Poets of the Fall – Copernico, Madrid; November 29th, 2019
After Poets of the Fall’s show in Madrid, I was talking to Tiia, trying to put my feelings into words. It came out like this “I cannot decide if yesterday or today was the better show. They were both up there. Yesterday was more emotional for me, but this one was – I don’t know – hotter?!” It was a hot show indeed not only in the sense that I was pretty much sweating my butt off. the audience was not only loud, but very passionate and this energy bounced right back to them from the stage. The band was on fire and for 90 minutes the venue was just a mass of moving, happy people. Absolutely insane. I loved it, could not stop smiling during the show and even started laughing afterwards because I felt so happy. Does it matter if one was better than the other? Not to me. Both were amazing shows with different vibes and both will be remembered as such.
Once again I am sitting at an airport, waiting for my flight to Lisbon for the next gig. I’m still teary eyed about the last two shows and overly emotional. Putting that down to lack of sleep would be easy, but this isn’t it. There was a time when it almost always felt like that, when I cried on the way home, because seeing these concerts made me so happy and – during some of the hardest times of my life – where the one thing that kept me going. Generally speaking I am less emotional about the shows these days. I still love the concerts and of course I still love the bands, but I have gotten used to the highs (as sad as it may sound) and while I still recognize a great show when I see it, mostly it is ore of a comfortable ride than an emotional rollercoaster. That is a good thing, it is like visiting old friends and I love it. Yet sometimes I forget what it felt like in the beginning, how strongly my emotions grabbed me every single time. And then Poets of the Fall show me again that it still can be like that, that nothing has been lost that saying “they are the best live band I know” is not an exaggeration. These last two nights were like that and as I sit here crying, trying to put my feelings into words the only thing I know is that I am grateful for having found this band when I needed them and for the good company they have kept me for the past 12 years. <3
Traveling from Barcelona by train I arrived at the heart of Madrid in the morning. Got to my hostel too early and had to wait for check in, but from then everything went smoothly. Rested, blogged, had early dinner and found J. in the same room at my hostel when I got back. What a nice surprise. She had a pre show pass though and left before me. Got to the venue around 6, happy the rain had stopped, said hello to those I knew and got in line, eventually chatting with the woman next to me, C., who had traveled from France to see the guys. We stuck together once we got inside and found a perfect spot by the left side of the stage up a few stairs. The whole venue was made like a ship, there was even a huge steering wheel (is it called steering wheel if it is a ship?) in the back behind the mixing desk. We had a great view and watched as people crowded in on the floor. I don’t know if it was sold out, but it sure seemed packed by the time the show started.
First up were local band Pan, singing in Spanish. Their music was good, pop-rock-ish and nicely varied. I enjoyed listening to them and wished I could have understood what they were singing. They had good energy and the crowd responded in kind, cheering them on. It was a good warm up for what was in store and I already had a huge smile on my face. I was still high from the previous night and wondered what was going to happen. I had a good feeling abut the show and whenever I assumed it could not get any better the guys have proven me wrong, so I also had high hopes, but still believed Barcelona could not be beaten. Well… While they changed the stage for Poets, we were already singing along and moving to the music and I felt good vibes from the crowd. The whole place was buzzing with energy.
It all got kicked up a notch the moment the house lights went down and the intro started. This audience was LOUD! “Are you ready?” Marko yelled, holding outthe microphone for our answer – hell yes they were! The band had them from the start and they were with it until the very end, cheering, moving, clapping along and generally having a good time. It was contagious, impossible to be there and not smile. The guys felt it too, happily grinning all night. Even though I was not on his side this time, Ollie spotted me a few seconds after he walked on stage. Next was Marko, nodding at me the moment I declared I would dream them wide awake. Poetry! : )
If I’d thought this was as nuts as this crowd was gonna go they proved me wrong during ‘Locking up the Sun’. It felt like being at one wild party. People were going crazy from the front all the way to the back. They seemed to know all the words too. Somewhere early on, Marko decided to go off stage and into the crowd – a happy surprise for the audience. The band powered through their set and the songs kind of melted into each other for me. I was in a zone, watching them work, singing along, smiling all the time, but had you stopped me I probably could not even have told you which song I was singing. It’s all good, I love being caught up in the moment. 😀 C. next to me looked just as happy as I felt.
The sound at the venue was amazing. I smiled when I saw Ollie, gesturing along to the start of ‘False Kings’ and even more whenI heard the audience singing every word of the song back to the band an. Marko told us it was great to be in Madrid for the first time and already noted all the crazy and beautiful people. There was a lot of passion in the crowd as they sang and moved along with the music. No band would be able to resist that and answering to the call the guys played and sang their hearts out. Everyone watched in awe during ‘Rogue’, cheering them on. All of the guys were smiling hugely, looking so very happy. All that reflected on my face, I could feel the smile all night long.
“How are you feeling? Feelin’ good?” came the question from stage “YEAH!” answered the roar from the floor. Of course we wanted to make it look more beautiful and put our phone lights up.It truly looked like a canopy of stars. It was gorgeous!:’) Had the audience been listening in quiet reverie to ‘The Sweet Escape’, they went into full on party mode for ‘My Dark Disquiet’, dancing like it’s mesmerizing indeed. 😀 The song is always so much fun, it’s impossible not to move along to it. Yet I often imagine string players joining the band for this and wonder if that would change the mood. (i even know a Finnish violin player who might be for hire. :P)
“Look at you!”, Marko exclaimed, “if we’re goo, it’s all because of you!” – he’s right, a good audience can make or break a show and no matter how hard a band works, if the audience is not willing to follow it’s rarely going to be a top notch show. This one was though, there was no doubt about it. 😀 Every time I hear ‘In a perfect World’ I like it better. When I first heard it, all the “Baby, baby” stuff in the lyrics threw me off, but the more I listen to it, the more I realize that it is a beautiful song. It works really well live too. *sigh* The combination with ‘War’ makes it even better. There is never going to be a time I won’t want to hear that song and won’t feel what I feel about it. It still carries so many reminders of a different time in my life and of how this band has saved me then. <3 When I looked around, I saw a lot of people getting very much into it. The song must have a special meaning for many. 🙂 Of course Jaska’s solo in the end was brilliant and he got lots of cheers for it.
Party time started up again with ‘Daze’ and of course we all sang along. It may have been around here that Marko decided to come over to our side of the stage and shake hands, even climbing up by the side to reach more people. Awww. <3 Then the band started clapping and jumping for ‘Choice Millionaire’ while the audience clapped along, chanting “HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!” Many of us were jumping as well, singing along to the chorus. It is really a feel good song. I don’t think there was anyone in the room who wasn’t feeling good already. During the “lashing whip” line, just as I was taking a picture, Marko looked in my direction. It was funny, because it is one of the few lines I always sing along to – how does he always know. I watched Ollie and Jaska lift their guitars in rhythm and fell in love with the band all over again for all their energy and their silliness. 😀
Marko called out that it could not be better. We were all feeling it. Then he asked if we remembered them from when they were little and they started ‘Late Goodbye’. Again, everyone was singing along to every word and it sounded good too. He went into the crowd again as the others watched from the stage. ON the way back many people were taking selfies with him and he patiently stayed for them all. The guys were killing it, everyone focussed on playing and in their own world. I tried to capture the magic with my camera, but it is impossible to get a sense of the atmosphere by only looking at pictures. You had to be there! As soon as they walked off, we all yelled for more.
Earlier during the show I’d seen a woman with a hat at the front. During the encores said hat ended up on Marko’s head somehow, but I don’t know f she gave it to him or he took it. He wore it for a while, then gave it back. Meanwhile Jani was wearing a feather boa that someone had given Marko the previous day. I danced, I sang, I jumped and I smiled hugely. At one point I looked over at C., indicating how hot it was and she nodded in agreement. Itvwas so hot in fact, that Marko was fanning air towards Ollie with a towel. 😉 The sing along for ‘Lift’ was loud and powerful, we were giving all we had. The guys were shaking many hands as they thanked us for the great night. Everyone cheered especially loud when Marko announced that they had one more song and more so when they recognized which one it was. I had a flashback to my first Poets concert in Finland (and my second Poets concert overall), a bit over 12 years ago and how this song did me in. I filmed it then and watching it takes me right back, but when I show the video to non-fans they don’t understand. You really had to be there, 12 years ago in Finland as well as in Madrid that night. I silently thanked them for this night and all the ones in-between, feeling lucky I had found them.
Not wanting it to be over, I sang along with all my might. “Are they always this good?” What was I thinking? The answer should have been a resounding yes. They are always special for sure! As they said goodbye, Marko said “So much love!” and that was exactly what I felt. There were more handshakes and I wished I’d been close enough to get one. I leaned in when Tiia took the final picture, waved and decided I’d buy a pre show pass the next day to thank them personally.
Once they were gone, C. and I got some water, stuck around for a while and watched. Tuomas came out and talked to people, but there was no chance of getting to him, at last not if I wanted to give an opportunity to meet him to the people who might not get another chance as soon as I would. Same was true for Jani. On the way out, we said hello to Tiia and I asked her to give them all a big hug from me. She promised she would. It turned out that C. and I were staying at the same hostel so we walked back together. That was FUN, I don’t think I will be sleeping now.. Still, we went to bed and eventually I did fall asleep, dreaming of a brilliant show.
Setlist
Dreaming wide awake
Locking up the Sun
False Kings
Temple of Thought
Rogue
The Sweet Escape
My Dark Disquiet
In a perfect World
War
Daze
Choice Millionaire
Late Goodbye
Diamonds for Tears
Lift
Carnival of Rust