Poets of the Fall – Härmän Kuntekeskus, Ylihärmä;  April 21^st, 2012

As far as plans go, this was the gig where most fell through. K.’s car still not being fixed, she decided to skip the gig, because it would be getting too expensive. I would have done the same had I had to pay for car repairs. N., who had her own share of bad luck on her European trip, also decided she could not afford this and T.’s hope for a ride fell through as well, so I was on my own. I had already decided that I was going to get there no matter how, because after making it to Kuusamo, what reason did I have to miss a gig? 😉 Since I didn’t have to pay for a taxi in Tahko and  scored some really cheap flights this time around, I reasoned with myself that it was OK to splurge on this one gig. 😉

So after a good rest in Lahti I boarded a train at noon that took me to Kauhava. 15 km to bridge from there. I briefly considered hitchhiking and then went looking for a taxi. There was none at the station but a taxi service was located there and the friendly guy who had just arrived called me a car. Now I do admit that my Finnish is lousy, but it was enough to explain where I wanted to go.

Arrived around 5:30, walked in, saw not one, but spotted two Temple of Thought posters and learned at the reception that the gig was going to be at the restaurant. The also had a buffet so I had food first. There were lots of elderly people around and absolutely nobody who looked like they had come for a Poets of the Fall gig, but then again, does anyone else ever go to the venues as early as I do? * laughs*

After my meal I found a seat with an electrical outlet, uploaded some pictures and started my blog about the previous night’s gig. I didn’t sit in plain view so neither the crew nor the band noticed me there when some of them walked in. Einari walked by and noted that I had made it. I listened to soundcheck for a bit, then got a ticket and sat down at a table, looking at the stage. Finished my blog, read some, waited, looked for people I knew, but except for one girl who looked vaguely familiar there was nobody that I had seen before.

The concert was scheduled for 11:00 p.m. so the front row was occupied a bit after 10:00. I got exactly the spot I wanted on Ollie’s side. 🙂 They started a bit late, but still early compared to all the after midnight gigs around Easter. I was so happy I had made it there I could not stop smiling. I had not thought many fans would make it to such a remote place so I as a bit worried what the audience might be like, but they were actually really good and responsive. Very enjoyable for me and the guys on stage, who looked like they were having lots of fun.

This was a show of many little funny moments that I tried to store in my memory before they slipped away. There was also a lot of movement on stage with Ollie, Jani and Jaska trading places quite a few times. One time when Ollie joined Jaska on the platform in the back he played guitar with his teeth. That was pretty cool. 🙂 Later on, Jani came over to take a close look at Ollie’s guitar playing. He was watching very concentrated while Ollie was playing a solo. 🙂 Some time after that Jani even dropped down to his knees in front of Ollie.

There was a lot of waving to and pointing at people and also a lot of posing going on, so I assume there was someone with a camera in the back. During ‘Temple of Thought’ Marko slowly transformed a smile into a devilish grin with a look that I can only describe as “psycho” and then raised his hands for effect. I have a very clear image of this on my mind, but not on my camera I’m afraid.

At one point Jaska walked off stage and returned with a necklace that he hung from Jari’s drum kit and they both watched it swinging back and forth. I don’t know what it was or why he did it, but it made me smile and I thought of it as a good luck charm of sorts.

The gap between stage and front row was not as huge as the previous night, so Marko shook a lot of hands that night. When he was on my side, it got a little crowded there with people behind me reaching out to him, but they were not pushing for long and it was all good. 🙂 Ollie shook some hands too and walked along front row until he got to the point where Marko was crouching and gave up on it. I was wondering if he was afraid of crossing in front of Marko or of the women that were reaching out for him on the other side and had touched his legs earlier. 😉 I will never know, but he looked like he was considering if he should continue walking and then waved his hand dismissively. 😀

The guys spent a lot of time by each other’s side that night, exchanging smiles, patting on backs and shoulders, laughing together. I just love how they show their affection for each other. It is genuine, there is nothing scripted about it. They truly enjoy being a band and it shows. 😀 They joke a lot too, but it’s always good natured. This night, Marko was mimicking Ollie, who was standing there playing with his legs crossed. Marko stood next to him in the same posture, watching and smiling. Later, he decided to stand up on a chair and Jaska did the same behind his back. *laughs *

During ‘Illusion & Dream’ I clinked bottles with Ollie, smiling and Marko sang “I raise my hat and say ‘here’s to you’”, because he didn’t have a drink in hand at that moment. For ‘Sorry go round’ he whistled again, repeating every melody Jaska was playing until Jaska cracked up laughing.

‘Someone Special’ was back in the setlist and for the first time I fully and truly enjoyed the song. I have always found it a bit too sweet for my liking, but at that very moment it was absolutely, stunningly perfect and I loved it. 🙂 What a wonderful night it was. 🙂

After the gig I had a nice chat with Petri at the merchandise stand and got to witness a rather funny pantomime. My Finnish being as bad as it is I didn’t understand much of what he and the woman who bought a T-Shirt said but I sure understood the gestures. She was looking at the girly ‘Temple of Thought’ shirts and figured they were too small so Petri pointed out that the men’s sizes were bigger (“isompi”, I understood that). She looked at S and still shook her head so he showed her M and pointed at his own shirt “That’s what I’m wearing”. Then she indicated “But I have these big boobs it won’t fit” and Petri in turned pushed out his belly saying something along the lines of “but it fits over my belly”. Just too funny. She decided to get size L eventually. 😉 Petri and I chatted a bit more after that, then hugged and said goodbye.

This was the first gig in a long time that I did not get to share with any of my friends. I only have my own memories to rely on, but they are clear and strong and very happy. It was a long taxi ride to my hotel in Seinäjoki, but the concert was worth every cent! I am so glad I decided to go. 🙂

12 gigs down, 4 to go. Next stop: The cruise to Stockholm.

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

pictures of this concert