Monday, 1 July 2013

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

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