14-12-2008 Lapko

Supports: Downstairs; Venue:The Londoner, Gotha (Germany)
By: Nina Mende

Second show this weekend led me to Gotha, 20km next to Erfurt. A little pub with club called The Londoner somewhere in this town was where the show would be.

Lapko was on Germany tour having the Finnish band Downstairs along and hitting Gotha tonight. As I arrived I already heard that the day before the show was very empty…

I arrived quite early because I didn’t know for sure when the show was supposed to begin, so I had quite some time to get to know the club. Downstairs it was a pub with couches, bar, benches and a tiny stage. Through the phone boot you could go upstairs where the concert area was. A bigger stage and a big room with standing-tables and some chairs, three couches and a bar as well. The room looked like a theatre, also a movie theatre and I suppose it used to be one or is sometimes still used as such. The bands had spread their stuff everywhere during the sound check.

The show began more than half an hour later than it actually should, so it was almost 10 as Downstairs entered the stage, a four-piece rock band from Helsinki/Finland comparable with Disco Ensemble when talking about the style of music. After having roused wide interest with their EPs, Downstairs’ debut album “Oh Father” was finally released in the beginning of 2008 both in Finland and abroad. The first single “Peephole City” became an internationally acclaimed Indies hit. It was, for example, selected as the song of the week by such prestigious quarters as the British BBC’s Radio1 Rock Show and the American Filter Magazine. Downstairs have also excelled in playing a great number of sweaty gigs. But somehow Gotha didn’t seem to care or acknowledge the great bands they had here tonight. Only 13 people plus crew, bands and club staff were there. The Finns didn’t care though. They rocked during their show. Downstairs performed in front of these few people just as energetic as they do on festivals. After half an hour enjoying the ability to perform it was all over though.

After a short change over it was time for Lapko to play in front of this living room audience.

Lapko is a Finnish alternative rock band from Harjavalta, formed in 1996. Lapko is notable for its popularity in Finland, having received “radio play, explosive concerts, and voluminous critical accolades” even before releasing its debut on a well-known label, according to Allmusic. Their first EP, Your Special K.O. (2003) was self-released. Their debut album The Arms (2004) was released by Jukeboss, but then they got signed to Fullsteam Records and the albums Scandal (2006) and Young Desire (2007) helped them gain fame in Finland by reaching the national albums chart. Ville, Anssi and Janne are having a unique style in their music which makes Lapko special. But not only is it the sound that makes Lapko special, also their great eccentric and emotional performances catches attention. They played all hits like “Paranoid”, “Killer Whales”, “Funerals and Parties”, “Hugging the Phone”, “Bad Boys” and “All The Best Girls”. The few people that were there did not dance too much but more likely enjoyed it silently, but they cheered after every song. The way the guys move on stage makes you realize how much they are into their music and how much of them is in it. A pity that there were not more people at this show, they have definitely missed out on something great.

Links:
Downstairs MySpace
Downstairs Official
Lapko MySpace
Lapko Official