Karohemd's World

Got out of work in time to catch the 5:45 to Kings X which meant I got to The Forum as the doors opened. Handy, I thought and walked along the queue that wouldn't end but eventually I did find the end. Didn't see anyone I knew to jump it, either. Still, it meant by the time I got in, I only had 15 minutes to wait for the show t to start. Got a spot in front of the mixer desk, too.

The lights went out at 8 on the spot, the stage went red and eight half-naked norsemen in furs entered and proceded to play some of the most awesome music I'd ever heard. They are called Turisas (myspace link), also from Finland, and play a crossover of Black Metal and Folk. Imagine an unholy union of The Levellers, Subway to Sally and Haggard and you get a rough idea. Bouncy, fun, melodic, crazy, making faces, stomping and poncing around the stage and really connecting to the audience in the way that the whole front half of the downstairs was jumping up and down. This has to be the most well received mostly unknown support band I've seen in a long time (the last time being The Inchtabokatables supporting The Levellers in '92).
The manic fiddle player played a mind-boggling solo thing that made his electric violin sound like a guitar (think Satriani type fretboard wanking), which was another highlight of the set.
45 minutes wasn't enough for me and I could happily have bounced along to some more but unfortunately, they were only support.

So, if you ever have a chance to see Turisas, do, you won't regret it (and he said they'll be back next year).

Oh, Lordi played as well and I'm much with purplehez here. It's a gimmick that's cool when it wins the Eurovision Song Contest and despite the costumes and cheesy tricks and props, they didn't hold my attention long enough so I left early and was in Cambridge by midnight. Still worth going, though, especially because of Turisas.

They will be at the London Forum on Halloween (31/10) and in Nottingham, Brum, Manchester and Glasgow before that.
SEEtickets link (as an example, others should have tickets, too)
Thanks to littlelightbulb and navigatorsghost for the info

Judging by the poll on this BBC News page, Lordi are well up on anyone else, or at least on the other unusual acts in the Eurovision Song Contest.
How cool would that be?

And how bad is the German entry? *shakes head*