Anathema in Circus, Helsinki, September 27, 2012

... or maybe this could also be called "How Anathema totally shook my world for one evening". I was on the fence for a while, whether to write about this at all, as emotions can dumb down just because written words can be so dry, and I don't really want to transfer the feeling I got from Thursday evening into anything else than it was. But I also know that humans forget, and part of me wants to re-live those moments again, even if through text form. 

Like some other of my favourite bands, Anathema have gone through quite a change in style and essence over the... 20+ years they have been in the spotlight. Again, we have had hoardes of pissed off fans. I would like those fans to ask themselves though: how would you feel if your surroundings expected you to remain on the level of a 5-year old toddler for the rest of your existence? Exactly.

Photo lent from here

I can't really analyse this, I guess. It was a flow of musical genius, expressiveness, closeness. One of those rare moments when you realise that people on the stage might actually be enjoying this more than people in front of the stage (how is this even possible?) Random shouts from the audience (by timid Finns, might I add) like "This is fucking awesome!" are perfectly appropriate.

Vincent Cavanagh's voice is unique and unforgettable, you can't really confuse it with anyone (or -thing) else. And I don't know whether it was him or very smartly solved sound in general, but you could actually understand what he was singing about. (So tired of mumbling live vocalists :) ) Lee Douglas has potential to get on your nerves when her voice goes to the heights that it should actually avoid (on records), but she was much better on the stage. As a backup/partnering vocalist she is very good, but I don't think I'd like to listen to her excessively. That being said, "Natural Disaster" did sound wonderful. Guitar solos were transcendent.

I think Anathema took quite a liking to Helsinki audience, encore dragged to 5 songs. After the gig, before we had even made half way towards the exit, poof! the band was already in the entrance area, giving autographs, taking photos, talking about the show. Take that, you bands who sell mega expensive VIP ticket packages that basically contain all that same stuff (yes even you my beloved Katatonia). They were very warm and very genuinely seemed to care for their audience. It made me feel very humble, thinking they have been making music for over two decades now, and still to maintain such spirit :)

My treasure, signed by Vincent Cavanagh, Daniel Cavanagh and Daniel Cardoso.

So what to say in conclusion... Maybe this would be suitable. Jan, who has no previous experience with Anathema and had only heard one album to the date, stated that it was (probably) the best gig he has been to (and him and I both have been to quite a few). I need a bit of time for my feelings to completely sink in and compared to all the other shows I have seen, but I am already pretty confident saying it is definitely in TOP3, if not the best.

So, that ended up to be quite a praise, but Cavanagh bros & co totally earned it that night. 

Setlist: (not a 100% sure if I got all, and specifically, in which order, but that is how I managed to reconstruct in my mind, with a little help from setlist.fm):

1. Untouchable, Part 1 (Weather Systems, 2012)
2. Untouchable, Part 2 (Weather Systems)
3. Thin Air (We're Here Because We're Here, 2010)
4. Dreaming Light (We're Here Because We're Here)
5. Angels Walk Among Us (We're Here Because We're Here)
6. Deep (Judgement, 1999)
7. Everything (We're Here Because We're Here)
8. A Simple Mistake (We're Here Because We're Here)
9. The Beginning and The End (Weather Systems)
10. Universal (We're Here Because We're Here)
11. Emotional Winter (Judgement)
12. Lightning Song (Weather Systems)
13. The Storm Before the Calm (Weather Systems)
14. Closer (A Natural Disaster, 2003)
15. A Natural Disaster (A Natural Disaster)
16. Flying (A Natural Disaster)

Encore:

17. Internal Landscapes (Weather Systems)
18. Fragile Dreams (Alternative 4, 1998)
19. Orion (Metallica cover)
20. Empty (Alternative 4)
21. Panic (A Fine Day to Exit, 2001)

Highlights: All Judgement songs, Fragile Dreams, Panic, Flying, Thin Air

Sonata Arctica in Tavastia Club, September 25, 2012

Oeh, where to begin with this band... It's like a proper guilty pleasure of a metal music fan. Cheesy, bouncy, fast-paced, often immature and with lyrics that make you facepalm more than once in three minutes. But it's fun. The recent albums of Finnish flower power metal veterans from Sonata have caused heated discussions and world wars among the fans. I'ma gonna say right away that I wholeheartedly support groups taking new approach. I couldn't listen to the same ol' superfast power metal from Tony & co. for year after year, for example. The same way as I think Opeth generally used to suck was not that good, I think "Heritage" (2011) is absolutely bril-li-ant. I think once metal takes proge-ish approach, some very interesting things are born. But I digress.

Two... actually three latest albums of Sonata Arctica ("Unia" 2007, "The Days of Grays" 2009 and "Stones Grow Her Name" 2012 [what kind of an album title is that anyway???]) have been bit of tough bites to swallow. I can imagine peeps who expected "worthy" continuation to "Silence" (2001) and "Winterheart's Guild" (2003) are now using "The Days of Grays" as a beer mat. When I went through the titles of the newest album, I got very apprehensive and was not sure whether to buy the tickets. "Shitload of Money" - ok, Tony, if that rocks your boat, but to title a song "Don't Be Mean" is a little too emo even for a (world famous) flower metal band.

So with apprenehsive thoughts and expectations I went to Tavastia Club yesterday.



Venue. Tavastia is pretty much like a home club for us, so many gigs where we have been to have been held there. On the positive, you can get real close to the band in such a small space. On the negative, I always had some problems with the sound there, and the stage is quite small, so if you put a "stadium-band" type of performer up there, they do not have much room for their stuff. I've always been intrigued by Sonata's keytar player, but he was standing in the back next to the drum set, so no good way to see him do his magic. But for some performers it is a good kind of a place to be. I personally would have liked to have seen Sonata in a bigger venue. 

Choice of songs. Overall I was happy, there were some nice surprises as well as a few I would have left out (I'm looking at you, "Shitload of Money" and also the super cheesy "I Have a Right").  There was old stuff, new stuff and stuff from the middle. All good. Also, if you must do a cover, and if it absolutely has to be a Bon Jovi cover, "Wanted Dead or Alive" is pretty much the only good choice to make, so props. (Thank's for not playing "Don't Be Mean" though, much appreciated.)



So how were the guys? This band is SO MUCH FUN. They don't take themselves seriously at all! There's so much effortless in what they do and how they do it. Frontman Tony Kakko is, of course, the show stealer. He doesn't play an instrument (usually), so he has a lot of time to fiddle around, come up with funny antiques, be nice to the audience. He gives out an impression of a big child (in a good way) and a very sincere and expressive person. Basically he's like a big human-size and -like teddy bear. It makes sense to how it relates to his lyrics, which have always been borderline emo and childish. I had heard about Tony Kakko's communication with the audience to be superb, but to experience it first hand was something different. Also, as they performed to home audience, it definitely made it even warmer and more direct. In the end of the gig, most bands I've seen usually say the thanks, maybe bow for a moment, and then leave. Well, Sonata definitely took their time saying goodbye and talking to the audience :)

Something I also have to bring out separately, as it is something I often have a beef with when going to live performances - how do(es) vocalist(s) sound on stage. Tony Kakko has been praised to have one of the best voices in power metal and boy, do I see why. The guy is flawless. Not a single off-key. He has a very strong voice. When he went "... heart of steel..." ("Replica"), I swear it sounded exactly like Eric Adams from Manowar (not a band that close to my heart, but boy, that voice!!).

Crowd. Brilliant. Despite the fact that there weren't that many people (Tuesday evening, also there will be two more gigs so people are divided among those all). I do appreciate non-crowded gigs; having history of passing out at a major gig, I have become fearful of major stadium and huge hall gigs. Less (people) is more, now. However, these must have been die-hard fans. Whenever they were asked to sing back, by the band, they sang back. Nice crowd. I did feel a bit bad for not being the textbook gig visitor myself, as under the effects of heavy tranqualiser, my limbs felt quite jellyfied most of the time :p

Setlist: 

1. Only the Broken Hearts (Make You Beautiful) (Stones Grow Her Name)
2. Black Sheep (Silence)
3. Alone in Heaven (Stones Grow Her Name)
4. Losing My Insanity (Stones Grow Her Name)
5. Broken (Winterheart's Guild)
6. The Gun (Takatalvi, 2003)
7. The Day (Stones Grow Her Name)
8. I Have a Right (Stones Grow Her Name)
9. Tallulah (Silence) - acoustic
10. The Dead Skin (The Days of Grays) - acoustic
11. Wanted Dead or Alive (Bon Jovi cover) - acoustic
12. Paid in Full (Unia)
13. Shitload of Money (Stones Grow Her Name)
14. Replica (Ecliptica, 1999)
15. FullMoon (Ecliptica)

Encore: 

16. Cinderblox (Stones Grow Her Name)
17. Don't Say a Word (Reckoning Night, 2004) (with Vodka outro)

Personal highlights: Broken, FullMoon, Don't Say a Word, Cinderblox (borderline bad song on album, very funny in live)

See Right Through You

Who would have known what a struggle it is to find a pair of nice-looking glasses? Those that you like don't suit you and those that do, naturally, you don't fancy. However, it was long due because my eyesight has gone worse and there were 80% discount offers all over the city. Overall, I am quite happy with this deep red teacherisque specimen.

Raising the Knife

There is absolutely no reason why not to treat yourself a tasty salad for lunch.

Salad made of lettuce, baby spinach, rucola, cherry tomatoes, small cucumbers, red onion and feta cubes.

Dressing: garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard.

Modern Day Luxury

Summer holiday at my parents in Estonia. All local raspberries, tomatoes, blackcurrants, redcurrants, cherries, chanterelles, blueberries.

Summer holiday - a trip out of town

 

On a Thursday Jan and I visited Savonlinna, which is located about 330ish km from Helsinki (see the map above). Population about 27,000 (insert "Twin Peaks" music in the background). We went by car and it was scary at times because I am not used to going 120 km/h (there are no roads in Estonia that would allow such speed). But Jan is a calm person and thus makes an excellent driver. 

It's another small sea town. How not to love those? There is water everywhere. And is it just me or is it so that places by the water feel bigger and there is more air to breathe. Not to mention all the boats, yachts, docks, buoys, markets and everything else that goes with the port settlements :)

In the neighbourhood one can also find art centre Retretti, which we also visited. Part of the centre/museum is located underground, in the caves. So it's like art museum in the caves, it is dark there and it is not allowed to take any pictures. Exhibits in the cave museum were totally location dependant and everything was built in or on the rocks. There were several video installations shown in the deep dark corners, and the sounds were spooky. On the ground they had exhibition covering some expressionist artists of Finland and in another house, there were pictures from children's books and fairy tales.

For lunch we had, of course, fish, in a crowded place somewhere in the centre of Savonlinna. The quality of the food was not of the highest class (then again I do not have high expectations when travelling outside big cities), but the waiter that we had was most friendliest and helpful.

We almost took a trip on that kind of boat (on the photo), but then we didn't :) Which was maybe a good thing as we were gifted some rain from above soon after.

So we just touristed around and in the city.

Pride and joy of Savonlinna town is this castle, called Olavinlinna (from 15th century). That evening Mozart's "Magic Flute" opera was played there and the whole town was bustling, it was so cute. The thing of the small places (which I know well). There were many locals (I bet) as well as town guests around. Even a taxi drove to the castle to drop off some opera guests. I bet Savonlinna is proud to have taxis :)

On the way back there was lots of rain and even some storms, but Hobbit said it's ok and so we didn't crash :)

Summer has arrived to Helsinki, and it's hot!

 

Finally! The hot summer has arrived to city Helsinki. Time to toss on light clothes, sandals, head out and just do nothing. 

Tired footie fans

See you later

Pretty much booked for the time being, so it seems. See you later!

Here Comes the Rain

What happens if you wake up on Saturday morning at 8 am, and it's raining outside like there's no tomorrow? Time for some indoors gardening.

I'm hoping to grow myself some herbs - namely (from left to right) rosemary, basil and spring onion chives.

For now they are going to love in this cute indoors greenhouse I got from IKEA. It's a good helper if you have pesky cats at home who love to chew on green stuff.

Black Beauty

This is my bike. I got it this spring. It's a city bike, and quite big. I love it! It takes me to all those gorgeous places here in Helsinki.

Yesterday we rode around the city. I often fear to cause traffic-dangerous situation, because of all the staring around - so much to see! I haven't been to many cities, but am willing to bet that Helsinki is one of the prettiest in the world. Sometimes, it is hard to belive I live in this nice place. It also help to live in the centre of the city, where all the pretty is, and not in some dodgy suburbian area.

And here's my bike with a rather interesting kickstand. Photos are taken on Vappu (May 1), when we were having a breakfast picnic outside (as did the rest of the population of Finland).

Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme... or close enough

The lazy-evening food. When you don't feel like spending more than 10 minutes (and even that is when stretching it!) on dinner, or don't feel like turning on the oven. And hey, it's so hot in summer, who wants to turn on the stove at all.

All I used was

• some Finnish tomatoes (really red ones, not the vague pink-orange tomatoes that taste like nothing). Tomatoes from mum's greenhouse would beat everything, of course, if I was closer to the beforementioned greenhouse and if it was summer;
• a nice ball of your favourite/preferred mozzarella cheese. Mozzarella cherries are, naturally, even more convenient;
• a hearty handful of fresh basil;
• a few slices of milder kind of onion, or red onion;
• lots of pepper!;
• good olive oil.

Sometimes I also use lemon juice (just take a lemon and squeeze out as much juice as you like), or lime juice. But not too much, because lemon juice can be too dominating over other ingredients.

And a glass (or few :p) of nice cold white wine, or rosé, and that's pretty much a perfect dinner for those warmer/hot evenings :)

Welcome to my health track

Oh dear, it's been over two months. Bad me.

Today I took photos from my health track. The track runs around the bay (called Töölönlahti). In spring, the track is very pretty. Lots of trees, water, and other nice stuff. Since it's located in Helsinki city centre, it's also extremely popular and almost always well-populated.

But let's get going.

Entrance from Mannerheimintie (a very long roadway in the city). The bay can be seen behind the trees.

 Prunus padus, or bird cherry - what funny names this lovely tree has in English :) In Estonian, we call it toomingas and in Finnish, tuomi. It smells sooooo good.

View to the bay from the track. On the back, a bit to the left, can be seen the big Ferris wheel of Linnanmäki amusement park. I wrote about the scary rides at Linnanmäki in here. Yes, I definitely prefer looking at that place from safe distance :p

The path continues. Some fancy-pancy climbing-and-turning spots have been built for the health-conscious citizens of Helsinki. There are three similar spots on the track and these were built in like... a week, maybe, very recently. It is nice to see city showing care to health and well-being.

Moving on, we arrive to the bridge that crosses the narrow side of the bay. On the right run train tracks. I love trains! Often wave to them as they go by. It may be weird, but I don't care.

                                                                      Up the hill we go.

Garden of someone living by the bay. It may be a dream place for many, but to be honest, I am not sure I'd feel too good in a place where hundreds of runners, walkers and cyclists walk very close by your house every day. Not to mention there is probably never much privacy in such a garden. Except maybe when it's really lousy weather. But who wants to chill in their yard then, anyway.

 Blue Cafe / Sininen Kahvila. Perfect - coming from a run (or bike ride), hop in and order a coffee and a tasty pastry product... err, maybe not. (There's also an ice cream kiosk on the track in one location - so far I have managed to ignore it, but not sure how much longer.)

House in the woods. It's hard to tell now, since the green stuff is on the way, but it's a pretty amazing wooden house. More like villa, actually. There are about five of such wooden buildings around the track here, and they look absolutely fabulous. I don't know from what period of time they are from, but I'd guess they are pretty old.

The prettier parts of the track. In spring and summer, it is so nice here.

                                                                    Forget-me-nots :)

                                Tulip / tulp / tulppaani. Internationally understandable flower.

 By now, the path has turned back towards the city and roadway. Bay to the left, Opera theatre approaching from the right.

Finnish National Opera in the background. The design of the building is failed, if to express modestly. In short, it looks like a Soviet-era hospital. It's covered with white squared tiles that look like they belong to someone's bathroom (definitely not mine, though). I don't know what they were thinking back in 1993 when completing this building. Having said that, it is nice to hear those sopranos and tenors practice while you run past the house. Gives kind of a syrrealistic touch to the whole moment.

A group of ladies practicing boxing. I guess modern women are not into frying pans and rolling pins anymore?

Two locals of the bay. I suspect the left one is checking out the right-hand swan's bottom :p

That's it, folks. Time to return to the civilization - to trams, shops, and everyday stress. Back to the health track tomorrow! :)