Cheese & army knives. Cuckoo clocks & chocolate. Mountains &
Snowboarding. Bank accounts & Great audiences. Switzerland. Ahh…
We had our three sold out shows in Switzerland, in Bern, Pratteln and in
Herisau and now we’re on our way to Austria, to the country where the audience
never fails either.
Every time we land in Zurich with the band, it feels as if “everything is a
bit better here.” I don’t know if it’s the image the Swiss have managed to
create of their country to the rest of the world or if it’s just the great
experiences we have had all over the country both on the band trips and also on
holiday. However, we love it.
After the show in Paris, we arrived in Bern for a day off. The city is very
beautiful and actually that was the very first real spring day this year. It was
+ 18 in the afternoon and the sun was shining. We went shopping downtown in the
midday and still I haven’t bought anything on this tour…? Not even a new camera
objective. Good boy! In the evening we were invited to the Switzerland-Argentina
football game at the Stad De Suiss, the old Wankdorf stadion where Germany won
their first world cup in 1954.
We are from a not-so-successful football country and therefore we decided to
support the other country that didn’t make it to the finals this time. Even
though Messi was on the field in the other team, we did everything we could for
the Swiss. When 88 minutes were played, the score was 1-1 and I was damn sure
we’d get a tie. But no. One mistake at “our” own end and one Messi in the other
team and the game was lost. The 1-3 penalty shot a minute after was just making
the numbers nicer for the Argentinians. The better one won. On the other hand,
it’s not every day you can see Leo Messi scoring three goals live. Many thanks
for our local agent and the stadium staff for letting us in through the back
door.
All three shows in Switzerland were sold out well before we started the trip
a few weeks ago. And every evening was a blast. Especially in Pratteln, where we
played at the same club in 2007, we felt really like home. The only “downside”
in Pratteln is that there’s a decibel screen on the wall and you can see it from
the stage. And it’s hard to keep your eyes off it during the show. You might
lose focus and forget the lyrics. The screen shows to the crowd too how loud it
is. A few times when the crowd sang really loud we got close to 120db. I can
tell you that loudness hurts your ears on stage. But in the good way ;) The same
actually happened today in Herisau tonight. I took both of my earplugs off after
the show and the screaming from the crowd felt almost violent. But again, in a
very good way. Please never stop doing that ;)
Yesterday we had a day off in Herisau. It’s this really small town near Sankt
Gallen. In the night there was no action what so ever but the day was busy. We
had our yearly Go-Cart race with the band, crew, and both drivers. You can read
more about the results in the previous blog. In Finland we have a saying “Silver
is no Shame!”
After the show in Pratteln, our local fan club’s “Sunrise Avenue Swiss
Crew’s” official and original flag was stolen. I will add a picture of that flag
on our Facebook site in case you see it somewhere you know what I am talking
about. I guess the flag fell from where it was hanged over the audience and
someone might have taken it by accident too. Anyway. If you see it, it must be
returned.
I don’t know how many ladies (or gents) there are in our dear Swiss crew but
they are just great. Today after the last Swiss show they had arranged a
surprise present for us containing first an opening mission (almost impossible;)
and the package contained a lot of useful stuff from medicine to toothbrushes
and also a little plant, a tree whose name is Köbi. Köbi is from the city of
Chur and he is this kind of a small palm tree plant and we are supposed to raise
him gently. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not the best person with the
living green. Even my cleaning lady at home said a few years ago that maybe I
should only have paintings or statues instead of anything that actually is
supposed to live. I’ll do my best!
Our tour manager Manni left us two days ago because he had to go to this
seminar in London. We already miss you Manni and you know, the Swiss crew even
brought you some presents. Now we have Manni’s colleague Lars for the rest of
the trip. Lars is very cool, nice and experienced and all will be fine. It’s
just a shame that just as we managed to teach Manni the legendary music jury
game, he left and now we need to spend another sleepless night teaching Lars. I
hope he drinks like a man and has good taste in music.
Tomorrow we will be in Austria in Linz. It’s the only show in Austria this
trip. We played in Vienna on this tour in November. Actually it was the last
concert of that trip at this old gas bell where they have built an arena inside.
I will never forget that night. Playing Out Of Tune that night was
probably the best moment on stage so far in my life. Funny how again this time,
this trip has felt better than anything else before. Again. Maybe it’s just the
good medication they give us ;) Bottom line is that we are happy for being on
the road again.
Linz is one of Austria’s biggest cities and we have played there many times
before. We played also one of last summer’s coolest festivals there, the Krone
Stadtfest. I just remember that the crowd was loud and the heat was like in
tropic in the middle of the night. I guess we have played at tomorrow’s venue
before, on the smaller side thought. The bigger side of the arena is sold out
tomorrow and I am dead sure the night will be super great. Everyone’s healthy on
the bus again and the mood is very relaxed. Boys are playing NHL Playstation
game upstairs and some are sleeping already. I’m in the front with Sebastien. As
usual.
Thank you everyone very much for the great moments in Switzerland. We hope
there will be some festivals in your country this summer that let us play at
least one or two songs on their stage.
Good night everyone,
Samu & Boys
PS: We will get the flag back girls. Take my word on that!
Snowboarding. Bank accounts & Great audiences. Switzerland. Ahh…
We had our three sold out shows in Switzerland, in Bern, Pratteln and in
Herisau and now we’re on our way to Austria, to the country where the audience
never fails either.
Every time we land in Zurich with the band, it feels as if “everything is a
bit better here.” I don’t know if it’s the image the Swiss have managed to
create of their country to the rest of the world or if it’s just the great
experiences we have had all over the country both on the band trips and also on
holiday. However, we love it.
After the show in Paris, we arrived in Bern for a day off. The city is very
beautiful and actually that was the very first real spring day this year. It was
+ 18 in the afternoon and the sun was shining. We went shopping downtown in the
midday and still I haven’t bought anything on this tour…? Not even a new camera
objective. Good boy! In the evening we were invited to the Switzerland-Argentina
football game at the Stad De Suiss, the old Wankdorf stadion where Germany won
their first world cup in 1954.
We are from a not-so-successful football country and therefore we decided to
support the other country that didn’t make it to the finals this time. Even
though Messi was on the field in the other team, we did everything we could for
the Swiss. When 88 minutes were played, the score was 1-1 and I was damn sure
we’d get a tie. But no. One mistake at “our” own end and one Messi in the other
team and the game was lost. The 1-3 penalty shot a minute after was just making
the numbers nicer for the Argentinians. The better one won. On the other hand,
it’s not every day you can see Leo Messi scoring three goals live. Many thanks
for our local agent and the stadium staff for letting us in through the back
door.
All three shows in Switzerland were sold out well before we started the trip
a few weeks ago. And every evening was a blast. Especially in Pratteln, where we
played at the same club in 2007, we felt really like home. The only “downside”
in Pratteln is that there’s a decibel screen on the wall and you can see it from
the stage. And it’s hard to keep your eyes off it during the show. You might
lose focus and forget the lyrics. The screen shows to the crowd too how loud it
is. A few times when the crowd sang really loud we got close to 120db. I can
tell you that loudness hurts your ears on stage. But in the good way ;) The same
actually happened today in Herisau tonight. I took both of my earplugs off after
the show and the screaming from the crowd felt almost violent. But again, in a
very good way. Please never stop doing that ;)
Yesterday we had a day off in Herisau. It’s this really small town near Sankt
Gallen. In the night there was no action what so ever but the day was busy. We
had our yearly Go-Cart race with the band, crew, and both drivers. You can read
more about the results in the previous blog. In Finland we have a saying “Silver
is no Shame!”
After the show in Pratteln, our local fan club’s “Sunrise Avenue Swiss
Crew’s” official and original flag was stolen. I will add a picture of that flag
on our Facebook site in case you see it somewhere you know what I am talking
about. I guess the flag fell from where it was hanged over the audience and
someone might have taken it by accident too. Anyway. If you see it, it must be
returned.
I don’t know how many ladies (or gents) there are in our dear Swiss crew but
they are just great. Today after the last Swiss show they had arranged a
surprise present for us containing first an opening mission (almost impossible;)
and the package contained a lot of useful stuff from medicine to toothbrushes
and also a little plant, a tree whose name is Köbi. Köbi is from the city of
Chur and he is this kind of a small palm tree plant and we are supposed to raise
him gently. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not the best person with the
living green. Even my cleaning lady at home said a few years ago that maybe I
should only have paintings or statues instead of anything that actually is
supposed to live. I’ll do my best!
Our tour manager Manni left us two days ago because he had to go to this
seminar in London. We already miss you Manni and you know, the Swiss crew even
brought you some presents. Now we have Manni’s colleague Lars for the rest of
the trip. Lars is very cool, nice and experienced and all will be fine. It’s
just a shame that just as we managed to teach Manni the legendary music jury
game, he left and now we need to spend another sleepless night teaching Lars. I
hope he drinks like a man and has good taste in music.
Tomorrow we will be in Austria in Linz. It’s the only show in Austria this
trip. We played in Vienna on this tour in November. Actually it was the last
concert of that trip at this old gas bell where they have built an arena inside.
I will never forget that night. Playing Out Of Tune that night was
probably the best moment on stage so far in my life. Funny how again this time,
this trip has felt better than anything else before. Again. Maybe it’s just the
good medication they give us ;) Bottom line is that we are happy for being on
the road again.
Linz is one of Austria’s biggest cities and we have played there many times
before. We played also one of last summer’s coolest festivals there, the Krone
Stadtfest. I just remember that the crowd was loud and the heat was like in
tropic in the middle of the night. I guess we have played at tomorrow’s venue
before, on the smaller side thought. The bigger side of the arena is sold out
tomorrow and I am dead sure the night will be super great. Everyone’s healthy on
the bus again and the mood is very relaxed. Boys are playing NHL Playstation
game upstairs and some are sleeping already. I’m in the front with Sebastien. As
usual.
Thank you everyone very much for the great moments in Switzerland. We hope
there will be some festivals in your country this summer that let us play at
least one or two songs on their stage.
Good night everyone,
Samu & Boys
PS: We will get the flag back girls. Take my word on that!