Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Vizovice, Czech Republic

13.7.08 Vizovice, Tsekin Tasavalta

Nonni, vuorossa oli ensimmäinen keikka Tsekeissä. Saavuttiin jo edellispäivänä mestoille erääseen hotelliin lähellä Masters Of Rock-festarialuetta. Tai no, ei ihan vieressä ollut, varmaan about 30 km oli matkaa. Onneksi ei tarvinnut kävellä. Lennettiin Itävällan puolelle ja sieltä meillä oli paketti-auto kuljetus Tsekkeihin. Tuli nähtyä maisemia. Käytiin ”tankkaamassa” huoltoasemalta hieman evästä. Mutta asiaan; Hotellin yhteydessä oli Kiinalainen ravintola. Arviolta 20 askelta hotellihuoneeni ovelta käytävää pitkin suoraan ravintolaan. No ei siitä sen enempää, mutta tulipahan syötyä. Ja sitten nukkumaan. Mr. Zachary Hietala soitti jossain vaiheessa kysyäkseen, että ”Et kai vaan ollut nukkumassa?” Taidettiin Kainulaisen kanssa soitella hänelle edellisenä yönä Italiasta pikkutunneilla..Ihan vaan kuulumisia..Illalla käytiin katsomassa Apocalyptican konsertti. Ilma ei ollut mitä parhain. Oikea ukkosmyrsky.

Itse keikkapäivänä meillä oli puolen tunnin nimmarisessio. Mukava oli tavata faneja. Ennen keikkaa ilma alkoi pahaenteisesti muistuttaa edellis-illan tapaan huonolta. Tuuli puhalsi ja pilviä alkoi kertymään. Juuri ennen kuin meidän oli aika kavuta lauteille, olikin jo oikea ukkosmyräkkä käynnissä. Keikkaa siirrettiin ainakin puoli tuntia. Lopulta pääsimme soittamaan, vaikkakin hieman vettä tiputteli, ja eipä aikaakaan kun virrat meni poikki. Olipa aikas mielenkiintoista jököttää lavalla varmaan 15 minuuttia ja ihmetellä. Kitarani ei ollut pimeänä, vain syntikat ja muuta. Tonyn laulumikki alkoi toimia jossain vaiheessa ja Tony päätti pro- elkein tappaa aikaa laulamalla yleisölle Full Moonia yksikseen. Yleisö alkoi sitten huutaa ”sooloa” ja päätin tarttua tilaisuuteen ja aloin soittaa omaa Child In Time-mukaelmaa ja kuin ”salaman iskusta” (heh) virrat tulivat takaisin päälle ja pojat lähtivät soittamaan mukana. Vesisateesta ja huonosta kelistä huolimatta yleisö oli uskollisesti seuraamassa keikkaa, eikä yleisökatoa ollut. Mahtava meininki.

07/13/08 Vizovice, Czech Republic

Rock and roll! It was time for my first show in Czech Republic ever. We were there already the day before, so we had some time to chill. The hotel was about 30 km away from the Masters Of Rock Festival area. I´m glad we didn´t have to walk. Well ok, back to the story. There was a Chinese restaurant at the hotel. Only maybe 20 steps from my hotel room. We ate alright, as you can only imagine. And then back to bed. Mr. Zachary Hietala woke me up by phoning me just to ask “I didn´t wake you up, did I?” I think we woke him up with Mr. Kainulainen the day before, in the middle of the night, when we gave him a call to Finland..Just to ask how´s he been...So, when the night came we went to see Apocalyptica´s show..The weather wasn´t so good. There was thunder and lightning…

So the show day came, we ate again Chinese food..In the afternoon we had a signing session. It was nice to meet the fans again. Right before our show time the weather started to change..It started to be very windy and the clouds were gathering to the sky. And again it was a terrible thundery thing going on..Our show was delayed at least for 30 minutes. It sucked. Finally when we got on stage it was only a matter of time when the power was suddenly off. It was really “interesting” to stand on stage about 15 minutes and just.. wonder..My guitar was still working but Henrik´s keys were down and some other stuff as well. Tony´s mic started to work at some point so he acted like pros do and started to sing Full Moon for the fans. Well, after that the crowd started to chant for “solo”, so I went for it and started to play my Child In Time-lead alone and suddenly like from the clear sky, out of the blue, the power was on again and the guys started to play with me. It was magical….Despite of the rainy weather the crowd was faithfully enjoying our show. What a magical evening. Really enjoyed it.

8 comments:

Haselnuth said...

I have to say that your gig was the best one I saw this year (...mostly because I couldn't see anything at Avantasia.. nah, kidding.) It was worth staying in heat and rain all day long. I'm still singing FullMoon.... hope it will find its way on the next MoR dvd.
Seeing forward to your next shows in germany, I'll be there :)
Lots of fun,
Insa

Heiliger Geist said...

"Evil Power". ahahaha
I hope the fans liked the show.
And i guess yes, you still Sonata Arctica! :)
And was a magical evening !

Paula said...

Hei Elias!

It's been pretty long time since the last blog post, so it's nice to see you back again :)
Well, despite some technical problems, I see that you are enjoying the shows so much, which is the important thing.
Awww... and I envy you, you can see Apocalyptica very frequently ;)

Have lots of fun and take care,
Paula.

mirai_moon said...

HAHAHA!
"Evill power drinks "♪(LOL)  :D !!!!  
Amusing(Fun) :D !

Please enjoy (drinking) and perform(enjoy playing of guitar)
to one's heart's content :) .
(you guys are also similar :) . )
Hope u'll take good care!!!!!


Thank you very much for happy(Amusing) photograph!
Kiitos :) !!!!

susane said...

Hi,
I appreciate you had come to the Masters of Rock 2008 in Vizovice – I think - you are the Masters! I was there first of all because of YOU. Thank YOU for coming.
Yours show was very... GREAT and exciting (not only) for me - thanks a lot...

susane said...

Hi Sonata Arctica!
I appreciate you came to the Masters of Rock 2008 in Vizovice – I think - you are the Masters! I was there first of all because of YOU. Thank YOU for coming.
Your show was really... GREAT and exciting (not only) for me:-)

Thanks a lot, you are doing a very very good job!

Nefi Kuolema said...

It really was a magical evening...I'm sure, because I was there ;)
I must say I saw many gigs in my life.. And some of them were amazing... But Sonata Arctica's show on Masters Of Rock was one of the best! I was going to see Within Temptation after SA gig, but I didn't. You guys gave me so much power and everything that I felt to go home after your gig - just to have the best conclusion of the festival... I was leaving with a smile on my face, warmth in my heard and absolutely clear mind. Thank you for everything guys. It was unbelievable!
Cheers and hopefully see you soon (you should go to Czech Republic more often ;))
Nefi

ROCKV said...

I saw a video of you guys at this concert and I have to say that was extremely impressive of you guys playing fullmoon alone... everyone seemed to have fun despite the horrible weather haha.