Celebrating our birthdays with Priest in Stockholm

A post on this blog that is not a "Happy New Year" post? Yes, that's right! :o) After a few years of the corona pandemic, we are now more or less back to normal life, and for the first time since the beginning of the corona pandemic, our birthdays are celebrated at concerts again. 

As already mentioned in the previous blog post, one week before Christmas, on 16th December 2023, we attended Deathstars' home game in Sweden's capital Stockholm, with Liv Sin as opening act and Priest as main support. Or as I would say, especially in retrospect: Some nights are just magical. While working on the corresponding live review and photo gallery, I mainly listened to the songs from Priest's performance ("Neuromancer", "Obey", "The Pit"...). And when Priest started dropping hints a few days later via their facebook profile ("//STOCKHOLM// Tack för en fantastisk lördag på Slaktkyrkan - vi ses snart igen!" and "News coming soon.."), I wondered: "Could it be that...?" Could it be that Priest will play another show in Stockholm soon, maybe even on our birthday weekend? And on 11th January 2024, it turned out: Yes, that is exactly what Priest were going to do... What are the chances?!? So, I was pretty over the moon, and the birthday plans were fixed. 

Right before the concert, I could have even met Then Comes Silence, who had a DJ session in honour of their single release of "Ride Or Die" in Gamla Stan already from 5 PM. Unfortunately, I only found out about this event afterwards, despite thorough research on my part about what could have been done during that weekend. Oh well! 

The concert itself was great, and you can read everything about it in the corresponding live review and also check out the photo gallery.

Photo Credit: Krista Sainio 

 

Priest vocalist Mercury and I during the show (Photo Credit: Marisol Correa / musicstage.se)

 

Here is also an audiovisual impression of Priest's show at "Slaktkyrkan"... 

 

 

As can be read in the live review, by 10.30 PM, everyone was swept out of the club, due to a subsequent event that was never mentioned on the official website of the venue. That was definitely not cool. We thought that we would be at "Slaktkyrkan" until midnight, like last time. And the days when there was a wide range of rock and metal clubs in Stockholm are long gone. There is this one venue that was repeatedly suggested to us, where mostly cover bands play, including that night, but especially after seeing something original like Priest, I didn't feel like seeing a cover band. And so we had our own little party...

 

Our hotel room in Södermalm 

 

Lordi frontman Mr Lordi on TV 

 

My birthday cake 

 

The additional cake (or what's left of it in the picture): A pink leopard cake, baked by me 

 

Our birthday presents

 

 

 

The next concert we will attend is already in the pipeline, and it will be another show in Stockholm. One might think that all these events in Stockholm have something to do with my love for the capital of Sweden, but that's only partly true these days. Cancellations of concerts, tours and festival appearances, sometimes at the very last minute, have become common practice for musicians long before the corona pandemic, and there are currently also other risk factors such as strikes, which is why I continue to refrain from longer "gig trips". Within Sweden, the network of public transportation is not that well developed, and it has recently also become quite notorious for its unreliability. That's also why Stockholm is more or less the only option at the moment. Well, there are certainly worse things than being limited to Stockholm for a while... ;o)

 

 

Happy New Year 2024!

Happy New Year 2024, everyone! ♥ ♥ ♥

As in previous years, while it has been pretty quiet on this blog, my twitter account is all the more busy, not least thanks to my job at chaoszine.net where I mainly contribute to the news section and then share the corresponding links via twitter (or X, as twitter is supposed to be called these days). 

At the end of the year, however, there was a live review, written by me, about Deathstars' home game in Sweden's capital Stockholm. It took place one week before Christmas, on 16th December 2023, with Liv Sin as opening act and Priest as main support. It still seems surreal that this event actually took place. It was absolutely wonderful and definitely one of the highlights in 2023. The live review can be read here, and additional pictures of the event can be found in the photo gallery here. 

 

Photo Credit: Krista Sainio

 

The Deathstars show in Stockholm was one of two concerts that I attended in 2023. Yes, once again, it was very little. Of course, the wish is, as always, that there will be more in the new year, but as already mentioned in the live review, cancellations of concerts, tours and festival appearances, sometimes at the very last minute, have become common practice for musicians long before the corona pandemic, hence one has to plan carefully. 

If you want to know what I'm up to (or simply want to stay up to date in the world of rock, metal, goth and punk), feel free to follow me on twitter / X.

 

Happy New Year 2023!

If there is one thing one can count on on this blog, it is the annual "Happy New Year" post. ;o) So: Happy New Year 2023, everyone! ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Basically, I could really write the same thing here as last year: While it has been pretty quiet on this blog, my twitter account is all the more busy, not least thanks to my job at chaoszine.net where I mainly contribute to the news section and then share the corresponding links via twitter. If you want to know what I'm up to (or simply want to stay up to date in the world of rock, metal, goth and punk), feel free to follow me on twitter. 

New Year's Eve itself was relatively quiet, like the two times before, but we got to see a pretty decent fireworks display for the third year in a row. There was the possibility to go out afterwards, but times are what they are, and I wouldn't change a thing. We went out the next morning instead, for a very lovely New Year's Day brunch. 

2023 also marks the anniversary of a very special year in my life, and in the lives of many of my friends and acquaintances. Maybe that's why there is a little more optimism regarding the new year, despite what's currently happening in the world otherwise?

Happy New Year 2022!

Oh dear, it's been a while again... And I may be late a month, but: Happy New Year 2022, everyone! ♥ ♥ ♥ 

 

While it has been pretty quiet on this blog, my twitter account has become all the more busy. One reason for this is my job at chaoszine.net where I mainly contribute to the news section and then share the corresponding links via twitter. So if you want to know what I'm up to (or simply want to stay up to date in the world of rock, metal, goth and punk), feel free to follow me on twitter... ;o) 

Stay healthy!

Happy New Year 2021! | Rest in Peace, Alexi Laiho

Long time, no hear... Happy New Year 2021, everyone! ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Due to the ongoing corona pandemic, this New Year's Eve looked a little different than usual: No gig, no trip and certainly no "gig trip". Well, health comes first. Always. And so we actually spent the turn of the year 2020 / 2021 at home and watched all four seasons of "The Crown" that have been released so far. A positive surprise, I must say. I do have a few favourite series, but I'm not a fan of watching one series after another, and I'm particularly sceptical towards all of these "Original" productions...

... because there are sooo many and I just like to spend my time differently. More meaningfully. 

Then, at the end of November 2020, the fourth season of "The Crown" was released, featuring the love triangle between Charles, Diana and Camilla. I was curious and watched the first episode of season 4, positively surprised by the fact that "The Crown" is not a pure drama series solely revolving around the British royals. No, you also learn a lot about the politics of the time and about certain events in world history. So it's a mixture of entertainment and education, and if you have a certain affinity for the UK like I do, then the whole show is even more interesting to watch. In other words: I was sold. And so the decision to spend the turn of the year with popcorn and "The Crown" was made quickly. No regrets. 

 

Four days into the new year, news broke that Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho (Bodom After Midnight / Children Of Bodom / The Local Band / Sinergy) died aged 41. Exactly one week has passed since those news broke, and it's still hard to grasp. So young. So sudden. 

Now, I'm feeling even more gratitude to have travelled to Tampere / Finland in March 2018, in order to celebrate our birthdays with The Local Band. 

 

Once I even saw Children Of Bodom live, at least partially, at the Ankkarock festival 2010 in Vantaa / Finland. 

I still remember those green lights and that a plane from the nearby Helsinki-Vantaa airport flew over the festival area while Children Of Bodom were performing. Though, I had completely forgotten the amusing fact that there was also a group of singing Christians with huge crosses right outside the festival area, trying to save "lost souls" because of bands like Children Of Bodom. 

Rest in Peace, Alexi Laiho. 

 

Rest in Peace, Seppo Vesterinen

Screenshot of my twitter account

If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have seen the record release show for HIM's fourth album "Love Metal" on 8th March 2003 in my native city Hamburg (Germany). It was a very exclusive event for which tickets couldn't be purchased, and it meant the world to me to be a part of it. Not long after, my interest in the band faded. Life went on. Much has happened since then. But such kind actions are NEVER forgotten. Thank you, Seppo Vesterinen. ♥

Another slightly bigger update

As promised a few days ago, now, I'm getting back to the three concerts which took place between the live events in March 2019 and the New Year's Eve show by The Hellacopters. 

The first two concerts both took place at "Dalhalla". Both in July 2019. 

One of the main ideas behind it was to explore something new again, and since "Dalhalla" is regularly represented in lists such as "The most beautiful concert venues from around the world"... Why not? 

"Dalhalla" is an open air theatre located in a former limestone quarry in Rättvik (Sweden), in the region of Dalarna. During summers, "Dalhalla" is used as a concert venue. With Iggy Pop, a suitable event was quickly found, but, later on, it turned out that New Order would play at "Dalhalla", too. Since it was hard to make a decision, we simply went to both events. 

Not least thanks to my activities as a music and culture journalist, I have been to so many concerts in my live, and never have I faced such huge transportation problems as it was the case with "Dalhalla". It was really difficult to organise. 

Getting to Rättvik by public transport is actually no problem at all. Getting from Rättvik to the venue "Dalhalla"... That's the challenge. "Dalhalla" is located in the deepest forest, roughly 10 km from the train station in Rättvik. And don't get me started on how to get anywhere from "Dalhalla" in the night when the concert is over. 

There are so-called "konsertbussar" [Swedish for: "concert buses"] which are operated by the venue / in collaboration with the venue. These concert buses operate between "Dalhalla" and some cities in Dalarna, including Rättvik. You have to book the ride with a concert bus in advance, those rides are significantly more expensive than public transport and, at the time of the Iggy Pop concert, booking a ride with a concert bus via the website of "Dalhalla" did not even work as there was an error in the booking system. We were not the only ones with this problem on the day of the Iggy Pop show, so this concert visit turned into quite an odyssey. In the end, we met some friendly concert visitors with cars who helped us. Things became really adventurous, and I think it's ultimately thanks to these nice people we met that this whole experience did not turn too sour. 

Yes, the concert was great and the venue is stunning, indeed, but arriving and leaving without a car shouldn't be that difficult, complicated and expensive. Especially not in the home country of probably the most famous climate activist worldwide at the moment, Greta Thunberg. 

Exactly three weeks later, we returned to "Dalhalla" for New Order. Shortly before, I contacted the venue so that the broken link on the website of "Dalhalla" would be repaired, making it possible to book a concert bus this time. It all worked out and, fortunately, we were spared another odyssey. 

However, you have to go back with the same concert bus that you arrived with. You cannot go to Rättvik by public transport, spend a nice day at Lake Siljan, then take the concert bus from Rättvik to the concert at "Dalhalla" and later on take another concert bus from "Dalhalla" to another city in Dalarna, in case you have an accommodation somewhere else than in Rättvik. Suggestions that have been made: Rent a car and / or book a hotel room in Rättvik. With most ticket prices starting at 800 SEK per person, a mere gig trip starts to turn into a short vacation, at least financially. 

In any case, we were spared another odyssey this time as we travelled with one of the concert buses. The downside of it was that we had to skip hanging out in Rättvik altogether, even though the day was absolutely perfect to hang out at Lake Siljan. Sunshine, blue sky and - if I remember correctly - a temperature of around 30°C. Hopefully, one day, we will catch up on that: A summer day in Rättvik at Lake Siljan. 

We have seen "Dalhalla". It is a stunning venue, indeed, and both events we attended there were great, too, but I think I will leave it at these two experiences. Travelling to and from "Dalhalla" without a car is simply too complicated, inflexible, expensive and also too time-consuming when planning the arrival to and the departure from the venue. 

Here are some visual impressions of Rättvik and Lake Siljan from the day of the Iggy Pop concert... 

... and here is an audiovisual impression of Iggy Pop performing "The Passenger" at "Dalhalla" on 3rd July 2019... 

Three weeks later, on 24th July 2019, Henric de la Cour performed amongst others "Two Against One" and "Arkham Supermarket" as a support act for New Order at "Dalhalla"...

... and New Order performed amongst others "Singularity", "She's Lost Control" [Joy Division cover], "Tutti Frutti", "Blue Monday" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart" [Joy Division cover] at "Dalhalla"...

Further snapshots of the New Order show can be found on "Sound Kitchen Archives": https://sound-kitchen-archives.blogspot.com/2020/03/photo-gallery-new-order-live-at.html. 

The third concert was comparatively unspectacular in terms of arrival and departure since The Mission frontman Wayne Hussey chose a club in the city centre of Sweden's capital Stockholm for his solo show on 8th November 2019, supported by Evi Vine... 

Further snapshots of Wayne Hussey (The Mission UK) and Evi Vine performing at "Nalen" can be found on "Sound Kitchen Archives": https://sound-kitchen-archives.blogspot.com/2020/03/photo-gallery-wayne-hussey-mission-uk.html. 

So, now, everything from the year 2019 is finally online. :o) 

Stay healthy! 

A slightly bigger update

Two months have passed since my previous blog post, so there is a slightly bigger update now. 

First, let's go back a year, to our birthdays in March 2019 which we celebrated at the "Klubb Död" event at "Nalen" in Sweden's capital Stockholm, with Then Comes Silence, TRAITRS, The Foreign Resort and The Flatfield. Audiovisual impressions of that wonderful evening were posted on this blog a month later. Further snapshots were published on "Sound Kitchen Archives" during the course of the year... 

The Flatfield: https://sound-kitchen-archives.blogspot.com/2019/04/photo-gallery-flatfield-live-in.html 

The Foreign Resort: https://sound-kitchen-archives.blogspot.com/2019/04/photo-gallery-foreign-resort-live-in.html 

TRAITRS: https://sound-kitchen-archives.blogspot.com/2019/09/photo-gallery-traitrs-live-in-stockholm.html 

Then Comes Silence: https://sound-kitchen-archives.blogspot.com/2019/11/photo-gallery-then-comes-silence-live.html. 

It was definitely not planned that the publication of these pictures would take so long, but it did, and maybe one day I will share the reasons for it with you. 

The same applies to the concert of Ville Valo & Agents on Viking Line's cruiseferry "Viking Grace" on 30th March 2019. Here is an audiovisual impression... 

... and further snapshots can be found on "Sound Kitchen Archives": https://sound-kitchen-archives.blogspot.com/2019/11/photo-gallery-ville-valo-agents-live-on.html. 

Between the live events in March 2019 and the New Year's Eve show by The Hellacopters at "Debaser Strand" in Stockholm, there were three more concerts, but I'll get back to those in a later blog post. We have also attended another concert after the New Year's Eve show by The Hellacopters. A concert where cream cakes and fish were thrown into the audience. Take a guess... ;o) 

Back to the New Year's Eve show by The Hellacopters, here is an audiovisual impression... 

... and further snapshots can be found on "Sound Kitchen Archives": https://sound-kitchen-archives.blogspot.com/2020/03/photo-gallery-hellacopters-live-in.html. 

I hope you enjoy these updates.

Stay healthy! 

Happy New Year 2020!

This year, I'm a few weeks late, but: Happy New Year, Happy New Decade & Welcome To The 2020s, everyone! ♥ ♥ ♥ 

We started the new decade with the Hellacopters show at "Debaser Strand" in Sweden's capital Stockholm. A golden start into the 2020s indeed. I never thought that I would ever see this band live on stage, given their disbandment several years ago. All the more I'm happy that we were given the opportunity to see them live on stage on this very special occasion. Just like The Flaming Sideburns, The Hellacopters are a band that just rocks and whose shows deliver quintessential Rock'n'Roll.

More about the show can be found on this blog soon... Stay tuned! 

March 2019, a truly wonderful month...

First, there were our birthdays. I was lucky that my birthday was on a Saturday this year, so I could choose from numerous options where to celebrate my birthday. The decision was quickly made in favour of the "Klubb Död" event at "Nalen" in Sweden's capital Stockholm, with Then Comes Silence, TRAITRS, The Foreign Resort and The Flatfield. I didn't know any of the four bands beforehand. I just knew it was a post-punk event, listened to one song per band - and thought that the event was "good enough". No, seriously: Lately, I have read some LIVE reviews about promising bands. Promising musicians who aren't known yet and play in front of so few people that the concept of underground concerts is increasingly endangered. This is not good, not at all, and it's up to us music lovers to counteract this very development. Why not going to several smaller events and discover and support something new and fresh instead of visiting only one big spectacle of one of the same old major players per year? 

Well, in any case, the "Klubb Död" event turned out to be the perfect choice. A package consisting of four bands from four different countries (The Flatfield from Finland, The Foreign Resort from Denmark, TRAITRS from Canada and Then Comes Silence from Sweden), all bands were good - and I even fell in love that night, with the last performing band named "Then Comes Silence" from Sweden's capital Stockholm. I was not prepared for that! It was probably the best birthday present this year. As soon as they started their set with "There's A Sound", I was under their spell. 

Here are some audiovisual impressions of The Flatfield, The Foreign Resort and Then Comes Silence. Some snapshots of all four bands will be published on my additional blog "Sound Kitchen Archives" soon.

As if the "Klubb Död" event wasn't great enough already, March 2019 ended for us with another journey towards Stockholm: On 30th March 2019, Ville Valo & Agents played some Finnish schlager on Viking Line's cruiseferry "Viking Grace" somewhere on the Baltic Sea between Turku / Finland and Stockholm / Sweden. 

Further snapshots and audiovisual impressions of that event will be published here and on "Sound Kitchen Archives" soon... Stay tuned!