Wolverica
New account
I also wanted to let you know that I decided to have two separate dA-accounts from now on; this current one will be for my photographs, and the new account for my paintings and visual arts is here:
Have a pleasant weekend!
Sakari Kukko played a saxofone and a flute; this versatile musician is known from his instrumental jazz/world music band Piirpauke, played on Amorphis' experimental albums Tuonela and Am Universum (and on Circle as well) and naturally been special guest at their gigs also earlier. Pekko Käppi played jouhikko (this old traditonal Finnish instrument sounds like "an ancient fiddle", looking like a crossing of kantele and violin), which playing was interesting to hear live. And the bright female vocals were performed by Anneke van Giersbergen herself, known for being the frontwoman of The Gathering.
The first set began as atmospheric acoustic part, with some ethnic and progressive vibes. Enigma, really rarely played Far From the Sun, Silent Waters and of course My Kantele were performed as these new kind of arrangements. The jouhikko certainly brought intriguing, unique "ancient sound" to the music - besides Kukko's original style for playing sax and flute is always pleasant to hear live as well. Personally I could have listen to this kind of playing even more, thought also that acoustic EP done by similar arrangements could be intriguing to listen to!
The rest songs of the first set were played as normal versions with electric guitar, yet both Käppi and Kukko were still along. The definite highlight was Her Alone, that Tomi and Anneke sang together as duet. This song is always beautifully emotional, and now bright female voice brought totally new vibe in it.
As is known, Amorphis' lyrics are written by performance artist and visual artist Pekka Kainulainen, who is strongly inspired by old Finnish mythology and traditions. Between the sets he performed some of his poems in Finnish. He was playing a giant thrilling mythological creature: "a flower-head" that was dressed in fur and had a cane which was decorated by big silvery star and white feathers. Even though the poems were performed in Finnish, it could be understood how well the feeling of these texts inspired by human mind and nature do fit to the music of Amorphis.
Then it was time for the second set. The band played the newest album Under the Red Cloud in it's entirety from the beginning to the end. I think that my personal favourites - or the title song, The Skull, "kebab-influenced" Death of A King and folk-influenced Tree of Ages worked well live as well.
The last song White Night was beautifully devoted to the memory of Aleah Stanbridge, who sang the original female vocals in this song and was intended to be one of the guests at this gig.
Not surprisingly House of Sleep was played as an encore: but this time it was cool to hear how this more than familiar hit song got a completely new vibe in it, as Anneke was again dueting with Tomi!
So the great evening was finished. Yet the special gigs will continue later in this year: it's ten years since the release of Eclipse, so these gigs will celebrate also the ten years that Tomi Joutsen has been as Amorphis' frontman. They will play Eclipse in it's entirety from the beginning to the end, besides there will be songs from both Silent Waters and Skyforger along as well. So, to the next time!
- Tales from the thousand lakes -
I had a chance to see one of these anniversary gigs at Tuska Open Air in Helsinki. It indeed was great and unique chance to witness Tales being entirely played live, even if I did think that the atmosphere of these songs could fit even better to a smaller club gig than to summerlike festival gig. Nevertheless also the visual side of the gig looked beautiful, suiting the music, as the classic eagle picture from the Black Winter Day-artwork was printed in the backdrop and also the big pyrotechnics were quite a cool.
Of course the band has performed also these older songs from the early era several times with Tomi Joutsen, so even though the band played Tales in it's entirety from the beginning to the end, certain songs as "Joutsen-era versions" were already familiar to me. But First Doom, Forgotten Sunrise and To Father's Cabin were the ones that I heard for the first time sang by Tomi - and overall as live performs. The voice of Ville Tuomi is an essential part of the original To Father's Cabin, but in my opinion this live version sang by Tomi worked well in it's own way, too. Also Magic & Mayhem, In the Beginning and especially Drowned Maid were the highlights for me.
Also the song choices in encore were picked from the albums of the early era, as they played Vulgar Necrolatry from The Karelian Isthmus-debut, Better Unborn and My Kantele from Elegy, and the atmospheric piano instrumental Folk of the North from Black Winter Day-EP was played as a last song. This kind of special gigs are always refreshing and great to witness, no doubt about it.
Thousand Lakes
Into Hiding
The Castaway
First Doom
Black Winter Day
Drowned Maid
In the Beginning
Forgotten Sunrise
To Father's Cabin
Magic and Mayhem
---
Vulgar Necrolatry
Better Unborn
My Kantele
Folk of the North
... and yet another hometown-gig
So the typically dark and cold November evening got a completely different mood, while listening to music of uplifting kind (Suede and David Bowie in my case) and going to see a live music perform's energy.
Mari's Coffee was already a familiar venue to me, since my friends have played there as well - that's how I knew that it could be very intimate setting especially for band like Amorphis is and got curious because of that. After all it's quite small place, kind of mix of restaurant / cafeteria, bar and gig site. It was going to be an interesting gig due to all these aspects.
And I wasn't wrong after all. This one the most intimate gig from this band that I have seen so far, having figuratively ”playing in a livingroom”-feeling, so the atmosphere was certainly tangible. Must even say that witnessing some of my favourites (Brother Moon, Drowned Maid, Weeper On the Shore, From the Heaven of My Heart) in this kind of setting will be among my most memoriable gig experiences.
The audience seemed to be full of energy as well, but I don't think it's wonder as Amorphis doesn't visit in this corner of country that often after all! Can't say the exact number of the people there, but at least hundred anyway. People could stand right next to the stage - even though the stage was really low, there wasn't a barrier like usually. And there was seemingly a low ceiling as well; when Tomi rose to his platform and uplifted the microphone in his hand, he hit it to a spotlight in the ceiling...
So the gig itself was enjoyable also for the set list. This time there were no acoustic guitars though, but they still played that new arrangement of My Kantele. Since they didn't play Drowned Maid in Lahti's gig month ago, I was glad that it was included in the set this time.
Yet it was pity that Tomi K seemed to have some technical problems with his instrument, now and then he had to run away from the stage with the guitar. Nevertheless the sympathetic rhythm guitarist seemed to be in good mood and was smiling a lot, as usual, and after House of Sleep he even shook hands with people close to the stage (I managed as well, though honestly it was more like a quick slap than decent handshake, heh).
Great evening indeed.
Set list (not in particular order)
Circle (Shades of Grey)-intro
Hopeless Days
Silver Bride
Narrow Path
The Smoke
Brother Moon
Drowned Maid
Weeper On the Shore
Weaving the Incantation
Black Winter Day
Sky Is Mine
Silent Waters
My Kantele
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Skyforger-intro
From the Heaven of My Heart
The Wanderer
House of Sleep
Yes, again saw an Amorphis-gig, but this time it felt rather different. There were changes and even surprises on the setlist, besides this gig happened to be close to my birthday, so why not to celebrate it with live music perform as well.
When I found out that they are going to do an autumn tour in Finland, at first I was thinking that I don't bother to see a gig this time, as the latest couple of gigs where I have been at, were lacking "that something". I'm not saying that they weren't good gigs but they did suffer of the same generic set list and song choices. However there was an exception as well, as one of my dreams came true; in April they did come to my hometown, at last! This gig in a small rock bar felt quite a special one to me, due to such a rare chance and intimate atmosphere (which was due to a small venue, the capacity of this rock bar is about 300 persons) - besides I finally managed to be in the photo with Tomi K as well.
Yet I have to admit that it was pity that I missed their special gig in Savonlinna last July, where they played Eclipse in it's entirety and also some other rarities. It was mainly due to money- and time issues, in July I rather went to Ruisrock festival for the first time in my life and payed that ticket price.
This time the gig started with Hopeless Days. Next ones were Silver Bride, Narrow Path and The Smoke - so it was pretty much normal kind of beginning for an Amorphis-gig. Yet Esa played quite a atmospheric Pink Floyd-ish guitar part as an intro for The Smoke. But when it comes to guitar playing style, Esa actually could be kind of Finnish counterpart for David Gilmour, with a little heavy twist though.
Then it's always a moment of joy, when my all-time favourite Amo-song is played live (and that certainly doesn't happen every time). But this time Brother Moon sounded even better than before, since Esa played the intro with authentic acoustic guitar and also Tomi's vocals sounded great on this one.
From Tales from the Thousand Lakes Black Winter Day was included on the set, even though I would have prefer Drowned Maid over it. But Black Winter Day is not a bad choice either, after all it's one of these Amo-classics; and fitting for the current season.
Then it's always a good thing when something from Elegy is played - there was Against Widows, but something more surprising from the same album was coming up after it. Weeper on the Shore is a song that they have never played during the time when Tomi Joutsen has been the frontman, so it was a true rarity on the set. Rarity indeed - when Sande started to play the keyboard intro, some drunken man in the audience was wondering aloud; "what song is this one?". I have always liked this song a lot, so it was really interesting to hear how it would sound with Tomi's vocals. Pasi Koskinen's voice on the original version is one reason why this song sounds like it sounds, but I must say that also this version with Tomi was magnificent in it's own way!
This band seems usually cheerful, but to me it seemed like this time they were in even more joyful mood. At least the sympathetic guitarists Tomi K and Esa were grinning to each other almost constantly, and so was Sande as well behind his keyboards. Well, Tomi K seemed the most joyful of them all, being all smiles during the whole gig - I think that he made a little smile even at me. Though behind the drum kit Snoopy was looking rather serious like Neil Peart at least, hehe.
It was nice to hear also Silent Waters for a long time, same with Weaving the Incantation and Majestic Beast.
But before encore it was turn of quite a moving moment, as this time they played a new, different arrangement of My Kantele. It was kind of mixture of all the three versions; original electric version from Elegy, acoustic reprise, and re-recorded version with Tomi's vocals from Magic and Mayhem-collection album. Esa and Tomi K were playing acoustic guitars, while Tomi was singing beautiful clean vocals. Little by little the perform started to grow "flesh on the bones"; drums came along and eventually electric guitars, with the last verse of growled vocals, and then the song was finished with a melodic guitar solo. Impressive arrangement, if you ask me.
Encore started with Skyforger-intro, and after it there was another moving moment. I have always loved also From the Heaven of My Heart, because at the same time it's intriguingly delicate and beautiful yet powerful song. So it was great to hear the live version after a long time, besides Sande and Esa played the full intro with keyboards and guitar.
Next one was The Wanderer and the last song was - not so surprisingly - House of Sleep. So the gig was finished, but to me this was the best Amo-gig during the latest two years, due to the changes and surprises in the set and the overall feeling during the gig. Somehow the entire atmosphere took a grasp of me, reminding me of the feelings that I had when I was recently discovered the band and saw my first gigs six years ago. And it was great to realize that sometimes those feelings of novelty can be back.
Set list (not in particular order)
Circle (Shades of Grey)-intro
Hopeless Days
Silver Bride
Narrow Path
The Smoke
Brother Moon (with acoustic intro)
Mermaid
Against Widows
Weeper On the Shore
Black Winter Day
Weaving the Incantation
Majestic Beast
Silent Waters
My Kantele (a new arrangement)
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Skyforger-intro
From the Heaven of My Heart (full intro)
The Wanderer
House of Sleep