It's 6:33 in the morning here and I just got back home from the Mokena/Chicago, IL Paganfest show. The most exhilarating performance, fiery and magical... And I still can't believe that finally at last, after all those years of waiting and hoping, I saw Korpiklaani live!
I'm too exhausted right now to write more and share the memories, but I'll come back and edit this post by writing more after I get lots of sleep and rest...
EDIT! :Got lots of sleep and rest... yet the memories are still whirling and exhilarating, refusing to settle down.
The account of the day should start at the very beginning... This Paganfest show was happening at the same venue - Pearl Room - as last year's Paganfest, and since it's in the suburb of Chicago and not in the city proper, the security is comparatively more laid back and as long as everybody plays nice they won't interfere. There's a wide parking lot right in front of the venue's entrance, it's away from the road on a strip mall plaza.
I live about 3 hours (driving by car) away from this place to the North, in Wisconsin. As soon as I heard last year that Korpiklaani are gonna tour US, I made sure to get the day off work on May 7, 2009 - so the day was reserved and waiting. I headed out to Chicago the night before the show, to spend the night there and so avoid heavy traffic. The plan was simple: arrive to the venue on the early morning of the show, and spend the whole day there in anticipation, celebrating and drinking and enjoying the company of like-minded folks. I didn't know how many people will come to this show for the sake of Korpiklaani, but this pre-show party in the parking lot will be very obvious to see, and of course everyone will be welcome to (and indeed very encouraged!) to join us. I posted on this thread about this plan earlier too. What's better than a cheerful fraternal get-together of people who enjoy Korpiklaani's music? And their show here is truly an event to celebrate, get the good mood started early
This is what I loaded into the trunk of my car...
And this is just for
before the show! I figured, if we run out of booze, there's a liquor shop just a few miles away ;D
I arrived to the venue around 11:00 in the morning, it was completely empty and the sun was shining, promising to be a warm day. The parking lot was empty, so I got the best spot - right in front of the entrance. I couldn't wait, so I got my tobacco pipe going and got started with the beer. It's not just for breakfast anymore!...
Anwend who also posts here got to the venue around 13:00, I shoved a beer in his hand, and we had a great time catching up from not having seen each other in half a year. At one point we were approached by the venue security dude (or show organizer?) who asked us if we were with the bands or vendors - I said we're waiting for the doors to open and came early for a good time before the show, and he let us be. Very, very grateful that this is not inside Chicago city... We had open beers in our hands and he didn't say a word.
Soon another of my friends arrived and joined our party. Beers were warm by now, but who cares? It brings out more flavor! I loaded the entire Korpiklaani's discography into my car's CD player and cranked up the volume
llloooouuuuudddd. Some folk-dancing was clearly threatening to erupt even before the show began.
Slowly, as time went by, other concert attendees began to trickle in. There were a bunch of fellows walking to and fro in front of venue doors, trying to peek inside the closed curtained windows and trying to pull on the obviously locked venue door again and again, even though there was a sign on it that said it won't open till 17:30... They kept giving us leery looks and kept their distance. Oh well - that didn't diminish our good cheer at all.
Last year's Paganfest was at this same venue too, and there were a number of people on the parking lot then - we were tailgating, other folks were tailgating, then we all got in a larger group and had a great party while waiting for doors to open. So much enthusiasm as then I've never seen at metal shows here before - I thought it's because folk metal brings out more genuine, down-to-earth, fun-loving folks who are out to enjoy a good time. There was so much camaraderie a year ago. People talking discussing folklore, strangers complimenting each other on obscure metal band shirts when they recognize a favorite (and not afraid to sound like geeks by expressing their enthusiasm), sharing beers - you know what I mean. Also because Paganfest consists of those kind of bands that if you love their music, you
really love their music - and so many people then were bursting with excitement to see those bands live.
So this was exactly what I wanted to get started again this time for this Paganfest show. I was there on the parking lot with friends and drinks and music, enjoying and having a great time. I was surprised that nobody else did it this year, or joined us - indeed the crowd this year looked to be a different crowd than last year's. (Hey I don't complain at all - they filled the venue and Korpiklaani had a packed hall to play in
). Probably because at this venue, Paganfest was part of a larger festival called Powerfest that would take place in the two days following this show, and Powerfest's lineup this year was more mainstream metal, thus attracting more of a different crowd this year, who simply bought an all-weekend pass.
More and more people kept pulling up in their cars as the time passed - many Ensiferum shirts, some Tyr shirts (one of which was worn by a 60+ years old fellow, very cool), lots of Amon Amarth, Eluveitie and Alestorm shirts, saw one dude in a Windir shirt. Some of those people just marched silently to line up by the doors, other people who parked their cars (not far from where we were tailgating) just sat in their cars silently and looked at us blankly and awkwardly. I figured that most of these kids came out to see Moonsorrow/Primordial mostly, which (compared to Korpiklaani) are more introverted/introspective/somber kind of music, and for those kids it was just another regular straight-up metal show, not the special event that it was for us. Among the whole pre-show lining up crowd, I only saw one other person wearing a Korpiklaani shirt (which is hard to find here unless you really know where to look) - I was going to approach him and invite him for a beer with us but then he vanished somewhere when I wasn't looking and I didn't see him again. Just a few minutes before the doors opened, it started raining - perfect timing! We had a whole enjoyable day outside, and weather was great while we were there. Besides, there were some fast food joints nearby, which was perfect for restroom facilities (you know you never buy your beer, you only rent it...). So now the doors opened and people were allowed to start entering the venue, and I sneaked my Jagermeister flask inside in my pants pocket without the security noticing (here in US every venue wants you to buy their own expensive alcohol and never allow drinks/food to be brought in). The security were giving some people pat-down searches, but I just went in without anyone stopping me.
Once inside, I went by the merch stands. Merch report: Moonsorrow had a US tour shirt with statue of liberty and viking ship, a shirt where their logo is like a beer label, a longsleeve with "under branches of dead trees" picture/lyrics and hoodie with same back print as longsleeve. Korpiklaani had a US tour "I was drinking with Korpiklaani" shirt, the black and white Finland shirt with skull, Runic shirt/hoodie, and I think also elaborate logo girlie shirt (I never pay much attention to girlie shirts though, preferring to get just a regular small or medium shirt). Primordial... I don't remember their shirts, but they had a few. All t-shirts were reasonably priced at $20 (big change from last year's Paganfest, when t-shirts cost $30!), all bands had CD also reasonably priced. Of other vendors, Digger was there with his Leather works (he supplied leather armor for Tyr, Behemoth, etc) - also drove many hours to be here tonight.
After looking at the merch by the entrance, I moved on towards the stage and found my friends up front with just enough space for us - instantly a pint of cold beer was inserted into my hand (thanks, Renae!) and the adventure was only getting started.
First band: Swashbuckle. I expected great flamboyancy, with such a name and lyrical theme, but it was actually just a three-piece band. They played honestly and really put effort into it, for which they get my respect. This stage was too big for just two dudes up front plus a drummer, but they had their pirate costumes on (including the drummer) and played a pretty tight set of fast-paced, straight-up metal. It takes guts to go all the way with their concept on such a big stage when their band is so small, but they pulled it off. Complete with inflatable palm trees. (I'll be honest... I've seen Alestorm play a few months ago with Tyr, and Alestorm did not impress me at all - at the very least, because they went onstage dressed "as they are": metal shirts, hawaiian shirts, etc - no silly flamboyant pirate clothes that their silly flamboyant pirate music so demands. So their music was silly, but they weren't - as if full of self-irony, they distanced themselves from their concept, and it didn't work on stage, for me at least. Swashbuckle however really dived into their concept head first and went all the way, meanwhile giving it an honest effort). I can't say I remember their actual music from that night, but they get horns from me for great effort.
Second opener: Blackguard. After the three-piece minimalism of Swashbuckle, suddenly the stage was full of Blackguard members, lights were flashing, and they played a whirling set. I remember (vaguely!) lots of guitars, soloing, and bright yellow/red/orange colors. Once again, I've never heard (of) these guys before that night either, but their stage presence was good and each of them was absorbed into his playing and knew what he was doing, it didn't seem like a bunch of players milling around the stage in forced effort but a tight, intense single unit.
When it comes to discovering new bands at live shows, I would say that stage presence matters even more than the quality of the music. When you see a band really on fire, really comfortable in their zone, and really masterful of the material that they play, your attitude towards them is more welcoming even if the music is not your style. (And after listening to such a band again later, you will remember the intensity of their performance and may even develop a liking for their music.) So anyway, though I don't remember what Blackguard was playing, their set flew by and they held my attention, I wasn't counting down the songs and waiting for their set to end. Another great effort, and my respect.
Their set being done, the pause between the bands was longer now, with longer gear set-up and longer sound checks, for Moonsorrow was about to take the stage. Moonsorrow was another band I've been looking forward to see so much - I wasn't able to make it to Heathen Crusade I and III in Minneapolis where they had their only two US gigs of their career so far, and this was such a treat to have them be on the same tour as Korpiklaani here in the States. The lights now dimmed... was there smoke on stage or was my imagination already transporting me to the desolate majestic Northern soundscapes of their creation? Out they come... and they open up with "Kylän Päässä", of all songs!!! I was really hoping for something off "Voimasta Ja Kunniasta", but this one I did not even expect! It's my most favorite Moonsorrow album, and this is a very particular song. Suffice to say, my hair went flying and I was a mortal peril to anyone standing nearby ;D What great intensity are Moonsorrow live... Their sound was monumental - if there was anything wrong with this live mix I didn't even realize it for a second. I was so completely absorbed in this musical deluge that was pouring from the stage; my feeling of conscious self-awareness departed - it's a rare performance that makes you forget that you are standing there at a metal show watching it, and instead with its vehemence it so completely involves you into this music, until it seems like nothing else exists... This is a great and rare feeling at a music concert - of any genre. I have been to so many metal and classical music concerts over the years, and I treasure these occasions when music is played so passionately that it completely overtakes me and makes me forget everything else in the world.
After a period of time that seemed like forever in the best way, Moonsorrow were done with their set and left the stage. Dazed and 'shellshocked' after their set, I've decided to walk around a bit during the intermission. Before the show started, I had taken off my leather hat that I was wearing up to that point (the one in pic) and set it in the quiet dark corner of the stage no more than 8 feet away from me, so it wouldn't be damaged in the crowd (no thanks to the lame venue policy of not letting people out of the venue after they went in - I wanted to take it back to my car but they reminded me there's no "re-entrance" and I'd have to pay again to get in). So the Moonsorrow set was over, and as I walked around the rail to check on my hat, it was gone - and I saw no more of it. Security didn't see anything, lost & found didn't see anything. I'm guessing that it wasn't some audience member who stole it (it's hard to steal a hat like that at a show unnoticed - any one in the crowd could potentially recognize it in the thief's hands or head) - it was more likely that some techie or roadie thought it belonged to one of the bands or road crew and carried it off backstage. Oh well, what can ya do? They can have it with my blessing. I was a bit bummed (more at my own lack of discretion than anything), but at least I remembered the hat's brand/maker, and can hunt down an exact replacement for it. Also it occurred to me that this intermission was a good time to get hydrated with some water - the venue bar charged $4 a bottle, so instead I went to the washing sink in the restroom where the water's free.
When I got back to the front of the stage, Primordial was already in full swing. Do I regret now missing their first songs? - a firm resounding Yes! - but it was a very important trade-off: getting hydrated and refreshed was my top priority, with Korpiklaani still to come. I remember getting back to the spot where my friends were saving my place, looking at the stage, and thinking - "Wow..." I have never actually gotten to check out Primordial before (apart from some few casual listens that don't count), and they blew me away. What an incredible stage presence Nemtheanga has. Without having heard these songs before, I could still instantly connect to this musical flow - perhaps I was still in the Moonsorrow zone, and indeed these two bands are great to have together on the same tour. I very distinctly remember how refreshing and cathartic this performance felt to me. I wasn't even headbanging, I don't think, but just watching it, spellbound, was enough to evoke this feeling.
And then their set was over and we all know what comes next! Cheers went up as the stage banner for Korpiklaani was raised, and the hall was more crowded now than before. I'm guessing that all the drinking folk metal people with whom it would have been fun to have some beers before the show actually just started to come in and move forward - where were they before? But no matter... I've been hoping and waiting and more hoping and waiting six+ years for this!!! Finally I could have the real live experience of a Korpiklaani show. I was trying to make my way towards the center from my corner, and maybe even get to the front. The show began - "Journeyman!" - and it's definitely true that this music live exceeds the energy of the recordings, no matter how many times I've heard those songs before - there's just no substitute for actually being there!... And then, as I was edging my way closer to the front, there came the rhythmic sonic whirlwind of "Viima" and absolutely possessed me, and I sent the front & center position to hell at once and headed straight for the pit ;D My legs just carried me, rather - words can't express the amount of energy and electricity that this live show caused to erupt, in me and in all! There were folks in the mosh pit spontaneously linking arms and doing impromptu folk dances in a great whirling circle of bacchanalian fervor (myself among them) : if we weren't all drunk with booze we'd still be drunk to the point of stupor with simply having so much fun!
Don't ask me to name all the songs in the set though, cause it's like asking me to do algebra in a condition like that ;D But I remember all of it and was singing along and dancing/whirling along and becoming one with the music.
ALL of the drinking anthems were represented, and some great surprises too.. What an incredible show, and what energy!
A great and big
thank you for finally making it out into the States! And for taking the time after the show to meet and share a good conversation even though it was already after 2 in the morning and you were tired after a long day.
And now, a drink to more American tours in the future!