Poets of the Fall – Kainuun Musikkijuhlat, Kajaani; July 7th, 2018

Exactly one year before this concert, Poets of the Fall had played at Kainun Musikkijuhlat for the first time and it turned out to be something that pretty much haunted me for a year. Back then I had everything planned and was really looking forward to the show when KLM airlines fucked it up and did not manage to transport me past Amsterdam. So instead of flying to Helsinki and getting on a train to Kajaani to see what my friends later ensured me was a brilliant gig, I found myself at home, royally frustrated. Thus, when the chance came again, I knew I had to be there this time around and I did everything to ensure I would. Finnair did not disappoint me, Trains were on time and thus I got to see a happy last gig of the 15th anniversary tour that was nothing but good fun and provided some good memories to look back on while waiting until ‘Ultraviolet’ is released.

The first night in Helsinki was short, the train ride was long. It offered a lot of time to relax, read and meet up with T. to have tea/coffee and share amazing strawberries. It was a good start to a good day. At the startion I ran into H. who had been ständig next to me at the previous gig and remembered. We happened to be at the same hotel so we walked to the festival together and kept each other company. It was a long walk, but being there early paid of and we made it to front and slightly left of center. Despite the festival’s website giving no Information whatsoever about cameras I was not allowed to take mine in :(. Well, at least I had my hands free during the concert. Around us stood a lot of young girls who had all come to see the rapper Mikael Gabriel who was scheduled as the last act of the night. For them it would be a long wait.

The festival started with Aste, another rapper. Nothing to write home about for me, he drew quite a crowd and was somewhat entertaining to watch. He and one of his band members (do you say “band” in Rap?) jumped off stage to shake hands and sing to people directly at one point and the fans loved it. After a while I got bored with the music, but it could have been worse. 😉

Next up was Pete Parkkonen. I remembered seeing him at Down by the laituri in Turku a few years ago and as I recalled I enjoyed his music back then so I was happy to get the chance to see him again. Turns out, he was not as good as I remembered. I liked the music, but his whole “I’m sexy and I know it” act just left me shaking my head. The man is certainly handsome and judging by the women screaming for him to take his shirt off apparently there are some who think of him as very sexy, but it did not appeal to me at all. There was no spark, it all seemed like he was taking this too seriously and for me sticking your hand down the front of your pants is just plain silly, nothing else. So while the band played well and the songs actually seemed really nice, this whole act spoiled it for me. Oh well…

After he was done, the audience switched almost completely. For a few hours I had thought this was going to be one of the rare Poets of the Fall gigs where I would not meet any other fans that I know, but shortly before the guys started, a few familiar faces appeared in the crowd.

I was ready for a good show and since it was the last one of the tour, I hoped it would be a fun one with lots of great moments to tide me over until the Ultraviolet tour in October. More people arrived in front of the stage and last-minute preparations were going on with Glen being notably absent.

Soon the band walked out and I smiled happily when I saw that Jari was back. The guys always find great replacement drummers, but it’s just not the same without him. From the first moment on it was all fun, energy and happiness. Life was good, being there was great and I loved seeing them. For a brief moment I had been wondering if something might change after 200 concerts, but of course it didn’t and really if I were to feel any different now I don’t think I would have ever made it this far.

So much of the gig was full of familiar moves and gestures that I smiled the entire time. I love it just as much when they tease each other as when they show appreciation for each other’s work. It always gives me the impression that they really like each other and enjoy working together and I am sure that is the secret that has kept them going for 15 years.

It was great fun from the start and I even remembered some lyrics I usually don’t. Only when it comes to ‘Choice Millionaire’ I am out. The song has just too many words, coming too fast to rememberd. I make do with knowing bits and pieces. 😉 It was awesome though, because all the guys were jumping and I could not help but jump with them. I’m not sure anyone ele in the audience did, at least not at first. Jaska and Ollie were doing their synchronized guitar movement in tune with the muisc and I was swayinng right along with them. As Little as I can relate to this song on the album, hearing it live is a totally different and very enjoyable experience. 😀

As usual it was the little things I loved, like watching Captain moving his hand in a light beam that hit the kyeboards as if he was trying to catch it or seeing Jani stand next to Jari behind the drums for a while. Marko, announcing he as thirsty, emptied his water bottle quickly and hthrew it high up in the air. Ollie and Jaska stood together on the Keyboard raiser and jumped off together as well, in mid air for a moment. Jari just looked happy to be back, showing off his mad skills.

Hearing and seeing the band play made me so very happy and each one of the guys looked at me at one point or another. Ollie nodded when I was head banging, Marko checked if I was doing the hand movement for ‘Lift’ and Jani even threw me a kiss. <3 Jaska looked so concentrated for most of the gig, but at the end he finally looked my way and gave me a big smile. Awww.

At one point, Marko accidentally knocked over the micstand and always hit Ollie with it, but Ollie elegantly moved out of the way. The guys clearly had fun, teasing each other and playing together as they do. Were we looking forward to the new alum? Hell yes! I can’t wait to hear new songs. For now though, this was exactly what I had needed: The perfect last Poets gig of the summer. 🙂 It made up for everything I might have missed the year before.

Their set was over too quickly, but after they had left I still felt exhausted. For a moment I was reconsidering if I should leave right then and get a few hours of sleep, but I had promised H. I’d stay to see Von Hertzen Brothers with her so I went and got myelf a coke instead. The caffeine helped and I was ready for more. 🙂

Sparzanza from Sweden were next with some excited women to our left telling us how much tehy were waiting to see them and how the band had had bad luck with their Instruments being left in Stockholm so they sent out acall to their fans for help. It did work, they had Instruments if not all the equipment they would usually use. The band repeated the story I’d just heard from their fans and then did their best to play a show under less than ideal conditions. they did well, but the Music really was not for me. It was pretty straightforward rock, i just found it kind of boring after a while.

Von Hertzen Brothers were brilliant and I wondered why I had not liked them the first time I saw them years ago. Maybe my taste in music has changed since. Either way, I loved their energy and their songs. It was fun seing them interact with the fans and moving all across the stage and I loved what I was hearing.  I did not have the chance to figure out much of the lyrics, but then and there it did not matter. I just enjoyed the Music and teh fact that they were all playing well. Next time they Play at a Festival I wll sure stay to see them too. 🙂

Neither of us felt like we needed to see Mikael Gabriel so we gladl left the stage to his fans and walked home. It had been a good night. 🙂

Setlist

Overboard
Daze
False Kings
War
Kamikaze Love
Choice Millionaire
Late Goodbye
Diamonds for Tears
Dreaming Wide Awake
Lift
Carnival of Rust