Every now and then in life there comes a moment that makes you go just when I thought I had seen it all, save for the Tibetan monks who spend their entire lives living on mount Everest and probably never ever feel the need to explore any of the endeavors a common metalhead goes through... just for the sheer fun of it. Anyway, on with whatever it is that I was trying to write...
The Eurovision Song Contest is a subject I've repeatedly written about in the past, expressing my obvious dislike (as obvious as a bald guy's head shining in a crowd full of long-haired metalheads...) concerning the quality, the standards of this specific song contest. How seriously should one be taking a contest that features countries - mainly - represented by untalented, crappy, uninspired, cheesy Pop acts that differ almost not at all from the average crapola originating from the superbly stupid reality shows? Thus, of course, emerges the undying question of whether this planet's taste in music (by majority and not entirety) is as bad as blue cheese gone rotten (I wonder if blue cheese can get any more rotten anyway) or if it's just a plain matter of to each his own. If at least you're going to be represented by a Pop act, let it be a good Pop act, damnit!
On rather rare occasions, wonders do occur, even at the Eurovision Song Contest. Last year it was Norway's Wig Wam who despite their revived Glam Rock style, managed to make it to the finals, among the hordes of Pop artists (hey, Wig Wam may wear lipstick but at least their music kicks ass). This year, well, let's just say that all the countries, apart from Finland, were shocked! Why? Because Lordi aren't your ordinary Finns. They're a Heavy Metal_Hard Rock act, dressed in monster costumes (just like Gwar) and if that's not already enough for you to set your imagination in motion (I mean those of you who don't know who Lordi are), then let me just say that up until tonight I thought that I had seen it all...
The band's already been in Greece for several days and tonight's warm-up gig was a Press Only kind of show, the kind of gig where a band showcases for TV channels, radio stations, print magazines, online magazines, record label representatives etc. I was more than excited to be given the opportunity to watch this band perform live before it's time for the Eurovision Song Contest semi finals (which will take place in Athens, this Thursday, May 18), mostly because I always felt their music rocks, as well as their costumes.
A bit after 9 pm, Lordi hit the stage and I'm stunned by their looks! I'd seen them in photos and whatever videos they've put out and always thought that their costumes were horrifyingly awesome but to see them standing, singing just a meter away from me was unreal! How do these lads manage to breathe and perform with all that stuff on them? Impressed!!! They're like a horror movie musical! THE perfect horror movie musical! The sound was pretty good too, despite the minor microphone issue in the beginning (which didn't seem to bug Mr. Lordi not even for a second - what a pro!), probably one of the best sound qualities I've ever heard at the Underworld Club (not saying that the sound's usually shitty there, just not this awesome, not always at least).
Lordi combine somewhat theatricals that remind you of Alice Cooper and a crossover of Kiss & Gwar when it comes to their costumes. Combine that with their Hard Rock_Heavy Metal music a la Kiss-meets-Accept-meets-Twisted Sister and there you go... you get journalists staring in awe. The set didn't last longer than 6 songs (unfortunately for us) but it definitely posed what hard rockers_metalheads living in Europe should do in just a couple of days from now. And that's none other than vote for Lordi!
Lordi warm-up setlist:
01. Would You Love A Monsterman
02. The Devil Is A Looser
03. Blood Red Sandman
04. It Snows In Hell
05. My Heaven Is Your Hell
06. Hard Rock Hallelujah
So, what if fanatic Christians protest yelling Lordi are devil worshipers? What if - again - this year's winner at the Eurovision Song Contest is going to be yet another untalented apricot with boobs (or a shiny smile) whose idea of good music doesn't expand beyond the phrase of shake that booty? One thing is for sure. Rock n' Roll will never die. Hallelujah!
P.S. Special thanks to: Eleni, Manos, Nikos and the duet from hell... Sakis & Dimitris!
