The Finnish rock band POETS OF THE FALL are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, and such a milestone deserves proper exposure. Hence, they embarked on a European tour, with the next-to-last date held in Helsinki at Tavastia on November 26th, 2023. Interestingly, this was an additional date that got added since the gig scheduled for the day before sold out in no time.
The doors opened at 18:00, and the concert was scheduled for 19:30. We secured a nice spot on the stairs to ensure a good view of whatever might unfold on stage. The backdrop itself hinted at the upcoming 20th anniversary event, and the venue was fully packed, as the date had sold out as well. We eagerly awaited the commencement of the gig. A recorded mindfulness exercise, featuring none other than Marko Saaresto, the band’s frontman, warmed the attendees from the loudspeakers ten minutes before the gig started, acting as a countdown. We were asked some very specific questions about our first encounter with the band, creating an intimate and cozy atmosphere. With just one minute left, the visible impatience among us reflected the growing excitement in the air.
The band members stepped onto the stage one by one, grabbing their instruments, and the people in the front rows greeted them with joy and warmth. Marko finally joined his bandmates, and the spotlights focused on guitarist Olli Tukiainen, signaling the beginning of the magic. “Revelations,” from their most recent album, “Ghostlight,” served as the perfect opener with its ’80s, energetic vibe. One noteworthy aspect during this gig – even for those who have seen the band quite a few times – is the way the band members interact with each other: moving from one side to another, jumping between the keyboards’ and drums’ platforms, displaying an incredible amount of energy and genuine happiness for being there. Moreover, Marko’s well-known theatrical expressiveness was the cherry on top that made the show quite special.
The setlist they chose is likely to be considered a “best of,” featuring songs from almost every album they have released over the years. They managed to emphasize even more the feature that makes POETS OF THE FALL such a unique band: their ability to evoke strong emotions in a jovial and easy-going overall mood. Musically, this translates into a nice balance between heartfelt pop melodies and a powerful rock attitude, which, in our humble opinion, shines brightest in a live setting.
We eventually learned that there were people from the US who came all the way to Finland to attend this show, and we are sure that it was worth the effort, as the band really went the extra mile to make that night unforgettable. People of all ages were in the audience, and that says a lot about the band’s ability to touch the hearts of their listeners once and for all.
As difficult as it can be to choose just one, or at least a few, pivotal moments we witnessed during the show, we will give it a try. The third song in the setlist was “Illusion & Dream,” as announced by the singer. Its guitar intro, provided by Jaska Mäkinen, set the right atmosphere for a tune that seems to be many people’s favorite. We were in awe of the intensity of its chorus. At the closing line, Marko raised his microphone towards the audience, and everyone sang along, waving their hands and living the present moment to its fullest. At some point, keyboardist Markus “Captain” Kaarlonen handed Olli a bottle of water and had a toast with him, exactly when the line “I raise my glass and say here’s to you” came, joined by Marko, who did not miss the chance to raise his bottle towards us and say “kippis kaikille!” as if we were part of that toast – and we definitely were! Believe us, that moment was quite stunning.
The instrumental track “Rogue” from their sixth album “Jealous Gods” brought bassist Jani Snellman to the center of the stage, as the bassline on that tune plays a prominent role, along with the main melody provided by the Captain on keyboards. Jani incited us, and we reacted accordingly, engaging in an energetic call-and-response. The song, to our ears, resonates like a soundtrack of a TV series from the late ‘80s, primarily due to its very straightforward drum pattern, showcasing drummer Jari Salminen‘s expertise. The two guitarists, Jaska and Olli, took turns playing solos at the front part of the stage in a full-fledged guitar battle, inciting each other, creating a dynamic competition where everyone seemed to be a winner.
Again, it is hard for us to choose just a few highlights and details to write down, as this specific concert was absolutely stunning with no downtime, and we don’t want to sound too long-winded. Certainly, “Late Goodbye” needs to be mentioned, as it is POETS OF THE FALL’s very first song, introduced as such by Marko. As many of us know, it was the background music for the ending credits of the video game Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, from which the band’s moniker also comes. Moreover, it is likely to be considered the very first song by this band that many of us have ever listened to due to the popularity of the game back in 2003. It worked great as a closing tune, but of course, the guys had something more for us. They left the stage after “Late Goodbye” but came back after a while to perform two iconic songs: “Lift” and “Carnival of Rust,” as a proper closure. The mood was festive, and a couple of little presents made it to the stage when the band members were greeting us, tangible proof of how important they are to their audience. We can only confirm that twenty years have passed, but POETS OF THE FALL have succeeded just fine in keeping their fanbase close to their hearts, album after album.
Written by Licia Mapelli
Photos by Mirko Luparelli
setlist
- Revelations
- Locking Up the Sun
- Illusion & Dream
- Temple of Thought
- Rogue
- Dreaming Wide Awake
- My Dark Disquiet
- Sleep
- War
- Diamonds for Tears
- Choice Millionaire
- Daze
- Late Goodbye
- Lift
- Carnival of Rust
