Nine Inch Nails @ Old Ice Hall in Helsinki

NIN played in Helsinki on Tuesday, 10th of April. Or.. Trent Reznor and some guys whose names escape me. Nevertheless, the gig was pretty decent. To my surprise it was the older songs that stood out from the set. The newer ones just did not work live.

This was the last gig of NIN's European Tour, and although Trent's voice was ailing at times, he managed to top my expectations.

I've always had a good respect for the finnish audience. It was amazing to witness when the almost sold out house showed how it can stay pretty silent during the Hurt.

Scorch Trio at Umo

The notion of "immersiveness", "flow" etc. are typically associated with highly engaging gaming experience. But last night, on Friday Sep 1, I experienced one of the most immersive experiences for a long, long time. Free jazz power trio, Scorch Trio played an improvised song that lasted more than 30 minutes, I guess, I was not counting. But I was totally inside the music, heart beating faster, sweating, could not move...

How could that happen? We all know that free jazz is fun to play, but horrible to listen to. What sucked me in to the flow? I need more of this to find out.

Kid Koala @ Ilosaarirock 2006

This year Ilosaarirock was the same than it always has been at least for the past fifteen odd years I have been going there, mostly irrelevant music but in a cozy, relaxed settings. For me Ilosaarirock is not about music, but meeting old childhood friends.

Nevertheless Kid Koala was absolutely stunning with his three turntables. He was just amazing. I had never seen anyone using turntables like him. He for example produced melodies just by hopping wih the needle from groove to groove. He created totally new textures on top of evergreens and even yes... Slayer's Raining Blood (although I think he used Amon Tobin's version as the basis). I will definitely want to see him again.

Von Hertzen Brothers @ Tavastia

Von H Bros played at Tavastia. The band was a very positive surpise. Hadn't heard them before, but kind of enjoyed their epic prog-rock and 70s references. Surprisingly, the gig appeared to be almost sold-out. They appear to have very many friends (and fans).

John Zorn & Cobra

I managed to get a ticket to the sold-out Cobra gig. It was at Helsinki UMO Jazz House on Tuesday March 7th.

Zorn conducted (or prompted) a 12-piece band consisting of top Finnish jazz musicians. The chaotic but controlled free jazz noise was based on his of game pieces concept. The gig was one of the most intense music performances I have ever experienced, and I have had my share of intense live performances thanks to Mike Patton.

After the gig I asked the keyboardist of the band about the logic of the cue cards Zorn was using to prompt the band. He told me the obvious and then said "... hell, I don't even know or remember all of them..."

Porvarit, oopperamurhaajat, pikkuhitlerit!!!

[See english translation at the bottom] Sunnuntai-illan KOM-teatterin 35v-juhlakonsertti oli upea. Harvoin kolme tuntia menee näin siivillä. Tupa oli täynnä ja tunnelma harras. Presidentinvaalien ääntenlaskenta ja Pekka Milonoffin sen epävirallinen tulostiedotus toi vielä ekstrasäväyksen. Yllättävän vähän oli mariraitaa havaittavissa. [KOM-theatre 35 yr anniversary kicked helluva ass!!!]

Rubik @ Tavastia, Aug 20

Rubik, one of the finest in Finnish indie pop.

Juliette & The Licks @ Tavastia, Aug 5

What a brilliant gig. One of the most intense I've ever been to. Juliette is a hardcore rock'n'roll singer and performer (yeah, she can act too...). Never seen anyone even remotely like her. Her band, The Licks, was extremely tight. A night to remember.