Merry Metal in a hurry

I had this two-reckless-shows weekend at Valentine’s.

14.2.2014 Joensuu, Amarillo

I had my hopes up high, as it had been one and a half months since I’ve seen Reckless Love. Also, it was my sister’s birthday the same night we were going to see the guys again, so it sounded perfect. I knew the guys would congratulate birthday girls or boys from the stage, I’ve seen it happen a couple of times, so I made clear I had told them how special night it was. I was excited, and wanted to hear the guys congratulate my sister.

The show started with energy, and completely blew me away. It was hilarious, catchy and sexy - all the things a Reckless Love show should be. It was beautiful. We were in the front row, me and my sister, standing near thunder bass god Jalle. Olli sang directly for us some couple of times, and it was really cute. This one time, during an introduction to the next song, Olli was talking about some songs and...well I can’t recall it all, but anyhow I started to scream at him: “Play FIGHT! Play FIGHT!” He looked at me funnily. “What was that?” he replied and I started yelling “Fight, Fight, Fight, Fight...!!”. Hessu Maxx grinned at me from behind his drums, and played some drumbeats of “Fight”. Then someone interrupted the whole thing by yelling “Play Paranoid”. Ewh, so overrated song.  Olli replied to the man: “Call yourself a cab”. And then the show continued as planned (I think). No Fight then. Sadly. :P I’m still waiting for it.

After the show was done I felt a little empty. Had they forgot? After all, had they ignored her? At least they didn’t do any special things on stage. I just thought they wanted to greet her in person afterwards. You’ll never guess how wrong I was. After we had waited nearly an hour in the bar that was pretty empty (as all had went to see STIG play at the second floor), we saw Olli come out of the backstage door. I tried to wave at him, to come and greet us, but he just looked at us like a wild rabbit and walked off. I was shocked. We were almost the only ones in the bar so even if he was in a hurry, he should have known we wouldn’t have kept him there for long. We just wanted to say hi. He should know for now that’s all we really need from them. But no.

At that moment I was so happy we had Mikko checking up on us every now and then. He made us smile when everything else failed around. Unfortunately he was still “on the clock”, so he couldn’t stay with us very long... but hey, to be noticed and chatted with was all we wanted! 

He gave us that =)

Sometime later Jalle and Pepe came out from the backstage too. I repeated my actions I had done with Olli. Pepe winked at us, and tried to stop Jalle from leaving. I guess the bassmans ears were ringing, and so he didn’t react to the guitarists shouts. Pepe shook his head and came to us smiling gladly. I told him, with a little discomfort in my voice, they had forgotten about my sister. Pepe apologised, and said it was actually Ollis fault as he’s the one who organises the speeches between the songs. Before leaving us, Pepe took my sister in a warm hug and congratulated her on his behalf. Of that I was very pleased. At least one of the rockers knew how to act. Not all hope is gone, I guess.

We saw Jalle really quickly at the bar probably some ten minutes later. I coughed him up, and he greeted us with a happy smile. He didn’t know what night it had been to us, so as I asked him to notice my sister, he was surprised. He just sat on his chair, and I felt like face palming and bursting into laughter. Well, at least he tried. And if you now think that I seem like an attention whore, well it’s fine by me. But let me tell you that I would not have seen this much trouble if the day was about myself. I’d be settled happy if Pepe had remembered me. But as it was about my sister - I wanted all to be perfect for her. She didn’t ask for it. Unfortunately so far the night hadn’t been all so nice. What’s worse, the unlucky shadow followed us to Hessu. I saw him near the table where Mikko had been selling their t-shirts, and I thought he’d be nice enough to notice us for a minute or two. Well that he did, but he was rather strange. No feelings came across his face as he said “happy birthday”, and it seemed like he didn’t really care. Also, I needed to tell him separately (as I needed to tell Jalle) to say something. Nothing came out of them unforced. Is it seriously that hard? O.o

Pepe did his
"happy dance" to us

I felt pretty awful, needing to tell them what to do. Haven’t we been fans long enough for you guys to have sincere smiles and congratulations? It would have been fine, if it was my own birthday, but did they need to act like that on my sisters day! That was more than enough for me. I’m still hurt and pissed off at them. What would I have needed to do to get through to them? Hold a sign that says “Pleas, be wonderful and congratulate my sister! It’s her birthday today!”?? I had told to Olli and Hessu face to face (earlier when we’d met in Tampere) and messaged about it to Pepe. Jalle was the only who sincerely didn’t know, so I can understand his surprise... But c’mon! I mean what the hell? After seeing how sad it made my sister... I just wanted to hit all their faces in with rage. You can beat me down as much as you want, you can ignore me, it’s fine! But if you hurt someone I love more than anything... I’d love to make you suffer. And don’t get me wrong now. My sister doesn’t show these kind of feelings easily. But I know her, so I can read her a little better than the rest. So trust me, when I say: She was hurt, and all that shit made her really sad. I am rather disappointed in the guys of Reckless Love just now. But at least I learned the hard way: Never expect a thing from them. That way you can only be positively surprised. So all I’ll be expecting from the guys from now on is great on-stage-presence. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.2.2014 Kuopio, Kulttuuriareena 44

So, another night, another show, another feeling – right? Well, at some points, yes.

This show was for all ages, so we made a decision (way before coming to Kuopio), we’d stay in the background this time.  We met up with some amazing friends at the spot, and hang with them while waiting for Reckless Love to show their home town how they rock it on now. We also hang with Mikko (my wolfbrother), the trusted man of RL, for some time. I really enjoy hanging with him. He never makes me feel unwanted or in the way somehow. He saved us the other night in Joensuu too, as he came to sit and chat with us. And he did it all over again in Kuopio. He really was the brightest star during that weekend! He’s the freaking most awesome “Metal Ass” I’ve met :D

The show Reckless Love played was great – as expected. That’s what I thought it would be, as three of them were home again. There’s always something special in their appearance when they’re in Kuopio. Another good reason for something different was the fact that the show really was for all ages. It seems Reckless Love pushes more often a little extra something and also a lively-rock-boost to the gigs that everyone can enter. A little unfair, if you ask me, but I guess you’re not asking. Anyhow, the show was really good. All the guys were having fun, and connecting cutely with

their audience. They took over the stage, the audience, and all hearts available. It was brilliant, and I had fun walking around taking pictures. I tried to outgrow the unwelcoming feeling that had put its stigma on me last night. All in all it wasn’t that hard, as the band always is rather pleasant thing to see on stage. All that energy and all those smiles will steal you away. You just can’t mope!

After the show I made my way back to Mikko, who still was selling the t-shirts and bags and stuff right outside the show hall. Me, my sister and couple of our friends chatted with him for a long time while all the other people were rushing and trying to push their way to Reckless Love, as the band came to write autographs. The whole lobby was full of people pushing and grousing and acting impolite. We didn’t want to get squeezed in there, so we waited for a while,

and kept company to Mikko, before entering the line to get the autographs. And yes, we really wanted autographs from the guys, as we rarely ask of them either. We were last in line, and as it was our turn to meet up with the guys – they stood up and were about to leave. My sister said to me “Oh, great! Now they’re going to pass us again”. “What the fuck? No way!! Are you serious?!” I screamed, and waved my hands with frustration. Olli heard us and looked at us with a silent shock. I guess he just noticed we even were there.

Hessu and Jalle left, and didn’t look back, but Olli waved his hand letting us know he’d be there for a moment still. He tried to make his way to us from the table, but some people (who had the autographs already) stopped him to have photos with him. I’ve seen that happen before, and with irritation I said to him “Yeah whatever. Take the pictures first”. I was so tired of the people, who had already been there with the guys, getting autographs (to any place you can think of: from bags to photos to shoes!) and pictures and hugs and god knows what...!! And now they pushed us aside again. Geh, thanks. I can’t believe I’ve been talking about the rudeness of some fans – with couple of those photomaniacs! *SIGH* Pepe was there too (still!), and he wrote us his autograph on a paper I had glued some pictures of him to (we had one of each of the guys, and thought we’d get them signed here). He was laughing at one of the shots and gave us thumbs up for it before leaving to the backroom. Then Olli appeared from behind me, and I gave him the paper that included his photos. He signed it, smiled at us, and said “It was nice you were here again to see us!” then he ran after Pepe, and that was the last we saw them. It was rather quick and disorganized.

 

I am appalled on how they were acting during that weekend. I can’t wrap my brain around it. Why does that happen repeatedly to us? I don’t think we’ve ever asked much from this band. They’ve been nice in the beginning, but lately it seems like they’re always in a hurry. Like we are too common to them. We are expendable and they take us for granted. Maybe one day it will be too late for them to be nice to us. I mean... I’ve felt bad with this band before, but not like this. They really didn’t live up to what I thought they were. I don’t expect them to be superhuman and every time notice us in a different way than all the rest. No way, please! I only wanted them to this once have time for my sister. Not for me, but for her. She’s never had that, and yet she has seen the most gigs from them. I just think it’s unfair.

 

 I’ve been told “no hard feelings”, when I’ve been snappy and moody. And sure, I’m forgiving the guys, yes. I almost have already. But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m disappointed. That feeling will bring me down many days to come. But I can’t hate those guys - as much as I’d like to right now. I guess it’s accurate when people say: “You’ve not stopped caring, if it still hurts”. And hell does this hurt.

“The one you hate to love is made for you...”

Bye for now....

-RW