Fun, celebration, lots of beer, beer, and yet more beer. That is what I mean — I mean the concert by Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI at moscow's Relax on 16 October. Nothing more joyful or carefree is possible to imagine. The band with such a beautiful name was once called SHAMAN, recording two albums in Finnish, after which the band's leader — guitarist and vocalist Jonne Järvelä — disbanded the project, only to form a new one. Despite the Finnish name, all songs are performed in English; the music became heavier, while the band — in addition to Jonne, a guitarist, bassist, and drummer — also includes a violinist and an accordionist, characters typically associated with folk rock. Two albums were recorded under this project as well — Spirit Of The Forest in 2003 and Voice Of Wilderness in 2005. As part of the tour dedicated to the new album, the band visited russia, giving two concerts — in st. petersburg and in moscow. The moscow concert took place at the Relax club — a venue that this year had already hosted ENSIFERUM and MOONSORROW, KORPIKLAANI's fellow countrymen also directly connected to Finnish folk.
This concert was one of those rare occasions where the support acts were absolutely on-point in every respect. Opening the evening was the moscow pagan metal band ARKONA — less than a month had passed since Masha Scream, Lazar, Vlad, and Knyaz had warmed up for MOONSORROW. Compared to that performance, this one was more interesting, more emotional, more intense, and the sound was vastly superior; the programme was generally similar.
The next band performed their set almost longer than KORPIKLAANI themselves — these were TROLL GNET EL (hereafter TGE). The band occupies an honourable second place in popularity among all folk bands in the country, yielding only to MELNITSA. Since 2003, this st. petersburg band has periodically performed in moscow, drawing large crowds (few other domestic bands of this genre can boast a sellout at the Tochka). Honestly, a considerable portion of the people present that day had come specifically because TGE was on the bill. The band spent some time tuning up, then the drummer, bassist, and fiddler appeared on stage, followed by Dzhetta with his recorder, and finally the portly Kostya Trol himself with guitar and a large wooden tankard of beer. People were dancing in circles (unlike at MELNITSA concerts, the pace was about twice as fast), performing folk dances, and generally carrying on so actively that they were later barely able to stand. Particularly boisterous was the reaction to "Prazdnik Pokhmylaynen"; Kostya delivered a substantial philosophical preamble: "Our Finnish friends from KORPIKLAANI, and indeed, as with us, people frequently overindulge... for precisely that reason we dedicate this song to them."
By the time the Trolls' set ended, navigating the Relax had become genuinely hazardous. The reason was simple: to say people had drunk a lot of beer that day would be saying nothing; not much less of the consumed beer had been spilt, spreading an identical aroma throughout the entire club, while the floor had become terrifyingly slippery — people were constantly sliding on it.
A break; the side doors of the club were opened — a genuinely wise decision, as by now one could practically suffocate in the hall. Several benches placed outside were instantly occupied by people who could barely stand. But some 20 minutes later and everyone seemed to find their second wind — because during the KORPIKLAANI set, with all the will in the world, it was impossible to stand passively and observe. And the reason for that was, of course, the behaviour of the band itself and their carefree leader — vocalist and guitarist Jonne. A more entertaining frontman is difficult to imagine. In short — it had to be seen. Now in more detail about the main event of that evening.
The musicians did not take long to tune up; literally bounding onto the stage, they launched into the second track from the latest album, "Journey Man," immediately making clear what kind of concert this would be. Jonne did not merely sing and play — he danced with his guitar, running around the small Relax stage and tormenting his musicians. "Before The Morning Sun" — one of the band's most interesting compositions — flowed into "Hunting Song" and on and on. After a few compositions, during which Jonne found time to give a friendly beating to the intently playing and completely unsmiling violinist, and to make the accordionist thoroughly drenched — Jonne simply climbed up to the drummer's platform and, filling his mouth with water, began spitting it at the unfortunate owner of the button accordion. A few more songs, then one of the band's most celebrated compositions — the title track from the debut album, "Spirit Of The Forest" — which the entire hall sang along to; then "Cottages & Saunas," and again the entire hall joined in — the true anthem of the evening — "Beer Beer." The instrumental "Pixies Dance" concluded the main portion of the set. Literally minutes later the Finns were back on stage, performing "You Looked Into My Eyes," and then came a pleasant surprise in the form of "Ii Lea Voibmi" from the second SHAMAN album Shamaniac. "Ryyppajaiset" closed this brilliant concert, after which Jonne bid a prolonged and passionate farewell to the hall; at the culmination of this farewell he climbed over the barrier and was crowd-surfed for several seconds.
After which, finding himself back on stage, he left it — and half an hour later appeared together with the musicians at the bar, posing for photos with everyone who wanted one and signing autographs.
The most joyful concert — it is even difficult to compare it with anything else. An ocean of beer and fun; in other words, a genuine celebration.
Special thanks to Mendor for the accreditation provided.
Report by Alan
Setlist:
1. Journey Man 2. Before The Morning Sun 3. Hunting Song 4. Fields IN FLAMES 5. Pine Woods 6. Old Tale 7. Wooden Pints 8. Pellonpekko 9. Spirit Of The Forest 10. Cottages & Saunas 11. Beer Beer 12. Pixies Dance
Encore: 13. You Looked Into My Eyes 14. Ii Lea Voibmi 15. Ryyppajaiset