www.myspace.com/rubikband
I have this thing
this love thing for Finns
it all began
when i was a pre-teen
and my older brother
(by nine years)
took me to see
the Great
Winnipeg Jets
teams of the WHA,
the championship
years/teams.
Avco Cup winning
years/teams. and,
the only club team
to defeat
what was basically
the Soviet National hockey
team.
5-3, here in Winnipeg.
from Bobby Hull
to the first wave of Europeans,
Finns and Swedes
(so i also have a Love
thing for Swedes)
and then
the gutting of a great
and gritty
WHA team
that won the last
Avco Cup
happened and the NHL’s
Winnipeg
Jets never achieved
the immense success
of the WHA version
of the franchise
but a second wave of
wonderful, passionate,
skilled
Europeans,
Finns and Swedes,
oh, and Russians!
came along…
and this is where a certain
band from Finland
Rubik
fits in.
I Love Teemu Selanne
and Teppo Numminen.
when Guttersnipe’s publisher
(Shawn Conner)
asked me to review Rubik
from Finland on a Monday
night, a school night
(i work with grades 4
and 5 students)
a very late show,
how could i possibly say No
to Finns.
the birthing place
of Teemu and Teppo!
Daniel Rosin
wrote a book called,
“I Can Have Fun On
a School Night”
and anyone who knows
me
knows i’ve had and have lots
of fun on school nights.
last year was a little over the top.
this year, i pledged
to cut down the late late shows
in favor
of early shows
at the wonderful
Park Theater and WECC
and Burton Cummings
and Concert Hall
and Playhouse.
any show that i think
will be fun that begins
by 8 and ends before 11.
but i couldn’t
i wouldn’t say no
to a band from Finland.
and so before Rubik
hit the stage at The Lo Pub
Monday night
at 12:20 AM
i introduced myself to bassist
Jussi Hietala and of course
this 46 year old
man
boy
confessed my undying
love
ah,
Teemu and Teppo
and he burst into a smile.
Because
those two beautiful
men and hockey players
are national heroes
in Finland.
so there you go.
connection made,
via hockey.
Rubik
came on and played 40 minutes,
and had Immense
Mountains of
Fun
performing these Nine Songs,
Goji Berries
Radiants
No Escape
You Jackal
Jesus the Hypnotist
Fire Age
Wasteland
Karhu Junassa
City and the Streets
the band,
Artturi Taira, lead vocals, guitar, keys
Sampsa Vaatainen, drums
Jussi Hietala, bass
Anssi Neuvonen, guitar, keys
Tuomas Ericksson, trombone, percussion, guitar
Juho Viljanen, trombone, keys, percussion
there weren’t many of us there.
40?
and with two very passionate opening
bands, Winnipeg’s
Flying Fox and The Hunter Gatherers
www.myspace.com/flyingfoxandthehuntergatherers
and Toronto’s
The Ghost Is Dancing
www.myspace.com/theghostisdancing
the table was set
beautifully
and truthfully, many
in attendance
were musicians.
from these bands!
Rubik Live,
Oh My
Deities
Rubik
Live is Sublime.
they transcend
even the extra/
ordinary
this is an energetic,
passionate
band. they’re
talented musicians
and they give everything
they have to give.
read me
and you know
that’s what I Love in musicians
those that give everything,
perform With
Passion and Heart
and intensity
and, fragility
i want their souls!
for their time on stage.
and i’ll give them
Mine!
that’s the pledge!
i make it every set
i see
i will give you
my soul
so long as you give me yours!
lead singer
Artturi
even mentioned
the place Winnipeg
has in his heart
in the hearts of many
Finns
because the Winnipeg Jets
were
diplomats. they toured
overseas and they held
training camps in Finland
and Sweden. Winnipeg
opened the doors
for Europeans to play
hockey in North America.
I’ll repeat
that a hockey team
based in Winnipeg
opened the doors
to Europeans
to play hockey
in North America.
We Are Amazing.
My Winnipeg!
Guy Maddin!
This frigid city
six months of the year
ice cold ice (Husker Du)
this city (The Magnificent 7s)
of poverty
this One Great City
(The Weakerthans)
is rich
in giving in opening
doors
(Neil Young!)
in being Beautiful
and f#ck
any fool who doesn’t
see it
feel it
the power
in this city
in its artists
its musicians
our bands
Rule!
and yeah,yeah,yeah!
Rubik Rules!
go see them live
and buy their new CD
Dada Bandits.
support
passion and intensity
and talent
and giving musicians.
always.
F#ck the corporate whores.
this is Punk
and passion.
and
this is
Loving attitude.
so Rubik came on
and the gap
was there
i Hate that gap.
between band on stage and the audience
so i’m a gap-buster
i’m a bridge
from the band to the audience
the fearful
and i danced
oh my
I Danced
and that’s what i do
and for the small-minded
small people
with their small complaints
of who i am
and what i do
F%ck you
you waste life
you’re fun,less
(yawn)
(you’re really,
Boring)
and joyless
and
petty
bands Love me
So F#ck You!
you’re just jealous!
because you don’t have the balls
to dance
to celebrate
to have fun
to be alive
at any age
let alone
at my “advanced” age
of 46.
so, i danced
and
a few more people danced
and even more people just broke into a joyous,
being. they had permission
to have fun.
every song
was fun
every note
Passionate.
Powerful.
Immense.
and,
Intense.
there. i’ve had my rave
and my right back at ya
petty little rant
i Hate stooping to
that level.
but the Ericks
and Amandas
and Jules
and Serenas
of the music business
are few
instead of
The Many
beautiful hearts.
beautiful people.
beautiful Rubik!
beautiful Finns!
beautiful Teemu!
beautiful Teppo!
beautiful Winnipeg!!!!
Rubik
October 5.
Lo Pub.
My Winnipeg!
