Flash Bang Band @ Suvizza, Espoo

September 29th, 2012

One cold summer day I received an email from this British band called Flash Bang Band who wanted to play some gigs in Finland and needed a local person to help them out. I honestly had no clue about the music scene in Helsinki and around, so the only knowledge I was able to share was contacting some newspapers and blogs. I did though think the story behind their journey was interesting enough to be printed out on paper. I mean how often do you hear British rockers travelling all the way to Finland just to pick up some reindeer meat so that their local Nordic bar would be able to serve their most popular dish? Not to mention that their Finnish punk legend Pelle Miljoona's friends too.

Anyways some weeks later at work one co-worker started talking to me because of my The Doors shirt, and from there we had a long conversation about music. Apparently he played in a band and I happened to mention something about the Brits. One thing lead to another, and suddenly I found myself going to a local pub to see this band. It was as local as local can get. Five minute walk from our house, a place which I would normally never visit, but there I was. Of course being warned first of how crazy the area can be during nights with all the drunks.

Luckily the only crazy thing was the lads' performance. Got to love their musical skills and the DIY attitude! Not too many bands are able to come up with good promotional ideas and actually execute them. Then the shirts... pure love. It's also the first time I've got two shirts from the same band.

All thanks to my Doors shirt.

RIP Converse

Dear Converse,

I've been trying to find the perfect you. That took many years, and ironically I had to fly back to my birth place, The Philippines. It was January 2008. I was strolling down the streets wondering each day, if soon would be my lucky moment. 

And there you suddenly were, right in front of my eyes. The only one left, feeling all alone, perhaps due to being a bit dirty. But I saw the pain the loneliness had caused you, and realized we'd understand each other. So I took you into my life knowing, what my life was lacking of, it didn't anymore.

It was the beginning of a magical partnership. We were so good to one another, we were inseparable; inside/outside, summer/winter. You made me smile and feel good about myself. 

During Bloc Party's gig in February 2009, you got your first proper stain, which made me love you more. However, that's when the alarms went off from my family side. My mother's loathe towards you began, and it just grew from day to day. She insisted you brought shame to our family and banned you from any of our family trips. Also that you could be easily replaced.

What she didn't see (until only in the very end) was the unique companionship celebrated literally all over the world, in what special events. For four years.

Play the following song and scroll through our memories.

Aug-08 Esslingen, Germany

Dec-08 Stockholm, Sweden

May-09 Jyväskylä, Finland

Aug-10 Lappeenranta, Finland

Sep-10 Breda, The Netherlands

Oct-10 Three Land Point, The Netherlands

Oct-10 Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Nov-10 Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Traditional New Year's dive in The Hague was the trip for us. Unfortunately it was a turning point towards worse. As much as we did have fun, it caused trouble to our relationship too. So we decided to take some time out, but never did we think that the break would have lasted that long. 

You can blame me for you being stuck in a water bucket for a few months.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. That's the best way to describe our post-break time.

mother's comment: yahaaa, still alive???

We were better than ever, ready to conquer the world again.

May-11 Dublin, Ireland

May-11 Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Jun-11 Versailles Palace, France

Jun-11 Disneyland Paris, France

The end of summer meant we were off to London, aka the concrete jungle of Europe. The streets were made for you. Although at some point, we came across with the fact of London life being living and dying at the same time. There was so much to do, but also no time to rest. 

Dec-11 London, UK

Jan-12 Liverpool, UK

Jan-12 Brighton, UK

After a snowy three hour walk home a couple of weeks ago, I sensed your suffering and your quiet request of 'putting you out of misery'. 

We thought it would work, but it got worse. The dream of celebrating our 5th anniversary back in The Philippines became distant. Seperation hurts, it's like the end of a circle. There wasn't an easy way to end it in sight. 

 We knew it was the best for both of us, and you'd want me to move on. It will be hard, but I will always carry a piece of you with me.

You just keep walking towards the light, with the lovely looks of yours.

Forever yours,
Jaleh

When I find myself by the sea,

14.1.2012

in another's company, by the sea.

Just seeing the sea yesterday in Brighton I could not help thinking of those lyrics above.


The atmosphere, which the song has is the best way to describe how the atmosphere by the sea in Brighton was. Calm, relaxed..

Play the song again and check out these photos. Then you might know what I mean.

The complete opposite of London, in other words it was nice for once not to be surrounded by stressed, yelling, annoying, miserable people. In Brighton they were actually smiling.

It was a great feeling to just listen to the waves and have the sun shining on your face. The coast reminded me of The Hague in Holland. I guess Brighton is a mix of The Hague, Nice and Verona.

And the shopping street reminded me of Camden. Loads of record stores in a tiny street, from which I got some Bon Iver, Explosions In The Sky and Elliot Smith.

Lovely.

Pics by l.lundberg excl. panorama and pics of her.