Sing along with Stella, smash the gates with CMX
There never was a moment’s doubt that Stella would’ve had to somehow struggle to make the audience give notice. They were playing their home town, after all. Things really got going after the fifth song, Aamun kuiskaus, but the crowd was singing along even before that. The singalong moment in the middle of Kelle ihosi tuoksuu? was enough to warm up the harshest critics.
The band raised a sea of arms from one side to the other in the YleX tent. After a string of hits the band left the stage with Totuuden henki and Häävalssi. Their two-song encore and especially their final song Tulva proved that they’re no easy-listening hucksters but ambitious musicians. As the flood of music runneth over, the guitarists Janne Sivonen and Heikki Marttila seemed to be in their element.
After the gig you would’ve been hard pressed to find an unhappy face.
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A long, long time ago CMX were supposed to put an end to their live shows by headlining at Ilosaari. This time around they could be found playing at the YleX stage on a Friday. The choice of time and place is in a way logical, for as the Sulo club night has grown from a small-peas evening to a massive enterprise, they’ve a new-found need for popular bands to fill the venues.
The band has been working on a new album, so the festivalgoers were treated to a selection of songs both old and new. Their playing still has enough speed and volume to clear the ear channels. In a word, the whole thing was Matti.
Words: Tuomas Vitikainen, Olli Sulopuisto
Translation: Olli Sulopuisto
Pics: Minna Herrala, Jarkko Liuttu