Friday, 5 July 2013

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

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