The Post-Apocalypse (APOst)
Review of Apocalyptica concert at Pinkpop (by Regje)
16 May 2005
My dad brought me to the festival and at about 10:30 I was there. So I walked around a bit and already found out Apocalyptica wouldn't do a signing session.
At about 10:45 I walked to the main stage where people were sitting everywhere in groups. I easily could walk through that (the good things of going all by yourself) and got really close to the stage.
At 11:00 the festival was being opened by Jan Smeets and the first act was The Presidents of the USA. I was in the second row and could actually see something. After 15 minutes the girl in front of me asked if I wanted to stand in front row. And of course I want that! So after that I enjoyed the presidents from the front row.
I only knew some old songs by The Presidents of the USA (so in total only 5 or so they played). But the rest was ok too. And they really played a lot with the audience which was fun. So we had to clap along, sing along (they even teached us a song), wave our hands and get down on the ground, hihi. It was a nice hour with a lot of sun, so now my left shoulder is burnt….
After the Presidents I went looking around and also in the shops. I didn't buy much. Just a pink Pinkpop hat (so I supported Amnesty international with that) and a HIM patch. At around 13:00 Jody arrived with Martijn and from that time on we spent the day together.
So we went in the tent where Apocalyptica would play at 18:00. And because we wanted to be in the front row by then, we already got in the tent. There were already a lot of Di-rect fans. And at 14:00 Di-rect started playing. That was ok (just too much bass, so I used my earplugs). Fun thing was a famous classical piano player played one song with them (Wibi Soerjadi). It sounded pretty cool too.
At 15:00, after Di-rect, most people left the tent again so we could get to the front. We sat there waiting for Apocalyptica. But first Cake would play at 16:00. Well it was supposed to be 16:00 but they started at 16:15. And it wasn't really all that interesting. I only knew one song the played and that was fun (I will survive). But the rest wasn't all that good. Maybe it had something to with the band. They were playing, but didn't look like they were enjoying theirselfs.
Cake also tried to play with the audience, but failed a bit. The singer started telling us a story, but that story was so long, half way through I wasn't listening anymore. He was a bit pessimistic by the way. Telling us there is no more hope for humans and so on. Hello! I'm there to have fun…
But I still kinda enjoyed myself during Cake because I actually could see a bit backstage from where I was standing. And there I could see Mikko getting his drumset ready. And also the Apocalyptica chairs were put together. So yeah, I looked a lot to the right when Cake played so I could see Mikko. He actually spent almost an hour to get his drumset ready…
After Cake they cleared the stage and everything got ready for Apocalyptica. And that was done really fast. Most of the people left the tent again after Cake (except the group that was standing in the front row, because we all were waiting for Apocalyptica, hahaha). But the tent was getting full quickly again. Apparently many people wanted to see Apocalyptica.
So we waited for another hour. But it was kinda an entertaining hour as Mikko was trying out his drum set. And the other Apo guys were walking backstage already too. Tuning the cello's or something… And also other forum members where already standing there waiting (we meet Elviira and Umberella).
At 18:00 it all started. Apocalyptica came on stage with a lot of smoke. And this time they were complete: Antero, Perttu, Eicca, Mikko and Paavo. And they totally rocked! Antero was, as always, mister cool and stayed seated the whole time. But Perttu and Eicca walked around a lot (after a while also shirtless) and Paavo joined them too some times. And Mikko was totally rocking too!
Eicca was wearing the same shirt again! He is wearing this shirt already the whole tour. Maybe he has a lot the same shirts, but I fear it is the same shirt he wears…
Perttu got me worried so now and then. He sometimes didn't look too well… maybe he was just dizzy from head banging... who knows…. He and Eicca look so cute together when they are synchronic head banging, hihi
Mikko was really energetic again. He is such a good drummer. Somewhere during the second or the third song he already wrecked a drumstick (hahaha there was wood flying through the air).
Paavo was really working with the audience again. Pointing and telling us to clap. One just wonders why he sits alone….
The audience was really enthusiastic too and a lot of applauding, cheering and singing along.
After Seek & destroy they left the stage and the audience screamed for more. An of course they cam back to play 2 more. After they left the audience wanted a lot more, but sadly there was no more. It always amazes me how many people want to see Apocalyptica play and how enthusiastic they always are…
I'm not completely sure about the set list, but I think it was something like this:
1. Path
2. Master of puppets
3. Somewhere around nothing
4. Nothing else matters
5. Quutamo
6. Life burns
7. Betrayal/forgiveness
8. Bittersweet
9. Seek & destroy
-----
10. Enter sandman
11. Hall of the mountain king
Some minor points: something went wrong in one song with the sound (I can't remember what song anymore). Antero was playing the melody and suddenly that stopped. That was really weird.
And there was something wrong with Perttu's cello. I have no idea what, but during Seek & destroy he didn't play and was doing something to his cello (did he break one again?). After they came back he played just fine again (no idea if it was a different cello or the same one).
It was way too short! One hour of Apocalyptica is so short. It was over in no time….
After the gig we went looking if we could come close to the backstage area. But no chance! Everything was perfectly sealed. So eventually Jody and I sat outside on the grass talking and thinking about the Apo gig with Saybia in the background playing in the tent (Martijn was in the tent looking and listening to Saybia).
Eventually we left and at about 21:00 my parents picked me up again and drove me home. It was a good day. Only to be a bit ruined by a message in my phone from Elviira saying she just met the guys. So yeah, that still has to happen some day….
And now the day after: my left shoulder hurts of sunburn, I can hardly move my neck anymore and my voice dropt a couple notes… (I have never been able to sing as low as I can now, hahaha)… But I have some new good memories...
Pictures (most of them are really blurry)
Some extra things:
Me and Jody were interviewd because we were real Apocalyptica fans *grin*: The Interview
A part from the concert was also shown on tv and on the internet. During Nothing else matters and Life burns Jody and I are clearly to be seen, hehe