Rock the Beach Helsinki June 29

Ich Will: Rammstein!!! Rock all the Beach from 15:00-23:50

Perhaps it’s the third day of the festival, or maybe the fans are still at Friday night hangover, at 15:00, Nokia Musiikii stage seems a bit desolate. But Huoratron, the brainchild of Finnish electronic music producer Aku ‘Huoratron’ Raski, who starts it as a musical project in 2002, makes the whole sandy land a bit alive. At 15:15, heavy metal band Kotiteollisuus (Home Industry) of Finland begins the melancholic ‘Mahtisanat’(its music video is based the concept of Finnish epic Kalevala, very cool enough). Long frizzy beard, military green vests and Scottish pleated skirt, the lead vocal/guitarist Jouni Hynynen and members tease their old fans now and then between songs, though some of their jokes a bit vulgar, still, provoke quite some laughter. It’s surely a somewhat disappointed that my favourite ‘Minä olen’ not rocking ‘n’ rolling on stage.

Before 21:00, we folks know Rammstein would take out loads of our energy, so we decide to take a good rest on the grassland, enjoy super expensive shared kebab dinner (10e for big plate, but the portion is rather small, we even have to be very careful not got stolen by countless sea gulls), then drink freebie coca-cola and energy water. Sometimes we need to pay a visit at mobile toilet (quite clean and not smelly and free toilet paper), or just sit on the sand to enjoy music, take a look of band merchandise stalls (I would like to collect some band tote bags, EVERY of them is over 20e, so I have to give up), walk around at beer area, or fill our empty water bottle up.

19:30-21:25

I haven’t heard of Danko Jones until they play ’Just a Beautiful Day’, which, the guitar is bold and vigorous strokes. From Toronto, Canada, established in 1999, and band members have been switching an amount of times until vocal/guitarist Danko Jones settles it up. His jokes on commenting how beautiful of Finnish gals are quite cheesy and bad, but while the band takes up another single ‘I Believed in God’, the rock mood is back. GO and check ‘I Had Bad Thoughts’ and ‘Full of Regrets’ music videos, quite surprising actors astonish would pop up at your eyes: Selma Blair and Fordo Baggins. 

From Tennessee, U.S.A, Paramore is also undergoing band members leaving. Front lady Hayley Williams on stage looks and sounds not that as diva as Farro brothers’ accusation. Light orange mid-length hair, black-and-white stripe shirt, hot pants and stockings, in fact, I quite like her performance, speaking and attitude. Noticing Paramore from Cosmopolitan magazine, I like their new singles ‘Now’ and ‘Grow Up; ‘Still into You’ has a strong political pursuit, still, quite a catchy tune.

21:30-23:50

Anticipating industrial metal band Rammstein at the beach, shortly I thought I was in Germany. Famous for pyrotechnic and theatric performing at shows, at the beginning the supernova-like fireworks excite ALL the audiences. When lead vocal Till Lindemann, coating a strawberry pink fur, male burlesque outfit underneath, furnishing Cote D’Azur eyes shadow and lipstick, and singing ‘Du Hast, Du Hast, Du Hast Mich’, ALL the beach goers are nodding, rocking, singing in German and like propaganda believer non-stop. During ‘Ich Will’( I Want) and “Ich tu Dir Weh’ thankfully that my dear lifts me up for some minutes, so I can enjoy the clear view, otherwise there are uncountable bold-head macho guys raging and jumping in front of me, I barely can see anything (yeah, only those countless shining domes).

Tough it’s too a bit dissatisfying that Rammstein doesn’t include ‘Amerika’ at play list, it is, no doubt, very obvious that Rammstein show definitely the most rewarding concert of the three-day festival: the torn colourful paper pieces shot out from a huge machine gun, the actual flame flittering from the industrial tubes, the phallic symbol-like equipment splashing water as erection climax. Combining with Till Lindemann’s devilish and hoarse bass voice, the whole atmosphere is more like a religious Mecca, but wrapping metal rock music as disguise. And guess what, Lindemann writes most of the songs/lyrics of Rammstein, and band members have never been replacing since 1994. 

My new inspiration after Rammstein: being an as skillful and rock ‘n’ roll keyboarder as Doktor Lorenz. Ja, Ich Will, Ich Will eure Phantasie; Ich Will, Ich Will eure Energie!!

Ich Will. 

Photography: Mindy Yuan & www.rockthebeach.fi

Special Thanks: JMH

Rock the Beach Helsinki June 28

Haloo Helsinki!! Let's take a Modestep, 30 Seconds to MARS!!!

After 1 day of full break, Hietaniemen Beach marathons the Rock ‘n’ Roll spirit! This time we folks take off a stop forward from Kamppi, and walk near 15 minutes to the stage areas by 14:45. Though I have already experienced Finnish new pop rock band Haloo Helsinki! at Kaisaniemi Park concert (June 14th blog),still I would love to see very Gwen Stefani-like Elli, Jere, Leo and Jukka open the day of the beach festival. Only releasing 10 music videos by 2013, Elli, wearing a chiffon white dress, light pink Converse, Mickey mouse glasses and rouge Moulin lipstick, still wows the fans (mostly males) on singing ‘Haloo Helsinki’, ‘Jos Mun Pokka Pettää’, ‘Vapaus Käteen Jää’, and ‘Maailma on Tehty Meitä Varten’. Surely my favourite hit ‘Huuda’ jingles, I sing ‘Huuda, huuda, ilosta…’freely and happily, perhaps more of the celebration on my Finnish ability progress forward.

16:45-18:50

Apulanta is a well-known Finnish Punk Rock band founded in 1991, though the presented members are entirely dissimilar since 2001. On Nokia Musiikki stage, Toni, Simo and Sami dress up the American mid-west cowboys hats, checked shirts and spur boots, still bring the comic 1997 single ‘Mato’, but change the catchphrase ‘mato’(worm in Finnish) into ‘yiii-haaa’ a bit. Established their fame on nonsense lyrics, ‘Kuuma Kesä’ and ‘Poltettu Karma’ are the must. 

On Radio Rock Stage, quite to my disappointment is that A Day to Remember from Florida eliminating ‘You Had Me at Hello’ and ‘All I Want’ but only ‘Have Faith in Me’. Current lead vocal astonishingly yells and howls rather sings, which, it seems the music style is more similar to Post-hardcore than modern rock. Checking online later on and yes, the members have been shuffled from previous 3 to current 5.

18:50-21:55

Having been listening to ‘Hot’ on Radio Rock and always considering it too cheesy. Not until Finnish glam metal band Reckless Love lead singer Olli Herman, without any entourage but bleach long blond hair, fair wheat skin tone, very Cali look, aviator sunglasses and motor biker gloves, passing me by do I realize I miss the chance to take a great photo. ‘Hot’ is the only adjective I can come up with when Olli taking off his waistcoat, totally half-naked, performing alive. Yeah, it’s hot hot of the air! Band members are just the copy version of Guns N’ Roses, yet Olli’s voice and look might own the bright future if their melody arrangement more recklessly avant garde. 

After 5 minutes, Airbourne from Down Under is just a younger edition of (my favourite classic) Aussie fellow AC/DC: the music, the lyrics, the outlook, and the sound. Coincidently, both include a brother pair: Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC and Joel and Ryan O’Keeffe of Airbourne. ‘Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast’ makes me really want to mix and spin with ‘High Way to Hell’ during the bridge. AC/DC mood is ON!! At 20:55, Modestep is a brand new electronic rock starting in 2010 London, not very much alike Prodigy but owing still quite a rave style, lead singer Josh Friend’s voice is mature and experienced. ‘Show Me a Sign’ music video is a cartoon version of Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch, definitely ‘Feel Good’. 

 

22:00-00:05

With Jared Leto, it only takes 30 Seconds to Mars. Alongside with his younger brother Shannon, Jared formed this alternative rock band in 1998. Some critics acclaim that the band is more a side project of Jared’s acting career, while I have to admit their music videos are very high artistic, nearly the perfect short films with literary themes; which, makes me wonder how these Martians conveying the music on stage, alive.

The starting time is around 15 minutes delayed. The pure white curtain blurs the equipments and encloses a square tent, while the premium lights shine through the stage, we see the body shape silhouettes of band members. The wide screen sparkles ‘LOVE’, girly screams rise. Camera and mobile snap. Colourful polish nails up. Males’ arms crossed. The trip to Mars has begun.

The concert concept is based on the band’s 2013-released album Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams, which Jared asking in public on those 4 words in Finnish as well; his responses receiving is as passionate as his Finnish national flag putting on. Wearing Ray Ban aviator sunglasses, grey-knitted hat, loosen long coat and tank top underneath, Jared looks much younger than his actual age. Fans love the hot hit ‘The Kills’ and ‘Kings & Queens’, sing and clap aloud. ‘This is War’ shows the current American images on screen : Gulf War, Bush Family, Katrina disaster, forest fire, and Barack Obama. ‘Up in the Air’ lists over 6 languages of ‘love’, ‘lust’, ‘faith’ and ‘dreams’ in background music video, perhaps an allure to summon more international recognition, while during the switch time, 2 acrobats jumping up and down into the air on the seesaw….., quite slightly awkward and unimpressive. Usually the drummer of the band is silent and hidden behind the percussions, but I find Shannon Leto often got zoomed on the side screens, and yes, give me more of gorgeous him, please. :-D

Photography: Mindy Yuan, www.rockthebeach.fi

Special Thanks: JMH

Rock the Beach Helsinki June 26

Sing The Gaslight Anthem, with Billy Talent on this GREEN DAY!  @15:00-00:50

How shall I rock ‘n’ roll in Helsinki?? Let’s go to Hietaniemen!!! A bit hidden but tranquil sandy shore would not rest in peace on June 26, 28 and 29, because tons of boy bands are marching here for high five!!!

Noticing from free zine Sue, we folks ordered the 3-day pass for 152,50e in May. With more advertising posters coming up at metro stations or bus stops in June, we felt hardcore and researched some new names on YouTube. Considering the long queue possibility on the first day at ticket booth, we caught our wrists bands on June 25th near Helsinki BioRex theatre already. Beach Tote bag. Camera and mobiles. SPF Sun block. Ear plugs. Bottled water. Bananas and snacks. Bus cards and keys. Raincoats, Shorts, T-shirts, flip flops and long-sleeves. All checked and all done.

At the beach, Major stages Radio Rock and minor stage Nokia Mussikki locate two sides along the shorelines, while the smallest stage Carlings stands near the food court and VIP area. We arrive at the stages before 15:00, so it’s good to take a look of 2 new Finnish punk rock bands Jätkäjätkät and Pää Kii, which both tour around at least 3 summer festivals in 2013. I pretty much enjoy Ees Jotain Positiivist and Nyt Skipataan Kahvit by Pää Kii, its music style reminds me a bit combination of MxPx and 80’s of happy classic rock ‘n’ roll.

 

16:50-18:50

What surprises me the most is the powerful but very modern rock voice from the lead vocalist Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem. Established from New Jersey in 2006, releasing 4 albums so far, I find single Silver has the shadow of Kurt Cobain, while Mulholland Drive and Handwritten own amazingly fluent guitar walls. Don’t miss this fresh sound if you like Goo Goo Dolls or Lifehouse. Right after American voice, Billy Talent from Canada also astonishes us folks. From the outlook and aria, vocalist Ben Kowalewicz is very much alike Brett Anderson from Suede, and it’s so fun that he complains between performances that ‘Why should I drink Budwieser when I can choose Lapin Kulta (Finnish beer brand) ?? 

Billy Talent is audience-oriented, and such a coincident it is raining while the song Rusted From the Rain played. When Ben shouts: ‘We bring you the rain, Helsinki!!’, applauses clap cats and dogs. It’s more astound to me that Billy Talent has been around since 1993, though I always think of Suede-similar music style is quite neurotic, still, it’s nice to be aware of these talented members based in Ontario.

18:55-20:55

Queens of the Stone Age has a huge crowd to stand by. No One Knows runs the nodding-worthy guitar skills, and if ‘You think I ain’t Worth a Dollar, but I Feel like a Millionaire’ is comic, then you wouldn’t mind the front man Josh Homme’s Americanized curses. Stone Sour is not too metal hardcore for some audiences, but since 1992, Iowa residences Corey Taylor and Jim Root from Slipknot yet found the band in heavy, aggressive and alternative way. Without neon jumpsuits and haunted masks, Mr. Taylor is quite macho and full of charming smiles, and finally, Do Me a Favour, he sings more than screams.

21:00-00:15

When GREEN DAY t-shirts appearing at almost every corner around the beach, we realize that the Big band is about banging. Billy Joel still preserves Huckleberry Finn youth: dyed-dark hair, red and black stripe sweater, punk jeans with cheerful countenance. Though I don’t find their 2012 Uno!Dos! Trés! album is as daily croon-worthy as Dookie or American Idiot, still, Nuclear Family and Carpe Diem are easy to follow. Shortly when Green Day starts those household hits: Know Your Enemy, When I Come Around, and Welcome to Paradise, fans are clapping and getting activated, especially Billy Joel even doesn’t have to hum along Boulevard of Broken Dreams, because we sing out loud for this green day. Between the performances, Billy Joel puts on Finnish national flag as poncho, interacts with a pseudo-Energizer Bunny, not so arousing, but while Billy requests for high hands from fans, teaches a little boy playing guitar and presents it as his gift, YES, the stamina is back!!! Among 135-minute show, Green Day chooses to play more lively song list than blue melody; encore songs are our favourite American Idiot and Jesus Surburbia, and when the sun gradually goes down, the beach still vigorous rocks!!

Photography: Mindy Yuan & http://www.rockthebeach.fi/

Special Thanks: JMH