Ruisrock

Last Sunday we went to Ruisrock. The weather was hot (30-something celcius) and the music was good. That Sunday sported an amazing roster. I got to see four of my favorite bands. It cannot get much better than that. On top of that, there were quite a few decent bands to keep the good vibes rolling (Teräsbetoni, The Crash, The Cardigans, Poets of the Fall, Amorphis etc). Ismo Alanko threw a tremendous gig, I'd say one of the best, most intense performances I have ever seen live. It was well worth missing two songs from Morrissey's set to see Ismo Alanko Säätio. Speaking of Morrissey, he was surprisingly heavily built. I would not say fat, but stocky. Nevertheless, the setlist comprised of a few Smiths songs, while the main focus was on songs from the last two albums. I was really glad that they played "To me you are a work of art", however the performance of the guitar parts in the latter section of the song left something to be desired; perhaps the problem with that was in the mixing - the band seemed professional enough. Also, we were foolish not push our way to the center of the action (right in front of the stage), and thus were not really part of the performance; more just witnessess to it.

It was all different for the Ismo Alanko gig. There we went quite close to the stage, and as we knew almost all the songs by heart - we had a good time singing/shouting the lyrics. Ismo was all into it and really gave 110%! At times it seemed as if he had lost his mind turned into some primal creature. It was magnificent sight to behold.

Another favorite band that performed in Ruisrock was Scandinavian Music Group. We have seen them like 5 times in Tavastia. This was our first 'open air concert' with them. They were quite good, though they sadly did not play any songs that we had not heard before. The only unrecorded song which they played was "Lopulta Olemme Kuitenkin Yksin", which is one of their best slow tunes so far. The guitar playing and melancholy feel of song bring to mind an impression of Sade. That is a high compliment imo.

Anyway their gig was one of the highlights of the day. Joel Melasniemi was high on 'rock'n'roll' (compare with Ismo Alanko). At the ending stages of the song 'Rannalta Toiselle' he stepped up to the mic and began to scream as long and loud as he could, all the while giving his guitar a terrible riff-beating. Laughter and amusement! :) This is the kind of stuff good summers are made off.

Finally, the last band we got to see was TOOL. It was the last gig of their european tour. Tool is perhaps a studio band. They played absolutely brilliantly, but sounded 1:1 with their albums, which for me was a bit of a turn off - however not enough to ruin it for me. I would not have minded seeing them work some of the songs towards new paths. Improvisation and song transformation does not seem to fit into their consept. They put in a good show however, and I'm really glad to have seen them live. It's one of those bands that I've always wanted to see live (right up there with say, Nick Cave & King Crimson).