09-01-2008 Velcra

Support: Kilt., Fadeout; Venue: On The Rocks, Helsinki (Finland)
By: Sabine van Gameren

On Wednesday evening, I was surprised to see On The Rocks, Helsinki quite filled already when I entered the club. Three bands would play this evening, starting off with Fadeout.

The band makes progressive metal, with in the vocals a little touch of the emocore style in some of their songs. The band claims on their MySpace they: “Created a brand that can only be described as a Evolutionary Rock”. When listening to the MySpace songs, it feels like I am listening to an harder band. The band I like more, I have to admit. Live, they did not really   make a big impression on me. The band plays well, but it feels like there is something missing. The fire in the music. The ones who got most of my attention were the guitarists. They were doing a great job.

Second was Kilt. Musically, they would fit in the metal/industrial genre. Kilt. does not have a vocalist. In their songs, vocalists from other bands can be heard. But before we got to see them during this gig, we first got some instrumental music. The music asks and maybe even demands your attention just because the   instrumental part is very central. Most people in On The Rocks seem to have to get used to the music. Standing a little away from the stage seeing what is going on. After a few songs, they found the essence of it and came closer to the stage to enjoy it. Like I mentioned before, the music demands most of your attention and since different vocals are added to their music, I sometimes had to search where it was coming from, since I had not noticed someone entering the side of the stage, because I was focusing mostly on what was going on at that moment before the vocals came in. A gig full of surprises and that is what I like to see. People cheered most when Jessi Frey, singer of Velcra came onstage to do a song with Kilt. Not really a surprise since Velcra would play after Kilt. and so come many fans of Velcra were there. Interesting act, get your chance to see them if you have an opportunity.

Velcra was the last band playing this evening. An industrial/electronic act from Helsinki. They changed their style quite drastically when releasing their latest album “Hadal”. I have seen them a few times lately and every time I see them it is a different gig. I would even think of seeing it getting more industrial every time I see them. It is great to see many fans came to On The Rocks on this Wednesday evening to see them. With many people dancing and drinking during the gig, there is a great atmosphere. A little smile came on my face when the song “Quick and Dirty” was played. In one of my   earlier reviews of the band I mentioned the start of it, where vocalist Jessi Frey says with a sweet kiddy voice “The devil made me do it”. This   time I heard a more darker voice saying it. Just a small detail which points out that every gig of Velcra is an unique experience. The band left the stage, but the audience really wanted to hear more. One of the fans climbed onstage to get the microphone to get the rest of the fans cheering harder for more. It did work out, the band came back to give us some more. Lovely, once again!

Links:
  Fadeout Myspace
  Kilt. Myspace
  Velcra Myspace