Monday 25.1. - Travel & Winterborn rehersals
Got up in time for the 0800 train from Kemi to Kokkola. This weeks gonna be a bit
hellish. Spent the trainride listening to the Winterborn songs, today I’ll figure out
the few songs I didn’t have the time to check out yet since I’ll be playing keys on
their 10th anniversary show @Tavastia, Helsinki on Thursday. Tonight we’ll have our
one and only rehersal with Winterborn, Tuesday & Wednesday will be the final
practise with Sonata Arctica before the North-American tour in February. On Thursday
morning we’ll have the visa interview for the work permit so there’ll be a lot to do this
week.
Anyways, as soon as I arrived Pasi picked me up and we went to the SV rehersal place where I spent my afternoon learning the WB songs. At aroud 1700 we had a band rehersal and then it was off to the studio. We checked out Pasi’s new guitar rig and then the program for the evening was just resting and watching netflix.
Tuesday 26.1. - Sonata Arctica rehersals
I spent the morning checking through the SA sounds and playing around with the WB songs a bit as well. Around noon, Tommy & Elias arrived and we had lunch before starting to play. Checked the set for the support shows, just to make sure that we don’t overplay… In the evening it was time to get a bit hammered, which of course
was nice ;-)
Wednesday 27.1. - Sonata Arctica rehersals & Travel
The morning was spent mainly just chilling, Tony arrived around noon and we proceeded to do the final run-through for the tour. After that we just hung out, did some
promo videos for some upcoming shows but they were too lame so we deleted them….and the it was time to board the train and go to bed. Tommy and I had planned
an evening meal in the restaurant but for some weird reason it was already closed. Shit.
Thursday 28.1. - getting the working visas + Winterborn@ Tavastia, Helsinki
Got up just before the train arrived in Helsinki and then dumped our bags at
the hotel before heading to the US embassy to get our working visas. Later we
had some breakfast and lunch with Tony & Tommy before they left back home. I took
a nap in the afternoon and then it was time to do the soundcheck. A bit nervous about how I’ll remember all the stuff tonight but I’m sure it’ll go well. After the sc we had dinner
at the venue and then went to our hotel to rest for a few minutes. The show in the evening went pretty well and I hope I get the chance to do it again sometime. Afterwards it was time for drinks, of course….
Friday 29.1. - Travel Home
Dragged myself to the train at 0930, yesterday was a really long day so I was quite exhausted. The WB guys were kind enought to drop off my keyboard to Tero so it’ll be ready for the US-tour. Nevertheless I got to spend the day in the train just resting, browsing the internet and taking a couple of naps….at 1732 I arrived back home to Kemi and a nice off-weekend with only domestic stuff to do ;-)
In case you don’t know Winterborn, I suggest you check it out…great band !!!
Next stop: I have a couple of tracks for the Winterborn album to finish but after that
it’s time to do the North-American Tour with Nightwish…..until then….
cheers,
Henkka
