tour #2 – Kotkacan dance

music, photo shoot, tour

…air attack on Finland – day two: Kotkacan dance

…the second day of my tour started off in a pretty relaxed way. Our plan was to set out at noon which allowed me to have a good night’s rest. After a delicious breakfast it was time to pack our bags to go to the harbor town of KOTKA which is 180 kilometers away from KIRKKONUMMI. The 10th anniversary of TURBOJUGEND KOTKA was taking place there.

#009-001

JYRKI had the idea to stop by in the city of PORVOO on our way back on Sunday. Unfortunately, the weather forecast had predicted rain for that day which lead us to visit the city quickly today. Sadly, I could not take more but a few snapshots out of the car even though the city is really worth seeing. JYRKI grew up only 15 kilometers from PORVOO and has spent a large part of his youth here. Maybe I will stop by again during my next visit to Finland. Today, we could not make a proper visit since we had to be on time for the soundcheck in KOTKA.

#009-002
#009-002
#009-003
#009-003
#009-004
#009-004
#009-005
#009-005
#009-006

We reached KOTKA and its PUB JAAKKO at approximately half past two in the afternoon. Actually, the festivities had started in the morning with a ferry ride to the island KAUNISSAARI which can be translated to “beautiful island” in English. Unfortunately, the departure happened to be way too early for us and there was just one single other ferry scheduled for the same day. This one though would have arrived at the same time the others would have come back, so it was impossible for me to participate in this activity.

JYRKI’s second band TRASHCAN DANCE were scheduled to play today on the occasion of TURBOJUGEND KOTKA’s anniversary. I did not have a lot to take pictures of during the soundcheck and since it was “the warmest summer day of the year” (according to numerous JUGENDLICHE that day) I decided to hit the road to explore the city.

First of all, I was (of course) attracted by the harbor which was just a short walk away from the pub. In fact, the pub, although being in the city center, close to the water no matter in which direction you go since KOTKA has been kind of built on a little island.

The city’s history does not go that far back, making it a rather young city. KOTKA was founded in 1879. The Russians had built a fortress here during the CRIMEAN WAR (1853-1856) which then was destroyed again by the British and the French in 1855. According to a legend, an old lady asked not to destroy the Orthodox church to which the invaders agreed, making it the oldest building of the city down to this present day. In the 1870s the city started their port operations and was finally declared a municipality. During WWII the city was almost completely destroyed again. Nowadays, there are ca. 55.000 people living in KOTKA.

#009-007
#009-007
#009-008
#009-008
#009-009
#009-009
#009-010
#009-010
#009-011
#009-011

On the same weekend, the KOTKA MERIPÄIVÄT (Kotka Maritime Festival) was taking place. In the beginning, this festival was celebration of sailors in order to underline Kotka’s image as a harbor town but nowadays it is all about drinking and live music. I have no idea whether it is also forbidden to drink alcohol on the streets of KOTKA as it was the case in HELSINKI but the parks were overcrowded with mostly young people who just wanted to have a good time. Also in front of the aforementioned Orthodox church.

#009-012
#009-012

After I had returned to the bar we went out to eat something. While we were waiting for our pizza, a whole bunch of JUGENDLICHE ran past us who – red-faced thanks to the lack of sun screen and pretty tipsy – had just returned from their ferry ride. HAPPY SATAN, the President of TURBOJUGEND KOTKA greeted us warmly at the bar and JYRKI gave him a present.

#009-013
#009-013
#009-014
#009-014

While the JUGENDLICHE in attendance continued their rituals they had been following all day long, namely drinking, we made use of the final sunbeams of the day and took a few band photos of TRASHCAN DANCE.

#009-015
#009-015
#009-016
#009-016
#009-017
#009-017
#009-018
#009-018
#009-019
#009-019
#009-020
#009-020
#009-021
#009-021
#009-022
#009-022
#009-023
#009-023
#009-024
#009-024

The band was founded in 2005 and describes their music as “Melodic adult oriented crap punk rock sleaze with a twist of garage and sea breeze through 15 shots of White Russian”. TRASHCAN DANCE consists of LA55E – vocals, JÜRGEN – guitar, DALLAS – bass, JAVIER – drums and FAUST – keyboards.

Trashcan Dance Cover

Apart from JÜRGEN/JYRKI the drummer JAVIER is also a member of the TURBOJUGEND. He belongs to the very old chapter HELSINKI. That said, the band leaves a very good optical impression in general. Especially LA55E attracted lots of attention when we walked the streets of KOTKA. So, that is why it was naturally obvious that the first groupies started appearing and wanted to be in the bands’ pictures.

#009-025
#009-025
#009-026
#009-026
#009-027
#009-027
#009-028
#009-028
#009-029
#009-029

The party took place during the bar’s regular opening hours and so everyone mixed with the ordinary guests. I have to mention THE HEATHEN of TURBOJUGEND LOS ANGELES as a very special guest. After having been friends for a long time on Facebook and having been in touch via e-mail we met for the first time in person and it was indeed “love” at first sight.

#009-030
#009-030
#009-031
#009-031
#009-032
#009-032
#009-033
#009-033
#009-034
#009-034

Other than that, taking pictures was very difficult just like at BAR LOOSE the day before. We took the sticker photos under difficult conditions but since most of the JUGENDLICHE were red-faced thanks to the sun and the alcohol everything was compatible in the end. Now, I would like to mention the request of SALVATORE LUIGI of TURBOJUGEND SPUTNIK who attached supreme importance to me reducing “the red” during the editing process of the photos. He told me to do so at least seven times. Other than that, he did a great job as my assistant for which I want to thank him at this point.

#009-035
#009-035
#009-036
#009-036
#009-037
#009-037
#009-038
#009-038
#009-039
#009-039
#009-040
#009-040
#009-041
#009-041

TRASHCAN DANCE really set the room on fire and LA55E’s live performance matches his extroverted looks. Even the tiny stage did not prevent him from some climbing actions.

#009-042
#009-042
#009-043
#009-043
#009-044
#009-044
#009-045
#009-045
#009-046
#009-046
#009-047
#009-047
#009-048
#009-048
#009-049
#009-049
#009-050
#009-050
#009-051
#009-051
#009-052
#009-052
#009-053
#009-053
#009-054
#009-054
#009-055
#009-055
#009-056
#009-056
#009-057
#009-057
#009-058
#009-058
#009-059
#009-059
#009-060
#009-060
#009-061
#009-061
#009-062
#009-062
#009-063
#009-063
#009-064
#009-064
#009-065
#009-065
#009-066
#009-066
#009-067
#009-067
#009-068
#009-068
#009-069
#009-069
#009-070
#009-070

The evening faded away in a relaxed way with exciting conversations and some cold beverages. The only thing we were never able to find out that day was why the city of KOTKA (“eagle” in Finnish) was named after that particular animal.

#009-071
#009-071
#009-072
#009-072
#009-073
#009-073
#009-074
#009-074
#009-075
#009-075
#009-076
#009-076

My sleeping-place that night was to be at HAPPY SATAN – who goes by KARI in real life – and his wife TUIJA’s place. They live in a beautiful flat in an apartment building. What striked me as fascinating about Finnish flats is that saunas seem to be a standard there. Totally normal for Finland, I guess, but for me, this seemed really unusual. I think, I could definitely approve of this fact.

That´s it for today because the day was very long. I am going to cast a veil of silence over our way back home and the amusing part DJ EltonJohnLennon played in it. Only one thing: Absinth really is some stuff of the devil.

Ahoi! from the road
Miroslav aka Sir Polariot

If you like to support FACE THE JUGEND, you can order these pictures in the SUPPORT SHOP. Please don´t steal the pictures.

day 3

I had a good night’s sleep and a very nice breakfast was waiting for me. The planned visit to the flat’s own sauna had to be cancelled though because we were running out of time once again. A huge thanks to KARI and TUIJA for their hospitality and accomodation.

The weather forecast was right unfortunately and it was raining when we left the house in order to go back to PUB JAAKKO where we were to meet the others. It was 11 a.m. but this fact did not discourage anyone from continuing their drinking. There is a drink which is extremely popular among the Finnish Jugendliche and many others: LONKERO. It consists of gin and grapefruit lemonade. It was introduced for the first time during the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki and it is impossible to imagine the Finnish assortment of beverages without it. Our world traveler from LOS ANGELES also seemed to enjoy it in the morning.

#009-077
#009-077
#009-078
#009-078
#009-079
#009-079
#009-080
#009-080
#009-081
#009-081

On the way back to KIRKKONUMMI we were accompanied by THE HEATHEN and MOONHILDA of TURBOJUGEND KOTKA. Because it did not stop raining we took only a short break at a gas station.

#009-082
#009-082
#009-083
#009-083
#009-084
#009-084

We spent the afternoon at JYRKI and ANNETTE’s. It had stopped raining by then and so we relaxed in the garden before we went to the sauna. Unfortunately, my camera does not work properly in such a heat so sadly, there are no pictures of this particular activity. In the evening ANNETTE prepared a delicious Asian meal for us. It was really a perfect ending to an easygoing Sunday. Tomorrow I am heading to SUOMENLINNA and the weather forecast does not look too promising at the moment. Well, we will see.

Goodnight and Ahoi! from the
Miroslav aka Sir Polariot

If you like to support FACE THE JUGEND, you can order these pictures in the SUPPORT SHOP. Please don´t steal the pictures.

Translation: Ananas Astra | Turbojugend Main Offender