When the sun goes down gradually on the last day of June, there are again some premieres waiting for me: For the first time "Alakerta", for the first time The Blanko Live and for the first time The Cajunga Live who are the main act on this summer evening.
Shortly before The Blanko enter the stage, "Alakerta" is getting filled visibly - and then it already starts! Actually there is not much to say about the show: The band around singer and guitar player Pauli Hauta-aho, who also serves the six-string instrument for the Leningrad Cowboys, does their performance without any bells and whistles and knows how to enthral the audience only by their music. They do it so well that even the Finnish folk which is rather known as introverted beams with joy, claps along and even stomps along. This euphoria culminates when the band leaves the stage and the audience intensifies their activities (mafficking, clapping, stomping) to persuade the band to play at least one bonus. People cheer and applause when Pauli comes back on stage - but only to inform that The Blanko will play next week in "Lepakkomies" and that you should come there if you want to see more. Ouch, that hit home! The audience is visible and hearable disappointed and before you can say knife "Alakerta" empties out.
During the show I myself believe in a high rating but how the audience get pole-axed with this very idiosyncratic method of marketing... Oh boy! They could have play one song at least! Thus you put your fans off with the hope that they will come back next time again. Honestly, I`m a bit sceptical if it will really work that way...
Was there something else? Oh right, The Cajunga! The actual main act may rock in front of just about ten people - including the club`s staff. Oh yes, it`s a sad setting which the band from Turku doesn`t deserve at all!
Their songs "Dying To Tell You", "The Others", "Joe Hill" or also their last single release "Dancing With The Boys" are actually the ticket for the summer: Loosey-goosey independent-songs as you know it from bands like Kaiser Chiefs and which are extremely catchy. Or in other words: Who feels like home at the Hurricane festival will find his / her pleasure in their music. If not for them, the rating for this live review would have achieved not even the average level. There´s still this bitter aftertaste ...
