HOWDY
FUCKIN* HOW, back with some crazy-ass stories. Just got home from our mini-tour
with Sinful Society and Softcore Suicide, great rock bands from Turku. The week
did start with a show in Caio 2.0. and we got there right on time when Mikael
was setting up his equipment for the night’s Bar Quiz and when we got back for
soundcheck after pizzas in Babel, the show hadn’t even started yet. So the
check delayed and so did the shows coz’ our colleagues managed to start loading
their stuff from a HUGE fuckin’ tour bus almost two hours late.
Softcore
Suicide rocked the stage from 11pm which was already our onstage time. Doesn’t
matter – it’s only rock n’ roll! Both bands before us kicked ass so the bar was
set pretty high but still we managed to explode everyone’s mind by rushing
around the stage. Good one! Got back home with our trusted driver who still
drove back Caio to pick Smippe and Katri up. The tour bus was still standing
there coz’ the Turku guys had called a cab to their Forenom Hotel.
The Friday
noon we just stayed in bed with my gf and headed to pick a trailer, drum head
and our stuff from Caio in afternoon. It was the rush hour and witnessed a
chase there on highway… Some guy drove like Tommy Vercetti, trying to lose the
cop cars behind him. Jay behind the steering wheel, quite full moon on the sky
and the darkness of Lapland’s wilderlands amazed as GHS landed Rollo a bit late
this time. Fuckin’ guys turned the air condition on and I had to borrow Wexx’s
jacket. Paha Kurki was a small but REALLY intimate and cool place to play and
got onstage almost in time.
Daniel
Borgsten did his magic and we were fully satisfied with sounds, jumped there on
the tables and could see a smile on everyone’s face. The best feeling in the
world! Changed our clothes in a tour bus and witnessed two awesome shows with a
few beers. The bartender handed a Jaloviina bottle when GHS left the building –
I drank it coz’ of my flu and fell asleep, got up when our car was already on
the highway of Oulu. Ate, fell asleep again and got up in the morning for
shower, drew the yesterday’s clothes on me.
Freakin’
car was running out of battery so managed just to jam a few songs before
loading our equipment in the hall of Raatti Stadion. Played five acoustic
songs, ate some bad-ass reindeer and potato casserole with some beers and
headed to Kajaani after a quick stop at Hiukkavaara and Vaala
S-Market-Alko-combo. Guesthouse Julia’s hostess, an old Russian lady led us to
the rooms which I shared with Smippe Youngblood. Felt a bit tired but still
could get no sleep. Were in front of Peevee Bar in the same time as did Turku
boys. After loading they served tasteful burgers and I began to sip some Vodka
Batteries to boost the final show of the tour.
I prefer
that show the best of the current tour, everyone gave their best and we didn’t
even had any set list. Just played what came in mind. Some girls squeezed to
the backstage but when they started to drank our booze, they were kicked out
hahaha. It was already 2pm when we were done with our show, TIME FOR SOME AFTER
PARTY! Drank in the tour bus and smoked some fat-asses there outside the venue
and packed in a taxi back to our guesthouse. Just sat there on the floor of Jay
Mickey’s, Matt Nitro’s and Wegster’s room chit-chatting till 6am – also Paroni
Von Nikula, lead vocalist of Softcore Suicide joined us – fun and a loyal guy,
nice company for sure!
Sunday noon
arrived, our car was again out of battery – a cab cruised by and we bought some
extra charge to drove back Oulu. In Vaala, Jay introduced us his home hoodz and
that was a final stop before gettin’ back home. Your probably asking about
Smippe, right?! Well as I told, Tiger L.A. did left the band after our show in
45 Special and one night we were playing in Hiukkavaara when saw this young
dude from Ventura Highway & Blue Ceremony walking there in the yard with a
guitar case. Asked Matt and Jay, how about throwing a message in Facebook and
Sammy immediately answered that he would be interested but still playing in
Alex Cast’s band, he would just cover for a few gigs.
Jammed
together a week and as we were in Porvoo Market Night with Miia, Sam asked if
he’d join the band and quit his other projects. Immediately everyone delighted
and the HUGE problem was solved in a short period of time, thank god! Smippe’s
also a good singer and got his baptism of fire in Winger as we shooted some
acoustic ones again. The boy did got a bit drunk after the show in Amarillo but
hey – loving him to death – the missing puzzle piece in the band.
About
Porvoo… I was curious to party in my first Soundwall ever so I booked hotels
and loaded our bags to Mustang – hit it! Road trip went on over Rolls Kurikka with
a Panini stop and all the way to the swamp crave of Saari in South Ostrobotnia.
Arrived to our pretty little boutique hotel Pariisin Ville, ate a reindeer
pasta at mighty Zum Beispiel when Sammy did let us know his decision to join
GHS. All the bars were fully crowded that fuckin’ night, got into our room and
started readin’ about Ferm’s Paradox. That is deep but I’ve been fascinated
about cosmos and stuff lately. Next morning did a walk over a small but so cozy
town, old one as well before drivin’ to Bodom lighten up an early afternoon
cigarette. They’d promised to keep a parking lot near Hotel Katajanokka but
that didn’t quite match. So after a lil’ circle-cruizin’ we got into our
jailhouse hotel room, opened a red wine bottle from the fridge and soon we were
drinkin’ Captain Morgans’ in Riff as a pre-party for fuckin’ Finnish Wrestling Night
in President Nightclub. Drank some more and did accidentally hook up with one
of my classmates in college, Arttu, who is nowadays an actor.
We’d settled
to meet Lashana, Lotta and Jason on the terrace of On The Rocks but it was
raining like hell so everyone came some 30 minutes late for the drinkin’
session under the terrace umbrellas. Drove to Vallila by a cab, smoked one
fat-ass, boosted with some speed and got knocked out. As I regain consciousness
Miia had asked the doorman to call an ambulance. Realized haven’t ate anything
after a breakfast in Ville so the ambulance guys gave me some Jaffa and sent me
back in, hahaha. Megahammer threw an excellent set of songs as we partied our
heads off there as well did Irving Force – eventhough some of the songs were
too nightclubish rubbish for me. This time Miia had boosted her night with some
white wine so it was my time to take care of her, sat there on the back room
and just chilled with some music videos and beers. Matt Nitro kept me company
while my darling was sleeping. Woke up, took a cab to Bar Backstage, met Jonna,
Olga, Atte and the other guys of Scars Remind but faded for a lil’ walk over
Punavuori Subway all the way to Skatta.
In the
morning were already seeking for Tulilahti crime scene on time and visited
Valamo and Lintula abbeys, few relaxing days in Kuopio ahead. Went fishing,
watched some movies, tested our new Beretta pistol and visited Record Store X
to pick up some cd’s, this time John Carpenter’s Lost Theme II and Kavinsky’s
Outrun. On Tuesday Groupie High School trained again because we had our first
wired gig with this group ahead on Sat with our friends Rosy Dream. Loaded our
stuff and got to do soundcheck first. Adalar Pizzeria downstairs served good
ones, drank some beers backstage and rushed onstage finally around 23:00. Also Rosy
Dream blasted and before 4am closed the fuckin’ door of our training house with
Smippe, drove him & Katri home, returned our trailer to Saarela where
watched the stars a moment, dropped by the Subway just before closing time 5am.
Also Juce K
did join GHS for a week to cover Tiger after the final show. We drank beer and
trained the songs for our show at The Night Of Art 2016 on Rotuaari. Wexx got
into hospital because of pneumonia so we were runnin’ out of guitar players.
Anyway trained in my penthouse for a moment and loaded our stuff human bustle
around us and started playing. Walked to the marketplace and back to Rummers’
with Jay Mickey, drank a few, chatted with Nikolaus Tiiro and headed home to
hook up Miia in our corner store for some tortilla ingredients and the season
start matchup between Kärpät and some German team. Next day we’d supposed to
play in Winger but one of us was in rehab so it was obvious that it’d just be
me and Jay. Headed to Hiukkavaara, trained for few hours and it actually
sounded pretty good so the gig was successful and the party went on in Huikka
till the morning.
Fuck it, I
had to run to Jyväskylä for Euro Conference. Stayed in Paviljonki which is one
the finest hotels in Finland. First night just trained there in the gym, got
into a sauna and just red. Next night stated drinking in the lobby with my
colleagues, Jay Cocaine picked me up and we had some Hoegaardens’ in Hemingways’ and right after that in
Lutakko Rock Venue. Met Miia in Subway and walked back to our hotel after a
lil’ romantic chilling in the harbor. Next day we circled in stores, bought
some cool indian jewellery from Bijoy Brigitte, Hanoi Rock’s photo book &
Yaffa’s biography from the bookstore and tried to find a decent pub;
Vakiopaine, Sohwi & Vihreä Haltijatar – all closed! Katse was fully crowded
so walked in to Harry’s British Bar and again some Hoegaarden coming up!
After few
big ones ate pizzas in Trattoria Aukio and headed back home to celebrate Venice
Fest 2016. Unfortunately it was still raining like in London and Pikisaari
Swing Picnic got moved to inner rooms so I decided to skip this year, second
happening had to skip during the same day – Toivola’s Old Yard in Jyväskylä
organized some Stone Aged parties and lectures but the storm was raging so had
to walk back. Next morning did my morning exercise to Move Oulu Nallikari –
good news for the organizers this time; the endless storm had stopped.
Mediterranean Market brought people to Oulu’s Marketplace but stayed inside
instead and went to Plaza for Bodom Movie. Fuckin’ god how bad that was!
Probably the worst horror movie EVER, and I’ve seen a lot! It was actually Finnish
one which made it even worse.
I’ve been
worried about my legos after years of partying and smokin’ so booked a visit to
ProTerveys Dentists in Linnanmaa, fortunately it wasn’t that bad and got out
after paying 700 euros and with a couple of new teeth. The new ones in mouth
did shoot our new photos for Kaleva album cover by Miia in Kaukovainio and the
actual music video on the roof of Siilo. They had helicopters and stuff so I
guess there’s something interesting comin’ up! Also packed in Studio
Kynsilehto, next to Saha Prod building for the first photo sessions of new
Groupie High School line-up. Katri did the best job and Petri Lampela rolled a
new logo for the band which is already printed to Jay’s bass drum. Funny thing accidentally happened during the shootings, I had my new Beretta with me because wanted it as a prop for someone so when we were having cigarettes outside after make-ups, heard a gunshot inside. Wegster had tested the gun and of course it was loaded, I always keep it loaded in the closet of my bedside table... Fortunately now one got hit, the background sheet took the bullet and it actually took another hit when I fell down from the chair frame of Nitro, coz' he suddenly got up and I was staring my phone atm... Pure Spinal Tap!
Haven’t ever
seen Steel Panther live so I booked flights to Helsinki and found myself from
Eira in Sandro which is one of the best vegetarian places in the country.
Walked to Glounge Skybar for drinks because Pompier was already closing the
doors and this mighty lunch restaurant was runnin’ out of food already before
14:00. Atte Laru came to pick us up and after a short stop in Alko we were
drinkin’ beer and partying with the Scars Remind guys and Jonna in Koskela.
Circus was fully packed as the gig started. Did change some words with Arde of
Temple Balls and headed upstairs to dancin’ on tables. As the awesome gig was
over did realize that I’d lost my fuckin’ favorite leopard scarf so had to have
couple of beers still in Backstage and then take a cab back. In the early
morning we still trained some freakin’ wrestling moves there and passed out.
Had the worst hangover ever next morning but still managed to get the plane
back and to play a gig with the guys in Winger.
We’ve been
trying to do more stuff with the band and that’s why Sammy arranged the demo
night in their place in Myllyoja. They’d made some soya tortilla chips in oven
and we brought few doughnuts and we ate like royals before playing. Next day
shopped some sheets, led lights and electronics from SP with Nitro and asked
all our friends to join our penthouse party next day. Mika Pohjola came by to
set up the mixer table and we drank till the night before huge fest in my
place, the band guys plus Hanky Man, Lauri, Miia, Katri, Heidi, Mike & Annu
walked to Hevimesta for Mötley Crue cover songs by Liverbox. Also hooked up
with Hair Hanky & Larry on the bar counter and was totally wasted.
AWESOME!!
Saha Prod
did shoot our new video for Liquid Lunch on Friday. Started droppin’ beer after
my afternoon workout and got to Residence Koiteli by the best ride with Miia,
Larry & Mikael. Production group was already there and they did great job.
Chatted with Riina after a long time and danced the night away in living room,
haha also rolled there on the beach with my gf coz’ we were too wasted to get
up after watching stars on the sky. Next day managed to get up the bed and for
the weddings of Laura & Jukka in Dom, old chapel at Isokatu and finally in
Sas. Played a couple of songs with Mike and ate big burgers with a bottle of
white wine. Congrats one more time, the best couple in the world!
SAMOROST 3
(Have to say that they’ve been doing an awesome job at Amanita Design, the
graphics are epic and this one even beats Machinarium but the only annoying
thing (again) is the difficulty to understand what to do next – doesn’t matter –
still the best point-and-click-game of the year.)
ARQ (Trapped
in a lab and a time loop, a couple is trying to get out alive. But they realize
that something in this chaotic, post-nuclear war-world is returning them back
in time after three hours of continuing. Can’t tell you more, good actors and
well-made film of 2010’s!)
RUSSIAN
GUEST (Taavi Soininvaara brings the best of Finnish detective novels on the
table. It’s still plausible though the prime minister dies and stuff. Also
takes a good point of view about the politics these days and also about the
connections between Finland and Russia today. MASSIVE – but interesting book!)
TRIALS OF
THE BLOOD DRAGON (Continues the march of retrowave conquering the world! Far
Cry had an own one with the 80’s graphics and world but Trials is far more
interesting. BUT – the fuckin’ game includes lots of bugs and starts to get recursive
in short period of time.)
XOXO (Okay
first of all – it’s a fuckin’ teen movie. But it’s kinda good one! A young
electro artist catches a slot from a huge house music festival and the other
roles are divided… there’s a hippie couple and a manager and as you probably
know already in this point – the party WILL get outta hands. All right, it’s a
shitty movie for Christ sake but I watched this in a hangover so give me a
fuckin’ break!)
UNKLE (Did
open this classic British electro artist’s album Psyence Fiction after a long
time and FUCK YEAH it did work as a magic! Bloodstain and Unreal are the most
epic songs but the main point is probably this impossible-to-copy atmosphere
and sounds of the late 90’s. It’s said as a trip hop and yeah okay but it’s
still electro painting for me. Great band and a great album! Like Kavinsky’s
Outrun but 90’s! By the way found some similarities with Carpenter’s Lost
Themes II with this one.)
CODE &
COSMOS (Both of these are the best documentaries of the year FOR SURE. Cosmos
is maybe interesting but that’s just because I’m not that into math but star
science. Cosmos takes you to a trip through the whole universe and lightens
your mind up, as Code’s based on the mathematic codes ruling the whole Cosmos.
Fucks your mind but brings you to the point – you’re just a little rat shit in
this fuckin’ HUGE universe!)
CONTACT
& CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (They’re both classics but somehow I’m
not into this Spielberg’s that much. Contact is much more reliable and atmospheric
even though it’s not that much full of action than this 70’s movie is. Also
Spielberg tries to bring too many main characters on the table when Contact is
more of Jodie Foster adventuring the Cosmos. That’s why liked this 90’s movie
much much more!)
AQUARIUS
(Another awesome series of Netflix, David Duchovny does again GREAT job as a
detective trying to catch young Charles Manson and his hippie cult. Got me
going into that hip world so deep, hahaha. It’s a nice capturing about the
spirit of 60’s in L.A. and in whole USA of the era. This one really rockin’!)
ONLY THE
DEAD (Maybe the best war documentary of all time and I mean this! Michael Ware
worked for CNN and did dive into Iraq War to travel with Americans and British
troops for the video. The ending scene is most terrifying… They just leave a
prison to death eventhough there’s lots of people around him just smokin’ cigs
and talking together. And Ware also catches the point of view of rebels as
well. He was one the first among Al-Qaeda to shoot with a camera.
I:DA (It’s
about a woman waking up, unable to remember her name in a small French village.
Realizes he’s a wife a rich painter and gets back home to Netherlands. Well –
there’s a reason why she’s left alone to die and the relationship isn’t that
full of sunshine as it first seems to be. Kinda similar with Jason Bourne but
maybe more intense and made with a better taste.)
LITTLE GIRL
BLUE (Like you’ve probably realized, I’m into road and noir movies and stuff,
this one’s about Janis Joplin and made as a black and white road movie about a
talented but shy young girl, trying to figure out her future in this changing
country. Every rock n’ roller in the world should watch and think about this!)
STRANGER
THINGS (SUPERB JOB, Netflix! Original Series and the best in years, great child
actors and awesome atmosphere like in Twin Peaks but better! Music, sounds,
actors, plot… they all make sense. And even those unnatural happenings are made
with a good taste. Everyone should watch this!)
THE PRISON
OF ISIS (The first book of this crazy Syrian war and about Jedish girl gettin’
captured by Daesh. It doesn’t try to change your point of views, just tells the
story and it isn’t light. The ending is happy but still tragic. Well written,
hard to read – my recommendings for sure!)
LOVE
MEDICINE (Well written novel about few generations of American Indians and
their bad conditions in reservations. I think this as a road movie of poor
people. Louise Erdrich’s writing style is kind of spiritual and painting, that’s
why loved this lot! Makes you think – white man came across the sea, brought us
pain and misery…)
SORJONEN
(They’ve been filming lots of good Finnish series for years BUT none of those
bad-ass noir series. Kuusniemi & Virtanen as the main characters it’s just
natural that it happens in Lappeenranta – the dark city near the Russian
border. Just complete awesomeness and atmosphere in the middle of action –
Sorjonen moves in from Helsinki, is talented in profiling and gets the things
going.)
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# Groupie High School # Smippe Youngblood |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing # Katy Pixx |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing # Miia Sofia |
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# Groupie High School # Matt Nitro |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing # 45 Special |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing # Matt Nitro |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing # Miia Sofia |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing |
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# Groupie High School #Smippe Youngblood |
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# Groupie High School # Matt Nitro # 45 Special |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing # Toppilan Siilot # Nti Kaleva & The Mistake # Mike Rockberry # Katy Pixx # Laura Kaleva |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing # Jay Mickey |
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# Groupie High School # Smippe Youngblood |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing # Hotel Katajanokka |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing |
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# Groupie High School # Matt Nitro # Smippe Youngblood # Winger Bar |
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# Groupie High School # Matt Nitro # Smippe Youngblood |
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# Groupie High School # Vinny Olavi # Vincenzo Olavi # Vinny's Playground # Modern Day Cowboys # GHS Racing # Matt Nitro # Wegster # Jay Mickey # Smippe Youngblood |