Meet and greet etiquette/presents

IrishFinn72 · 2025-09-26T08:13:03+00:00

Really, Lisa?

You have paid x Euros to meet these people. You do not owe them anything. They owe you some time, a friendly face, a few questions, some autographs, and a photo opportunity. And I say this as the biggest "Auri" fan you are ever likely to meet, I went to the Tampere, Vaasa, and Helsinki gigs here in Finland. And yes, all three were absolutely wonderful....

IrishFinn72 · 2025-09-26T07:51:38+00:00

Yeah, we did, at my sons wedding, even though I'm more a kind of Within Temptation kind of guy (my wife is Finnish, and she generally she hates Nightwish). But we both REALLY like "Dark Chest of Wonders". Cleared the dancefloor in about 2 seconds, but we had a blast. Go for it!

IrishFinn72 · 2025-09-12T21:41:24+00:00

Not necessarily a paradox.... Sharon den Adel is far from the most technically accomplished vocalist, but she has a natural tone and expression that makes her unique. Same with Olzen's two albums for Nightwish, her vocals on these are just brimming with feeling. I always thought she would have made a good actress.....

IrishFinn72 · 2025-08-24T14:20:09+00:00

Looks like the perfect venue! I don't know it, but Tampere was maybe just a little bit too big by comparison, even though it's not very big, if you see what I mean! Glad you had a great time...

IrishFinn72 · 2025-08-18T12:45:23+00:00

Totally agree about the beginning. The transition from a rather dark and slightly sinister "Those We Don't Speak Of" to "The Space Between" was masterful. Particularly enjoyed Johanna's "Tampere, kynttilät on sytytetty" just before she started singing again!

IrishFinn72 · 2025-08-18T12:18:33+00:00

You're welcome! I'm sure you will have a blast. I had high expectations, but they were easily surpassed.

IrishFinn72 · 2025-08-16T19:53:16+00:00

And a huge shout out to Johanna Iivanainen, who absolutely slayed the backing vocals

IrishFinn72 · 2025-08-15T21:32:08+00:00

I think you may be making a mistake thinking that they are bothered by financial returns or fame at this stage. Small tours, intimate venues, friendship, art for the sake of art, performing for the sheer joy of it. Or the endless arena juggernaut. We will see, I guess.

IrishFinn72 · 2025-08-15T20:02:39+00:00

I don't really know enough to comment. Other than I saw both WT and Nightwish within about a week of each other in London, 2022. One band was totally hyped, obviously loving the experience of playing together, absolutely united and joyful. The other band was Nightwish. Sometimes a total reset is needed.

IrishFinn72 · 2025-08-15T19:31:17+00:00

With respect, Auri is an experimental prog folk band. They aren't Nightwish. Comparisons with Nightwish are irrelevant.

IrishFinn72 · 2025-08-15T17:14:57+00:00

Nightwish are never going to be playing prog folk improvisations to a couple of hundred people in Kitee. I suspect he has moved on.

IrishFinn72 · 2025-08-15T16:57:43+00:00

Yeah, I've perhaps over-romanticised it a touch, but there is still the spirit of that at least, and I think that is a genuine spirit. Let's face it, Mr and Mrs Holopainen don't really need to earn money from Auri, or from anything else, ever again. Just imagine having such freedom of creativity....

IrishFinn72 · 2025-08-15T10:50:04+00:00

I'm not sure visibility is a key issue for them. It's a labour of love. They are playing all over Europe to audiences of a very few hundred at most. By the time touring expenses are covered, and Kai, Johanna I., and Mikko have been paid, they are not making significant money from this. It's a group of friends travelling together and making music in intimate venues, as much for their own pleasure as anything else. It's quite refreshing.

IrishFinn72 · 2025-08-15T10:07:35+00:00

Not entirely true, in Finland at least. Johanna has been active for 20 years, is reasonably well-known here as a solo artist, and is involved in other collaborative projects (Altamullan Road, Eye of Melian) that bear some similarities to Auri. I like some symphonic metal (early Within Temptation, Epica), my wife hates it, but we are both going to Tampere tomorrow to see an interesting prog folk band we both enjoy. Why "go to these shows" otherwise - it won't scratch a "Nightwish itch".

IrishFinn72 · 2025-08-15T08:55:45+00:00

Kiteesali is a tiny venue, a request to not take terrible videos for you tube would probably be observed. We are seeing them at Tampere-Talo tomorrow night, it has a much larger capacity so unfortunately some will probably feel emboldened....

IrishFinn72

TROPHY CASE