This is it. The first and the last time in Ilosaarirock. Sweatmaster, that magnificent beast of Finnish garage rock, has decided to call it quits after this summer, so those who have not seen them perform and were not at Sue Stage on Saturday evening, have probably missed out for good. And what an experience they have missed!
The tent was not nearly as full as it should have been for this relentless champion of rock’n'roll when the trio started caressing the auditory nerves of the audience with their straightforward tunes. True to their name, the band made things hot and sweaty rather quickly. The action-packed music had even the back rows near the entrance to the tent (you know, the people who usually just stand there looking chilly) nodding and swaying. The killer riffs and irresistable hooks hidden in the songs made sure that Sweatmaster had the full attention of the crowd.
It’s always a sad affair when a great band quits, but for a while this Saturday, Sweatmaster made the lives of their listeners a bit grander.
Text: Jari Rytkönen
Photo: Sampsa Geijer
