was ound so standing on it wasn’t an option, but it sure worked well for sitting or lying down on it. He also stepped over it often, standing on the boxes in front of the stage. Much like in Turku the previous December this area wasn’t very well lit, so it must have been hard to see him from the back of the room.
The setlist still worked well, never slowing down or speeding up too much. I rocked out to ‘Locking up the sun’ and listened in awe to ‘War’. It might have been there that Ollie had a bit of trouble holding his guitar where he needed it and Einari came over to hold it up for him.
The acoustic set had a new addition: Marko was whisteling part of ‘Sorry go round’ and even dueled with the guitars a bit. It was pretty cool. At one point he was pouring water on Ollie’s head. Ollie just kept on playing and ignored him. 😀 Jani was in the dark for much of the show and I hardly saw Jari at all. (What is it with that singer always blocking my view? ;)) Captain was posing for my camera though. 🙂
For a funny moment during ‘Carnival of Rust’ Jani covered Marko’s eyes with his hands. I could hardly believe it was almost over already. The gigs seem to go so much faster than usual this year. For ‘Lift’ Jaska stepped over the railing and played right in front of us. I enjoyed watching him up close. 🙂 Once again the show had many little wonderful moments that I loved and left me smiling happily.
My friends and I gathered and before we left we had a little chat with Petri who was quite exhausted. He told us they had arrived at 6 a.m. and that the new stage set up with all their own lights takes quite long to build. We talked a bit more before he had to go back to work. It’s always interesting to get to hear a few bits and pieces about life on tour.
C., K. and I said goodbye and were quite happy that we just had to go upstairs to get to our rooms and drop into bed.
6 gigs down, more to go. Next stop: Jämsä
Setlist
Kamikaze Love
Diamonds for Tears
Temple of Thought
Roses
Cradled in Love
Locking up the Sun
War
The Lie Eternal
Stay
Illusion & Dream
Gravity
Late Goodbye
Acoustic:
Sorry Go Round (Bossa Nova)
Someone special
Encore:
Dreaming wide awake
Carnival of Rust
Lift