Groningen, Oosterpoort, December 9th 2007.

As I enter the Oosterpoort venue, there’s a lot of action going on; the merchandise guys are building up the whole thing, fans are already waiting at the door and some of the Apocalyptica guys are in the dressing rooms. I’m here for an interview and Paavo Lötjönen is ready to answer some questions, which you can read in the interview.

It has been 10 years ago when Apocalyptica played at Oosterpoort for the first time. In the meanwhile they performed in about 700 venues and a lot has changed since that day. Eicca Toppinen is the head composer and likes venues like this, where people can also sit comfortable and listen to it while the ones who are standing in front of the stage banging their heads off. The big venue is packed with people and it looks sold out.

When Apocalyptica appears on stage, I hear some voices around me from people who have clearly their first experience with these guys; “Huh? I thought there are just 3 cellists, do you know this fourth guy?’ The ‘fourth guy’ is Antero, who was a member during the first and second album and now joins the band live on stage. Antero is for sure one of the best cellists in Finland and also plays in the Lahti orchestra. This orchestra played here one year ago when Tarja Halonen, the current president of Finland, came to Groningen for the opening of the Akseli Gallan Kallella exhibition in Groninger Museum and a visit of the University of Groningen.

The setlist of tonight contains new songs from the Worlds Collide album, old hits from all previous albums and the famous Metallica songs. The band  entered Netherlands two days ago and had their gig in Melkweg Amsterdam.

Back to the stage, because there is also a drummer; Mikko who does a great job and carries the cellos to a higher level. In between we are focusing on Antero, because there seems to be some smoke in his corner; he plays on a ‘burning skull’ cello… impressive.

Since Cult, every album has a few songs with vocals. On Worlds Collide we found Corey Taylor on I’m not Jesus and mister Lindemann, Rammsteins singer on David Bowie’s German version of Heroes, called Helden, which Apocalyptica performs as well. A cello plays the voice. Not bad, but I wonder if they could get more out of that. The same happens with “S.O.S” …but maybe we are just spoiled with sound somehow.

Ballads as Bittersweet and Nothing Else Matters gives us the opportunity to breathe and relax. As desert we get Seemann, a Rammstein song from the Reflections album. This song I can easily swallow without the vocals, though the voice of Nina Hagen makes it one of the best Apocalyptica covers of all time to me. And then suddenly we all realised this was really the end.

After the concert, I decided to ask people's opinion.

Eva: “It was orgasmic!! Four good looking guys with cellos: awesome!!”

Lars: “It was really great! This is my first time and I didn’t know what to expect. The Metallica covers where smashing!”Tinus: “Really good gig. Good ambiance, setlist, sound and the lights on stage where also great. They performed 1,5 hours which is cool.”

Kim: “Well, I only heard the Worlds Collide album. I didn’t believe it was really cellos so I had to see it. Now I’m a believer and I think those guys are insane; hopefully they take that as a compliment. Somehow I felt that the drums were too loud, but the ballads in between made the whole thing dynamic.”Renate: "Very expressive and dynamic. Great songs! This was my first Apocalyptica concert and I only know them from the albums but the live experience is even better.”

Sander: “I thought they were just with three guys. But the more the better. They may come again, even with 10 of them! I heard Dave Lombardo was playing along some years ago and this drummer kicks ass, he has a strong act on stage.”

Hanneke: “Cool! I feel very sick, but I had to see them. This is my fifth Apocalyptica concert and every time there’s more testosterone on stage, heheh. I still wonder if their cellos are expensive and what they do if one is broken. I assume they use magnesium to hold them so they don’t slip out of their sweaty hands, ha-ha.” (You can read about it in the interview Hanneke.)

Carlos and Dude: “This is so much better than seeing them at lunch-time at a summer festival. They are also known in Spain where we come from. Really nice to sit relaxed and watch.” Dude says he thinks about trying to play cello instead of guitar. “I thought I saw some guitar equipment, so I guess I only need a cello. But I wonder how hard it is to do head banging and playing cello all at once. Tough job.”
After a few beers with fans from Denmark, the die-hard fans are gathering outside the venue to wait for the Apocalyptica-guys for a talk or photograph. Also fans from England and Germany came to the Netherlands and some interaction with the Finns will make their day. Up to the next gig, which takes place in Tilburg.

Tilburg, 013, December 10th 2007.

When I came in, they preparing the stage for the band… this venue looks even more crowded than Oosterpoort yesterday! No comfortable seats, but every spot is fine to see the stage. There are a few changes with yesterday; for example the Metallica song One. They changed the setlist a bit, but off course the new songs and some hits are played again. For two nights in a row it’s a delightful experience. Around me I find other cellists, fans I know from way back, fans who were also in Groningen and people who have their Apocalyptica initiation. Antero’s burning skull gets a big applause.

Refuse-Resist; a mosh-pit appears in my back and beer is thrown all over others and myself. What's really cool is the fact that Apocalyptica played Bittersweet without any interruption until the very end. That’s how it suppose to be, but the enthusiasm of the crowd always appears a few seconds too early.

All smelly and looking like garbage, we leave the venue, waiting for the guys who are in a hurry for taking the ferry to London. It always touches me to see how ecstatic fans meet their idols and the Finns seems always able to spend a little time with them. Especially for those fans (it was a blast to meet all of you again!) and off course for fans in denial, everyone who were at the concerts and those who enjoy their music.