The Awesome 3some

Okay now, let's not leave this hangig for too long. There was way too much of awesomeness, I can not let it "get old". This time it's all about Santa Cruz again! ;)

I'm still so hyper about our (my sisters and mine) three-gigs-three-days trip: Wednesday we were at Tampere, Bar Amadeus. Thursday still in Tampere, but now in Jack the Rooster. And finally on Friday we made it to Hämeenlinna, and Suistoklubi. It was just great to have Santa Cruz play so near where I live, the trips were not too long, and the cities were familiar, so there was nothing stopping us from getting to see how it feels to rock it out with The Boys - three nights in a row. And I have to tell you: It was Amazing! The gigs just kept getting better every freaking night.

First, July the 17th @ Bar Amadeus, Tampere

The show time was at 10pm, so me and my sister arrived at the scene pretty much at 9 o'clock. It was nice to notice that when we came the Cruz boys greeted us with smiles. Taz (the drummer) actually greeted us by polite "Good evening", while we passed him. It was good to see them again, I had missed them already. We found our good friend inside and joined him to wait for the show to begin.
The stage in Amadeus is rather small, but everything was fitted in place and the Boys made it work, as they rocked the night away. It was great fun. And hot. For real, I don't think anyone in the building could avoid getting sweaty. The feeling was high and the boys gave no chance to anyone to sit still and be grumpy. The beats were flying around the room and the atmosphere was lifting the roof.

Johnny the antenna

Even when given the truth that the stage was small, the boys made it bigger, by jumping on a chair that was left in front of the stage (actually, yeah, the chair was from our table that stood right in front of Midi, the bassman). I happened to be standing behind the chair, so when Archie stepped on it he stood so close to me that I needed to back a little not to get hit by his guitar. Or hair. :D

Midis time to sing

There was this one really funny, and for me really special, thing that happened. When the Boys started to sing their last song of the night, "Aiming High", Archie once again jumped on the chair in front of me. He was singing the first verse, and noticed me singing along. Suddenly he just turned the microphone to me, and I sang "You're not in my mind", in it as he grinned to me. Then he took back his mic and continued the song. I was feeling overwhelmed, and if I was the kind to blush I would have. He totally cought me by surprise, but also made my day. I'm happy he didn't make me forget the words by staring at me. :D
After the gig guitarist Johnny brought us (me, my sister and our new friend who we met at the scene) the setlists from the stage. He dedicated the setlists to us, and signed them, while joking with us some random stuff.

Second, July the 18th @ Jack The Rooster, Tampere

This was a gig I was waiting for. The last time I saw the Boys play in the Rooster, we had so much fun, and I was waiting on nothing but awesomeness from this one. So when it was about the time for the gig to start me, my sister and our four friends took our places right in front of the stage. A little while passed, and when people gatheret behind us the mystic intro begun.

Santa Cruz gave nothing less to their audience than the night before. The show was energetic, funny, crazy - just brilliant! The crowd in the Rooster was going wild and screaming really loud. The atmosphere was at least as hot and sweaty as in Amadeus. The lights were flashing, and the gig was kicking high, all the way. From my point of view the Rooster is a really great place for live rock shows. Though I can't understand why the smoke-machine was working so hard. At times there was almost so much smoke on the stage that I couldn't see the band. At one time Taz completely disappeared from my view because of it. Other than that, the show was great, and absolutely worth waiting for. The Boys did not let me down. Even when given the fact that Archie managed to hit me in the eye with his guitar, while leaning towards the audience over the fence. :D
After the gig we had a little chance to chat with Archie and Johnny, as they were hanging at the Rooster. My sister got to see Midi and Taz too, but I was outside cooling at the time, so.. ;) It was another night that I shall not forget. Great place, striking show and a marvellous band. It was awesome. I have nothing more to add.
"Vitut enkorest!" ;D

Third, July the 19th @ Suistoklubi, Hämeenlinna

Okay, so last but not the least we made it to Hämeenlinna. Me and my sister came early to Suistoklubi, and actually heard the sound check the Boys did. It was hilarious to listen how much fun they had. It was one of the most amusing sound checks I've ever heard! The guys greeted us again, as they saw us sitting near the bar. They were happy we made it there, I could tell. ;)
For a good time me and my sister were the only ones in the bar but as the night grew older some more people started to show up. We had decided that we will be in the front row every night, so we went to wait for the gig by the stage. It was around nine o'clock pm then, and the show time was at 0:30 am, but we didn't mind. We had nowhere else to go, so why not stay here. We sat near the stage, and saw the Boys come from outside. They teased us a little when they saw us parked right in front of the stage. It was funny. :)

Some hours later some of our friends started to show up, and so did other people. Now it started to feel like there was going to happen something. Huge! ;) We were really pleased with our timing and all. Everything was perfect with us. If only the Boys would start to play! (They were even 15mins late! EEK!!)
But the wait was worth it. Totally worth it. Johnny had told us the night before that this show would be even better. And I have to tell you, he wasn't lying about it. Now they had enough room in the stage, and they knew how to work it. Midi and Johnny were running across the stage to or from each other. Archie was jumping high and Taz was freaking behind his drums. There was so much joy, energy, speed, force, adrenaline and talent on the stage, it was astonishing!!
At one point Johnny and Archie jumped off the stage and ran across the room, in the middle of the crowd. That's what I love about them. It brings so much more electricity to their show. It is completely insane and just splendid!

Again we were so close to the stage (for some unknown reason!) I had to be careful with Johnny and Archies guitars, as they were playing. They both almost managed to knock me with their instruments, but almost doesn't count. I didn't get hit this time. Archie even noticed once his guitar was terrifyingly close to my face, and he pulled it back with a certain shock in his eyes. I was thankful he did it: there was no need to twist myself in an awkward position to avoid the guitar :)
After the gig our friends went to get some photographs with the Boys, and I asked Taz if he could bring me the piece of the drumstick that was lying in the middle of the stage (I couldn't reach it myself). He was laughing at my request but was happy to let me have the stick. Some moments later he found the other end of the stick too and brought it to me as well. He's the best :D
When the people started to leave the Boys alone and get drinks or get out, all the Boys somehow managed to share us some of their time. They came, one by one, to sign the set list our friend had. Archie sat with us for a breef moment chatting something, and Midi asked us (who had seen the past three gigs) which gig was the best. At that time I wasn't sure how to answewr to him.

At Amadeus I got some amazing memories, Jack the Rooster is my favourite as a place and now Suistoklubi blew me away. Now that I have been thinking about it, I have to agree with my sister, who knew it then already. Suistoklubi rocked the best. It was pure awesomeness from the begunning to the very end.

Taz rulez!

I'm really happy I got to go on this three-days-and-gigs trip with my sister. I could not have spent those days in a better way. I'm having hard time describing how good I feel just now. I can't put it to words. I want another three days like this!!

Rock you!
-RW-