The Rasmus @ The Astoria October 24th 2005

Arguably one of the best concerts I've ever been to. EVER.

And if that doesn't pique your interest, I don't know what will.

The Astoria was established at the Golden Gods as one of my favourite venues and remains so. Although the que was astronomical - I don't know if it was sold out or not, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if we were seriously pushing total capacity. Oh, and loads of people complimented my outfit, which, since it was harlequin wa-loli with five and a half inch platform boots and Ertu period gone Decora hair, was to be expected, really.

Cus when the weirdos think you're a freak, you know you've made it.

We finally got in a song or two into the support band, Save Ourselves, set. They weren't bad. They were somewhat run of the mill yet good quality emo, and since I got the bassist (Guitarist? I wasn't paying attention) to sign their single for me, I was happy. And then we waited a bit... and then The Rasmus came on.

I am yet to go to a concert where I've heard the album in question before hand (Yes, I bought Hide From The Sun in Virgin about half an hour before we got in the que) but this was the first rock gig I'd ever been to where I'd actually heard ANY of the band in question's music before.

OMIGAWD.

They played a fair ol' handful of songs from Dead Letters and the simple fact that I (And everyone else in the audience, by the sound of it) knew every word made it the concert that it was (Self confessed the best one on their tour so far). My throat hurt by the end. So did my arms. And my back. And my toes. In fact, I pretty much ached all over, but it was friggin' worth it.

I mentioned they played a couple of Dead Letters songs as well as, according to my accomplice Jo (Who owns the entire discography), every song on the regular release of Hide From The Sun baring one (I don't know which one. I think it might have been 'Dead Promises' or else 'Don't Let Go'), a song or two off their older albums and an acoustic cover of 'Creep'. I really enjoyed 'First Day Of My Life' and 'In My Life' (Yeah, more imaginative song titles needed... but hey, English is their second language). 'Guilty' and 'Still Standing', two of my favourites, were amazing. 'F-F-F-Falling', which appeared in the acoustic set, was quite fun. 'Funeral Song' was unbelievable for reasons that will become clear. And 'In The Shadows'... well, it was their debut UK single, what do you expect?

The good things, in rough order:

Including the three song encore and the mini acoustic set in the middle, they were on stage for an hour and a half. AN HOUR AND A HALF. I'm used to forty minutes, an hour tops.

They had an instrumental opening track which played for about a minute and a half before they even came on stage. The crowd were practically EATING EACH OTHER by the time they DID, so it did what it was there for.

Somebody threw a silver and pink fluffy crown on stage. Lauri's response was to say "I seem to have dropped my tiara." and wear it. Friggin' hilarious. Okay, you had to be there...

The mini acoustic set in the middle was beautiful. They played a couple of songs, including 'F-F-F-Falling' and a cover of 'Creep' sung by the bassist. And 'Funeral Song'. 'Funeral Song' was the last one they did. The audience were asked if they wanted another song. They audience did. The audience were told that if so, they were going to have to sing. So Lauri sang the versus, and we had to sing the choruses.

And we did. Word perfect. With perfect timing.

I can only imagine what, as a band, that must feel like... as Lauri said: "Like two thousand people round a campfire". But more than that... a concert hall full of people singing your song, the words that you wrote, word perfect. And feeling every second of it. Unbelievable.

More great songs ensued. When they finally did go offstage, it was with much ceremony, many goodbyes, and, of all things, a stage bow. How many bands these days take a stage bow at the end of a set?

And of course, the audience DEMANDED an encore with the earsplitting argument that they weren't going to shut up until they got one. I know most bands plan an encore anyway, but this was the first time I'd been to a gig where the crowd did not shut up until they got one.

And they played us a little unfinished ditty in Finnish, with some very suspicious hand gestures.

And 'In The Shadows'.

You can probably imagine what that was like.

'In The Shadows' was probably the first The Rasmus song that ninety, ninety eight percent of the audience had ever heard. It was probably about a third of the audience's favourite song. And above and beyond that... it sounded like it was one of the band's favourites too.

Put all that together and you've got one band giving it all they've got and one audience going fucking INSANE.

Yeah, it was pretty good.

Rating: Pretty Damn Good. I'd definately go see them again, if it were possible.