Mexico City

Sunday 26th, afternoon, on a plane from Mexico City to Newark.

What's been going on since the last entry on Saturday morning. Well, we went for a long breakfast at the hotel with Juho and Tuomas. Seriously, we sat there for almost two hours, ate well and even played a game of Scrabble (in English) at which I beat up Juho badly, as usual. Since all three were sort of jet lagged, up early and not a thing to do before the lost gear was due to arrive we decided to head for the old city centre. I had of course earlier already been online trying to figure out where to go in Mexico City to find more rare items for my already vast Black Sabbath vinyl collection. I found a blog about the street market on Avenida Balderas being the best option so I added that location to our itinerary for the day. Both were about 5km away from our hotel but we decided to walk anyway, since we had nothing but time to kill anyway.

So around 11 we step out of the hotel and as usual in Mexico we find two young female fans waiting outside for signatures and photos. We change a few words with them and in the end I tell them that since all other band members are sleeping and probably will be doing so for several hours more you have nothing to do here so you might as well join us for a walk and act as the tour guides as well. They said "Ok, why not. Let's go." So we went. Although after 20 metres the girls asked if we were serious about walking since the area ain't the safest possible. They suggested a subway and who were we to say no. They were even paying. Although I think the subway in Mexico City is terribly cheap, at least by European standards. Well, thank you anyway.

We ended up next to some museum. Nice looking building. Didn't go in though. Instead we decided to go the top of the high rise next to that. View was supposed to be nice. It was, if you like a huge city till horizon. From there we took a walk to the actual old centre with presidential palace and such. We even visited a cathedral. Eventually we found our way to Avenida Balderas as well and lo and behold there were Mexican pressings of Black Sabbath for sale. I spent all my pesos on them and even had to borrow some more from our guides. There was also several Iron Maiden vinyls that I really wanted but couldn't really borrow any more pesos from the poor girl. And of course that being a street market a credit card was definitely not an option. Not even dollars, which was a bit surprising. In the area there was also this huge shopping area that Tuomas dragged us in, but to be honest, it all looked like any terrible tourist trap. Which was sort of strange since we were definitely not in the area where standard tourists are flooding in. Or maybe everything that we think is just stereotypical Mexican crap made for the tourists is actually genuine Mexican crap. We returned again to the centre for lunch. I got myself a beer and the worst ever Pasta Quattro Formaggi. Or whatever Quattro Quesos that was. That was crap. Didn't cost much and I was still disappointed. Almost as disappointed as when I bought the first solo album by Mantas (Venom guitarist) for 9 Finnish markkas = 1,40€. Worst 9FIM I ever spent. I did just write "the first solo album". I seriously hope he never released any more.

It was time to head back to the hotel since Juho being the one who's name is on the Korpiklaani Oy Ltd's ATA Carnet had to be at the airport declaring our gear at the customs. Girls were nice enough to escort us back too. Since it was only part of our crew and Juho picking up the gear, the rest of us were just lazying around in the hotel waiting for a pick up. The girls joined us up in our room (Cane and myself sharing a room). And no, it was nothing like what you'd expect. We were being complete gentlemen aka boring old farts. I was lying on the bed checking my emails and stuff and the girls were borrowing the hotel network and checking theirs or whatever they were doing. Geeks all the way.

Side note: While writing this I have Primordial on my headphones. I've said this many times, I've even said this to Alan Averill himself, but I will say it again. "Empire Falls" is one of the greatest songs ever written and performed. By any band.

Anyway, the gear had finally arrived and the pick up time was approaching so we gathered at the lobby bar for beers and soon were driven to the venue. We had the girls write down their names and put them on the guest list, so they were able to sell their tickets and this way get a little compensation for all their troubles. Or maybe they were just happy to hang around with huge international rock stars and would have done it for free. I just said "it". Eehehheheheheheehe. Eehhe. Eh?

We were actually playing in the smaller venue of Circo Volador. I didn't even know it had a smaller venue. It wasn't that small after all. Quite nice in fact, except that the stage lights were too low. So. Fucking. Hot. The last time there with Arkona the venue wasn't even nearly full so I guess playing in the smaller venue was a good idea. At least it was packed.

The original info that we got about the evening's schedule was that the doors were supposed to open at 20:00, band will start around 21:00 with a strict curfew at 23:00. When we arrived to the venue was it already almost 19. And then we learn that doors were supposed to open at 18:00 and the show was supposed to start at 20:00. Well, we were basically able to do that but then Juho's accordion started acting up. It had the same problem as once before. It wouldn't turn on. It has some sort of safety feature that if the battery cover screws are not tight enough it won't turn on. Tightening them didn't help this time. We were already ready to do a show with Juho playing a standard keyboard. We did a quick one song soundcheck without the accordion. Then the audience was let in. While the others were at the dressing room being annoyed by the wayward accordion Juho was doing something to that. I don't know what. Probably dropping it from the roof. Whatever it was, it worked, the accordion started to work.

After all the hassle we started our show at 20:30. Close enough. We played a really tight set in front of a really enthusiastic audience. It was Mexico, so I wouldn't expect anything less. We played pretty much the same set as we've done now a few times after the album release. Slight changes in the order, like starting with "Tuonelan tuvilla" for the first time ever. It was a good show. Not much talking, just blasting out a song after another so it was a music packed 95 minutes.

After the show I took the first possible ride back to the hotel. Was tired as hell. I know it was a bit rude but at the hotel I just quickly jumped out of the van and into the hotel avoiding the vast crowd of fans standing outside. I knew I was coming back out anyway. After a quick shower I got dressed, popped open a beer and headed down to meet the crowd. Our tour guide chicks had arrived there too to say goodbye since they were going home. After signing lots of pictures of myself and posing for some more, I headed back in and took the girls with me to the hotel restaurant where I just saw Juho and Tuomas enter for a late night dinner since the girls wanted to say goodbye to them as well. The rest started to arrive there too with some beers so we had a nice little dinner with close friends. I was seriously tired so it was an early bed time for me.

Lobby call today was at 10. I got up early and packed my stuff wondering how the hell had I managed to fit all that stuff in the suitcase at home. I guess it was heat expansion. Finland vs. Mexico. Morning was a standard morning until we got to the airport where it all went down to hell from the beginning. First the customs. It took a fucking hour to get the same gear checked again a day after. Then the checkin desk was being one of the slowest ever. Not as slow as the Asian chick working for Finnair at Helsinki-Vantaa though... And then these wankers have a funny way of deciding the overweight prices. First of all, you have to pay 40USD for each extra piece of luggage. Unless it is over 25kg, when it is logically 40+200USD. Unless it is also longer than 62inches, when it is 40+200+200USD. So my bass case just cost us 440USD. Which is sort of funny, since we have also heavier and longer cases, but for some reason they were all ok. They'd better fucking deliver it the Newark too!

Of course there was also the problem of Cane and myself being put on the waiting list since the flight was overbooked as they so often on this continent are. Anyway, we're on the plane now. Just passed through a long section of clear air turbulence. Nice, starts to be cheaper than the entrance to the local amusement park in Tampere...

Today we're meeting the rest of the bands in Jamaica, NY. I expect heavy drinking. Moonsorrow guys are terrible.