Helsinki November 2018 |
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It has been quite a while since I last went to a concert, I had VIP tickets for both Hamburg and London 100% Scooter Wild & Wicked Tour earlier in the year, but have had some problems, including a damaged Achilles Tendon which made walking very painful, and unfortunately due to not being able to walk well I had a nasty fall about 3 weeks before the Hamburg concert, damaging my leg and confidence, so was not able to go to Hamburg, nor, unfortunately, London.
I set myself a target to be able to attend one of the December concerts in Germany in December 2018, and choose Dortmund. I was worried about travelling alone, so my husband agreed to go to Dortmund with me so I could be sure of going, this is also to be his first Scooter concert (although he has seen them in Birmingham at Clubland Live, but thats nothing like a real concert). I worked hard to start walking again, with physio therapy, and to try to build my confidence to start doing things again. Developing a heart problem in March didn't help my with confidence in travelling etc, but I was determined to get the Dortmund. I had also seen the transmission of the performance from the Neversea Festival, and this had made me even more determined to go. I had a great wish to see Oi! performed live, while it might not be the most interlectual track ever it seemed to be a fantastic live track, and I really wanted to experience it, I also thought it would be really good to be in the front row for Oi!, but kind of knew my front row days were over, and I hadn't done it for about 8 years. As I started to feel better it also appeared that there could be changes coming in the band, so for some reason, about a week before the concert I made an impulsive decision to go the the concert in Helsinki, ; I had a feeling that this could be the first concert with a new band member, and I wanted to be there for that, and also I really wanted to go to a concert as soon as I could. I flew Norwegian Air from Gatwick to Helsinki the day before the concert, I felt very nervous about the trip, but more excited about finally going to a concert again. When I arrived in Helsinki it was almost dark and very damp, so I spent the evening in the hotel. I booked a hotel as close to the venue as I could, so it would not be too difficult to get back after the concert.
The next morning I decided to find the hall before going site seeing in the city. I decided to find it the old fashioned way using a map, and walked for about 20 minutes in the wrong direction - fortunalely Google Maps came to my rescue, and after walking back past the hotel I found the venue, which was in fact only 10 mins walk from the hotel. By the time I got back to the hotel after walking for about 45 minutes I didn't feel able to go out sightseeing, as I felt extremely tired. I had been talking to friends who were going to the front row, and the idea kept coming into my mind, but feeling so tired after 45 mins walking I thought it would be impossible, and I was also a bit worried that the base might affect my heart. A short time later I heard from Christiane who asked me to go and meet her at the hall as she didnt know where the hotel was. Its been quite a while since we had met, and it was good to see her again. We had lunch, and then went back to the hotel for a while. Chris then went to the hall while I stayed in the hotel for a while longer. Chris then phoned me and told me to be at the hall by 17:15. I went to the hall and met Chris and some other fans, including Finnish fan Sanna who I had know online for a while and it was good to finally meet in person. The doors opened at 18:00, although there was a delay getting into the actual hall until about 18:45 due to a technical problem of some sort. Chris, Sanna and her friends were going for the front row, so I decided to go with them. I always used to feel happier when I was in the front row next to Chris, as she is very good at keeping her place!
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There were three support acts, three DJs, I didnt know any of them, but I enjoyed them all, especially the second one, so the time went quite quickly. Scooter were due on stage at 22:00. In the minutes before Scooter were due on stage the usual push for the front started in the crowd, but as there were a few of us together we managed to keep our places. While waiting the crowd chanted Oi! instead of the usual Dup Dup Dup, which was a nice change! The moment Scooter came on stage was great as always, I was very tired before thay started, but felt totally revevived when the intro started. Etnik was on stage as the third band member, and during the concert H.P. introduced him. He seemed to fit very well with the band, and was moving about a lot behind his keyboards. I hope he will soon be officially confirmed as a new band member for Chapter 6, I feel he will fit very well with the band, and I am looking forward to hearing the new music with him. A photograph of the set list is below it was a very good live set list, and I finally got to hear Oi! live, from the front row.
I cant say how much I enjoyed the concert - it was like my first concert in 2004 again! Below are some of my photographs from the concert. During the show H.P. chanted the words "Kill the DJ" several times and got the audience to join in - I wonder if this is something to do with the next single?
Chris and I got back to the hotel at about 01:00 after a great evening :) The next morning Chris left quite early to get her bus to the next concert. I decided to do a little sightseeing before going home, so I went into the city centre, and also on the sky wheel before returning to the hotel and going to the airport for my flight home. Walking was quite painful, and I think the walk from the plane to the exit in Gatwick airport was one of my slowest and most painful, but it was worth it and I was very happy! Not only did I go to a concert again, but the front row - something I haven't done for about 8 years and didn't think I would ever do again! I can't wait to go back, and am plannig three concerts during the German tour next month, I have added Hannover and Bremen to my original plan of Dortmund. I haven't done three concerts in a single trip before, but I only hope to stand for one of them. Scooter - I'm Back!!! ... and its good to be back!!!
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