Poets of the Fall – Back to Le Trabendo, Paris September 25th, 2022
How do you prepare for a Poets of the Fall gig? 🙃 Personally, I like to reminisce about the previous one I attended… It was a while ago, September 2022 in Paris at the brilliant venue Le Trabendo. The band who stole my heart years ago, playing in my home country – though I don’t live there anymore, could not miss them there so I went again. It has become a bit of a tradition. This is the third time Poets of the Fall performs on the French stage. This made the show even more special to me, as you can imagine.
Le Trabendo
Le Trabendo, happily situated in Parc de la Villette, in Paris is a very nice venue though the stage is a bit small therefore our boys could not use their backdrop 😭… The acoustic is good but I am not very savvy on the topic, I just know the show sounded great. Le Trabendo is cozy, one of the best ventilated venues I’ve been to (at least it felt like that from front row 😅) and what I also like is that there’s a balcony and large stairs enabling people to see the stage better. It is a well thought-out venue, has a dedicated staff moving with purpose and professionalism – though rather stingy with smiles, until finally they could smile 🙃. No wonder our dear Poets of the Fall chose to hold a gig there again, and what a gig that was!
I went with Ana, and we wanted front row of course 😂 so we arrived first at the venue at some early-ish time – crazy times, then came Zoe and later came Ulli, Kai, Anja and Nicola… until the queue finally started to nicely build. Before that though, we saw the crew arrive, then the guys whose driver was none other than my favorite bass player, Jani Snellman 🥰. Marko did not stay, he went directly to the hotel to rest I believe, but not before looking up and answering my wave with his and the added bonus of a smile. A couple of hours before the doors would open, Olli and Jani came up to us. Olli said something like: “Aren’t you a bit early for the show?” A little chat and then photo time while waiting for their dinner to be delivered. Such patience and kindness!
Once again, Ana: “Claire don’t talk!” 😂 – she’s only following my wishes though – Olli and I laughed, Jani: “No? Why not? She can talk.” Bless him ❤️! Another cool thing was that I finally got to meet Mike, the manager, which was indeed long overdue 😊. He is such a kind man, the experience of it all was near to perfect.
Paris audience was on fire
Between the opening act, Bomber, and the time Poets of the Fall made their entrance, we got to listen to some old tunes. The one that really put us all in the zone was Queen, “I want to break free”. We all sang, clapped, and stomped. While on stage preparing Poets set-up, Glen Loit, the band’s “Cosmic Chief Shaman”, felt somewhat energized by the audience and sang as well. That was very cool 🎶. Behind me stood a man and his daughter who’d come from South-West of France, I don’t remember from where exactly, but we had some very nice talks. Never got to ask their names though… I think 😅.
The stage was set, to my left Kai and to my right Ana… right in front of me, for the first time, Marko 😊 or at least, his microphone 😂. The front row early birds had devised a strategy on where to aim after we were in, all the while taking care that I’d enter first thus making sure I would not be injured again 😅 (i.e. read the stairs incident from Copenhagen 🤪). The die hard fans had made it and believe me, not only for the show but for the company, this is one of the best concerts I’ve been to. I’ll remember this forever ❤️. “It’s the little things…” which I won’t write about, that made this a wonderful and amazing event.
Countdown
As always, you know when the adrenaline builds up at the mere sound of the countdown music, I like to call it. I am then all excited, clapping, smiling and happy like a kid in a toys store 🙃. Even my eyes were playing tricks on me that time and the show had not yet started. No matter how many times I see the same setlist live, the anticipation is the same yet not really. The intensity of the moment can even be overwhelming because of what I might have gone through – for good or ill – in between gigs. Poets of the Fall are this constant variation of moods and emotions that have the power to keep me on my feet head high and sane – debatable, some friends would say 😂.
The Requiem opens the dance
We all understand the meaning of “Requiem” but nowhere have I read it spelled out… Requiem is a mass for the dead. It is a celebration of the departed soul at a funeral 😅. The jester’s funeral – maybe, the celebration of the trilogy of trilogies final hours. How fitting then to start the show thus? The music feels even more theatrical today, live and right in my face. Low tunes, a suspenseful music, highlighted with some beautiful strings (Captain?), the light changes, the orchestration intensify – not without making me think of the Witcher, don’t ask you 🙃 – and here they are… Tuomas, Jani, Olli, Captain, Jaska and finally Marko:
Bonsoir Paris!
I mean… How can you resist? or how would you even want to… Requiem for my Harlequin begins and it is pure joy from there on. The celebration starts but believe me, this is no goodbye indeed. Now, I won’t do a song by song of the show, first because it is impossible to do justice to the band that way, and because I don’t necessarily like to read song by song articles, so why should I write one 😅. This year’s Paris gig article has eluded me for a long time… there has been a bit of soul searching these past months, you know. I am good now, I think… so I can look back to this incredible show.
Marko’s happy mood
“Tasty beverage now [Marko smile clownishly]… Well!” and so started Temple of Thought. I love the song, but it is the song that I do not seek from Poets repertoire, you see. Going into the bridge, “yo watch out, wanna put my foot here”… he did not say that… his look did, but not at me though… Marko has a way to look at unanimated objects thus making them speak 😂. Anyway, hands off the front of stage barrier, and step back too – didn’t want to get his foot in my face 🤪 . As he is singing, my lips are moving the same way has his, my head moves on its own and everybody has this gigantic smile lighting up their faces as they are doing precisely the same thing as me… all the while trying to take close-up photos of Marko. Thinking about it… it is rather funny and beautiful how we all – as one with him, with the band – commune through the music. Such joy!
But then something happens… Marko takes a zip of water and, during Olli’s magical solo, gets as goofy as ever. Watch out for the water! I am not sure, however, that his intent was to pour that much water on Olli 😂. Oh man! But Olli, impervious to his brother’s joke, continued playing. I would not say that the joke had the intended effect 😅. But hey, kids… you know!
Rogue
This is my absolute favorite part of the show… or at least one of the very high points of show. Almost like it says to the audience:
Ah you thought you were ready? Well think again, let’s crank it up another notch.
They will at that too. Janiiiii! He is playing with the crowd and his smile as he does so is such a blessing. Guess what, I caught it the way I wanted to, so instead of my telling you about Rogue, why don’t you have a look-it 😘. I don’t remember if I captured this with my phone or with Sony compact camera… but it turned out ok, although nothing beats being there having the music rushing through your entire body 🙃 Thanks fellas! ❤️
“Fighto” on Firedancer
“Do we have any firedancers in the house tonight? [crowd says yes] Let me see your hands… That many! My, my, I’m stunned that is!” Of course, we did not really get what he was asking at the time, I don’t think… 🙃 Anyhow, Firedancer starts, Jani ❤️ hits the bass with his lovely smile as always, me… happy like a crackers… because you know how much I love Firedancer, I am having the time of my life. He sings in front of me, but he looks at my neighbors… never me 😅. Don’t care, I love everything about Firedancer! The lyrics, the mood ’cause it can go either way and the whole thing gives me shivers every single time. Marko was in a very goofy mood… Jaska’s solo… his turn to be on Marko’s line of fire. Marko’s weapon? His golden scarf… by the way, I need that scarf 😂 it is so very cool! Obviously not that one, but the same-ish, you know.
I am talking about Marko goofing around, but I think they were all incredibly happy to be there, you could tell.
Partir avec Moi – The French treat
The setlist is brilliant, although I would have loved to hear “Hello Cabaret“, I knew it would not happen… Marko had told me so himself. However, how sexy is it when he sings French? 😊 Partir avec Moi, en français s’il-vous-plaît! Near perfect… my favorite part: Jaska’s solo… THAT is perfection indeed!
In the end, how do you retell a tale that was told by the most amazing poets – and do the tale justice? You can’t… So, seriously, if you have the opportunity to go see Poets of the Fall live (2023’s around the corner, you never know what’s coming 😉) do not hesitate even for a second. They always deliver incredible music, Marko’s voice never faulters and they give 200% even when their sick (Captain, hope you’re better by now ❤️)
The video below, filmed by yours truly as well! Apologies for the mess at the beginning, I thought the light on my phone was on and had to make sure I would not blind Marko 😂. Smart technology had switched it off when I started filming though😅.
Until we meet again, I leave you in good company; partons avec lui maintenant.
Ghostlight Tour 2022 – Setlist Tidal
2 Comments
Erika Bryan
As always your magnificent words, create such a amazing picture in my mind, and I thank you 😍
How incredibly beautiful . I can close my eyes and pretend I was there ❤️❤️😍😍
marie
ma premiére rencontre avec ce groupe et depuis je les écoute tous les jours, merci à vous j’ai l’impression d’y être à nouveau en attendant le 06/11 à paris et de les revoir!