SunriseAve ITALY

I don't know what the hell is wrong with me, but I slept really well last night. Usually before these trips I get a little stress the evening before, because my daily rhythm is what it is and the 6 or 7 o'clock wake-up is not one of my normal routines. And especially since life's been pretty hectic the last weeks, there hasn't really been a break between recording and being Jukka's slut in studio and traveling all over to play shows. Still even though you might get tired sometimes, I think it's great to have all these shows to get away from the studio every now and then to get some fresh air.

Yesterday was supposed to be a day for production at the studio just like Monday and Tuesday. To ensure the great working conditions, I went out with Aki (our light designer / operator) the night before and we got really wasted. He had been home at 6.30 and I guess I had ended up to my place around the same time. So my head was hurting already as I dragged myself to the studio after midday. When I walked in, the guys told me that the monitors had broken down in the main recording room (where we were supposed to work that day with Jukka) and nobody knew why. So the first 4 hours we just tried to find the reason so I would know what I have to buy or order to replace the broken / damaged parts.

It was also a shame the machines broke yesterday because we were supposed to start doing the recordings and production of the new Clark Kent songs in the second room. There's only 2 songs fully done ready so far and we need some 10 more for their album to be released in January. The band is so amazing and the guys are very very great! I am thinking of having them support us in Europe as they get their album out first. Maybe next year…

I've been looking at all the new artwork stuff for PopGasm and man it's hard to chose ;) There seems to be a lot of talented and creative folks around Europe who have brilliant ideas… Let's see.

I must say I am very happy with how the things are working inside the band right now and also with the management and stuff. For the very first time everything is being done professionally and everybody is given the space and freedom to do their job. No matter if it's playing the bass, producing the album or negotiating a deal. I really still don't understand how we are able to work with the album without panic about sales figures or dead lines and without pressure of delivering hits. I am sure as the release date gets closer, I will shit in my pants a million times, but it's great that all is so calm and relaxed now. It helps being open-minded with the Ideas. Actually even the producing process is pretty much left for Jukka. First we have selected the songs from all our Ideas and now I just mostly sit by him and enjoy the master's work. He just might ask me what I think about this and that idea, usually he doesn't ;) I must say he is just one fucking blond genius! I can't wait to sing the final vocals to the songs as soon as we get the new German Neumann U47 microphone for me. Aku (Our Sonic Kitchen MD) had ordered it from somewhere, Munich I guess. It's a very special mic built in Germany in the 1940's and the sound is better than with anything else. For my throat at least. I will pay anything for it but I hope Aku is smart when buying it for me what comes to the prices.

There have also been a lot of new toys for us and for our inspiration. The latest toy I got is the hand made acoustic baritone guitar built by Mr. Loef, the Finnish guitar builder pro who has sold us 8 of his master pieces already. The sound is almost as low as bass but it's a guitar. Sounds deep baby! I can't wait to see on which song we will use it for.

We did our first trip to Albania last weekend. None of us had ever been there before. We also had a day off there before the show and since the temperature was +37 and the sun was shining, there were no problems arranging activities. We met this Finnish guy Timo who is building some kind of recycling facility / junkyard for the locals. Timo took us to the local hot spots and worked as our "extra security" guy (drinking all the booze ;) at the festival. The crowd was nice, not too big but nice. The live concert culture seems to be a bit different there than in Central Europe for example, I mean the stage had a grass floor and the crash barriers were replaced with local police forces. If someone got too close to the mic stand, the police removed him or her or just pushed them back. So there was a show for us too ;)

And one thing I must say about the folks after the show. I have never seen anyone behaving that well towards the artists at a signing session. They have arranged a table next to the stage at the VIP area where we could sit and have a few drinks after the show. It was more than 30 degrees during our show so the cold beer sounded more than great. We were a bit worried how it would work with all the hundreds of people at the VIP, children and all. I mean if you'd do that in Finland, they would not leave you alone for one second. These folks were very polite, took their picture and / or autograph and walked away. I mean it's very nice to meet fans and people after the shows, but mostly there are a few persons among them who want to have all the attention for them selves. Most are just great, actually fun. But in Albania they all behaved like programmed and we have never had a signing session as relaxed as that.

The local bosses didn't allow the local promotion girls (+ one guy) party with our crew and us and sure that made Aki & Karri upset. We gave them their favorite pizza to cheer them up.

And the bus broke on the mountains from Tirana (capital) to Vlora. We had cold beer, no panic. Raul, Jukka, Karri, MP and the guys were fighting about these special microphone techniques (MS technique) for hours. The argument was whether the sound is real stereo or not. I filmed all the 3-hour philosophy with my DVD cam and I will release the greatest moments smart mouth battle someway someday. Nobody won.

They are serving coffee now in the plane……(just a second, I will be right back)

But anyhow….We are on our way to Slovakia now and we are performing at the Budzogan Festival in Zilina. I have never been to Slovakia and all I know about the country is some Ice Hockey players (Miroslav Satan above all!) and this one of the top 10 things about my "job" to get to see new places. They say the party after the show is great so we will have to have an extra eye on our crewmembers, especially Karri and Aki. If only they could behave as mature as us band members… Especially Jukka and myself.

From Slovakia we fly to Zurich in the afternoon to have a day off there. Shopping, Shopping, Shopping! Or did we go directly to Gampel, don't remember. I will so go jogging or to gym… If we don't party too much today… We perform at the Gampel Open Air on Saturday. The only time I was SURE I would die was on stage in Switzerland. We had been in Spain for a week with Jukka, Aki, Karri, Mikko from the management and Aku from Sonic Kitchen. The trip was not a gym trip at all and I remember flying directly to the festival from our little Mediterranean swimming pool. I was so sick and the hang over was something so bad. Anyway, they had built the stage towards the sun and as our stage time was around 5 PM, the sun shone on stage with full power and I was barely able to stand on my feet.
After the second song as Karri was bringing me a new guitar, I had to give him also my shirt. I usually don't like to do that but there I had no choice. And after the third song I had to take the rest off. Was nice to play the full 60 minute set wearing only sneakers and underwear after drinking and partying for a week in Spain… It didn't look pretty. Sorry for all the families who's children still can't make it without professional help.

So I hope the stage is not as hot as back then, but now I have been sitting in studio and I even went to gym once this week so I should be fine.

We will start planning our little movie project with Karri now before they start landing and tell us to put our MacBooks away….

On the way to Switzerland…

The show was just great! They had built the stage inside this huge wooden house on the mountain. The sound was better than ever on stage and the only thing I was a bit worried about was when I jumped off the stage, I really couldn't see how high the stage is. Didn't get hurt…;)
The crowd was very nice and lovely and after the show we finally got to meet both the local fan club and also the polish fan club teams. Wonder why they all bring us alcohol…;) Those little sweet girls ;) Even though we don't drink that much…

The party was hard so I must sleep now until the plane lands in Prague… I am dead. Jukka's fault.

Still writing….(At studio)

There was really no time to post this before so I am sitting here at the studio with Jukka and one little nameless studio assistant and we have our hands on PopGasm. Jukka and me having our little hands on our little baby popgasm…;) Sounds hetero!

Anyway. The show in Gampel SUI was just great. It's very cool how the Swiss arrange their festivals. Everything always works like a Swiss clock and the artist can just relax before and after the show and do the best they can on stage. And they were loud again, just the way we like them ;)

We all got ill on the way home. I actually felt it in my throat already on stage on Saturday, but now it really hit at least Jukka and myself a bit. The truth is, we haven't had one single day off with him for the last month at least and I don't know if it's the way of the body to fight back. I really hope we are in good shape next weekend again in Germany. It's one of the last festivals of the summer and you don't wanna drive the stage 80 % power because being ill. I need to do my Destiny jumps!

One thing that makes me feel a bit better with my running nose is the stuff coming out of the speakers…;) I can't wait to get this stuff to all of you.

I will go home and sleep 12 hours now. Maybe that helps. C U All Soon,

Doctor