The Post-Apocalypse (APOst)
Review of Apocalyptica concert in Düsseldorf (by Regje)
We arrived at the venue way too early. I won't say how early because it's ridiculous. But early enough to see the tour bus arrive (which arrived extremely early as well).
At 9 ‘o clock other people started arriving and more and more people came during the day.
After some time Terrë came to us to tell us the management and the band asked us not to stand in the front row, because they wanted other people to also have a chance. Besides, we usually just stand there and don't move.
Now that came as a blow in the face! It made me feel really sad. Did they really want us not to be in the front row. But we came so early to be in the front row. Besides, Wednesday in Den Haag Eicca asked us to come, because he would love to have such an enthusiastic crowd on the DVD. And well, us standing still? I think not… So yeah, that put the mood a bit low.
But after discussing it amongst ourselves we decided we would go in the front row anyways (I still hope the guys don't mind).
At 18:45 people from the venue started taping notes to the doors: beware of ear damage, there will be use of fireworks and Bullet for my Valentine wouldn't play.
At about 19:00 the doors opened and they checked our bags and searched us. I then had to arrange things with my ticket and the guest list. So I got later in than others who were behind me. But luckily Varda pulled to her (thank you).
Then inside we had to wait some more! And people who came in didn't notice that, so there was a lot of pushing (outside a lot of pushing also already). Finally they opened the door so we could really get in. We all ran to the stage and I found a perfect spot in the front row in front of Perttu. There was still a lot of pushing going on inside, but I stayed where I was standing.
And then another long wait started. On stage they were still preparing the fireworks. And at 21:15 Apocalyptica finally entered the stage (well the openings music started).
The played the standard set that was practised all these times. And they did it good (although I think they played better in Den Haag). There were at least 7 cameras or so recording the concert for the DVD. And the guys really tried to make it a good one. Only Antero was a bit cranky (his cello blew up during rehearsals).
Funny moment: Perttu dropped his bow. Speaking of Perttu, when he came on stage and saw Varda and me standing there he smiled. So yeah he recognised us. There wasn't really a lot of contact with the crowd this time. They now made more contact with the cameras. And of course they were kinda far away because of the cameras and the fireworks.
When the first fireworks went off I was blinded for some minutes, because it was so bright. It looked cool though and will be fun on the DVD. It just isn't really Apocalyptica, now is it?
I thought the crowd was hard to get going. In the front row we were trying our best to be really enthusiastic and clapping and screaming. But there didn't come a lot of sound from the crowd. It took long before the crowd got heated up a bit. And I don't think that was the guys fault. Weird…
At the end of the show it hit: this was the last time in a very long time. So I started crying *shame*.
We stayed inside for a while and chatted a bit. Finally we went to the tour bus. Eicca and Mikko came out first for a talk and autographs and pictures. They both wrote something in my agenda of 2006. In Finnish! And they didn't want to translate (how evil). So yeah, I should ask some Finnish people to translate for me (I understand Eicca's vittu though).
I asked the guys also for a hug because I don't know when I will see them again. Mikko said soon. When I was hugging Eicca (who already squeezed me while taking the picture and made some funny sound with that, haha) Tonee said I already cried because of that and of course I had to start crying again (I really couldn't help it) *shame some more*. Luckily Eicca was really sweet and hugged me again extra tight.
We had to wait till 1:30 for Perttu and Paavo coming out. It was really dark around the tour bus and Paavo actually came out with a little light on his head, haha. That was funny.
I went to Perttu to hand him a pic of him and the interviewing team from Wednesday. He didn't really get the chance to look at it properly or to talk. Others were cutting in all the time. It got really crowded around him. Poor guy. A shame we couldn't really talk anymore, because I would have loved that. While hugging Perttu he said I would never see him again *sob*. Of course he was joking…or at least I hope, hehe. But I think he was, because he wrote a really sweet thing in my agenda of 2006 (with a big heart).
Paavo was really sweet. He immediately recognised me and was really friendly. Luckily he wasn't really crowded so I could talk to him a bit and was just really sweet (tight hugs and all). He was glad the tour is over now (so he can go home) and he found the fireworks a bit childish.
Eventually we went to get a taxi. That took some time and when we got back to the tour bus (to get the taxi) all the guys were inside already. At some point a blonde girl came out of the tour bus and walked away. Some seconds later Mikko came out and looked where she was going *grin* That was kinda funny to see.
Finally at 2:45 or so we arrived at the hotel. It was a great night again. Some things were less fun, but others were brilliant.
I can't wait for the DVD.
And many thanks to Apocalyptica for the most wonderful times I had this year.
And of course also to all the nice I people I met *hug*