There was nothing extraordinary about the photograph of the Paradiso club, other than the feeling I had. I somehow felt that I saw this photo before. And yes indeed, I not only saw the photo before, I actually took it.

It is funny when I think about it because TEDx inspired me to actually do something about my photographs so that some of them would perhaps get published or used by someone else. And only by doing this work I found out that one of them was actually used already. And if I didn’t go to TEDx, which motivated me to work on the photos, I would have probably never found out that a photo was already used. Can this be called a synchronicity?

NB: Thanks to the magazine editors for using the photo fully according to the license under which it was published.

The Amsterdam show highlights are as follows: fun was: great; number of water showers at both sides of the podium was: large; number of lead singers’ slips because of the water everywhere was: at least one; number of all kind of delicate clothing thrown at the band was: never seen so much in my life; number of stage divers was: above average; number of complete takeovers of the podium by the audience was: two.

… I have the “I Found Out” single on a never ending repeat mode in my head for last 24 hours.

All photos are dedicated to my dear friend reggaerebel who ended in hospital that day and couldn’t make it to be there with us. Get well soon!

The exercise is as follows:

- OMG he is going to dive!
- Switch on the camera, get the settings right…
- OMG he is diving in!
- OMG my girlfriend is touching him!! :}
- Give him a shove
- And yeah, try to take a picture in mean time…

Time to complete: five seconds. (Some more photographs inside)

In Amsterdam, it doesn’t happen very often that a band would greet it’s audience by the “Good afternoon” line. Husky Rescue started their concert at 4PM which is unusualy early to the local standards. And whoever came up with the idea of timing this concert in cozy Kleine zaal at Paradiso to such early time did a great job – Husky Rescue music fits so much better into a “Sunday afternoon cinema” mood than to a beer fueled rock night.

The concert room was nicely full when the band opened the set with “My Home Ghost” from their current album “Ghost is not real”. The band’s lead singer Reeta-Leena Korhola’s fragile and playful voice was floating on the dreamy and melancholic waves of the band’s sound all night (eh, I mean all afternoon). Although at times a bit shy (as shy as the band), the public reacted well and cheered the band with applause and lots of smiles. The smiles kept coming back.

After the concert, we had a chat with Marko Nyberg, the band’s composer, who was a very nice and friendly chap. Marko mentioned that he felt the inspiration to start writing new material for the band which was great news to hear. A band’s second album often shows whether the band is artistically bankrupt and while that is unfortunatelly often a case, Husky Ruescue’s second album was a wonderful return. To hear that there could be (and hopefully will be) more, is really, really good news.

I’m really hoping to see this Finish five-piece again, perhaps even during the upcoming summer festival season. This band should be closely watched, chances are that Husky Rescue will become THE discovery of 2007! Check the band’s website or listen to a few songs (full-size) on Husky Rescue last.fm page. A few photos from their Amsterdam concert attached.

Seeing a band you don’t know is fun! You can always leave after the first song (happened to me with The Engineers) or after first three songs (happened to me with Nine Black Alps) to go spend the night in some unplanned, spontaneous way. Or you can see a band you don’t know and fall in love with the music and the band for ever! (happened to me with Audioslave, although I knew the Soundgarden and RATM very well before).

MaxĂŻmo Park did suprise me in a very positive, pleasant way. First of all, good music! Paul Smith, a charismatic and friendly lead singer spoke a bit before nearly every song, explaining what the songs were about in a few fords. Very much focused on human themes. The band seemed to have good time, just after some three songs Paul mentioned that they will be back to A’dam every week from now on. Hmmm, I would quite like that! The crowd had good fun too, there was some crowd diving, stage diving, people singing along with the band. Since I didn’t know the songs I better kept quiet, enjoyed this very good concert and tried to make some photos instead.

Designed by a Danish architecture studio and paid by the Amsterdam City Council, this building is the centre for contemporary music and jazz – an impressive and modern building. We have been (again) just bicycling past it when we decided to finally have a peek inside.

Once you enter the building via its humble rotating door, a vast space opens in front of you. What strikes immediatelly is how “democratic” this building is. You can walk around the whole complex up and down without anyone wanting you to leave or giving you funny faces, I haven’t seen a single “No Entry” sign. You do not have to cross any reception area or the ticket counter. You do not have to leave your bag in the cloakroom. How refreshing.

I was lucky to have the camera with me so I posted a few photos on my Flickr.com page. Next time, I would sure like to check out a concert hall there.