I love Prague          29/10/2013

Had a wonderful but short sleep last night in the hotel room - I spent so long time in Skype, Facebook and trying write my blog at the same time. The guys were so nice they told I can sleep in the room alone for the night, I really needed my own space, so thank you my lovely band members giving me the chance. 

Eaten a good breakfast I feel good but tired and ready to start the last week of the tour with Powerwolf. Unfortunately I didn't go sightseeing because after the dinner last evening I was too tired to do anything but go back to the hotel and rest. I go have couple of hours sleep in my bunk in the bus and when I wake up and go downstairs I see we have visitors I had not expected. 

Powerwolf-guys are in our bus! Their bus broke, something to do with the breaks crashing. So they travel with us to the venue and hope they get the bus fixed or another bus. The soundcheck is late so all we get to do again is a short line check and we have to wait for the dinner after the show. l hear it's going to be full today which is always a good thing to get a huge party going on. Writing some of this blog and getting ready for tonight's performance and chatting with the merchandise people is all do before the showtime.

 Before I know I'm on the stage before hundreds of people of Prague and the stage is so small I can shake hands with the audience during the show. This is awesome! I would've never guessed they are so crazy but they are. Thank you Prague, I love you people! After the show I go by the m-desk again and we go to the restaurant next door to have a dinner. We find some of the Wisdom-guys from the restaurant and we get the pleasure to enjoy their company while our dinner.

 I'm not feeling the best today so I mostly hang by myself and by the bus until it's time to leave the venue. Maybe I'm in a better mood tomorrow. I don't like myself like this - grumpy and easily irritated. After having a snack at the gas station I go to sleep….next destination: Leipzig!

'Til better tomorrow, good night

-N

Hangover in Hannover        27 /10/2013

The guys in the bus had a little party last night so today's atmosphere is the result of it for some. The roads in here are really narrow so when the cars are parked like however we can't get to the venue with this bus. We take our stuff outside few hundred meters from the venue and start walking. When we arrive to the venue's are there seems to be a second hand market going on right in the middle before the clubs doors. After having breakfast me, Pyry and Eero go for running. This is the first run for me in two weeks so let's see how I can keep up with the guys. In some point I feel like I really need to stop but my pride don't give up - I have to keep up with them unless they're going to laugh at me. No, I don't think they're really going to if I can't keep on running but I want to punish myself a little bit for not exercising, even though I was sick I feel bad conscious about it. 

We run like an hour. On the way we see a bit of the sights and there seems to be a lot of small rivers all around the city. We see this really long park and a mansion in the end of it so of course we go running there. It is boring to run two kilometers just straight road all the time so when we get to the end we take another road back. Just about hundred meters before the venue it starts raining like a huge shower on us. Yes, I survived! I really thought I was going to stop in some point.

 Back at the venue I hear the supporters can't use the shower after seven…so that's nice no shower after show, we take what we can get. We only got time for really quickly soundcheck and when I go to get some food after ten minutes there's no food left so I get pissed off and say fuck it I don't eat all…With empty stomach I start doing my make up early so I would have time to see Wisdom's show before our time is to rise on the hot stage. The people make the night again unforgettable with their furious metal-behavior.

 The supporters merchandise was put in the smoking area in the back so during the show I have to advertise where people can go to buy our stuff. After the show I go eat with Gabor when he asks if I want to find some place and I haven't eaten anything. So after half an hour search we find an open restaurant and I ask the waitress if the kitchen is open and she says yes. We sit by the table and she gives us the menus, after awhile she comes up to us and says the kitchen isn't open. I'm like WTF! You just told us the kitchen is open but she explains they didn't understand what I was asking, haha! So we leave the restaurant and find an asian place and finally get some food. 

The Powerwolf-show is over, the audience has left and we the supporter crew wait for our bus to come but it's not there on time. So we have to make up something to do while waiting. There's this  carriage with wheels so I amongst the others have a bump car, a carrousel  and some bar chair bowling in one. You'll see what I mean when the video material comes out. The bus had got stuck again somewhere so that's why it's not here but after patient waiting and fun side activities the bus arrives and we can start the off-day party in the bus. Eero talking with movie trailer-voice and calling whiskey god Tarek isn't a bad way to start…..Tomorrow it's free time in Prague, yihaa!

-N

WroooommWroooom...I hear the engines howl - What a sweet sound to my ears    26/10/2013

I come out the bus and feel the warm breeze of wind - There's at least twenty degrees or more and makes me feel like we are back in the beginning of summer. I slept at least twelve hours last night so it's two o'clock and I'm still tired, maybe I'm still sick a little bit because I feel tired all the time. I decide today I go for a walk around and see the sights or whatever I find in Speyer. The venue is next to an airport for small airplanes. After couple of cups of tea I hear from the one of the WISDOM guys that there's a hotel room for each band for showering at the hotel of the TECHNIK MUSEUM SPEYER. I go ask the way to the hotel from the bus driver and it should be ten minutes walk from this venue. 

I start my adventure by finding my way out of the venue area. On the way trying to find the hotel I find something way better - the museum! I see huge aircraft-plane and walk towards it. Next I see is a gate open that someone's accidentally left open, I look around no one's looking, so I walk in. I'm glad I did! There are huge and small airplanes, marines, boats, vehicles all sorts from different times etc. I take lot of pictures, climb up to the jumbo jet that's got two floors and I go into the marine and suddenly I've been there for two hours. No one came up to me telling I should pay or anything, haha! Fine by me, I got more excitement in my life again by sneaking in. The problem reveals to be how do I get out - there's no exit-signs anywhere or something that shows the way out. Now I have to figure out how to ask from the information-spot about the exit without sounding like a person who's sneaked in. So I take the brochure of the museum from the shelf and go ask the way to the hotel, because this place is so big and I have no Idea of the direction. So the guy tells me the way out of the museum area to the hotel and I'm free.

 On my way back to the hotel I see the bass player of Wisdom Maté outside the museum area and says how he wants to get in and I tell him about my secret sneaking in. We walk back to the venue and it's time for soundcheck. WISDOM sounds really good even though Gabor says his voice isn't in the best shape today. His got really original sound in his voice that I haven't heard before, really cool in my opinion. 

Then it's dinner time - pork steak with onion and stuffed oven potato - deeeelicious! This time I break my rule and eat two hours before the show, I just can't resist. I go have a nap before I have to get ready for tonight's show. This night is going to be CRAZY! There's going to be over thousand metal heads shaking the roof with us, nothing can go wrong. Oh yes there can go something wrong - Janne's keyboard system crash's for couple of time. But that's life, shit happen. Actually if there happens some technical problems during the show it's more interesting to watch for the audience I think - how the band is going through the problems and still doing a great show…it's awesome. It is hot as in hell again on the stage but it is great - sweat dripping, screams echoing and big crowd banging their heads. At the merch desk there a lot of fans coming up and some are asking where the other members are - they usually go loading out after the show and my work is to be at the merchandise desk. Thank you Speyer, you F******** awesome and beautiful to watch your fists up! It's time to move the bus in Hannover - here we come!!!!

-N

Another nostalgic trip      25/10/2013

Red walled club lounge, big black hall and floor going like stairs all the way to the front of stage - this seems familiar. Oh yes, Battle beast had a show here in MARKTHALLE last year with Sonata so this brings memories. I would say good and bad. First memory is the deadlier hangover after pre-partying my birthday in Berlin the day before - We poured at least eight bottles of sparkling wine down our throats as well several bloody mary-shots that it's not even legal to have so many in same night, I think. The another memory is almost full hall of people singing me the Happy Birthday-song. Thank you again for that! It's stuck in my forever remembering-section of my brain. So you can choose which one is the bad/good-memory. 

Back to this day - I go to eat some breakfast and I bump into mr.Big (real name Bogar). We talk how is it being a singer in our own perspectives and our lives outside touring - start getting to know each other a little bit better. He seems nice person and easy to talk with. I plan to go for run today but when it's time there's raining like hell. Not taking the risk getting a cold. Few times running the stairs in the back will do. I had planned going to see the sights because I didn't the last time but now it is ruined, thank you sky. Well, of course I could take umbrella with me and fight against the nature's will. No, I rather stay in and look at the rain from inside. I'm a home cat, what can I say. 

I hear the place is sold out so I'm getting excited - this night is going to kick ass! Getting ready, steady, go.........

I go get some food - oh no, there's no steak for me left so it's vegetarian-supper for me tonight. I'll let it wait until I get out of the stage. On stage I feel like being the steak I wanted being cooked - It is so hot that my face is melting. I even have sweat in my eye during the second last song of the setlist 'Enter the metal world' and I have to sing with one eye open 'cause my eye is burning so bad, haha! Quickly I run to wipe my eye and we can continue the show and wrap it up by 'Out of control'. Big thanks people in Markthalle, you were loud, crazy and out of control. The night's highlight - man comes up to me at the m-desk gives me a picture of me and his daughter together and there's a letter behind it from that girl who might be like ten years old or something. Thanks for this, keep rocking girl! She told me in the letter how pissed off she was 'cause couldn't come to our show 'cause of she being too young. There's a girl with metal-attitude - take example. 

during Powerwolf show BB and WISDOM guys are working on their new relationship by singing competition - everyone's screaming the hell out of their lungs and doing new versions of PW songs, hahaha! Love you guys, you know how to cheer me up (even when they don't try).

We go for food hunt with Tarek, Jan, Gabor and Goat. This mean we when we find mcDonald's we're happy. Okay, something else would be more better but no other place was open nearby. back at the bus and ready to roll to the next town/country.....

See ya later, smack the hater!

-N

The return of Battle Beast           24/10/2013

Not slept, driven for two hours (by my own choice) and feeling fresh as ever I'm at the airport terminal 2 at four am. I call to Eero but Janne answers, Eero calls a bit later and I'm like yeah see you here at terminal 2 and he's like no! at terminal 1, me - Oh no, ok see you there! I see familiar faces after finding the way to the right terminal. The guys are looking perky as hell and we have to get our luggage to the airplane which appears to be not so easy 'cause of the ticket automat not working as it should be. We have two flights on the way - first to Stockholm and then to Düsseldorf. So the sleep we get is in bits.
Finally at the Düsseldorf-airport we get to reunite the forces with Majesty-guys and our beloved bus driver Jens. In a moment appears the new band aboard, Wisdom. Fellows from Hungary - from the first hand shake and smile on their faces I got a feeling they are nice guys. I go to sleep for couple of hours in the bus - the second part of the Powerwolf-tour has begun...

I wake up at the venue Essigfabrik and it's the same place we played last year with Sonata arctica. I don't remember anything about the show we had but I remember the backstage. This time there's warm like in summertime, we're parked in a different place and there's three day's been off. I'm tired as hell and I got problems getting myself in move or talk anything that's got sense. So I just wonder around for a while and try to get back the blood circulation in my brain. This place brings me nostalgic feelings and it is great to be back. Downstairs is the backstage and catering, the support bands got two rooms to share. I start immediately working at my computer. We got a special guest coming up. A fan from Holland is coming visit us. I've gotten to know her at the Sonata-tour for the first time. She's going to spent this evening with us. To be true I'm not in a social mood at all so I don't talk much to her...hope she understands....

While soundcheck for my and other beasts lovely surprise our last tour driver and the guy who does our merch-shirts Mr. Kapanen id here with his family - his beautiful wife and daughter. They brought us the  T-shirts of Kapanen production and had planned they stay listen to our soundcheck but they forgot to take the earblogs for their daughter so they have to leave before the loud musical sounds start playing. 'See you later! It was nice to see you guys!'
We even get to chat with the new guys for us, the Wisdom-guys. Or actually I get to chat a little bit with the singer, mr.Big while waiting Majesty to end their SC(soundcheck).
Next I know we're doing the soundcheck and then it's time for dinner but as I might have told before I can't eat for four hours before the show otherwise the food has not melted and I don't want to puke on the stage(even though it could be a great show number). So I take something aside to wait for me after the show.

The show goes great and the audience is great - they are with us from the start to the last punch of the drum. I go say hello to some fans at the m-desk and then enjoy my dinner I saved for myself.
Lovely Tristan - Majesty-guitarist, we are always sharing cigarettes and taking pictures of each other and seeing him again on this tour block tour is nothing but my pleasure. He is crazy! But in a good fun way. He is the other model-looking guy beside Pyry. What happens in the bus,  stays in the bus - that's why I can't go to sleep like I had planned because my neighbor is having a party in his bunk. Well, I'll go to the lounge of the bus there's people having fun. We go with some guys to gas station buy something to eat and after that Tristan tells me a story of someone trying to steal his wallet in Paris, but he does this in original way - he use the battle beast-song lyrics while explaining. This is so funny, hahaha! Thank you Trive, you made my day :)


-N

Seeing the future         20/10/2013

We drive to the harbour and arrive there just when the ship leaves at 16.04 and we missed it...aaaaaarrrrggghh...then I wake up...Huoh, it was just a bad dream!

Even though we think we are leaving just the right time (8,5 hours before the ship leaving) we notice it being totally wrong assuming. After having few piss-stops and getting jammed in the traffic just an hour before the ships going to leave makes the whole picture different. Above this terrible horry I wake up from my hat shelf having the nightmare and the most terrible need to use the toilet...not happening! and Janne's navigator isn't finding Stockholm :D What a nice chain of bad karma.

With Ewo's driving skills and a bunch of luck we somehow manage to get to the harbor at 16.04 just like in my dream :O What? Oh yes, what a coincidence but the ship leaves at 16.30...wohoo!

The only thing in my mind is toilet, so after the van has parked in the ship I run to the seventh floor to the restrooms - you got to get the excitement somehow in your life, so why not have the most terrible need for toilet for starters!

We go to our cabins - Ewo, me, Janne and Katri have a cabin together. There's no connection in the ship so we can't reach the other guys by cell. Ewo and I go to find a place to eat and meanwhile we lose Janne and Katri so we go to the bar have some drinks. Then standing in the cigarette lounge Janne and Katri appears in there from nowhere. we continue the night with the force of four and go eat some antipasto's and more of the delicious 'super long drink'.

::::::Super long drink=alcohol drink made of gin, grape-limonade and more gin::::::

Finally we find the other beasts having dinner in a restaurant and our child of nature Eero drops his phone between two shelves by accident and can't get it out. Until there's two staff persons, a tape roll and some cleaning obstacles helping the phone is saved back to its owner. Unfortunately the most damage gets Eero's mental health because of the other band members being with their devil horns out and mocking and laughing all the time, he's not happy about this...

Pyry the naked Bill, as he got called by Ashes of ares-guys, offers me a shot at the bar and buy two cowboy hats for me and himself. Then I'm off to the dance floor and go crazy. Everytime I've had alcohol enough I think I'm the best dancer in the club and just give it all. It looks ridiculous but I'm having the best time of my life! There was even a George Michael tribute going on which we all enjoyed very much. I tried to get to be his dancer in the back but didn't succeed :D
Before I realize I pass out............

I wake up to the worst hangover ever....aahh...with my cowboy hat on......oh shit!! I got to run to the toilet.....
Having the most terrible taste in my mouth I drag myself in the van and Ewo lets us all know we're having a passport photo-shooting...right now! So we drive to the place the photos are to be taken and Janne goes vomiting by the street before entering. Those pictures are going be the best passport-photos ever!!

I just get myself in the train to Turku and close my eyes....

I open my eyes and see familiar sign. F******K! I overslept and I'm all the way in Tampere. I should've changed the train during the way. I have no other choice but buy a new ticket, go to McDonald's and wait for two hours the next train. Hope I don't fall asleep in the burger place....ARRIVEDERCI!

-N

Goodbye Norway       19/10/2013

It is the last day of the adventure in Sweden and Norway with Pike's edge and UDO. We spent our night today in Oslo Airport scandic hotel. After few hours of driving we arrive to this modern looking building. I have the honour to share the room with the lover couple Janne and his girlfriend. Janne's girlfriend arrived in Oslo in the morning and she's going to travel with us back to Finland the next day. After an hour stay in hotel we need to go to the venue which is about twenty kilometers from the hotel.

On the way to the venue there's only countryside in sight and when we arrive to the venue it is a culture house next to a farm. There's a concert hall, library and some more in the same building, how convenient. The so called backstage area for these three bands is very cold because of the big windows. Have to keep long sleeved sweaters on for sure.

During our soundcheck I take photos of our guys playing at the same I'm singing, this is the first time trying to do it :D The  guys buy the shorts of UDO and the plan is to wear them in our show - GO, FC CombatMonster, GO!!!!
Nothing special happens really....trying to find the coffee room 'cause there's no signs telling where to go. Later on I do a series of photos from the beginning to the end of my make up - how I transform from the normal Noora into the beastest ;) Dinner time!! AND today we're going to record the whole show....that'll be interesting to watch afterwards what we've done...

To be honest I'm not feeling my best at all today...I don't feel energetic, my voice isn't at its best and I just want to go back to the hotel and have some sleep. No use for complaining, you have to do what you have to do :) Still waiting with excitement the response from the crowd. I get to do some photos and signatures with fans before the show so this seems to start with right foot so to say.
The show goes alright but I think this was the worst performance on this tour. Still it seems to be working for the people - they like it so that is the most important thing.

After show I go to the m-desk as usual and meet some fans - one guy even kissed me on my cheek, that was a bit too much for me. Everyone need their own space/comfort zone so please don't cross it without permission. The singer of Sabathon comes up and tells he was on his way to uor show when he got stuck on the road because of some elk-accident that happened. So after five minutes we had finished our show he got to the venue...arrgh! Fortunately we're playing at the same stage with Sabathon in november at the Sabathon-cruise so not much damage done. There was this couple who came to watch us particularly but they came at the m-desk buying our stuff asking when we're going to start and you can imagine their faces when I told them we just had finished.

I open my first beer in two weeks and we take pictures with Pike's edge-guys, hug each other and shake hands. Thank you Pike's edge, you are great guys and hope we get to meet in the future somewhere!!

There's a couple of degrees minus outside...we leave back to the hotel 'cause we have early morning, thank you UDO for taking us on board!!
At the hotel we drink couple of beers in one of our rooms and after three beers I'm ready to sleep...oh I got three hours time to sleep before breakfast...whoopsee!

A huge thanks to Norway, UDO, Pike's edge and the people in Norway <3

-N

Oh yes two nights of hotel      18/10/2013

People starting to get really crumpy for not having a good night sleep for few days has been affecting the atmosphere but not anymore. Since today there are two nights of sleeping in warm bed and then the trip back to Helsinki in a ship...so no worries!

We arrive to this paradise like- hotel by a beach. There's a sign by the front door that this hotel is one the historic hotel's in the world. This is interesting, let's get inside....
Smiling receptionist takes us in and inform us there's a sauna and bathtub when needed. Thank you!! This is life! But unfortunately my will for sleeping is bigger than getting in a bathtub so I leave the other guys the pleasure to enjoy it - I'm going to bed...right now. I plan waking up in an hour and go take some new photos but when the time comes up and the alarm turns on in my cellphone I just keep on sleeping until I got half an hour time to be at the van again.

Not for long we're at the 'Bluebox', the venue we're going to play tonight here in Grimstad. The welcoming to the place is what I've always wanted: Friendly staff. they are right away introducing themselves to us and when we get upstairs my jaw drops. There is a table filled with snacks and fruits and sandwiches for everyone and in five minutes after our arriving there's this wonderful manager of catering of the venue asking what pizza do we want after our show. Everything seems perfect today!

Even though the schedule is tight again and we have to do everything as quickly as possible it don't bother today.This venue looks cool and I'm feeling good also...this night is going to be great! Suddenly we are doing a quick linecheck and not for long the doors open for the crowd.

Basic getting ready rituals - water, some exercise moves and the war mask on. When Pike's edge were playing I started being worried if there's no crowd during our show but when got on the stage from behind the curtains there you were - dear norwegian people. And some of you even knew some of the words to our songs. Thank you, you were awesome audience!!

Hanging at the merch-desk for a while and there was this wonderful in the mid forties-lady who wanted our cd so bad she went to find some money from somewhere when heard the credit-card won't do at the merch-desk.

I go to the backstage and there is a pile of pizza and dear member's of PE and some of our own BB guys waiting, so I join them with pleasure...after eating the delicious and healthy dish we go back to the hotel...like night after night but this time we get to sleep there for tonight....NOT! BB is having a party in Pyry's and Janne's room - there we eat leftovers, drink beer and watch some documentary of 80s' rock music...oh yeah! And ofcourse talking about chicks, pussy, farting and other genital parts..basic stuff...Eero even pretended to be a monkey for a few seconds but I don't go there at all...would be too traumatic...

I'll go back to my room and surf in the internet 'til 4am until my eyes won't stay open......


-N

Over the hills and far away.........----/^¨^^^-^____^¨¨^^/^^^---...........      17/10/2013

After driving twelve hours to Trondheim feels so good to jump in the hotel's bed. But I only got 45 minutes time to enjoy it before leaving to the venue 'Blaest'.
What a beautiful location for a venue - down by the river there are restaurants made of red brick in a row candle twilight coming out of each terrace.
We wait for the other support band and headline to arrive and then more waiting....but good thing is there's a table filled with food and the stage manager of this venue is like a dream. If anyone need anything he'll fix it!
When we left the hotel I left all of my stuff there( couldn't think very well when still in half asleep) so I have to go get them quickly 'cause we're already late of the schedule.
Me and Ewo trying to find a place to park going six rounds around the block near the hotel until Anton calls we need to get back for soundcheck :D
So as soon as possible I'll go get my stuff from my room and then back to the venue. All we do is line check and play few seconds of couple of the songs.
There actually wasn't a backstage in the beginning for support bands but the stage manager made it next  to the bar upstairs. Oh yeah! There I put myself ready and wait with excitement of tonight's show.
The people of Trondheim, you truly surprised us in a positive way. You were with us the whole time and I even got to use 'viking helmet' that some guy in the front gave me to use. It's been pleasure, thank you!!

Then back to the hotel taking shower and the guys go have something to eat and so our trip continues and the beast keeps rolling to the next town : Grimstad!!!!!

Oooh, hello my dear hat shelf...grooohhh...phffffff...


-N

We want more! We want more!    16/10/2013

Pack of eight people, two fairies, serpentine roads, gas station parking lot and one bed = Tired crumpy people close to insanity with aching body parts. That was our last night's receipt and we have to prepare for the next two night's are going to be the same way. I wake up and try not to step on anyone during my trip to toilet of the gas station. My back is hurting like hell for not being able to turn around in my bunk. Taking some  coffee and a sandwich for breakfast and suddenly Anton steps in. We chat for awhile and then back to sleep.

Garage the venue is a small underground bar and remind me of London's Underworld. Even the stage is the same: triangle in the corner. Some coffee would be nice and then searching for the backstage. Our hotel is two blocks from here so I go get some sleep before soundcheck....

For some reason I don't have any appetite - I skip the dinner and watch youtube-videos until it's time to do the everyday thing: make-up-hair-clothing. Just when I get everything else on but my corset some guy comes upstairs to our backstage and ask us if we are Battle beast and starts asking questions..He might have been some kind of a reporter, but he never did introduce himself. Funny thing is one the first questions he asks is:' Are you Noora? You look so different than in the pictures I've seen. You must be eating something right...you look great now...' Nice guy but I've never met someone talking so straight about my outer appearance. After he goes away it's almost the time to jump to the stage. While the guys are putting their instruments in their places I stick around the merch desk for awhile.

Here we come people of Bergen! You should've been here in 'Garage' :) The people are loud and crazy ;) And what a joy to hear people screaming 'WE WANT MORE'!! :) It is so great to reach new fans and talk to them and hear what they think of our music...

Back to the hotel having shower and it's time to leave Bergen and roll to Trondheim....there's a long way ahead if you wanna rock n' roll....770km


-N

What do sheep say?    15/10/2013

Few hours sleep, hotel breakfast and while I sit in the dining area I see my next mission. Mountain is calling! Feeling good enough after two weeks of being sick and not doing any exercise make me feel more than enthusiastic to climb up that hill which's glimmering in the morning sun. I take the camera with me and head to the hill.
The angle of the hill is more sharp than I thought but it won't stop me. I'm so excited getting on the top of it. Not for long I'm going crossing over the fence to the top and breathing deep the fresh air. I take plenty of photos and some video material for tour blog we're possibly doing after this tour or when we got time. I light a cigarette and feel like the queen of the world for a second until I turn around and what do I see... - Beautiful pack of white sheep coming slowly towards me. I think they came to look at the intruder who came to their land interrupting their feast. Slowly I start sneaking closer to them - when there's only about 20-30 meters distance from these grass eatind nature's creatures one of them starts trembling its tail like warning me 'Don't come any closer!' So I leave these cloudy angels in their own peace and start walking down the hill the way I came up.

After my little adventure I'm filled with energy and good mood. We get in the van and head to the venue which is just ten kilometers away from the hotel. Kulturhus is by a harbour and looks like a modern style building as everything around it. Ewo offering  some finnish rye-bread 'Reissumies' and coffee couldn't fit in this moment better. Yes! Here's a chance to do laundry. One of the things it's nice to do after a week having dirty clothes on. Then it's time for soundcheck and getting food. Me, Ewo, Janne and Anton take the van and start the food hunting. As the result of that we bring four big pizzas and a salad back to the venue. Bon appétit! Time for taking a nap and getting ready....

People in Sandnes are showing interest and some of them even knew the song 'Black ninja' so this is not bad :D Thank you! It was a pleasure to perform to you guys!!

Taking shower, stuff in the van and off we go....goooodbye!

The next destination: Bergen...beware, the beast is coming...ready or not!


-N

Thank you Sweden! Greetings Norway!   13/10/2013-14/10/2013

Our last day in lovely Sweden starts by going to the airport and Kari(manager/driver) leaves back to Finland and there's a "new" guy arrived today in Gothenburg and he's already at the venue. While I keep you in excitement let me tell you it's been an interesting and joyful adventure here in the neighbour's land. Nice people, beautiful cities and fresh weather(raining).

Finally ending up at the venue we see the smiling, friendly face we've been waiting for the whole week: Evo, the manager of Nightwish is joining us for the rest of the tour in Gothenburg and the next week in Norway as our tour manager/driver. Yippii!! I'm so glad having him and Kimmo (sound master) with us, this can't go wrong with a crew like this! Evo tells he's been walking around the town and done some research where's what.
 So after getting our stuff in the venue(Sticky Wingers) we go eat in this really cool sushi-buffet where everything you eat comes on a conveyor belt. Hope the staff don't feel robbed after finnish people having their feast and eating with the whole money. When feeling like exploding I think it's better to take myself for a walk and shopping. This is really beautiful town - I love taking photos so this was a great idea to walk around a bit.
On the way back I see this souvenir-shop and of course  I have to buy postcards and a lighter that says 'sverige'. After writing half of the ten postcards and doing the soundcheck Evo takes us for some coffee nearby.
The show is about to begin...I get ready just about time and climb up the stairs. I feel more excited tonight than last days for some reason and when the intro starts playing I get the goosebumps that I've had when did the first gigs with BB. The crowd is awesome we have the greatest time again on stage. Thank you Gothemburg, you were great, loud and crazy!!
After show we don't even go to shower but eat quickly and take our things and start the 11 hour trip to the next destination.
Tires rolling like razers on the black tarmac, van full of smiling figures and cheerful laughing... There might be some part with the beer guys are drinking...nooo...it can't be! kimmo offers a round of whiskey so the party can be started :) After 'few' stops at the gas stations and road sides I'm ready to cram my body on the 'parcel shelf' where no-one else of this band fits but me. I sleep almost for five hours until I wake the sound of Juuso: '...look at the sights guys...unbelievable!..So of course I have to get up and see the mountains of Norway now that we are here :) The switchback and the beauty of the view is endless.
At the hotel there's only one room ready for us so Evo and Kimmo ofcourse get it first for driving so long andwe have to wait for the rooms to be released....If I just rest my head a tiny bit on this cozy looking sofa...grooohh...
After awhile the receptionist let me and Janne know we're getting our room and not for long the other guys get their rooms too. See you later guys!!

It's about two o'clock when I get myself up and have finally the shower after last night's show and then I go to the lobby have some coffee and start doing my work on computer. Janne comes up and just two of us go to the chinese restaurant which is close by. We meet Evo outside the hotel on our way back and we make adeal we're going out together the whole crew in an hour. So after driving around the town and seeing the venue we're playing at the next day we willingly go eat some pizza and then back to hotel.
I take a walk with Janne's camera in the dark by the river that flows next to the hotel. I get some pretty nice pictures, which you'll see later :) I find Janne in our room and we start watching some sci-fi movie and after ten minutes I've fallen asleep. Suddenly I wake up when the movie is over :D It must've been a good movie :D I start writing this blog and as I listen to some beethoven and Chopin time flies with wings and I notice the clock being 4am, maybe I should go to sleep so I can get up before the breakfast is over....

What a joy to close my eyes...mmm....

-N

Varberg - You rock!!    12/10/2013

I barely get myself up for breakfast but somehow I got some mystic powers to do so and drag myself downstairs. Actually Eero was the one who got me awake when he entered the hotel room (we're roommates) and told me the breakfast is still on for a half an hour. There I find Juuso and Anton - I'm right on time. got enough energy to crawl back to my bed and take some sleep before we have to check out.
Somehow my brain does some kind of miscalculation and I wake up, go to shower and suddenly Eero is shouting outside the bathroom the check out has been fifteen minutes ago. S**t! Umm...okay! I still got my shampoo on! I'll be right there! What in earth?? - I mumble myself.  I try as fast as I can to finish the shower, dress up, take my stuff (everything's spread around the room) and move to the lounge. Surprisingly we're downstairs with Eero in fifteen minutes. Then off we go - goodbye Kristianstad! It was fun :) And thanks for the meds!

Bruket the venue seems like a really nice place and as we bump in to U.D.O.:s basist, he says there's been good pre-sales, it's even better! The place includes different activities such as restaurant, a venue, bowling hall...what else? Don't know but what sticks on my mind are the little girls (8-10 years old) who comes after our soundcheck asking if we could continue playing the music..Haha!! So cute! We have to disappoint them and say we're going to play later. But so you see - being metalhead begins young ;)
Backstage is from my dreams: white sofas, table filled with anything from fruits to chips and there are drinks for any taste. And when it's dinner time - waiters bring the delicious burger-meals straight up to our backstage! This is AWESOME!! Sorry about my hype about this but I've been wining for the past days of my condition so now there's something positive to point out :) And I also got to point out now that I remember that we've got the best and the nicest sound master with us, luv u Kimmo! He knows what he does and he's fun to be around with :) I'm so glad he wanted come with us on this journey.

The place starts to pack up and when we get on the stage the hell is loose...my doubts about crowd not behaving excited are wiped off right from the start - people have their fists up, sing along and bang their heads, just like I remembered from the shows we had with Powerwolf! This is what I'm talking about, I missed you, the beast released in each and everyone of the room!

At the merch-desk I meet some finnish people and what a delight to meet a man and his little daughter having a heavy metal night together and taking pictures together and signing their BB t-shirts. Hope they have the greatest evening :)
Watching U.D.O. shaking the roof, it's great to see longterm musicians doing their thing! Then it's time to take our stuff and roll to the place we stay for tonight - Golf club :D This is pretty nice and different than ever before...never been sleeping at a golf club. Listening Lana Del Ray and Rihanna feels like the perfect way to knock myself out.....grooohh

-N

Where's the doctor?    11/10/2013

We arrive at the Kristianstad's hotel next to a beautiful church a little after 7am. I fell asleep about half an hour before the van arrived at the hotel so waking up from that lethargy I'm really not in this world right now. After checking in some of us go have some breakfast and then we got 6 hours time to sleep.

Today I have to get a doctor! Otherwise I'll go crazy. So our manager asks at the reception where's the private doctor's office - the reply is there ain't one. Whaaat!?? The receptionist directs us to go to the local hospital. At the hospital they don't take me as acute patient so they tell us to go to some maternity clinic nearby. There I wait about half an hour just to hear that I should wait for 1,5 hours to get a doctor or tomorrow morning ten o'clock, maybe. So next I do with my manager, we order  a taxi and head to the venue Knislinge, Folkets park. During the ride Kari sees a clinic just nearby the venue and we go there just trying our luck. Yes, they take me in! And they got a pharmacy in the same place. THANK YOU! Seems the infection that I had before has not given up but stayed in my sinuses.

The venue looks like a round wooden ballroom but that don't make us feel bad at all. Actually, when the lights go out this place has really nice atmosphere. After dinner I fall asleep by the snap of fingers and wake up when Pike's edge start rolling. F**k! I'm in horry! BTW, Sorry Juuso for kicking you as asleep on the sofa :D Quick as a lightning I change my clothes and put the war mask on. Hello Knislinge!! Are you ready for the battle of machines and flesh!!??!! The atmosphere I was having a sence of before comes real during our show and after the show - Especially one woman shaking like crazy(in a good way) and a couple dancing a ballroom-dance while us playing 'Out of control' catch my eye and stay in my mind forever :) I get to talk with new people again at the merch- desk and sell few cd's in the side ;)

Let's get outta here! Back to the hotel :) Warm bed, internet and shower...aah. We go grab something to eat - there's only about two places open :D Then back to my room and guys drink couple of beers and leave me in peace while they try to find something fun from the eye of the night in Kristianstad...I stay up going through something not important in internet and listen to Beyoncé :P...until my eyes can't stay open anymore.....

-N

Rise and shine     10/10/2013

Nooo, my throat is killing me :( And my head filled with snot. Still I get up and go have some breakfast 'cause now it's possible. I find Anton from downstairs having his breakfast and I join him. Both sneezing and coughing - this is pretty ironic. good bacon and eggs: that raise our minds a bit.
I go ask the code for the internet from the reception and at the same time all the electricity shuts down in the hotel :O My poor skills with computers isn't helping me when trying to get internet connection :D

We leave Bollnäs and head to the next place which is in Örebro, club700. I sleep in the van until I wake up - we're getting something to eat and the rest of the road trip goes with 'The Simpson's again' :) At the venue again and ready to roll...This isn't real: there's not posters or anything that advertise here's a concert tonight :( well, I can't say or do anything about this so let's move on..after soundcheck we're having dinner and when I take a plate Juuso is wondering is the catering for us because it looks so good :D Oh yes, it is! I reply and continue loading the food on the plate.

The guys of Pike's edge seems to be really friendly people but haven't got so close to them as we did with Ashes of ares or Majesty on the PW-tour. On that tour only in two days the group had melted together, at least mostly. Maybe these guys are the kind we should take more contact to them. But of course it also depends on the sleeping arrangement - they're having their own bus and we travel with our sprinter so there's not so much time left together.

What about today's show: this is a great venue and pretty big stage so not so many things can go wrong. I was wrong a little bit - During our show most of the few people in the crowd are just standing even though I and the guys are doing everything we can to entertain them. I have never seen this kind of 'rock-police' kind behavior so strongly but tonight. I still don't forget the people who are in the front screaming, yelling and singing with us and the new people who joins our army of Battle beast tonight. So thank you for supporting us! let's keep our fists and spirit up high :)

Back to backstage and little staying at the merch-desk and talking with people who comes to me and Anton. About by the midnight were packed up and ready to start the night in the van. We drive to the other city about six hours so this going to fun try to fit 7 people in one bed and couple of seats. I can't sleep because of my coughing so here I am writing this blog on the black road lamp poles flashing by..

Sleep tight.

-N

The beast is....in Bollnäs!   9/10/2013

After the night in the hostel this pack still got time to go eat something in the city and take a look of the beautiful views before we continue our journey to Bollnäs. Thanks to 'The Simpsons' the trip goes pretty easily and this van is filled with cheerful laughter.

We arrive at the venue 'Tuppens' and it seems more of a place where are arranged folk-dancing-nights than metal concerts :D But that doesn't matter - all we need is good crowd and good sounds :) My condition getting worse and throat swollen and sore I'm getting a bit sad 'cause I'd love to enjoy every moment of this tour without any extra problems :( Well, no complainings and through the walls and fire!
The second show and like last night there ain't so many people. I think there's some severe problems in promotion :( Because I know U.D.O. is known and has listeners this is not what I've expected..let's hope this situation gets better in the next days ;)

After dinner time to get ready - hope I can do my vocal parts, I don't want to let anyone down. We have luck tonight! My voice lasts even though I've been caughing all day and guys played like hell's got loose :P In spite of the little crowd they are great and make us feel like kings. One guy in the crowd gave his leather hat to use during the show...hope someone's got some video material of it ;D We had a blast, thank you and love you Bollnäs people! Especially the young fellow who came up to me and we had several handshakes :)
We take funny pictures in the backstage, take our stuff and move to the nearby Hotel. What luxury, guys ask if want to have a room of my own and hell yeah I do! But of course if someone else in our group wants it more it's fine for me too. I get in my room and my jaw drops - the room is big and I got double bed :) I spend time in the hot shower for a long time and then got a call from Juuso we're going to eat together -at the local burger place 'MAX' : No problem getting fat on this tour :D After eating healthy food again it's time to wrap myself deep in the warm bed between the white clean sheets...mm.

Sleeping tight <3

-N

God kväll Uppsala, är du redo för Battle beast-style heavymetal?!?!  8/10/2013

Morning starts with Anton at the café of the ship. We both feel sick and keep drinking tea in the hope of getting better. I just realize That I woke up one hour too early because the time in Sweden is one hour behind Finnish time. back to cabins and we hear announcement we should go to our van for loading out.
Before the car has even moved I'm sleeping already and wake up in front of the venue. It is more than clear to us from the start who's the headliner and who's not - no backstage for supports( here's another band supporting also called Pike's edge) and at first we think we're not getting any catering either. Fortunately it appears we're getting fed and being without backstage isn't a problem. We take what we get!
The tour-manager of Pike's Edge, Frank, comes to me and tells I'm allowed to use their bus lounge for changing clothes if there's a need. What a kind man, thank you! In the same sentence he throws a joke about having videocameras in the bus :D
BB takes a walk to the center and finds the hostel we're staying for this night. Back at the venue we'll do our soundcheck and this time we get to do a real soundcheck not just a linecheck, which is nice :)
After five years having my own computer I'm instantly hooked and when the skype starts working I'm on fire :P
Still having health problems is bothering me - isn't over a week enough already! Constantly coughing make my throat hurt so bad that I'm beginning to be frightened how am I supposed to sing :( No more complaining! Let's go guys and let them see what we're made of ;)
The show goes okay even there's not so many people and concerning we had got used to play in front of thousand people with Powerwolf just last week. I go to the merch-desk to meet and greet the old and the new fans. It is so nice to hear people enjoy our show or that they've never heard before of us but now are huge fans. So thank you fans for supporting and let's keep the Beast roaring!
After the show I stay for awhile listening U.D.O. and then go to the hostel. For my luck there are good internet connections so I can continue my work with the blog and other stuff. tonight is going to be Guns n' Roses-night which means I'm gonna listen only their music. Few years ago I used to listen them so much that I got Axl Rose-overdose and I couldn't listen him for years. But now I got a strong desire to do it - songs like 'Don't cry', 'Patience' and 'Sweet child O'mine' are definitely on the list.

Janne and Pyry leaves to grab something to eat. After awhile Eero and Juuso attacks in the room and asks me to join them - we go to eat, first we gotta find Pyry and Janne.
Uppsala is really beautiful town and people have been kind. For example the guys at the venue were so helpful and friendly when we were loading in and putting things together - the guys of our band were surprised and couldn't believe it :D

This night is pretty much wrapped so tomorrow with new powers and spirit!

-N

One or just a half       6/10/2013 - 7/10/2013

Ahh...the lounge party had continued after me going to bed and I got four hours sleep but I don't have any regrets spending the last hours with the best guys ever :) Very sleepy pack of beasts lagging to the Düsseldorf's airport...this is killing me - I almost fall asleep while standing :D Finally we get to the plane and I instantly fall asleep when I sit down. next I know I wake up to the announcement of landing to Helsinki.

I spend my time in a different city with special company until I have to go back to Helsinki. In the evening I meet my friends and have one relaxing dose of wine and conversation.
Oh how great it feels to warm up the sauna and have a long shower, cup of cappuccino and a warm blanket..mmmm....

The next day I'm in a horry from the moment I wake up. Have to pack again and go to post office and other stuff. Just five minutes before the train is leaving I arrive at the station. Here we go again...

The guys pick me up nearby the railway station and we head up to the Viking line- harbor. The reunion   of Battle beast has begun! We joke about how lovely it is to see again for so long time (after 17h) :) Getting the van in the ship, luggage to the cabins and eating are the first things in mind and in action. And of course buying cheap beer :P Oh the buffet is something we need right a way - tables filled with dozens of options what to eat. Juuso and Anton had gone eating earlier so we give the pleasure to our manager and sound man to enjoy our young and beautiful company :D

After dining I keep company to Kari(manager) and Kimmo(sound man) at the bar until I must say good night and find the other band members. Gladly I didn't have to do anything else but walk into my cabin and there my dear boys are. I'm feeling still a bit sick so I have to skip the great opportunity to party with the beasts and go sleep. The nap I had before the dinner wasn't such good idea - realizing I can't fall asleep at all now . Rolling in the bed until Anton comes in and we have a nice conversation about various things.

After two hours not getting sleep I have a compelling need to smoke and on the way I bump into Eero and Janne sitting on the stairs at the lobby kind of area. They tell me about the things that's happened while me being at my cabin...now I feel bad for going to 'sleep' but in the other hand I wouldn't had that  talk with Anton which felt important. Having the honor to talk with Eero privately at the deck was the crown for this night. I love you guys more and more everyday!

The concept of sleeping wasn't on the list for me this night - me coughing, Eero snoaring and Janne or Anton mumbling in their sleep, I don't have to explain any longer - don't I.

Aaand shutdown....


-N

The last night  5/10/2013

Oh no, this is the last day we can enjoy the company of Ashes of Ares- dudes :( It is so sad when you meet wonderful people and then you have to let them go on with their lives. But that's life, I still wouldn't change the fact of meeting them because this is exactly why I love touring - meeting new people, seeing new places and cultures! 

My morning starts 8am with the regular conversation with the basist of Majesty that I usually have the mornings I wake up early. He is really interesting person - calm, thoughtful and we have had good discussions about for example the book he's writing and other stuff.

It is so intriguing how many different personalities you can meet on the road and especially in the same bus. There are few persons that I've talked more and developed deeper relationship with as a friend but unfortunately I only got two weeks with AOA- guys to get know them. This doesn't mean the end - Facebook friendships have been made and I hope we get our own tour with Battle Beast in United States as soon as possible. 
There are also individuals in the bus that I haven't got the chance to get know better but the situation is reparable when we get back from the tour with U.D.O. and start the 2nd block of the tour with Powerwolf, Majesty and the new band coming on board Wisdom.

Stuttgart club LKA is familiar place from last year when touring with Sonata arctica. So this place brings nostalgic feelings - last time there were lot of people from Nuclear blast hearing me for the first time and that brought lot of pressure. Now the situation is different - I got more experience, more self-confidence and new songs to sing :)

During the day everything goes by its' usual way before the showtime begins.
First there's AOA and they sound and look great. I'm so happy to even hear their last show while I'm putting my make up on. We're next and then Majesty. I'm really proud of Tarek the singer of Majesty how brave he did every show even he got health problems with his vocal chords during this tour block1. Tonight his voice was diamond in my opinion.

Thank you Stuttgart, you didn't let us down like you didn't last year ether :)

With a little bit wistful minded I take my stuff to the bus and as we celebrate together with everybody of the bus even I take couple of glasses of wine just because of this night. It's last night together some of us stay up really late - having a bus lounge party, me singing Iron maiden with the goatman and having the last chatting with AOA guys.

It's 3:30am so I should probably go have some rest before we are at the airport....

Nightynight :P

-N

München powerized!! 4/10/2013

I got the best sleep on this whole tour last night - nine hours in a row, ahh! It is so great to be back in here at the Backstage venue since last year supporting Sonata arctica here at the same place. Actually here's three venues at the same area. If you come here at the first time this place seems outside like a gardener gone crazy or a jungle - different plants and trees surrounding  the whole venue area and the buildings. When I saw this place the first time on the outside, I thought we had arrived to some garden- market. I think this is cool!

The day starts by crawling up the stairs to the catering and then searching the backstage, because this the biggest venue of the three and last time we were playing at the second biggest venue. I have a problem finding the restroom with my sleepy brain activity so I end up using thw public one, just this once :D

How about having some cappuccino and a cigarette - sounds like a heavenly plan to me. Then writing the blog of the last night - I got my finger burning already ;D

The Octoberfest is on in München so me, Eero and Freddie decide to go see Mariestadt. Before we even get to our destination we're trying to buy the traintickets from the machine at the platform without success until we decide to by all day- ticket for five :D that'll do!

Finally we get to Mariestadt and I want to buy postcards so we start hunting the cards, pen and post office. The guys are so ready to sit down and have their octoberfest-beers: 1 liter pint! After getting all I need for the post cards we head to some beer serving tent.
So while Eero and Freddie are enjoying their beers I write passionately my cards back home and the guys are making fun out of it. Watching people walking around with traditional german- clothing and we also see a man dressed up like Jesus so I really got to have a picture with him :D

Heading back to the venue and we're just right on time to do our linecheck. Then it's  time for dinner and relaxation. We(BB)got a case of beer and a big heart shaped cookie from one of our fans, thank you so much! You made our day :)

Wow, what a night! Thank you München, you rock and see you again hopefully soon ;) We continue the night at the venue next door enjoying the music of a band called Pentagram. I had never heard of such but now I must tell you it f***ing awesome doom metal!

Now or never is the best moment to retreat myself in the nest for having such a good evening :P

Thank you, Goodnight

-N

Guten Ahbent Lindau!!! 3/10/2013

Hello there sun and new venue!
After six hours sleep and crawling out of my cozy nest it's time to take a look where the beast is gonna lay its' whip.

Last night I had started doing some sketch for the busdriver's tattoo and today morning got it finished. Today I'm going to start another one for our backline guy, the Goat ;)

Meeting some people of the crew on the way out of the bus and outside, everybody seems to be in a good mood. Might be because of the sun :P

Checking out where's the backstage and taking my stuff there is in order. Writing this blog of the last three days is not a quik thing 'cause I don't got my computer here until I get back home and get it from the post office. So now I just have to hang on with this mobile phone even it's a bit difficult to write with this...aaarg!

Having a little talk with my guys about the becoming show and not for long we have our linecheck(that means our soundcheck out here).

There's a little time for just relaxing and go through facebook :D Dinner time! And boy, it was good :D Almost nothing but carbs...noooo, I have to eat salad, nooo!
Ok, I tried the other stuff a little bit also ;)

Oh yeah, we got three hours freetime, what should I do with it? I'm thinking of taking a nap but then I don't get so good night sleep...

After hanging out in the backstage it's time to get ready again. When our show starts everything is fine until Janne's computer starts to crash...oh no! But Eero our great entertainer and Anton the guitarhero saves the situation until the keyboard's starts to work again...yeah! Oh, the crowd is awesome and we have a blast even with the technical problems, so that's what matters really.

Meeting people from Nuclear blast and taking photos with fans is always fun to do and I meet Greg from Nuclear blast whom I met the first time a year ago on Sonata-tour. Drinking red bull and having fun with guys of this crew is affecting me like I would be drunk 'cause they are :D Nooo, actually I think it's just my inner crazy child coming out with this company!

After leaving the venue we head to the nearest McDonald's...ah..bueno!

Ok, time to close my eyes and feel the magic of feeling full, tired and satisfied :)


-N

Achtung Switzerland! 2/10/2013

What a nostalgic vibe shivers in the air. Battle beast is back in Pratteln, Z7! The last time we were here with Sonata arctica about a year ago and now with bunch of great bands.

Last time here we had two snare drums broken in a row while our show so hope we're not gonna have that kind technical problems this time :D

Oh, the best catering, laundry service and a big stage, what else do you need!

Having a breakfast and then some laundry. I would love to go running but I have to take it easy for couple of days even though the antibiotics has made me feel much better if not concider the hurting in my throat...

Then it's time for soundcheck and dinner. So it's like this everyday repeatingly: wake up, breakfast, soundcheck, dinner, make up, dressing up, warm up, showtime, shower, snack and back to sleep. Still this all feels different in every country, every venue and lot of crazy and not so crazy things happens between those familiar routines. I think that is one the reason certain people love to do this year after year...or then they are out of money and it's the only way to get more :D

Ok, so the show was great I gotta say! The people were great and singing along and holding their fists up :) Thank you for having us! And no, there was no technical problems this time to be mentioned ;)

Hanging with some fans and then we have a big afterparty - guys drinking beer and throwing stupid jokes and me laughing along with tea cup in my hand the whole night until four o'clock...This is so much fun to be sober on a tour: You get to see how funny people act when they're drunk and I'm not :D :D

I got so much energy because of feeling my powers coming back so it is hard to get sleep....pffff

-N

Another day in paranoia - Langen, get ready! 1/10/2013

My day begins with breakfast at the venue, Neue stadthalle, then me and Tarek(Majesty) both go by taxi to the railway station and all the way to Frankfurt to see a doctor. Ok, I got a good reason to go see Frankfurt a little bit :) The doctor seem to be really good in his job and he can actually speak english, which is nice. It appeared I got some kind of bacterial infection but it hasn't infected my vocal chords...what a releaf! Then to the pharmacy and back to the venue.

We get there just about the dinner has begun but we have missed the soundcheck 'cause it took longer at the doctor's as
we expected. Yey! Philipp, the former promotion guy from Nuclear blast has arrived here to do some kind of a story to some magazine about Powerwolf touring. He is one of the nicest guys in this business I've met. Our beloved Potato man!(inside joke)

Taking the handfull of medicines, hair and make up aaaand on the stage! Even though I'm not in the best condition to perform the audience seems to like our show, thank you Langen for your support!!

After the show I go straight to the shower, a little night snack and back to the bus..goood niiiight...


Oh, what happens next: I wake up my throat really sore so I go
downstairs to have some tea. I find Eero, Freddie(AOA), the Goat(backline man) and Dean(AOA) having a major Ironmaidensingalong-party! So I join them even though I can't talk at all. I go in the front to keep company for the busdriver but hey I find Juuso there already hanging, so I stay there and sometimes go back to the lounge getting more tea and enjoy the man choir singing Iron maiden :D

After four hours drinking tea I'm ready to go back to sleep...now for real -  GOODNIGHT!

-N

Nijmegen, Doornrosje here we come!! 29/9/2013

Staying up late wasn't the best idea, I wake up sick but don't know it until in few hours my condition crash and I'm sentenced holding a tea cup the whole freaking day. When we arrive to the venue somebody's put his car at our parking space even it was marked for our bus...aaarrrgg!! But our lovely busdriver fix a parking spot just across the road :)

My condition getting worse hour by hour, eating painkillers, drinking tea and sleeping on the backstage sofa...those are the ingridients of the day. Getting myself up for the soundcheck
and getting ready for the show feels like having tons of weight in my legs.

The show still goes pretty well if not considering the condition I'm in. After the show I'm so wrecked that I don't have the energy to go to the shower right away so I let the others go first.That isn't a good idea - it appeared I wasn' t allowed to use the only shower in the house after 22 pm and I got a load of shouting from the tour manager. I had not seen the sign he'd put on the shower's door :( I appologized but he didn't accept it. So here have it - don't do mistakes on tour as warm up!! Normal thing like that can be a disaster on tour :D

So now that I'm feeling like shit physically I feel like shit mentally as well...the night is purely wrecked...

I feel lucky 'cause I have the best band members and best around me

Langen - the off day 30/9/2013

Last night was killing me - had the worse fever for a long time: Had loads of clothes on and a blanket but still freezing and shivering like hell. After awhile the opposite: sweating and having really messed up dreams...
The bus is parked behind the venue next to some fence where hangs some of our show-clothes.

After waking up dizzy and feverish I head to the nearby bakery and there I see Anton, Pyry and Juuso having breakfast so I join them. Not a minute there's two bees teasing us and we can' t get rid of them...

...back to sleep in the bus. Few hours I wake up again and I go have a dinner with Majesty guys. The restaurant we were at....really weird experience:
The waitress don't understand any of us and even though we show her by finger from the list what we want she orders some wrong dishes, not bringing the water which one of us had ordered earlier...and I wait for my main course like two hours and when I get it I ask ofcourse discount for waiting so long - the staff don't understand first and after awhile the restaurant owner comes to me and asks how much do I want the discount :D Yeah, we leave pretty soon after that...

Rest of the day goes by drinking tea  and water and sleeping :/ If I'm not feeling better tomorrow morning, I have to go to the doctor...

In the evening fever is coming up so the beast goes to its' nest :)

-N