It felt like ages since last time MOONSORROW played a club show in Finland, and most likely it actually has really been an age or two, as the last time that come to mind was just a few weeks before the world changed in very strange ways, back in the winter of 2020. Maybe because of this (but mostly because of them being MOONSORROW), both of their shows this month – this one at Tavastia and the weekend before in Jyväskylä at Lutakko – were sold out very quickly after being announced.
Usually it’s not great to be sweating inside of a full Tavastia with a bunch of people drinking and moshing at the same time, but for this day it could be easily tolerated as an exception, given the special 2-hour set – even with a proper intermission – which brought us back to the early days of the band and especially the times of “Suden Uni” and “Voimasta ja Kunniasta.”
It would also be good to know what the guys’ secret is, since they looked ageless in their traditional stage outfits, as if time for them had stopped and, not only that, but they were in excellent shape for a band that nowadays doesn’t perform very often. This, combined with the excitement of the fans, created a contagious party-like atmosphere, and honestly it might have just as well been one of their strongest performances witnessed in the last few years, at least since 2016 or so. With the audience constantly chanting and singing along, and the front trio (Ville, Mitja, and Janne) inciting them as usual at every occasion, it was impossible not to get drawn into this celebration of some of the highlights in the band’s almost 30-year-long career with all one’s got.
There certainly is a reason why MOONSORROW is still one of the most beloved bands in their genre – both in their homeland and abroad – and it’s clear the way they constantly deliver in their live shows plays a big part in it (obviously so does their material). It’s really difficult to get disappointed by these guys, and tonight was no exception, leaving everyone in the best of moods and ready to kickstart the weekend. After all it’s always a success when you get to leave the venue after the show and still hum their songs while walking in the street.
