I Think I Did Something Slightly Stupid Today
So... today seemed like a rather bad day at first. I was feeling depressed and void of energy. I haven't been sleeping well in ages, so that only made it worse. I was prepared to spend most of the day trying to distract myself from sulking.
Then things took a strange turn when my phone rang. It was Lauri. He said that he and Noora were just in the supermarket next to my house, and were wondering if I wanted to come downstairs and say hi for a moment. The thought of company cheered me up somewhat, so I rushed outside to meet them. They told me that they were just on their way to a rock festival called Ruisrock. It was taking place in Ruissalo which is almost within spitting distance of my home. I remembered seeing ads for the festival, so I knew that both Belle and Sebastian and Sonata Arctica would be playing there. I regretted not having any money, but took solace in the fact that last night I was able to hear the music from Ruissalo, so I was wondering if I could get closer to the festival and listen to the music from outside. Lauri and Noora agreed that it was a good idea. So after they left, I did some research on the internet and found out that both bands I was interested in were playing tonight. I gathered some stuff into my backpack and then went out to get the bus to rock'n'roll.
It was insanely hot outside. By the time I arrived in Ruissalo, I was drenched with sweat. I tried to figure out where would be the best place to sit to hear Belle and Sebastian. Unfortunately they were going to perform on an indoor stage, so I wouldn't be able to see them from outside the festival grounds, and probably not hear them too well either. Sonata Arctica would be performing on a place where I wouldn't be able to get close to them at all. Apparently I had left my brain in my other trousers, because I ended up buying a ticket. Yes, I spent 70€ to get into a rock festival. Money that I should have used to pay my bills or to buy food or something.
Anyway, I went to the stage where Belle and Sebastian were going to play. There weren't too many people yet, so I somehow managed to grab a spot near the stage. Twenty minutes later Belle and Sebastian entered. I was filled with joy when they started playing. Suddenly I didn't miss those 70€ at all. To my surprise, they played mostly songs that I knew. I think there were only three that I didn't recognise. Despite being gross and sweaty and somewhat tired, I had so much fun dancing and cheering and singing along. I took some pictures, but I doubt that they're very good, so I probably won't upload them.
When Belle and Sebastian were finished, I went off in search for Sonata Arctica's stage. I found it on the beach. I took the opportunity to cool off by sticking my feet into the ocean. I ended up getting very dirty, but I didn't really care. There were more people gathered around this stage than the other one. I still managed to get a spot near the front, because I'm so small that people don't notice when I push past them. By the time the band arrived, the beach was packed with people, so I'm quite proud of my skills in obtaining front seats. Or standing places. You know what I mean. Sonata Arctica rocked! It was amazingly awesome to mosh and headbang along with them. Unfortunately they only played two songs I knew (three, if you count the national anthem of Finland), but that didn't lessen my enjoyment. It would have been awesome to hear "Kingdom For a Heart", though. Again, I took pictures, but probably not very good ones.
I was pretty tired by the end of their performance, but I didn't feel like going home just yet. So I sat down in the grass, took out my sketchbook and started drawing a picture of Tony Kakko while some British indie-band by the name of Florence + the Machine was playing. When I had finished the drawing, and listened to some more music, I went to catch the bus home.
The whole thing seems so bizarre somehow that if I didn't have evidence, I might think that I imagined it. I suspect that my eardrums sustained some temporary damage. Also, I'm 70€ poorer than I was this morning, even though I was pretty damn poor to begin with.
Nonetheless: So. Worth. It.
Then things took a strange turn when my phone rang. It was Lauri. He said that he and Noora were just in the supermarket next to my house, and were wondering if I wanted to come downstairs and say hi for a moment. The thought of company cheered me up somewhat, so I rushed outside to meet them. They told me that they were just on their way to a rock festival called Ruisrock. It was taking place in Ruissalo which is almost within spitting distance of my home. I remembered seeing ads for the festival, so I knew that both Belle and Sebastian and Sonata Arctica would be playing there. I regretted not having any money, but took solace in the fact that last night I was able to hear the music from Ruissalo, so I was wondering if I could get closer to the festival and listen to the music from outside. Lauri and Noora agreed that it was a good idea. So after they left, I did some research on the internet and found out that both bands I was interested in were playing tonight. I gathered some stuff into my backpack and then went out to get the bus to rock'n'roll.
It was insanely hot outside. By the time I arrived in Ruissalo, I was drenched with sweat. I tried to figure out where would be the best place to sit to hear Belle and Sebastian. Unfortunately they were going to perform on an indoor stage, so I wouldn't be able to see them from outside the festival grounds, and probably not hear them too well either. Sonata Arctica would be performing on a place where I wouldn't be able to get close to them at all. Apparently I had left my brain in my other trousers, because I ended up buying a ticket. Yes, I spent 70€ to get into a rock festival. Money that I should have used to pay my bills or to buy food or something.
Anyway, I went to the stage where Belle and Sebastian were going to play. There weren't too many people yet, so I somehow managed to grab a spot near the stage. Twenty minutes later Belle and Sebastian entered. I was filled with joy when they started playing. Suddenly I didn't miss those 70€ at all. To my surprise, they played mostly songs that I knew. I think there were only three that I didn't recognise. Despite being gross and sweaty and somewhat tired, I had so much fun dancing and cheering and singing along. I took some pictures, but I doubt that they're very good, so I probably won't upload them.
When Belle and Sebastian were finished, I went off in search for Sonata Arctica's stage. I found it on the beach. I took the opportunity to cool off by sticking my feet into the ocean. I ended up getting very dirty, but I didn't really care. There were more people gathered around this stage than the other one. I still managed to get a spot near the front, because I'm so small that people don't notice when I push past them. By the time the band arrived, the beach was packed with people, so I'm quite proud of my skills in obtaining front seats. Or standing places. You know what I mean. Sonata Arctica rocked! It was amazingly awesome to mosh and headbang along with them. Unfortunately they only played two songs I knew (three, if you count the national anthem of Finland), but that didn't lessen my enjoyment. It would have been awesome to hear "Kingdom For a Heart", though. Again, I took pictures, but probably not very good ones.
I was pretty tired by the end of their performance, but I didn't feel like going home just yet. So I sat down in the grass, took out my sketchbook and started drawing a picture of Tony Kakko while some British indie-band by the name of Florence + the Machine was playing. When I had finished the drawing, and listened to some more music, I went to catch the bus home.
The whole thing seems so bizarre somehow that if I didn't have evidence, I might think that I imagined it. I suspect that my eardrums sustained some temporary damage. Also, I'm 70€ poorer than I was this morning, even though I was pretty damn poor to begin with.
Nonetheless: So. Worth. It.