The legendary Batcave of Lepakkomies in Helsinki hosted a three-band night of punk and grunge on Friday, January 19th, 2024. There were some interesting names on the night’s lineup. TAMARA LUONTO have been making a name for themselves as the queens of retro punk-rock. PIIPPOLA is an intriguing new name rising from the remains of what used to be UTÖ, one of the most interesting bands of the late 2010s, and YDINPERHE, a veteran HC-group deemed as one of the best in its genre in Finland. So, we set out to see what the night had to offer.
There were some problems with card payments at the door, which led to long lines waiting for entry. Apparently, the information didn’t travel downstairs, or the schedule just didn’t allow for postponing the start a bit. Thus, the show was well underway when we made it in, and the people downstairs had packed up in front of the stage to see TAMARA LUONTO. Even seen from the back, the band has good energy in their playing, and the quite serious, unironic, and sometimes even a bit naive texts have a way of hooking one’s ear. The songs are deliberately simple, and the melodies make you want to sing along.
Next up was PIIPPOLA. The gig started with guitarist-vocalist Ville (the band only presents itself by their first names) standing alone on the stage and picking some distorted tunes from his guitar. Soon the other members, bassist and drummer Tommi and Raimo, joined him on the stage, and it was time to make some noise. The band is less aggressive than UTÖ, but the same feelings of melancholy apply, as well as the heavily distorted guitar. Grunge vibes are very apparent here. UTÖ used to sing in Swedish, although none of the members spoke Swedish as their first language. It was more of a way to create distance between the text and the emotion. With PIIPPOLA, as well, it seems the texts are less the focal point as the band aims to convey some basic emotions through the soundscapes they create. A very pleasant acquaintance indeed, and it will be interesting to see if PIIPPOLA will have a longer story than UTÖ.
Last up were YDINPERHE. The band mixes hip-hop-style lyrics with their fast HC-playing. There is a raw energy in their playing and an interesting contrast with the almost shy speeches between the songs. YDINPERHE soon had their fans jumping, turning the front rows into a pit at times, and there was even stage diving. The band themselves have a good routine. The show was delivered with energy and intensity, and the sweaty audience after the concert stood as evidence. Lepakkomies, with its tightly packed playing area, might be just the right place to experience a show like this. Check our photos here…
Tamara Luonto
Piippola
Ydinperhe
Photos by Arto Alho
