the rubber band to Norway

[suzhu1]

Siste Dans, DNB Arena, Stavanger, September 14 2013

And so, sadly only just over two years after i finally 'got it' the Kaizers adventure came to an end... for now, or forever, who knows.  But my money is on no comeback (sorry).

So the final gig was streamed, and there was evidence of cameras right from the off.  Thanks to you lovely jamplifiers i won the tickets for this final gig, and i thought this meant i would be seated.  So i gulped a reasonable amount of champagne in the afternoon for a belated birthday for gigging buddy over from Canada.  

This was a mistake in some ways, as tickets were standing.  Still, managed to get second row, had lovely people braid my hair for me whilst waiting and generally was in a good mood.

Lots of Accidental Rock Star action going on... whole front row section for them.. :) (note to self - you did not have money to spend on this)

Concert: lower key than previous - unsurprisingly seemed a bit tired - but then so was I!  

Dr. Mowinkel :), Bris, and Mr Kaizer Hans Constanze were highlights.  There was again much Skål-ing, including a mid set bottle of champagne - Geir popped his cork into the audience :D and we had Sommerfugler and many balloons - impromptu ones courtesy of Susi S - konzertjunkie and planned ones for Hjerteknuser.  Jano smashed a wine glass on his head to start this (must have been a stage glass right?).  Crew were tap dancing on the sides, Pål Audestad was taking many photos.  In case anyone wondered, cigar smoke is really strong from 2nd/3rd row Jano's cigar smoke was really smelly.  I was totally ok until Ompa Til Du Dør when i momentarily lost it...

And then the fat lady sang... somehow i sort of knew she would.. an actual lady opera singer, and it was over.  Pleased i did so many of the last gigs, to see the varying set lists and hear some gems.  Geir didn't wear the yellow or pink shirts, so that was good... haha!  And its ok.  I had lots of fun and clocked up many Thon hotel points and airmiles and kind of need a rest now.   Will be odd not to have an album release in November... but life goes on.

Tusen takk Kaizers!

[suzhu1]

Siste Dans, DNB Arena, Stavanger, September 13 2013

Ack... penultimate gig (gulp).

This one was singularly great for me.  And it seemed a bit like it was the real last show, without any of the pressure of the actual last show.

There was fun from start to finish - play fight from the crew at the start, Jano very, very nearly came a cropper off the barrel, Geir had a brand new shiny red crowbar to replace yesterday's broken one, lots of Skål-ing, for and to everyone. Crew solo scoring again in Kontroll På Kontinentet (White Russian scored 10, Øyvind scored 6.2 so he was out).  For Begravelses Jano could not keep a straight face when White Russian , Eivind and one other tap danced in the space between the barriers and the stage. At some point Jano ventured out in true parting the waves style all the way into the audience.  Couldn't see shit but i think people enjoyed it.

Song highlights - Min Kvite Russer (takk) and De Involverte.

Brilliant night

[suzhu1]

Siste Dans, DNB Arena, Stavanger, September 12 2013

Part 2 of the Siste Dans started after an early flight back from Switzerland... (work).  Which meant i was pretty tired.

Song highlights Kavaler, Salt & Pepper and Den Andre er Meg (!) with Mrs. Terje.  Apparently she gave is ass a good squeeze on the way off stage :) Was great to hear this live.

Encores started with Helge just breathing in to the microphone :) funny as...

Geir cut Jano short whilst he was toasting everyone and enjoying the damn good wine by stealing the glass and necking it.  G also broke the crowbar this evening!  Tried to bend it back into shape but it was finished.  He does hit that barrel HARD :D

[suzhu1]

Siste Dans, DNB Arena, Stavanger, September 7 2013

We had Geoff Berner as support for this one, and I really enjoyed his set, it seemed that most people around us on the right hand side did too, although not many people knew Whiskey Rabbi as me and the usual suspects sang along.

Back to the normal stage entrance tonight with Russian Dance.  Song highlights - Maskineri :) and Mann Mot Mann and Apokalyps Meg.  Downsides - some very sweaty, dirty haired people up the front and a large Norwegian ape that kept grunting 'Christiania' at every opportunity.  It was hot, sweaty, and another good fun evening.  During Jano's barrel bashing he wore ear protectors 'so I can hear you better' ? He got incredibly sweaty - I mean dripping...

Geir shirt watch... brown... but it suited him, even if I really dislike brown.

We had great dancing again, the swimming dance, ass wiggling general Jano showing off.  Both guitarists up on the barrels again, but no Happy Birthday this time.  Geir got Jano's mike cable caught in the guitar during En For Orgelet and had to wait for the Jackal to free him...

The crew scored KIllmaster's sole in Kontroll På Kontinentet - White Russian only gave an OK at first which he then upped to a 10, so he was hired.  Geir also got the chance to do a solo too 'and not just on one string' :)

Hjerteknuser was opened with a smashed wine glass as the crowd were a bit too keen with the scarf - and a woolly scarf didn't do it for Jano.  So we were given a skål from atop the barrel and then the empty glass was tossed.  I'm sure the crew were delighted at sweeping up all the glass.

We had KO vs crowd again in the encores and the audience (at the back) really could not get it together and keep on going too soon, but it was fun all the same.  Die Polizei with Jano sitting watching from the barrel and many many cell phone torch stars shining was wonderful again.  People threw cuddly toys onstage at the final bow - Terje used one to pull a rabbit out of Rune's top hat :)

Week one over... and only 3 shows left for me...

[suzhu1]

Siste Dans, DNB Arena, Stavanger, September 6 2013

I was very excited when this gig got added to the Siste Dans series because September 6 is my birthday - what better way to celebrate than with Kaizers :)

The support band got cut short mid set, which was fine by me as was not really enjoying them.  Don't know exactly why, but it seemed that the planning had gone a little awry and Kaizers needed to be on and off stage earlier than planned because of curfew.

So we did not start with the Russian Dance but rather with a very grainy version of Resistansen... it was odd, and then we realised... it wasn't being played over the speakers, rather Jano was making his way through the crowd, singing in to the megaphone!!!! It was quite the entrance :) Hallelujah!

When he finally reached the stage Omen wandered out and was pointing at him in confusion, the drums were not even unveiled, it was adhoc and not to be repeated.

Anyway then we got going, usual Aldri Vodka starter and probably the least unusual set list of the 5 Siste Dans concerts I got to see.  My friends had been to the Unicef/DNB gig the night before and had been telling tales of Maestro including a 'How Do You Like Me Now' section from Jano.  Didn't quite get the same version but he did use the same catchphrase.  Jano also decided to go crowd surfing :) and did some great ass wiggling to KGB and Maestro.  Hadn't really noticed this before but Geir has taken to throwing the crowbar at the barrel at the end of every barrel bashing session... he also almost sent the wheelrim rolling off stage when removing it from the barrel at one point.  Lots of crowd participation (shouting) and both guitarists up on barrels again.  At which point Jano decided to sing Happy Birthday to Geir 'whose 40th (or 41st - didn't quite get it) birthday it was'.  They do this quite a lot, but still not sure if that was actually for me, after my obvious prompting on Instagram and Facebook... who knows, but I'll take it anyway :)

Generally good mood gig, on my favourite side, eventually front row after someone left!!!!! And I almost had a drumstick at the end until I gave up and let the desperate Norwegian teenager who was clawing at mine and my friends feet as we stood on it, take it.  She seemed to need it more than me... even if it was my birthday!

[suzhu1]

Violeta Violeta Volume III Tour, Festivalsommer, Koengen, Bergen, August 31 2013

Last gig of the weekend, last outdoor KO gig. Went prepared for bad weather after the Overoslo fail.  And actually it didn't rain really until the encores, when I just went with it and got SOAKED.

To get a great view was I think impossible at this gig.  The stage was MASSIVE but the set up was same as normal, plus it was really high and there was an extra, catwalk bit front of stage which meant that the blodfan section could on occasion, see shit all.  It took me a while to get in to the gig as a result and then the old shit came along and all was fine.  Salt and Pepper again :) Blitzregn Baby, Knekker deg til Sist, Pa Dit Skift (dipshit stick up for dipshit).  It was in the end great.  Amazing that 20k turned up and glad to have been there.  The rainshower at the end was welcome if incredibly heavy.

Only comments I remember...something along the lines of an explanation that despite being from Stavanger KO are a Bergen band (crowdpleaser) and 'Bergen, du er sexy' :D yes, we were!  Even when soaked.  Oh and phenomenal ass wiggling, Jano.  I will miss watching this.

[suzhu1]

Violet Violeta Volume III Tour, Sentrum Scene, Oslo, August 30 2013

Agh - even more queuing would have been required to get where I wanted to be for this one - so opted for the first step slap bang centre, which is possibly the best view in Sentrum Scene.

Now... setlist.  OMFG.  Never mind the arm porn, this was also ear porn.  AMAZING.  Personal highlights = Man Mot Mann :D, Dr. Mowinckel (you know me) and Salt And Pepper (WTF)!!!!  Never thought I would get to hear that one live.

Brilliant brilliant brilliant last SS gig.  Can't believe there will be no more,  Meh!

Forgot to mention that for the first time in quite a while we got both barrels... the Hellraizer hasn't been up there much recently :)

[suzhu1]

Violeta Violeta Volume III Tour, Sentrum Scene, Oslo August 29 2013

A bit of queuing was required for this one - last (Last) gigs in Oslo :'( and people were quite keen.  Although luckily the Aldersgrense helped with this one with the largest queue being for the Galleri

Ended up right hand side under Terje's barrel :) or is it Jano's? and had a pretty damn fine view of arm porn (this is fact).

The setlist was not particularly unusual, but did get a version of both Twilling and Perfect I en Drøm which were very unexpected.  Choices leaned towards the new rather than the old but Evig Pint made a welcome return.  And KGB may be my favourite live song ever - because of the dancing ;)

Janove's arms currently look amazing.

May add to this later...

[suzhu1]

Violeta Violeta Volume III Tour, Festivalsommer, Borggården, Trondheim - August 24th 2013

And gig 18 of 2013 was Trondheim, home of my first Norwegian gig (not KO) back in 2006.  Beautiful sunny weather and honestly probably my favourite festival show of the year.  The guys were in fine form, I wasn't drunk, it didn't start at 23.00... all good.

Now let me start with the pre Kaizersness.  What the F*** was that warm up music about??? Everything from Ice-T to crooners to AC/DC.  Really strange!  There was a support band, local band Peevish Penfriend - they were ok - there was a pretty guitarist with a beautiful red Gibson guitar.  

And when we got the main event - Omen wrapped the flowers in his towel and then watered the towel... a slightly new twist.  In Svarte Katter first we had a bubbles malfunction... Omen had to double dip before achieving bubbles :) and then a ridiculously long pause.  Jano dropped the mike during Maestro so we had to do it for him until he reeled it back in from front stage.  We also got Evig Pint, Resistansen and a return for Tokyo Ice Til Clementine.  Another new twist was the backflip start to Hjerteknuser... haha - it wasn't actually in the end, but just for a second it was believable. If you've seen the crowd photo with the lighters then you'll know that it ended with Die Polizei - for us, not them.  The singalong was immense and   continued well after the end of the show and rightly so.  I loved this gig, <3

[suzhu1]

Violeta Violeta Volume III Tour, Festivalsommer, Elvefestivalen, Drammen August 23rd 2013

Can't tell you too much about this gig.  The boys were on stage at 23.00.  I arrived in Drammen at about 16.00.  Time needed to be killed.  There was drinking... quite a lot of drinking... :)

Am fairly surprised i even managed any decent photos... 

Anyway it was ok - not brilliant, but ok - but I was shit faced, so who knows it may have been excellent or awful too.

[suzhu1]

Violeta Violeta Volume III Tour Festivalsommer, Prestøya, Elverum Festspillene, August 2 2013

In 2011 i decided not to go to Hove Festival and it was apparently an epic Kaizers gig.  In current panic mode of argh not too many gigs left I decided that I couldn't manage the logistics of Frøya, but that Elverum was totally do-able with just one day-off work, so it became gig 16 of 2013.

So two planes (had to come via Berlin) and one coach later I find myself in Elverum.  Stayed the day after the gig (Treungen also ruled out - too difficult) so had the chance to check the area a bit.  Its a small place with a very relaxed atmosphere.

Anyway enough travel updates... the venue was on an island in the middle of the river - accessed through the Forestry Museum.  Kaizers in a wood, on an island with about 3000 people in beautiful warm weather :) Its a winner!  2nd row as we didn't turn up until after 7.30, but good enough view all the same.  The band seemed relaxed, apart from a bit of jostling the audience were fine.  Helge was awesome!  watering the flowers, phone calls into the megaphone, notebook, bubbles and a candle.  Geir shirt watch - the dark one with the stripes (a personal favourite).  Terje was fanned with a towel by Janove during his solo.  Igor from the Accidental Rockstar was filming and I hope he got great footage because it was a really enjoyable night. Delicatessen, Resistansen, KGB, Maestro :)

So next up is Drammen and we are on the final run down.  There are apparently 12 gigs left (hjelp).  I am apparently at 10 of them (huzzah).  I do not live in Norway (boo) and have 2 trips to Switzerland and one to Poland in the next 6 weeks as well.  I hope no-one expects any sense out of me in August or September at work, because this is going to be tough!

[suzhu1]

Violeta Violeta Volume III Tour Festivalsommer, Tubaloon, Kongsberg Jazz Festival, July 6 2013

Kongsberg seems a nice little town, the atmosphere was great with stages all over the town for the festival, it was super sunny and hot and there was a generally good mood around.

After a bit of stress managed to be in the usual spot :) organisation of entry was not the best...

So - in short, a good mood gig.  Much better set than last week and including Delicatessen which was a nice surprise.  Good audience, all the way to the back of the square, plenty of singing along, bouncing, waving of arms.

Janove had a haircut, and the sides were pretty short.   In my limited understanding I think he said that Geir did it - Garry Scissorhands Kaizer :) but who knows...

Helge was on top form, spending a lot of time on his plastic flowers, watering them (in the helmet) and standing them on top of the pump organ.  Luckily it did not fall off.  He also got the book out and counted and noted in the pause in Svarte Katter.  Can confirm that there is writing in there but not close enough to tell what.

There was a lot of chats between Geir and Jano and after Geir refused to sing along when Jano put the microphone in front of him at a usual point he then checked if there was any sound coming out of G's guitar by bending down to his crotch for a few minutes.  Geir looked bemused and then amused.  My friend has a theory that they don't plug his guitar in all the time - he wasn't actually playing anything whilst this was going on, maybe she's right :)

What else.. there was confetti again and got to throw some as was down the front.  Janove seemed to enjoy it and was asking for more to be thrown at him.

Last point - there should be thousands of amazing professional photos from this gig as the photogarohers were allowed to stay through the entire set!  One even got invited up on the oil barrel (dragged by Janove) to take a picture of the crowd.  They helped him up but they didn't help him back down, he had to jump :)

Small travel and concert break for me now.  Next up Elverum, almost a month away so may have to go into rehab for a while.

[suzhu1]

Violeta Violeta Volume III Tour - Festivalsommer, OverOslo June 21 2013

It rained at OverOslo... i did read the weather warning, but I didn't expect it to rain THAT much :( 

So anyway I got soaked, i saw Wango and Siri Hansen, then gave up on being in the rain on my prime view of stage rock, and went and had a couple of beers in the hope that whilst drinking these the rain might stop, or get lighter.

The rain didn't stop and I had an appointment with an early flight to Tromsø to do a 10k run so i made a sensible decision and left.  Before Kaizers. :(

Apparently it was an awesome gig despite or because of the rain (3 friends in better weather gear stayed).  Ah well.

Still i did my run the next day without pneumonia and this was important.  There are still a few (ahem) Kaizers gigs to go this year (ever).

Meh! Norway Sommer

[suzhu1]

Violeta Violeta Volume III Tour, Jærnåttå, Bryne, May 25 2013

This was not the best gig I've seen.  Small but crowded torget, pissed up audience etc., But I have seen them in Bryne and made the obligatory visit to Kaizersplassen

[suzhu1]

Kaizers in New York - syttende mai

Bonus gig - pretty crammed, good not to miss syttende mai altogether and  solo piano giggage was a good thing. 

[suzhu1]

Violeta Violeta Volume III Tour, U.S.A. baby!

Metropolitan Museum, New York, May 16 2013

I'm a bit late posting these - what can I say... the madness that was a trip to NY to see Kaizers was great!  `Dancing barefoot in front of an oil barrel in a frock is a good thing.

Review - not too much variation from recent gigs for setlist, terrible sound, weird room, overexcited US fans (who can blame them) and generally pretty good fun.

Most stuff that was said or done has already been reported, but I swear that when Jano was chatting to Geir he asked how his manhood was...?  Maybe I was just hearing things hahaha. 

I may add to this review if I remember anything relevant :)

[suzhu1]

Volume III Tour, Koko, London, April 25 2013.  The first, and last Kaizers gig in London.  This was a bit of a logistical nightmare for me as a friend decided to get married on the very same day.  However South West Trains did not let me down and the two events were combine into a pretty big day!  Going abroad to your home country for a gig is a new and never to be repeated Kaizers concept too.

After the wedding (and 2 champagnes and about half a bottle of white wine) I arrived to meet all the gang at the pub outside the tube station around 6 in the evening, quite drunk, wearing a dress and high heels.  This is not an optimal concert outfit.  Scan room for friends, don't spot them but do lock eyes with Janove.  How many times am I going to see him before he starts greeting me like an old friend?  Was slightly embarrassed, however I hope he finds it funny.  Anyway was saved by screams from table right next to him where all the rest of my friends were hanging out.  Cue lots of 'long time no sees' for the UK based crowd we convinced to come long and lots of 'short time no sees' to several others :)  Had another glass of wine, because, well, I was already pissed and may as well keep topping up. 

Now, given the HUGE amount of travelling Norwegians and the late arrival and everything, we did not queue at all.  The floor was already pretty much 3/4 full, so view would have been atrocius from down there.  In fact went into the venue well after doors opening.  This is not like me.  Decided for ariel view, and after checking out a right hand side balcony eventually opted for front row of main balcony with full face on view of stage.  Had another drink... had to do something whilst the Scottish woman made noise.  The support was not my thang.

And then on came Helge, and everything was a big drunkety wonderful noisy mess from there on in.  It was loud, there was MUCH singing.  Hardly any Norsk was spoken but Jano did tell us he loved us a LOT of times hahaha (he had been drinking too).  The pre arranged confetti spreading in Forlovern was actually great - looked amazing from above!  Long set list, not too dramatic in changes from other gigs this tour but Die Polizei to finish was a very very wise choice.  Can't give many more details - was singing, flinging arms around and generally really, really enjoying myself.  Ok, I would have loved to have been in the front row, but hell we rocked the balcony :)  

Final note - Geir shirt watch.  What colour was it?  Pink, blue, lilac, chocolate milkshake??? I have many photos and still can't make the call.  Still it wasn't yellow and that's what counts :)

Next up.... New York baby!