Finnish gold and Suga flakes

  • 2004-08-19
  • By Elizabeth Celms
RIGA - One thing is clear, there will be no shortage of mutual distaste and awkward run-ins in the Mezaparks crowd on Sept. 3, as what may be Europe's two most incompatible music groups - Finnish rock group The Rasmus and the U.K.'s sexy Sugababes - come together at the Re:loud concert festival.

Just think about it - a hundred or so 12-year-old girls, toting mini-back packs and twirling Chupa-Chups will have to vie against eye-brow studded, greasy haired 20-somethings for front row seats. Meanwhile back-stage, Keisha of Sugababes flips into mascara running hysteria when she learns that Rasmus bass player Eero has used her dressing room to air out his week-worn grungy socks. But despite what may be Latvia's biggest disaster in on-stage chemistry, the show must go on. Unless Sugababes flake out again, of course.
After the Sugababes concert was canceled on Aug. 3, due to the fact that their plane didn't come in on time, the British pop/R&B group was rescheduled for Sept. 3. Most likely to guarantee that a crowd shows up, organizers added the girl group to the Re:loud concert festival featuring The Rasmus as well as several other Latvian bands including, Tumsa, R.A.P., Z-Scars and Detlef.
In early 90s Finland, three gawky and goofy 16 - year-old friends started a band called The Rasmus. By 1996, the group's debut album, "Peep," was the first brick laid down in what would soon be a path of gold.
Within a year, this hard-edged rock band, swept up both the public and critics in its northern storm. With six albums and 14 singles - most of which have received wide European acclaim - The Rasmus is by no means a Finnish secret. They have received Finnish grammies in all major categories including, Best New Act, Best Band, Best Single ("F-f-f-falling"), Best Rock/Pop Band and Album Of The Year.
Lead singer Lauri's vocal talent and lyrical creativity has earned him a place among Finland's most esteemed composers today. The band's latest album, "Dead Letters," which debuted in January 2003, is according to Eero, "darker, moodier and dreamier than anything we have done before."
So while Sugababes draw out high-pitched teenie-bopper screams with their song "Too Lost in You," The Rasmus will, with much dignity, earn some Baltic respect playing their latest Scandinavian hits. Regardless of whose side you're on in this girls rule - boys drool battle of the bands, it's a show not to be missed.

Re:loud music festival Mezaparks main theater Sep. 3 - 6 p.m. Tickets 10 lats (15 euros)