Helsinki's Olympic Stadium starts to fill up
Genesis in Concert, and Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland - 11th June 2007
Nosher's "favourite band in the world ever" went on hiatus some time in 1994, after 25 years, nearly 20 albums and 150 million sales. So, it was reasonable to expect that the three times Nosher has seen them previously would be the last. However, much excitement occured when it was heard that they were reforming for a greatest hits tour - their first time on the road for 15 years. Originally, Nosher had tickets for Twickenham, but - as Isobel had been a student there for a couple of terms, and Nosher hadn't been for a while - it was decided to do the Helsinki leg, which coincidentally also happened to be the very first gig of the reunion. There was maybe some trepidation that they might not have "it" anymore, but this was blown away from the opening phrase of "Behind the Lines" right through to the explosive finale. Nobody does stadium gigs like Genesis: the lights, despite the late Helsinki twilight until 11.30pm, the excellent sound quality, the spectacle and the epic scale of the music. It was also a real joy to hear so much more older stuff than on previous occasions - Firth of Fifth, Carpet Crawlers, I Know What I Like, Ripples, Los Endos and, proving to be something of an emotional moment, the whole "Cage" medley followed by Afterglow, as well as some great tracks from the later stuff like Home By The Sea and Mama. The next day, we wander around Helsinki, where Isobel meets up with a student friend at the College of Design. Finally, with a few hours to spare before the return trip, we get the ferry out to the island fortress of Suomenlinna.
next album: The BBs at Thornham Hall, and James's Birthday, Cambridge and Suffolk - 24th June 2007
previous album: A 1940s Airfield Hangar Dance, Debach, Suffolk - 9th June 2007
We're at the gig early, so get close to the stage
Sitting on the athletics track
Isobel with a band teeshirt on
Genesis open up with 'Behind the Lines'
Trademark lines of varilights
There's a nice moment with some old footage
The crowd up in the stands
Chester and Phil do their drum duet
The stage fills with dry ice
The crowd gets to see itself
A nice lighting moment
Pyrotechnics go off
Smoke fills the stadium
The encore kicks off
A whole wall of dancing characters
After the gig
A derelict building is demolished
Derelict building near the gig
A church behind the Scandic Marski hotel
Tramlines near Esplanadi
Curious statues on Pohjoisesplanadi
Grand Helsinki buildings
Isobel looks at fabric in the Marimekko shop
Marimekko has a nice collection of glass
A seal statue squirts water
Down near the open-air market
Flowers for sale
A dude plays accordion near the harbour
A woman with hats
Fur hats for sale
A statue somewhere
A collection of colourful scaffolding boards
A dramatic shot of the Lutheran cathedral
Isobel on the cathedral steps
A view of the square
Impressive church organ
A grand golden chandelier
Ouside, a bloke talks to the pigeons
A tram heads up the line
Isobel crosses the cobbled street
At the Esplanadi Café
We have a beer and some massive pastries
Café life
The Arabia factory
Isobel meets up with old friend Paula
An Ikea-esque building near the College of Design
In the corridors of the College of Design
Empty café tables
A stubbed out cigarette
A small local shop
People are out for Helsinki Day
National dress on Helsinki Day
The crowd watch a band performance
A floating fish market
More market action
We head out to Suomenlinna
A view through a tunnel
Plant-covered building
A view of the island fortress of Suomenlinna
Yellow building and yellow flowers
Inside a Finnish U-Boat
The Finnish U-Boat
A nice old boat by a jetty
Some sort of making occurs
Another brick in the wall
Isobel feeds the ducks
One of the ducks gets really keen
A curious cave/cellar
Isobel waits in a blue tunnel
A gently-crumbling building
Helsinki waterfront from the ferry
The waterfront
A trailer is hauled around the market
Balloons on Esplanadi for Helsinki Day
A brass band plays
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Helsinki's Olympic Stadium starts to fill up
Helsinki's Olympic Stadium starts to fill up
We're at the gig early, so get close to the stage
Sitting on the athletics track
Isobel with a band teeshirt on
Genesis open up with 'Behind the Lines'
Trademark lines of varilights
There's a nice moment with some old footage
The crowd up in the stands
Chester and Phil do their drum duet
The stage fills with dry ice
The crowd gets to see itself
A nice lighting moment
Pyrotechnics go off
Smoke fills the stadium
The encore kicks off
A whole wall of dancing characters
After the gig
A derelict building is demolished
Derelict building near the gig
A church behind the Scandic Marski hotel
Tramlines near Esplanadi
Curious statues on Pohjoisesplanadi
Grand Helsinki buildings
Isobel looks at fabric in the Marimekko shop
Marimekko has a nice collection of glass
A seal statue squirts water
Down near the open-air market
Flowers for sale
A dude plays accordion near the harbour
A woman with hats
Fur hats for sale
A statue somewhere
A collection of colourful scaffolding boards
A dramatic shot of the Lutheran cathedral
Isobel on the cathedral steps
A view of the square
Impressive church organ
A grand golden chandelier
Ouside, a bloke talks to the pigeons
A tram heads up the line
Isobel crosses the cobbled street
At the Esplanadi Café
We have a beer and some massive pastries
Café life
The Arabia factory
Isobel meets up with old friend Paula
An Ikea-esque building near the College of Design
In the corridors of the College of Design
Empty café tables
A stubbed out cigarette
A small local shop
People are out for Helsinki Day
National dress on Helsinki Day
The crowd watch a band performance
A floating fish market
More market action
We head out to Suomenlinna
A view through a tunnel
Plant-covered building
A view of the island fortress of Suomenlinna
Yellow building and yellow flowers
Inside a Finnish U-Boat
The Finnish U-Boat
A nice old boat by a jetty
Some sort of making occurs
Another brick in the wall
Isobel feeds the ducks
One of the ducks gets really keen
A curious cave/cellar
Isobel waits in a blue tunnel
A gently-crumbling building
Helsinki waterfront from the ferry
The waterfront
A trailer is hauled around the market
Balloons on Esplanadi for Helsinki Day
A brass band plays