It can always be exciting to check out a new venue, especially in a city like Helsinki where, in the last five years, the trend has not really favored concertgoers. Alakulttuuritila Alimus is a former theater in the heart of Kallio, with a capacity of 200+ people in an interesting setting: the cozy upstairs bar, which is open with restrictions on time and noise due to the residential nature of the building, and the downstairs hall (with a smaller bar) where the gigs take place. RUUSURIIMU, GHOSTS ON TV, and MANSION were set to play there on July 20th, 2024.
After inspecting the venue and having a look at the curious instruments laid on the stage in preparation for the first show of the night, it was time for RUUSURIIMU to start. The young band, made of seven members, describes itself as post-industrial apocalyptic folk, inspired by the likes of CURRENT 93 and DEAD CAN DANCE. This gives an idea of what to expect from these guys, who released their self-titled debut record just this winter. They performed in a mix of white church robes, old-fashioned clothes, and black hoods, creating a strange yet fitting visual for their experimental music. The vocalist did a lot of chanting in a spiritually heavy atmosphere, as the crowd—bigger for them than for the next band—stood quietly a few meters from the stage in perfect Finnish demeanor. The mixture of synths, folk instruments, and more traditional guitars was certainly a sight to see (and hear). To complete the atmosphere, a small projector pointed at a white backdrop added depth and movement to the scene.
Following a short changeover was GHOSTS ON TV. The post-rock indie ensemble is a name that’s been buzzing around for a few years now. Their performance maybe clashed a little with the atmosphere of the night, which was reflected in the part of the audience being distracted in the back or upstairs (plus it looked like many people from the earlier crowd were friends of the first band). However, the ambiance they set with their music gives them a place in their own right on the indie scene, with a solid offering and fresh sound. Very instrumental and a bit shoegazey, the band built up both musically and emotionally through their melodies, grabbing the attention of the fans, who were again very shy about coming close to the stage. Seeing them live, one can understand how these guys have been gaining attention and positive reviews from critics. It will be interesting to see where they can go, given how their music has already evolved with their second record.
Last but not least, it was MANSION‘s turn. It’s always a pleasure to catch this band live, especially in a setting where you can be closer to the performance, as it is always an intense experience. Their portrayal of Kartanoism makes them such a niche and unique band, opening a window to an otherwise unknown (at least for non-Finns) page of religious history in Finland in the early 20th century. The leader of the cult, Mother Alma Maria Kartano—with “kartano” meaning “mansion” in Finnish—is well represented by the vocalist, who spread the word of the movement with fervor, dispensing punishment to the sinners.
Pervading the hall with doom, and with songs like “I Am The Mansion,” “Sword of God,” and “You Are Suspicious” (to name a few), the preacher is clearly the soul of the show as the other band members dutifully provide the setup for her performance: pointing accusatory fingers, ripping off pages from the sacred book, warning against sin and the devil. At the end of the gig, the music stand was dropped off stage, and Alma hit each of the other members with her book one by one, before leaving the scene in a beautifully slow progression that saw the other members also follow. The combination of their music, the uniqueness of the theme, and the intensity of their shows is what makes MANSION a band hard to miss whenever you get the chance to see them play live.
We also look forward to checking out how this new venue will handle different genres of music, especially with a more aggressive sound and wilder audience. Until next time!
RUUSURIIMU
GHOSTS ON TV
MANSION
