03-10-2013 Pre-party Trashfest

Location: On The Rocks, Helsinki (Finland)
By: Sabine van Gameren

Trashfest number six starts with a preparty at the On The Rocks in Helsinki. The whole festival promises to be very exciting with a concluding acoustic party at the end.

The first night of Trashfest experiences was starting with the Finnish formation Dusty Road. The band has a typical rock and roll sound with the voice of vocalist Suvi immediately hinting towards Nina c. Alice of the band Skew Siskin. It’s one of those voice that easily catch your attention as it is not often that they come forward that strong. The performance itself is perhaps a bit inactive in the beginning, it takes a while before they get warmed up and going, but when all is going strong you see the playfulness come alive and that creates the space for the guitarists to claim some of the spotlights as well. A pleasant opening to this Trashparty.

Enfant terrible Cold Cold Ground made their perky entrance on the stage right after Dusty Road. There has been plenty going on around the band lately, some shows in Europe, video clip recordings and a brand new album coming out soon just to mention a few. All reasons for the band to take it out big time tonight. A bit of a different view for the fans perhaps as mr. bunny was not there this time, but it could not withhold them to create some spectacle. Some stardust of hell flying around the band throws in their new material but does not leave you completely cold as some classics come along as well. Cold Cold Ground is a regular at Trashfest which results in a good atmosphere with many fans enjoying the show. Simply what was expected and yet even more.

New Generation Superstars are also not unfamiliar with Trashfest. In fact they have been there for many years already and so come it is no surprise to see the venue is pretty crowded when their set is about to start. Also, because another band had dropped out they would play a second set on the day after, but tonight the band had a special set for the fans who came to see them. Maybe it was not as wild straight away, but when you remember them smashing a guitar right under your nose about a year ago, you might experience any show after that as quite mellow. Well guitars are there to be played and that is exactly what the guys do so very well. It is the great guitar riffs that serves them their success. The catchiness to come in and strengthen it and vocalist AJ demanding some audience participation are those elements included that show you why New Generation Superstars manages to draw such a crowd again and again.

Last band of the evening is the British band theFALLEN (mind the spelling!). The band makes some energetic rock music with the typical British punch to it. Looking at influences as Avenged Sevenfold, Papa Roach or Escape The Fate you immediately get set on the path what you may expect. The guys are giving you a very confident feeling while they interact with the audience in between some song, but never really let it drift apart. Musically they temper their exuberance to make it all suitable for the stage of On The Rocks, for what it seems like the guys have energy enough to rock this on a bit larger stage and give the full power. The evening is closed in style and with the invitation standing to attend their acoustic set a few days later, before the doors of Trashfest are open, they leave the stage. A band that has lots of potential and could really break out big time, but kept their set appropriated for the location to avoid their fans getting involved in mayor mosh pits and such.