Poets of the Fall – Jämsä, Himosfestival; June 21st, 2012

When I heard Poets of the Fall were going to play a concert on midsummer, I wanted to go there immediately. I had never been in Finland for Juhannus and wanted to experience the endless day for once. Being further north might have been even more interesting to see a sun that doesn’t set, but as usual I followed the music I wanted to hear and that was taking me back to Himos, a place I had already seen this past April.

The flight and train ride were uneventful – I arrived in the afternoon. Everything looked familiar, yet strangely different, because I had seen all of these buildings covered with snow the last time I was there. The shuttle bus to the festival left right outside my hotel so I spent some time waiting outside. It wasn’t really as warm as it should be at this time of the year, but after what felt like months of rainy and grey weather at home, I was craving every ray of sunlight I could get.

The bus was late so the first band Pariisin Kevät was already playing on the when I got there. I got some food and drinks, looked for familiar faces (none) and listened to the band for a bit. Nothing special, but very listenable. When they were done, Stam1na started playing on the other stage. I wasn’t much interested in seeing them so I spent my time reading. Mokoma were next on the Heräämö stage where I was. Not my usual style of music, but fun to watch. It was all very relaxed with the bands playing alternatively on both stages and people drifting back and forth between them. I skipped Kotiteollisuus on the other stage, found a spot in the front row at Heräämö stage next to the camera in the center and settled down to wait. Read a little more, then got into a conversation with a girl who was going to see Poets of the Fall for the first time. The crew arrived and said hello to me. 😀 And the Poets? They smiled when they saw me as well. 😀

There was still some time to wait. I spent it chatting, putting up my Prowlers of the Fall banner and watching everything being set up on stage. Slowly the room in front of the stage filled, but I still didn’t see anyone familiar. I was happy that quite a crowd had gathered though and finally I felt pre-gig excitement wash over me. After a break of almost 7 weeks and missing 4 of their concerts in a row, being able to see them again felt like coming home. I inwardly counted down the minutes until showstart, watching the cameramen prepare their gear and the presenters walk on stage. They announced the band, the music started, the poets walked on stage… six… five… four… three… two… one… SCREAM! At that very moment I fully realized just how much I had missed the guys.

The setlist was a shorter version of the one from the spring gigs with the order of songs mixed up just a little bit. I had been hoping for one or two more of the new songs to make an appearance, but looking at the busy schedule the Poets had lately there really was no time to practice. When the choice of songs is no longer a surprise, other things come into focus: the general atmosphere, the performance, the reaction of the audience, all the little things that happen on stage while no one is paying attention. With most eyes fixed on Marko it is always interesting to look what is going on behind him or on the other side of the stage. 😉

I had a lot of fun singing along to the songs that are so familiar to me now that they feel like old friends I’m always happy to hear again. I sang along to every word ad felt a huge smile on my face whenever I wasn’t. There is really nothing better than seeing my favorite band in concert. Apparently the cameraman in front liked the fact I was enjoying the show so much. He was constantly filming me. I have no idea if that footage showed up on the screen, since I was too busy looking at the guys on stage right in front of me. 😀 Anyway, if they actually showed the audience on the screen, you could have recognized me by my banner and the huge silly grin on my face. That’s what pure happiness looks like. <3

As usual, the little things made my day. Seeing Jari crack up laughing when Ollie had trouble opening a water-bottle, Captain raising his bottle to me in a toast during ‘Illusion & Dream’, the sing-along for ‘Late Goodbye’, lighters and mobile phones and waving hands everywhere for ‘Cradled in Love’, Marko on the floor during ‘The Lie eternal’, Ollie playing solos right in front of me,…

Overall the audience was really good and seemed to have as much fun as the guys on stage. Marko clearly enjoyed having room to move and Jaska, Jani and Ollie didn’t stay on one side of the stage either. For me personally, the stage was a bit too far from the front row – I prefer the closeness of club gigs. Yet I liked the fact that I could see all of the guys for a change and my view was rarely blocked. Being in the open air was also great, especially because the sunset just took forever and even 11 at night still felt like daytime. 🙂 Needless to say it ended to soon and despite our cries for more there was no second encore.

I took a deep breath and gathered my belongings, still smiling. I stayed by the side of the stage for a while, but the guys didn’t come out this time. I met D. though and had a nice chat with him and a bit later with T. as well. We separated for a while, I caught the end of Michael Monroe’s gig and met the others again for Happoradio. It was fun watching, but there was a too much pushing and shoving going on close to the stage so we retreated. When their set was over, we shared some food then said goodbye. Meanwhile it had gotten a bit darker and cooler so going back to my hotel sounded like a great idea. On the bus, I saw the sun starting to rise again and by the time I dropped into bed, it was already quite light outside. Hauska Juhannusta kaikille! 😀 As the new day was dawning, I fell asleep, dreaming of more summer gigs and the longest day.

POTF summer tour – 1 gig down, 5 to go. Next stop: Sieravuori

Setlist

Kamikaze Love
Diamonds 4 Tears
Temple of Thought
Locking up the Sun
Cradled in Love
Stay
Illusion & Dream
The Lie eternal
Late Goodbye

Encore 
Dreaming wide awake
Carnival of Rust
Lift