The Road to Altamullan Road (pt.III)
A Guest Blog from Kathy Criswell!
The one where Kathy cries in Helstinky
Read part I here and read part II here!
Terve ja tervetuloa to my final installment in the very long story about my trip to see Altamullan Road three times in the span of 10 days. If you are just clicking this for the show review, that’s fine, I’m quite happy you’re here. If you want to read about some context and how significant these shows were to me, you should probably start at the beginning.
Fair disclaimer: Helsinki was my third show of theirs. I originally saw them in Kitee, but assumed I would be too emotionally obliterated to remember much (I was correct!) and Hyvinkää was for me to just enjoy. Helsinki was going to be for me to look at with a fresh mind and to try my best not to let any of my biases seep through.
I purposefully sat in the very back in the last rows, because I knew I would be writing things down and didn’t want to distract anyone around me. This gave me a very unique experience with the lighting. For the two previous shows, I was front and center, watching my favorite humans have the time of their lives in 4K Ultra Real Life. But, from way back there, I had to focus on my other senses.
The lighting was gorgeous, and I’m not usually someone who pays attention to that too closely. It was incredibly dynamic and consistent throughout the shows. Space Zoo Oy deserves a very large shoutout for that one. Some of my favorite lighting was for “Interstellar Friends,” which gave me an ‘80s sci-fi vibe, or an incredibly pretty and dramatic green for “Mustarastas laulaa.” No two setups felt the same and from the very back, some of the beams cast out over the audience, giving them a very fun angelic quality, which of course my art-thinking brain immediately catalogued for later.
Before the show started, there was a soothing, melancholic tune that played, which is exactly up my alley. I found myself swaying to that each time I saw them. I also noticed that I closed my eyes a lot during the show and just felt the music—something I have never done before.
The show began with “Candle in the Dark” which I truly enjoy because I, too, have sought for solace in many places. This time around, I found it in Finland but, as humans, we are all searching for safety and security to thrive in. It also acts as a very nice introduction to the atmosphere of calmness to come.
“Art of Losing” was next, and I have to say that this is one of the songs where I just closed my eyes and let their voices wash over me. I’ve spoken at length before about how Johanna Iivanainen’s music is particularly good at painting pictures in your mind, and it was no different live.
“Hearts of Old” followed and there was something small that I just so happened to notice. There was a tense change in the first line. Johanna Kurkela changed the words to “I was frail and winter-worn to trust the voice within,” which makes me ask if she was now referencing a specific time that had past or the subject of the song was long past. I do truly hope it’s the first one. Or something I haven’t even thought of. Perhaps I’m making something out of nothing!
Then came “When It’s Time.” Oh, how much I adore this song. Not only did it spark quite a bit of a short story that I wrote, but it’s just so cool to see Johanna Kurkela playing violin and the stepping up to the microphone like she was born to do just that. I really loved the pulled back version of the song. Something about it just hits differently, it’s almost more forlorn and desperate sounding. Spotify told me that I played that song over 400 times in 2023 and I can assure you 2024 will be on par for the same course.
They also posted a version of this song on Instagram, where I was first introduced to Timo Kurkela as a supporting voice. I had already been following him because he showed up in my feed for something else a while back, but I had no idea he and Johanna Kurkela were related until he changed his Instagram handle and then I saw them side-by-side!
Also, I would be remiss if didn’t mention their stage outfits at this point. Johanna Iivanainen had the prettiest black lace dress on, which is basically the dress code for Altamullan Road and Johanna Kurkela had the coolest tiered skirt on that kind of reminded me of those princesses you get on top of cake… but in all black, which is extra cool, in my humble opinion. Also, to note, a vast majority of all the audiences I saw followed the same aesthetic dress code and I felt right at home amongst the silent weeping and black dresses. The boys had on black wide-brimmed hats that reminded me of Mumford and Sons, but also a little of every horror movie that takes place on a farm. Very cool, indeed.
Once eyes had been dried, “Jacob’s Dream” came on. When I first heard this song in Kitee, I was astonished at how sad it was. I knew that Altamullan Road liked to tie our heartstrings into cute little bows, but I did not expect them to sing a true story about dead boys from long ago! It hurt! We all cried! I watched grown men next to me lose it! Yeesh! The chorus is especially heartbreaking as it progresses the storyline. Plus they kept looking at each other with those sad looks and how does one even come back from that?!
Even far away in the nosebleeds, I still felt tears well up in my eyes. The Johannas just really know how to utilize their body language in ways to convey emotions without saying anything! It’s enchanting and I’m so excited they got to do a show with such a pulled back and bare approach.
“Fields of Gold” was one song that I wasn’t familiar with at all and I have to say their stage presence took front and center for this one. Both Johannas sang to each other in such a touching way—their friendship is something to write books about—so much love on that stage! Also, Timo had a wonderful solo with just him and an acoustic guitar. I kind of want him and Mikko to be friends with my dad, who has a YouTube channel with three followers (his children) and a guitar that he loves dearly. Something about acoustic guitars just feels so warm and safe, yes? This whole show was so unique because of that dynamic.
“A Thousand Years” [originally by Christina Perri and made for the Twilight movies] came next and I was impressed by the way they turned this tune into something that was their own. When you cover popular music, you run into the gray area of what’s too familiar and what is too far from the original. I think they balanced it quite well. I also have a distinct memory of this song being in the running for my wedding song way back when it came out. Mikko also got to showcase some serious guitar gusto in this one!
“Interstellar Friends” surprised me by how much I enjoyed it. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love the album version of the song, but coupled with the lighting and the live performance, I was quite taken aback. I think my favorite part in the song is the same, but for different reasons. On the album, the “off we go” and “here we are” act like a tug of war. But, I very much love the way their two voices took two different paths while singing live and overlapped in a really beautiful way. Also, shoutout to Johanna Iivanainen—I don't know what exactly about her voice got me, but it’s so fun to see someone be shy and reserved in person, but have this bold and gorgeous presence on stage. Truly notable. Also when I first heard it live, I thought they were going to cover Kate Bush! The introductions sounds similar to “Running Up That Hill.”
“Society” was originally by Eddie Vedder, who undoubtedly has a very unique voice. I very much enjoyed Altamullan Road’s rendition of the song, especially knowing how much they enjoy the simple and heart-filled things in life. By the third time I saw it live, I was mouthing along with them and really enjoying the moral center of the song. I love when I get to experience a song like that. It grows on you, like a casual friend.
“Mustarastas laulaa” I was familiar with. I am much more familiar with Johanna Kurkela’s solo work, but since that time has passed, I have begun to listen to more of Johanna Iivanainen’s back catalog, especially since she did a show celebrating 10 years of that album’s release last September! There is so much power in this song! I was also excited to hear something in Finnish! It’s fun to hear them sing in Finnish, considering the vast majority of the setlist is in English. I’m a language nerd, even though I’m not very good at them. It makes you appreciate things other than lyrics at first, which is a great way to take in music. Plus, a lot of my foreign language vocabulary has come from music, which I think is pretty neat!
Then we had an intermission, which I used to lament over my slowly-depleting time in Finland. I knew that they had changed up the setlist in the prior show, so I was keen to see if they would shuffle it back at all. I had a friend with me and we chatted a bit, but I was mostly in my feelings knowing that I was going to go straight to the airport after the show and wait for quite a long while for my flights.
When they came back, we were gently eased into “Dawn”—a beautiful piece that reminds me of something that would play during the credits at the end of a horror film. It’s fun to see how we eased back into the show watching everyone just vibe. Also, there was a change of clothes into something lacey white and quite pretty. It felt like the first half of the show was somber and deeply filled with emotion, and the second half was filled with self-discovery and joy.
“Song of the Lark” is a song that tells the story of balancing two different aspects of life. I took a particular shine to it because I am just a boring girl from Iowa in a big city like Helsinki, so that particular storyline definitely made me sit and think. I have a new appreciation for it after experiencing what I have.
I was joyfully surprised to hear “Neverending Story”! I love that song! It’s so happy and whimsical and everything I love about life. It’s motivational but vulnerable. The funniest part? I didn’t know it from Stranger Things like most people probably do. I knew it from my very intense and short-lived obsession with the game Dance Dance Revolution in the early 2000s, which is why I associate this song with jumping and dancing around! The way they smiled while singing was so contagious. My cheeks hurt afterward!
And then immediately my childlike glee was squished by the heavy boot that was “Mama Werewolf.” The first time I heard it in Kitee, I was intrigued by it but didn’t think too hard about it. Then the second and especially the third time, it hit me like a bag of bricks. I knew in my heart that I wanted to either write something inspired by it or paint something to it, which is how I know a song has truly touched me.
I actually felt a pang of anger in my chest when two of the nicest human beings I have ever met sang the lines, “Would you strike me down, right where I stand? Would you change me back, make me kind again?” I wanted to stand up and shake them by the shoulders and tell them that they were already kind. But, alas, it was just a song and they were performing it all too well. I’m still raw from that, but that is why I love live music. Especially with everyone up on that stage selling every second of their feelings.
“Go Slowly Now” confused me for at least a minute. I knew the words but for the life of me couldn't figure out why, until I realized I was used to hearing Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) sing it! Johanna Kurkela also got to show off her violin skills again! “The Life and Times of Scrooge” album by Tuomas Holopainen turns 10 this year. Feel old yet? Yeah, that fact stung a bit. It was cool to hear that live! Recently, I dove into the album to make one of the most labor-intensive art projects that I have ever done! So, that made me smile softly and bounce my head to the beat.
Speaking of unexpected, “Ainiaan” made me cry-niaan. I am a huge Eye of Melian fan and I never in my life thought I would hear it live. I have a series of messages that I sent friends secretly hoping that Altamullan Road would play it, but I felt silly for even saying that. Does this even count as a cover if Johanna Kurkela wrote it? I’m not sure of the semantics but each time I heard it live, I cried. And if I’m not mistaken, I heard a certain someone get a little choked up singing it as well. I kind of want to know why, but perhaps some things are meant to stay secrets and I am just too nosy. Either way, that was one of the most wonderful surprises on this tour.
“The Merry Scallywag” is such a unique sounding song. I was excited to hear the minimalist vocalizations a little more clearly. And like I said in my review of the album, I was ready to lay my life on the line and follow these two sirens into whatever loomed ahead. I also have a particular affinity for it, because it’s one of the songs both Johannas put together like the final pieces of a puzzle. We love girl-boss teamwork and besties having the time of their lives doing what they love.
“Hey Brother” was a delight. Originally by Swedish Avicii, it’s usually more of a dance track, but the endearing glances the Johannas gave each other during the “sister” line and the cutesy cheeky glance Johanna Kurkela gave her brother was precious. Just a fun song to move and shake your shoulders too.
Oh goodness, “They Should’ve Sent A Poet.” I have so much to say about it, but I cannot keep you reading for hours and this is already abhorrently long. Some songs sneak into your life and change things so quickly, it feels as if a rug has been pulled out from under you. This is one of those. I consider this song a universal pep talk from Altamullan Road. To be fair, I believe without a doubt, that if you asked them to hype you up, it would sound something like this. I talk about my hands a lot, but two of the phrases are tattooed on my hands to remind me to always keep dreaming and loving myself.
When I first heard this live, I’ll admit, I cried really hard. It just really hit me that I had done what I thought was unachievable and managed to see it live. So many things had to go right, that I had no choice but to believe that universe just knew how badly I wanted it. The moral of the song is to find your laughter, smile, and love. And let me tell you, I did all of those constantly in Finland. Truly.
Michael Sembello’s “Maniac” made me actually laugh out loud! What a quirky choice! The Johannas looked so ridiculously adorable dancing up on that stage, shimmying and swaying with the song. It was exactly the balm that I needed on my heart after hearing “The Should’ve Sent A Poet”! Oh, the vibe was amazing. People were smiling and dancing along. And I loved watching everyone’s surprised faces when they began to sing it. Mikko really had a blast on that guitar too!
This and Kitee were the only shows where the band received such an enthusiastic standing ovation, that I was overwhelmed by the positivity.
In the encore, “Underwater” had a calming effect, letting us breathe after dancing our butts off to “Maniac.” It set the somber tone and made me particularly sad that I was about to leave such an experience behind. The blue lights really made me feel as if I was literally underwater.
And then “What Was I Made For?” played.
When I first heard the song at the end of the concert in Kitee, my friend wrapped her arms around me and patted my head gently because she knew how much I loved that song. And to have Altamullan Road play it was something so beyond my wildest dreams, you have no idea. Never had I mentioned aloud that them playing that song was something I had dreamed of, I kid you not.
When I saw it in Hyvinkää, I broke down again.
When I saw it in Helsinki, I was finally able to listen without being so distracted by Johanna Kurkela’s face! She’s so expressive that she’s half the reason I was sobbing to the song! Especially the end where she whispers the last few lines? Sheesh. I took a video with permission to use the audio as a background for a nice little reel about my travels. I will not admit how many times I have watched it. According to interviews that they have done, the song had a similar effect on them, which is why I don’t feel weird about how much I’ve talked about it.
Altamullan Road, Hyvinkääsali; January 26th, 2024
After the show, I wiped my eyes and shyly asked Timo Kurkela for a setlist, because I knew that I was too emotionally shattered to remember anything about the show. And then I nearly ran over half of Nightwish trying to get out of the theater before I ended up crying again. Also, I may have begged for the silly piece of paper on the theater door that said Altamullan Road had been playing.
If you only read my review of the show, please know that I’m not a music journalist, nor do I really have any experience in the field. I just really love this band and the people involved and I needed to make my feelings known in any capacity. If you read the whole trilogy of my adventure, I hope that you realize that just being here and being able to exist on this planet is a miracle in itself. Reach for the stars and dare to dream. Even if you tuck that dream into a small box in your heart, it can come true without you even realizing it. Just like the words in “They Should’ve Sent A Poet”… “No one can dream for you / become what laughter is to you”!
