Europe gig no.18 - July 12th 2012 - Langesund, Norway

Authors note 2016: As I am uploading this post to the blog, I can't help but notice the lack of proof-reading in my posts. I am now studying English Grammar, and it sometimes hurt to read what I've written. However; the idea of my posts are to write as colloquial as possible, to convey how I would speak. So once again, I'm not going to edit too much before posting it to the blog. So, here we go:

Some ramblings about my 18th Europeconcert.
If you're not a Europefan, then some things in this note will seem weird to you, like mentioning of song- and albumtitles, bandmember names etc etc. But it's a way for me to write down my experiences from my various concerts. So please, refrain from teasing.

It was a partly rainy day. The weather was shifting between cloudy, bits of sun, and rain. I had packed two suitcases, in order to go abroad the next day. One with everything I needed for the Europeconcert, and another with a week's worth of clothing for my trip to Germany.

I took my car to Asker, where I picked up Torild who'd come from Oslo. Then we headed to Thomas' place, where I placed my car. We took his roomy, spacious car, the three of us. The rain was pouring down outside at this point.

We picked up our last passenger in Drammen, that's nearly my hometown, and then our road trip could begin. The last passenger, Ina, is a friend of mine from outside the fan fold. This was her very first Europe concert, I was so happy for her.

The first album we listened to in the car was...Bag of Bones. Later we changed to Out of this world. It was a smooth 1.5 hour ride down to Langesund. The nature in Telemark (the county where Langesund is) is very beautiful. Looks a bit wild, lots of trees, hills, and blue-blue fjords/lakes. Langesund was a calm phate concert (edit 2016: I have no idea what I meant by calm phate...).

We were there pretty early in order to catch the soundcheck. Wrightegaarden is a concert/restaurant-establishment, it was a nice, old sort of classy two-storey house with a terrace providing a view to the venue, which was in a sort of open yard. It was enclosed so you couldn't enter without tickets, but it was still very open to the skies. At this terrace I saw another Europefan-friend of mine, Karoline, she'd gotten to know a nice fellow, Michael from Austria, who was also there for the concert. So me and my friends sat down there as well, to wait for a possible soundcheck.

At this point it was partly clouded, partly sunny. I had bought a cool t-shirt for the occasion: I'd found a top who was partly open in the back so my tattooed E was visible, and on the front there was the shape of a skull, made out of lots of skulls; my own Bag of Bones-t-shirt.

We sat chatting, looking down upon the band crew walking across the open yard to the sound-booth, back into the back of the stage, and sometimes up on stage. They played a bit themselves on our bands instruments, so I was for a bit worried that the band itself wouldn't do any soundcheck. But then the band members appeared in the yard (remember: we had perfect view to all of this), talking to the sound crew, going up on stage to play a bit on their instruments and so on.

Then the restaurant people told us that the band wanted a closed soundcheck, so we had to go inside the restaurant... we still had a perfect view (through dirty windows), and the sound was really good as well, when the band got up on stage and played through Riches to Rags and Superstitious. I filmed my friends during both, where we would mime the song and lyrics on both songs. I won't share those videos, mostly because I look really retarded in both of them.

After the soundcheck I decided to check the rest of the house to locate a bathroom. I went throught the restaurant (or actually, it was more like café/bar/catering-place) to look for it. On my way there I found a piano! Karoline was with me, so I just HAD to boast to her about my abilities to play Europesongs on the piano. (I didn't boast, I just asked that she waited while I played a bit for her). So I played Carrie, Tomorrow, bit of Coast to Coast and The final countdown. During one of the songs (I kept missing at some of the keys because I had to stand while playing, and I was unfamiliar with the piano) I saw in a flash that Ian was walking by. I stopped playing, and said the first thing that came to mind "I'm sorry for playing your songs!" (In english)... He said that was fine, he was just looking for some food. So apparently they were eating in that building. Ooops. I'm kinda thrilled, to have played some Europe stuff on the piano in earshot of a band member... not really sure if he was listening at all, or noticing...If I ever get that opportunity again, I'll continue playing, and play BETTER. That means more practise, I guess.

When I got back to the friends around the table, some of them were talking to Ian. So I wanted to say properly hi as well, and then I got to show him my tattoo (open back, you know)... then he showed me his-  He had some photos with some norwegian fans I did not yet know, so I asked for one with him as well, was very hard to resist. i know I already have some pics with him... it's just... cooool, you know.

Then we went outside to stand in queue in order to get to the front row... No problem at all.. but while we stood there (approx. 15 people), I talked to a few people, among others Valeria... She said her name, didn't ring a bell to me, then I said my name, and she says "oh, you're on my facebook!", and at once I remembered her last name  Was very nice to meet her, she's so sweet. I also chatted with the other norwegian fans I didn't know before that day, and one of the girls said she recognized me from Skien a couple of years ago (Europe played there... it was only 30 minutes from Langesund), she said we had talked then, which I couldn't remember, and that she recognized my tattoo. She also said that my tattoo had inspired her to get one, then showed me the E on her arm. That was the "new" E, the one with the ring around it. And she'd also written in small letters "no stone unturned" across it. It was soooo nice. There were also some people from Poland. They opened and let people enter, and then I got my first surprise: MERCHANDISE!! Tord the merch-man told me a couple of years ago that it's so hard with customs in Norway, so it's hardly worth bringing merch to Norway from Sweden. But this time they had  I bought the over-the-shoulder-bag, and I simply LOVE it. The didn't bring Tord, though. There was a local man there instead. But I got my goods :)

I stationed myself front center, while my friends that I had traveled with took places elsewhere (but of course in the front), according to their preferences. Then we waited. I was beside Valeria, so I chatted more with her. Michael from Austria was so gentle as to hold on to my space while I was away for a little while... Wonderful fans, really. The outdoor venue filled up real slowly. Norwegians are a slow breed  But it looked quite filled up when the boys finally hit the stage

Not very long before the concert started, Guesswhoo showed up just behind me. I had been looking for her during the entire day. She was soo sweet. Calm, which matched my energy buzz real nice. I hadn't seen Europe live since Tromsø in September, so I think my excitement was pouring over. But I didn't get any complaints or nasty looks...

I was so blasted away by the concert. I had deliberately tried not to catch any setlist spoilers from the BoB-tour, cause I wanted to be caught by surprise. So when Stein sent me the setlist on an SMS a week before the concert, I just deleted it  The Bag of Bones-songs were awesome, and I have no doubt that when they're filling the shows with more BoB-songs in the fall, they will do so with as much success as they did in this concert. They blasted the audience away with Riches to Rags, then Firebox... then came Superstitious, and then Demon Head... I was IN AWE!!

The two front rows filled with fans, I could almost feel their joy, like mine. But there was a few fans also in the front row who didn't sing along to either BoB, LLAE or SS-songs... they had travelled all the way from Poland just for older songs, apparently. I was fascinated... But, at one point really annoyed.. Joey tossed me his plectrum (ok, it could have been aimed at anyone, but I had it in my grasp for some milliseconds before it slipped, and it fell to the ground). That's when the polish chick almost threw herself over the fence in order to pick it up, as Guesswhoo-mentioned... I got a bit irritated, both because that plectrum could have been mine, and because she acted so maniacly...

About the setlist.. It was almost perfect... Save for one thing: SFTD... The story is that... I was at the very first Europeconcert after the reunion. It took place in Norway on June 11th 2004, and Europe played there, for the very first time, Start from the Dark.... Since then, they've played it every single concert I've been to, except for this, my 18th concert... So in hindsight, I'm dissapointed for that... especially since I re-discovered the greatness of this song a couple of months ago.... I suddenly started listening more intently to the guitar-riff of the verse, and then I was really looking forward to digging it live again.

I was so happy with this concert, I managed to catch Mic's eye during the concert, and he waved at me, apparently recognizing me from earlier. John L did that too, I think, but I'm never sure, cause he smiles and looks at everyone in turn, or so it seems.

As always during a Europe concert, I was smiling like a maniac, jumping up and down, throwing my fist in the air at the right moments in beat with the music, and laughing/giggling when something funny occured. I was also screaming quite a bit, hope I wasn't too loud, it's a habit I'm trying to break. It's just hard to be cool and composed during such moments, where everything fits together. I was forming my fingers in the shape of a heart for John N to see, but he never saw it, so I was aiming my heart to JL, then JT... I guess that was me seeking attention, but I didn't get it. I'll try to avoid that in the future as well.. I do wanna appear as a 26 year old, instead of a 17 year old..

I managed to catch a JL plectrum from one of the guards after the show, and Karoline caught a JN-plectrum for me, my very first! I was sooo happy.

And so infuriated with myself a week later, when I had lost my JL-pic, and then the day after, I had decided to put the JN-pic in my wallet for safekeeping.. but now my wallet is stolen... Guess who's mad at herself atm!!

The total experience of the show was just fantastic  The trip was great, the place was great, the crowd (where I stood at least) was great (no pushing at all where I stood), the band were on top form, the weather was nice, and the setlist was awesome

And the perfect ending? Seeing Mic in the hotel. Where, as I can recall, he approached me, not the other way around. He came from behind me, saying "Hey Tone-Iren, long time no see!" (But in swedish, so worded a bit different)

I chose this hotel because I'm a member of Choice Club hotels, and they had offered me half price of a room in one of their hotels this summer. The offer came in my e-mail inbox just after the concert was announced in April  So it was lucky then, that that's where some band members where staying as well

Now I'm ready for a Norway/Sweden-Tour  I'll try to be the best fan advertiser anyone has ever seen

Europe gig no.17 - September 3rd 2011 - Tromsø, Norway

Editors note 2016: Looking back at this review, I can't play my young age anymore. This was the year I turned 26, I was what you call a grown woman, with a mature job while studying on the side. I read this review again in 2016, and think to myself: what a giddy lil' girl! 

Ok, here I go again with my concert story.. I've planned abit... and as usual, I'm colouring it with travel and enviroment details. I'm a scatterbrain, so have patience.

When I first learned that Europe were coming to Tromsø it took me maybe 5 hours from hearing the news, to having ordered the plane tickets. I lived and studied in Tromsø for 3 years, left in 2008. I LOVE Tromsø. It's a little Island in the north of Norway, in the middle of the sea. The sea is surrounded by mainland and another island, plus plenty of mountains. The mountains are gorgeous, I will upload pictures of them later.

I stayed at a friend's place, and I was all rested and relaxed going out into the sunlit day. My friend recently moved to where he now lives, and I have not been there very much, but when he left me to find the way to the city by myself, it was no problem at all. I really felt at home here. So I strolled down to the city. Europe to play in my own home town (one of 3-4 cities I like to call home), I of course had high expectations.

I met up with Stein-Vidar in town. I'm a total music geek. When I was 14 or 15 (98 or 99) I discovered 'The Final Countdown', and this wonderful band that played the 'Final Countdown'. About the same time the internet came into our home. And I searched (I don't think I knew the word Google back then) for trivia. And found Stein-Vidars website. I signed the guestbook and soon he wrote an email back to me. Later I bought some VHS's (!!!) from him with lots of Europe stuff, and thus I discovered my fascination for the 80s. Not just the song, not just the band, but the shows and the clothes and the hair and the works

I got around to talking to Stein-Vidar on the telephone, and I remember hearing him play 'The final countdown' for me on his keyboard over the phone. Ever since I've wanted to see him play that thing live. So that was my background for dragging him into the music store. To Geek with someone who understands.

And then I flashed him a bit of 'Carrie' and 'Tomorrow'-introes :P

Ok, so on with the story. We took to the road to the arena, using Google Maps (if anyone had told us this in 98, that we would be using our phones to get to a place, I'm not sure I could have pictured it).

I kept stopping to take pictures of the mountains. I LOVE mountains. I know it's the same mountains, they were there when I moved, and they haven't changed, but ooooh. And I just though: "MY band is coming to see my town, my mountains!!"

We got there in the end, after 15-20 minutes walk, mostly uphill. The festival arena was magnificent. Some of you may have seen a pic I posted from the arena, showing the "Tromsdalstinden" (Mountain) FROM the festival site...It was just perfect.

We got there early, Sat in the sun, had a hot dog, and sodas with wasps (I didn't know they were playing :P :P ) No seriously, three wasps chasing after you synchronically; you know the weather is okay. We got rid of them (and the sodas) in the end.

Northern Norway is known for it's nature, it's hospitality and reindeer. So believe me when I tell you what we could buy from the food stands on the arena: Reindeer kebab, hamburger, fishburger, bidos, chips and whale burger. I've got pics to prove it. Yes, at a festival kiosk :P

So, after sitting and enjoying our hot dogs in the sun getting a tan while southern Norway was flushed with rain, we saw the band Vamp. I really liked them. I like when people use lots of instruments live, and folk-inspired music is also pretty close to my heart. I also met a girl I used to go to school with, I knew she was there. I was so excited for her to see Europe. There's no one I know who doesn't know I'm a Europe fan. So I'm always excited to show them "my band". You all probably know the feeling.

>>>>I bet this next part was about Chris Medina, who played between Vamp and Europe. It was probably about teenagers that were there JUST for one song, and that they were just chatting when not singing along to the one song they knew the lyrics to. I must have hit backspace some time the past 5 years, so I wouldn't know.... And then...


The teenage girls moved, some of the boys stayed behind. I instructed them that whenever there was a song they didn't know, would they please NOT start to chatter among themselves? "Thus sounds your first rock concert lesson!" And I had NO problems with them the entire gig. Was really cool to be surrounded by them (that meant the beer-drinkers wouldn't drown us first-rowers, we had a barrier!)


Oh, by the way, let me go back to describe the venue.. It was ALL white. Covered with plastic "floor". It was like a big hangar. The bigger stage was HUGE, with screens on both of the sides so all could watch. Two men with camera (one on and one off stage) were filming the band and the fans so the back crowd could see what happened up front. Professional! The gig was also sent live on the festival Døgnvill's webpage.

Above the venue, further up the hill there was lots of trees (Not exactly forrest, more forrest-y), and there sat some free passengers enjoying the music, but I don't think they could see the stage.

Ok.. The concert was good  It wasn't the best concert I have ever attended, but let me point out a few very positive things. The band were on form. There was some fuxx-ups. I never noticed Ian doing anyone (as he described in his page), but Mic's solo was VERY long, maybe that was it... Joey started the wrong lines a couple of times (Not the first time that happens, probably not the last), and John broke a string (hey, even I noticed this, and i'm not as clear-headed during a gig as Stein-Vidar.) This time I had borrowed an actual digital camera (filming with a mobile camera is okay, as long as there's no guitar or bass), so I was recording some of it, and the sound was really good on that camera, now I have a REALLY decent shoot of No Stone Unturned.

I was jumping a lot, and screaming a lot, and I actually yelled like a moron before Doghouse. Introduced the song before Joey, not my very finest moment, he didn't notice and moved on (ugh, I'm so sorry, Joey, I'm gonna behave next time)

I was bouncing, dancing, singing, trying to shut up, and waving up at the band. Big attention wh*re sometimes, yes I know. I'm a sucker for smiles  Joey smiled down at Stein-Vidar for a LONG time, I was so jealous (  ). Stein and Vinjar thought he smiled at both of us, but I don't know. John L saw me, pointed towards me and gave me a recognizing smile, but I don't know if that was ironic or what. But I was happy  I/We got a flashy long smile from John Norum, too

No stone Unturned... I almost cried. It's weird, they play it as they always do, but some time during a gig, your emotions just gets you all choked up, and you're in a very special happyland with almost-tears and a big lump in your throat, feeling like you're the luckiest person alive. It's a rare gift being so dedicated like we all are.

The audience was AMAZING. Ok, so I had 1,5 beer showers (one during Seventh Sign, I think the high pace was too much for the beer-drinkers, they just HAD to dance with their cups in their hands), but I was happy either way, didn't get a lot of it, because the barrier of teenagers. Also, I had a very good hair day!


I really wanted to meet the guys when they were in Tromsø. As it happens, I didn't.
I know, I'm a spoiled brat for being dissappointed, but it's my town... I spent 3 years hoping Europe would come there when I lived there. I wanted to just say hi.

Yeah, so, the audience was great. Made so much noise, I almost thought I wasn't going to hear the first notes of Final Countdown!

But before that... Well, the camera men was filming a lot. And they came to me, once, and Vinjar and Stein both said instantly after he had filmed me that "you were up on the big screen!" Torild told me afterwards she had noticed too (and she wasn't my side of the stage.

The show ended, and I just realized I had been so totally lost in the concert all the time, it's so magical when that happens. When you stop analyzing, stop noticing everyone around you, and just LIVE in the music.


Today I was in my old school (University Faculty), and I met a lot of people that used to go there with me. They're still going. I met someone from my class, and he said "Hey, I saw you on the  big festival screen on saturday". He didn't even know I was coming. "Bet you were surprised?" I said... "Not really", was his reply :P Apparently I'd been filmed more times than that one time. Well, I guess that's the best way of announcing your presence to people you haven't seen in 3 years

I met another one of my former class mates, and he asked "So, what number Europe concert was this for you?" "17", I said "11th gig in Norway". And he was like "did you hear that?" To the guys next to him. But then I told him I'd met a fan who had seen them around 50 times, I wasn't surprised at all to see her here. Later I read the local newspaper, and saw a picture of her, Franscesca, being interviewed. It wasn't her 50th concert... It was her 78th!

Well done to the local news papers for finding that out. The reviews from both the local news papers was the standard crap. They both had "poodle" in their head lines, gave the concert a 3 and a 4 (out of 6), in the usual manner. You bet the review had been written BEFORE Europe got on stage. I don't cringe at the thought of Europe getting 3 or 4 out of 6. Not when it's done by PROFESSIONAL journalists who actually have done some research. How I know they hadn't? Well, it said "new songs" not "Last look at Eden"-material, and the only songs known to the journalists were "TFC, RTN and Carrie"

But all in all... It was a great experience. Minus that dissapointment for not getting to meet my heroes in a grown-up manner, smiling all over my face telling them: Welcome to Tromsø, I hope you take a tour around this Island, it's BEAUTIFUL! This and this is were the good clubs are.

As opposed to being all giddy when I meet them. I don't want to be giddy, I wanna be GROWN-UP

Editors notes again: Yep. Really grown-up...

The picture is of me and Vinjar at the festival area, view Tromsdalstinden in the background.

Europe gig no. 14 - July 28th 2010 - Karlskoga, Sweden,

As usual, I need to write down my memories from my latest gig. Don't think I've done this 14 times, but it's a close thing...

So, yeah. My 14th gig. 3rd gig in Sweden. almost 2 month between this gig and the last one I went to...
Stayed at Karin's parent's place. Nice red and white house (!). A Volvo (!) brought me there. tTomas was behind the steering wheel. Nice going to a gig together with some good old fans again.
We walked into Karlskoga and then there was a bit of a walk up to the biggest stages, but that was indeed a very nice area. Huge alcohol-serving area, very visible Merchandise-stands, a HUGE stage (really tall!), and one a bit smaller. It was in a clearing, could almost call it a Meadow, in what could've been a forrest (too few trees to call it a forrest, but the impression was there still) So, Location Approved :)

We didn't get there until around 8-ish o'clock, About just in time to check out the merchandise (Or, check out Tord starting to put up some merchandise) and have something to eat before The Ark hit the main stage. Their intro was something else! I LOVE the sound of fancy french horns, so that intro was very mesmerizing to me. The band kept pumping out one catching tune after the other (though some reminded me a bit of swedish dance-band-music), and the visuals was ok too.

When it got near the end of their set, I moved from the bar area to go and see if I could get a front row spot. And what do you know... The crowd just dissapeared after The Arks final final number (cause they had a LOT of encore songs). Then they reappered in front of the smaller stage, to watch the band there (ugh). Oh, but not before I'd heard the chorus for "The white stripes" a couple of times first...more about that later

With two hours to wait, I found some fans to talk to (only one I knew was coming, in fact, apart from the people I was there with. I ended up to the right of the stage, can't remember last time that happened.

2 hours later:Last look at Eden - how amazingly clear sound!!! It was a LONG time since the last time I've had THAT clear sound. But that could of course be all because of my own hearing as well, I have no idea. Anyway. The sound was good :) I'd been worried that I wouldn't see the band members due to the 2.5m tall stage, but I could see them all. Even Ian, though he didn't get my undivided attention before this jaunty tune interrupted the nice and rocking feeling

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoHECVnQC7A

Ian was crashing his drums in beat to the music, so after the first fanfare I had a bit of a problem hearing the actual melody.. But it was nice and spectacular :)

Where was I.. Oh, yeah. I saw all band members. The sound was clear. But let me tell you, this was a bit of hard audience in a way I've never seen before. If the band waited to long between the songs, they would start, almost synchronized, to hum this tune

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j7huh5Egew

The break in Superstitious was a bit of a nightmare for me, if I'm to exaggerate a little bit. with the ongoing oooo-ohohoh-ooooo, it was kind of hard for Joey to skip into the well-known No Woman, No Cry routine. It was the same during Rock the night...

Only time I can remember they managed to shut up was during Mic's Keyboard solo introduction to No Stone Unturned. That is one helluva MAGIC song! Shivers up and down my spine :)

I'm not going about the songs in the right order, just mentioning the songs worth mentioning, with memories attached.
New love in town was a real pleasure as well. All people around me where around the age of 15-25, and I was so pleased to see the young ones singing along to New Love in Town, with passion and sparkling eyes.

Of course, this gig as well as a couple of others I've been too had a couple of as-o-holic crowd members. When I saw the HORDE of teens in the Ark-crowd, and realized they were coming back to watch Europe, I thought to myself "Now I'll finally see who's worse, teens or drunk people"... I guess you know the answer already... drunk teens! Drunk TALL teen boys with waving arms, staggering into people in the row in front of them. And they didn't even understand why my eyes were looking so furiously at them.. anyway, after a while one of them was pushed down by another, the security went in and fetched the worst ones, and the rest of the gig was kind of peaceful.

Hmm.. The songs, the crowd, the fans... what next... oh, THE BAND :) They all looked good. Joey looked relaxed and cool, John was lost in a world on his own, not really interacting too much with the crowd, John Levén came to see us at the right side a couple of times. There wasn't all that much interaction with the crowd, due to the ridiculously tall stage and the front row barriers too close to that stage, But we manage to see them alright (as I might have mentioned :p ) They all played well, and looked happy.

I had a moment of pure joy after The final countdown ended. I'd been shouting my lungs of for Ian to throw me one (...of his sticks), and that's probably why I got Norums attention. I think he recognized me OR the girl next to me, and waved down, put on a big hearty smile and blew a kiss towards us/me/her. It sent me straight up to cloud nine :)

That's where I am today, and plan to stay for a while. Now I'm having a 7 months gigbreak. Then I'll see them hopefully a couple of times on the UK tour. This was my 5th concert since December 26th, so I can actually breathe out and enjoy other things now for a while.

Hopefully they'll change the set around for the next UK tour, bring something new and fresh into the set ( :arrow: or old and refreshed)... I'm happy I decided to go to Karlskoga

Europe gig no. 11 - December 28th 2009 - Hovet, Stockholm

4 hours + 6 hours + 7.5 hours with bus... It was soo worth it, going to Göteborg and then Stockholm to see Europe and meeting friends. I wanna share my experience of Hovet 28/12/09

People ask me if I don't get tired of seeing Europe live? It's the same songs, isn't it? And to that last question, I guess they're right. I've heard the songs before, and most of them live as well.. but it hit me last night, with a force stronger than before, that even in a big hall like Hovet, I'm basically with my friends at the disco that plays my favorite music. Even if my friends aren't there in the front line, I get some new ones along the way. Yesterday I even found a soul mate for the night.

If I could have documented my impressions on video rather than writing them here, this is what I'd show you:

5 p.m, outside Hovet: A group of girls, one or two with a blanket, that they take turns with. They've been there since 10. "Yes of course we've eaten, we go in shifts!" In the front of the line is a few boys in their late teens, with their rocking outfits, big hair, girlfriends to match, singing along with one of their cellphones. "I woke up this morning, leaving on my mind", sings a boy. It's almost an involuntary reaction when I respond "And I said to myself, I ain't gonna waste more time, noo" 

"YES!" the boys punches his fist in the air. 

6 pm: There's two queues in front of the two entrances, and people are warming up towards new people, introducing themselves, recognizing each other from forums and facebook. There are maybe 20 people singing along to Flames (whose timing is quite difficult toward the end with the breaks between "Flaaaaames" and the cymbal-crash) 

6.30: The doors open, after guards explaining the rules: "Don't run, or guys in Yellow/Red/Orange T-shirts will pick you up and put you in quarantine" So people hurry as much as they can without running to get to the front line, where our preferances in band members decides who we end up next to (...it's my 11th gig, I know this to be true) And I end up between two girls I don't know. Yet

Support act has some good songs, but dull musicians, and the special guests has good musicians but dull songs. 

Then there's a band called Europe coming onstage. A teenage boy behind me try to pry his way between me and the girl to my left by putting his hand on the fence. He doesn't succeed. We're lioness...es when it comes to defending our right to  keeping comfortable by the front. 

And so the rock disco experience is on. I dance mostly with a guy standing 10 meters from were I am, at the other side of the protrusion of the stage. He sings and headbangs and throws his fist in the air while looking at me, and I sing and headbang and throw myself around while looking at him. It's like two twin souls meet. 

I think my soul might be a quadruplet. I have met a few twin souls in my life. But it never gets boring. So when Joey (that's the singer, the front man of the band ) slowly and tenderly gives his guitar pic to this guy after Carrie, I feel that guy's joy like it's my own. The explanation is simple: I recognize in his face the same frenzied admiration for the band and the songs that I can feel on my own face. It's probably not as strong on my face now as it was when I was this boys age (he's a bit younger than me, it seems), but it's definitely the same spark.

John Levén is to my front left pointing his bass guitar to people and putting his hand behind his ears as to say "I can't hear you, are you enjoying this?".... About that pointing his guitar thing. It's such a cool thing to do. But you know about what they say about guitars just being a extension of a guy's "goods"? well, imagine my giggles when he came out on the protrusion and share his bass guitar for people to touch. I couldn't help myself but giggle a little.

I'm not going to share the less good things about the gig. A girl screaming Joey's name like her life was depending on it, or people not understanding that a fist UP in the air won't do any harm, but a fist FORWARD in a crowd is less smart.

You know how you can loose your friends out of sight in a big crowded venue after a gig? Well, I kept loosing people I knew, but other people I knew kept appearing in my sight. It was like I belonged there. People I had never met, people I'd only just met, and people I hadn't seen in a year or 3.. well, they were totally equal to me, like one big happy family. 


To quote Joey: see you all soon, take care!

Europe gig no.8 - October 4th 2008 - Kopervik

Kopervik is situated at the island Karmøy, outside Haugesund, a small and not very pretty town... 
It's at the east-west-coast of Norway, and the weather there in fall is NOT NICE... It was raining sideways, as the regular bus took both citizens of Karmøy and other attendants to Oktoberrock to the destination of the concert. I met Atle Miguel there (at the bus, yes), and some friends of him. I had gotten to the island with plane, this time together with Nemi. 

After a long and winding journey with the bus, we had to get out into the rain and the wind, without any umbrellas... or some had them, and some didn't, but there wasn't enough for everyone to be comfy. I had already managed to make a huge hole in my wannabe-converse shoes, so I tried avoiding the water. 

So, we lined up in the cue outside the big circus tent that was the concert arena, in the end people with umbrellas started to cooperate and raise their umbrellas up and over, so that those without could breathe a bit more easily, and dryly for a moment.

So, we found our way to the front row, as usual. I was standing near Nemi, and Atle was a a few spots away. It was 7.30, and there was a local (?) guy playing acoustic guitar and singing. And you know what? His fans was already drunk...way to go, people. Kept yelling "Summer of 69" real loud. RUDE! 

anyway. First band, Ingenting (means Nothing in Norwegian) were pretty good, but I kept looking around me, to avoid the elbows of the hardcore-fan of Ingenting, a guy in his 20s, with a beer in each hand (and yep, he spilled half, jumping up and down, but managed to get more and more drunk anyway) 
Hardcore fans are nice... but not when they're loaded with beer, and armed (sorry for the pun) with fists and elbows.... 

So there was a bit of a yelling fight there, part to him, and part to the guard that just STOOD there...

forgot to write that inside the circus tent it started raining, too...a flap in the ceiling flew some way away, and the cold and wet audience had to get even colder and wetter. 


Nazareth arrived, and the crowd got crowdier. (I'm sorry, I've had 3 hours sleep for the last 3 nights, so my english isn't all that good, and the puns come out even when they're not meant to) 

They 

were

awesome! 

I was really loving their guitarist. He looked like... 😅... he was funny looking, but he played soooo good.. and of course on a Gibson. 

The drunk guy finally got so drunk he had to leave ( 😋) and then a new drunk guy took his place, but he wasn't as rude. The rain stopped, and I could enjoy the gig without even have to waste my energy on standing up. I could just place my feet on the ground, and lean back, and the crowd would be there to support me. It as that tight... But the good effects of that is that you don't feel how cold the rain is making you feel... cause when so many people stand together, they lend warmth to one another. 

The fence was really to high up, so I did have to be a bit cautious, so that my mouth wouldn't smash into it and break all the teeth. 

Then Nazareth was done (some of the guitar solos where just AWESOME, just had to say that once again), and they started readying the stage for Europe. 

The crowd didn't loose up, so I guess there must have been a fellow understanding of "let's stick together so tight, so that we won't have a cold tomorrow" (yes, I'm joking)... 

EUROPE! 

Set list: same as in Lakselv, but Prisoners in paradise replaced Open your heart. 
Yes, they played Prisoners in Paradise. They've never played that one after the reunion. Until now. It was Joey with an acoustic guitar, so I figured I could try to film Carrie on my camera phone. Cause when there's not too much bass, the sound doesn't get too distorted. And then it wasn't Carrie!

The gig was PERFECT. 

And John Levén standing there with a broken foot, and his jeans with tape all over it (looked a bit like "what-would-Macgyver-do"-thinking 😏

No seriously, he was still funny and charming to look at...He pulled out his leg when Joey was intending to go over to Mic 😋 I really love the energy between the guys on stage! 

Yesterdays news didn't include the Joey/Norum-duet, but I never get tired of hearing it anyway! 

Ian was really energetic, beat his slaves - the fellow band members - further, and making less space between the songs, but that was the thing that separated Europe from the others.. The usual ENERGY !

Mic stood a bit too himself, maybe because the stage was too small??? it did look quite normal sized, but it looked like he was a bit on his own. 

The audience could've been better... the drunks aside, people were kind of... failing to respond to the guys on stage. I would have expected more jumping... but after standing and taking it easy for the two first bands, at last I was jumping and dancing and trying to get my hair bigger again (totally wet and deflated by the previous rain) 

The lighting was brilliant, as usual! 
Sound was very good, too! I love being able to hear the nuances in the music! 

Oh yeah, and on rock the night, Joey sang "from my head, down to my toes"... Well, THAT would've been the perfect moment for John L to put his toes up on the monitor, like he'd been doing a minute before

I briefly met the guys at the hotel. Got to show them my tattoo, in a kind of childish "look-at-me-I-want-your-attention" kind of manner, but lack of social skills aside: they (Joey and John L) did look at it! Yay. And also said I should show it to Ian (who has a similar tattoo, but he wasn't around, so I didn't meet him)

Also, I had signs of recognitions from 4 of the band members.. that was so cool. 

John Norum quote:
"I recognise you!" (as the first thing he said when he saw me) (thankfully it was with a smile, not with a "oh...she again" -tone)
I responded with "oh yeah? from the audience, then?"
"No, we've met before... Was it Rockefeller?"


Mic Michaeli quote:
Tone Irén! (followed by a hug) 

Joey Tempest quote, when I asked if I could have a picture with him:
But you already have one? (Well yes I do, it was taken in 2006, two years before this...)


So I got another picture...

John Levén quote:
Nemi said: "You should write something about his broken leg in the forum"
And then he filled in with: "Yeah, you're the only one in the forum these days!" 
Guess they know who is who.


Thanks guys, you really made my day and night! 
The final countdown ended at around 1.20 a.m, so I guess it was a 1h 50min gig

Europe gig no.7 - July 12th 2008 - Lakselv

Finnmark... the northernmost county in Norway. Homeland of the mosquitos. Fly-sized mosquitos!! And the land of the midnight sun. The mountains stood tall and steady around the valley called Lakselv (meaning Salmon River) 

The people in Finnmark loves a good party, so everyone, from the age of... young ones, to the age of grandmothers and grandfathers were present. Some had travelled far... actually, most had travelled far. All of Northern-Norway, including the counties Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, are stretching a good distance between the cities. Not that you find very large cities in Finnmark. Mostly you'll find reindeer, mountains, large uninhabitated areas, and rivers and lakes and, well.. NATURE. 

I flew from Oslo on friday, to Alta, cause there was no direct route to Lakselv. that took me 1h 50 minutes... then, the next day, I had to fly to Lakselv as well, cause there was no express buses on saturday. (ALL other days, but saturday) So I flew. From Alta airport, an airport with the total number of 3 gates. 

I arrived in Lakselv some15 minutes later, after flying over one of the big, long, but flat-on-top mountains, then tipping down in the valley, circling over the festival area, then arriving at the airport (an airport with the total number of 2 gates!) This was my first trip with one of those tiny planes. 36 seats. Now, I have been known to have a tiny fear of planes. So naturally, I sit near the exits. This time, a stewardess approached me, to ask me if I knew how to open it, in case of emergency? 

I think I would have panicked right then and there, if it wasn't for the three previous nights of very little sleep. So I took it rather calmly. The propels started to rotate right outside my window, and brought me safely, and quite comfortably, to Lakselv. 

After fetching my luggage I headed for the exit, and was met by a biiiig poster saying Midnattsrocken, and Europe, and then the other bands playing there. Next to it stood a reindeer. 

Not a live one, but still a reindeer...  

3 guys picked me up at the airport, one of them a Europefan I've met a couple of months ago, who lives in Troms, where I lived for the last three years. He had brought two buddies, and they were all there just to see Europe. 

I met up with Silje, and she was just as I'd thought she'd be! wicked cool!!! Poor girl, she uttered at least twice "you're mad!" 
And by all means, we are. But I think her first meeting with other Europefans didn't go down too bad  

The hospitality of Finnmark is really warming. At least when you meet the right people. I was looking at the prospect of spending the night at Alta airport (closes at 00.30), but ended up in a really nice room, rented out by a nice lady who PICKED ME UP at the airport, and drove me back! saved me a lot of money for taxi! 

And the people I lived with in Lakselv, they couldn't meet me, cause they were working at the festival, so they just told me where the key was, my bed was made, and I could just come and go as I pleased. THANKS Unicorn. 

I like to think that Unicorn is the reason this ever happened at all. I mean, her boyfriend is the booking manager for the festival. She took him to a Europe gig in 2004, and voila, Europe played in Lakselv!

So, the festival began. I won't mention the other bands, cause I know you're not interested, plus you've probably never heard of any of the others. The important thing was that these other bands and artists, was the reason so many people came. Of course, Europe was the main one. At least that's what I think. 

Me, Silje and Vinjar (the fan from Troms) sat around a table with two of the other friends of Vinjar, and then suddenly, there was Stein-Vidar. I had been unable to reach him on his cellphone all day. The festival area was full of people. Some drunk, some not, some young, some old... all with good mood and high expectations. At least for the 4 hardcore-fans  A 5th fan, my hostess Unicorn, came just when the clock was around 23.15, because then the previous band was finished, and the crowd before the stage had gone to get more to drink, or watch the band at the smaller stage. 

Ok, NOW....after the waiting, the band arrived together, and I the intro-thing was really interesting. I can't remember exactly why, cause I'm so tired  But it was different than my last concert with them. 
Love is not the enemy started and we all started rocking. 
It's amazing how drunk I appeared to be. 
I had had nothing to drink, not alcohol, and very little other beverages. But I yelled, and jumped, and screamed... 
It sounds familiar, doesn't it? 

When I heard the intro to Ready or not, I just went JAAAAAAAA!!! 
I L O V E D it! 
And I think Sign of the times followed afterwards... another JAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! jAAAAHAHAHAHA! and more jumping

The band had a few technical problems during the gig. So Joey's energy was a bit focused on getting the crew and the sound guys to fix things while they were playing. I saw John Norum change guitars 3 times during a song, not looking very happy... but John, you still rocked me to the floor! 

Ian had a little technical problem as well... during one of the songs, me and Silje both noticed one of Ian's sticks flying through the air and land a bit farther of... poor Ian, he continued to pound with the stick he had left, which was a really nice and funny memory, but it must have been a bit of irritation. I don't know how, but suddenly he had both sticks again... 

John Levén looked like he always does. Handsome, paying attention to the public, and in total control of his bass. But at one point, a bottle of water came flying all the way to the stage, landing beside him (plastic bottle)... He looked to where it had come from, looked very sincere, and shook his head... 

I was really irritated about this. 

But you know, the show went on.

I was totally in awe about what Joey did vocally on Yesterdays News... I know John Norum was supposed to be the king of Midnattsrocken, but what Joey sang, for him to follow up on... it was just.. 

WOOOOAAAAAH! 

..... 

You know how Joey always has his sunglasses on during gigs? 
He didn't this time. 
Until around one hour after the gig started. 

why? 

Cause he needed them. The clouds shifted, and the spotlights had competition. Joey went, during one of his breaks, behind the stage, and fetched a camera, to take pictures of the crowd. I hope he got the midnight sun as well! 

Open your heart blew me awaaaaaay!!! It was magic!

The crowd was huge, and like always, drunk retards were present. I don't mean it as bad as it sounds, but I get a bit mad when they scream for The final countdown after 7 songs. I had wisely put in a pair of earplugs, so I could hear the people nearest, the band, and mostly my own voice screaming and singing and laughing like a kid on a swing, every time a new and unexpected song was announced, or when I particularly enjoyed John's solos or Mic's brilliance or Joeys amazing ad-libs

The final countdown started, and as usual, the crowd tightened. I was still in front row (surprisingly little fighting this time, actually), and one of the guards mouthed "you okay?" I just nodded and smiled, and thought to myself "I've done this before, you see, I know what to expect" 


When the gig ended and the pressure lifted, and I started walking towards the exit, I couldn't help being a little dizzy, and off balance. So I guess my body had gotten used to being held up by the pressure of others. Suddenly the support was gone, you know. 
So I walked a little drunkenly toward the never-setting sun, feeling exhausted, but not at all tired (who's tired when the sun is shining, even if it's 2 a.m?) 

This picture is taken well after midnight (Europe started around midnight, and were done around 2 am)