Pink Flying V.

It's the beginning of a new year, almost. As good a time as any for some new beginnings. Some new beginnings involving musical instruments, in my case. And not just any musical instruments either, but a pink Mahalo Flying V ukulele. My newest crush.

Let me tell you how the seeds for this infatuation were sown... 

I guess it was a lot of little things coming together. One of these things was the pressing need for a new (less hazardous) hobby (that drinking business is way too much effort and far too detrimental in the long run). Another was the epiphany that, at 24, you're actually not yet too old to pick up a musical instrument (after all, after dabbling with tin whistles and singing in the school choir, i had a good founding for this). The third thing (or person, rather), was Emilyn 'cupcake punk' Brodsky, who was (and who am i kidding, still is) my crush prior to the arrival of the Uke (anyone who makes up a music genre called 'cupcake punk' deserves my admiration). The fourth and final things was a message that dropped into my Facebook inbox from the good folk at Aron Soitin, which informed me that their ukes (which are their best-selling product, they tell me) were back in stock again, for an altogether acceptable price of fifty euros. The deal was sealed. I could see it; I was headed for awkwardly eccentric, over-ambitiously folksy, pseudo-cool, four string, cotton candy-encrusted fame. But being still in the first leg of that journey to immortal underground superstardom, i'd settle for learning a couple of chords and entertaining myself. 

Which is what i've been doing happily ("badly", the neighbors would firmly interject, nodding, at this point), almost every night since bringing the little pink thing home. There's something really disarming about the uke. The shape, the size, and the pinkness of it. It kinda looks like a toy that makes cool noise. It looks like it was made to play cupcake punk. Having said that, Mahalo ukuleles - and the flying V model especially - get a lot of flak for their quality as instruments. Some of it not unfounded. Sure, its triangular shape makes it tricky to hold while playing, and yes i'm sure the sound could be better, and it's true that despite the picture of the girl on the beach in the grass skirt the uke sports a 'made in China' sticker. I don't care. What the uke lacks in quality it makes up in kitsch and attitude. 

So now it wont be long until i post a link to my first solo recording posted on youtube (cause that's what you do). It'll be called 'Teatime in R'lyeh' (cause it needs a suitable obscure name and nonsensical lyrics), it'll be filmed in my bathroom (the acoustics, dude), and it'll be preceded by me fiddling with the video cam (cause of the DIY factor) and adjusting my sailor hat to a jauntier angle (cause of the need for cool, unique head wear). All set. Take my hand, little green man, we're gonna be famous. All we need to do now is learn how to play.  

i heart in January.

1.   Snow. i refuse to complain when it comes to snow. Still looking for someone to come sledding with me in Koffari after a sparkling wine-saturated brunch at Fanny.

2.  Vanilla flavored milk. this nalle stuff is amazing and i've been using it in everything from cookies to tea.

3.  500 days of summer. i've liked joseph gordon-levitt since 3rd rock from the sun, and i love zooey deschanel. and i hate romantic comedies. but this one had me crying and laughing and going 'oh man, that's so true'. it also re-sparked a serious case of 'the smiths' addiction. 

4.  theatre. After seeing both 'kaikki isani hotellit' and 'odotus' in the space of two weeks, i'm convinced this is something everyone should do at least once a month. Thanks go out to my great theatre-going company. 

5.  not setting an alarm. Whether the reason is temporary unemployment or vacation, not having to wake up to a monotonous beeping in the pitch black morning is bliss. 

6.  new moleskine diary. i always thought these were a little pretentious, but when halfway through january i still didn't have a diary and came across this discounted one at Kiasma's gift shop, i had to take it home with me. And i'll admit i've quite liked it. if it' was good enough for Hemingway, it's good enough for me. 

7.   scones. The perfect thing to bake in winter time. Sweet, savory, hot & buttered. i love 'em all. 

8.   new speakers. I got these for xmas, and i don't even know how i've ever survived without them. Also, they're very cute.

9.   Being asked for a dance at a bar. This never happens anymore. Being twirled around the dance floor at ruma for the best part of an hour at two in the morning really put a smile on my face.

10. The toilet seat (pictured above) which was in a rubbish skip when i walked past on my way to a bar on friday night, and was prominently shattered and on display when i walked by the next morning. Urban art, mofos. 

Zombies, Psychos & Dead Girls Coming to a Bar Near You!

Fans of all things psychobilly will be rubbing their hands together in delight while inspecting the gig lineup for several venues around town for the next couple of months. And hell, there's good reason, with great shows arriving to bedazzle folk from at least January to April.

This year kicked off with a wicked bunch of bands at Yabba Dabba Do at Loose last Saturday. Having seen both Gun Molls and Gangsters and Atom Notes at Hela-torstai klubi some months ago (and written a note about it here), i won't go into that in too much detail. Let it be said, though, that the Atom Notes' playing was as furious as ever, and that Mika on the guitar was still as dashing as ever. My personal highlight, however, was seeing The Patsy Walkers. The ladies haven't played gigs in what seems like ages, so in their absence i've had to content myself with renditions of 'Wolfman' in the shower (occasionally elsewhere, too). Needless to say, i was thrilled to hear they were going to be back on stage. Also, this gave me the opportunity to rifle through my wardrobe to find the Patsy Walkers band shirt i had discovered at Hietsu kirppis last summer, and promised both myself and the girl selling it that as soon as the band took to the stage again, the shirt and i would be in front row. Which we were. Compliments for choice of clothing were received from both band members and jealous fans. Sweet.

Onwards into the year, February gets to a lovely start with Blues Trash Cabaret at Loose, featuring Russian surf and b-movie inspired band Messer Chups. After seeing them at Tavastia's Psychorama last summer, i took a serious fancy to the Chups. Movie-sample saturated instrumental music and a stage presence that comes across as fabulously indifferent somehow manage to root you to the spot and forget about that third pint you were going for. Or maybe its the enchanting Zombiegirl on bass. In any case, this is the life-soundtrack of choice i'd prefer to have play in my head. Not kidding, definitely one to see.

Zombie Noise festival sweeps over Nosturi on February 20, bringing to town old school psychos, Mad Sin. These dudes are old but notoriously tireless, and if one is in the mood for sweat, spit, and a whole lotta man, this is the place to be. Other festival bands include French psychobilly group, the Astro Zombies, and domestic talent Relentless. And for a host of more homegrown talent, one needs only to head down the stairs to Alakerta, where the T-bird gang, The Bullet Biters and The Black Magic Six take the stage. 

And last but definitely not least, Nekromantix. Ah. This is a band i've never seen live, but have always wanted to. Which will go some way in explaining why i'll be screaming like a little boy in the front row when i hear the chorus to Dead Girls Don't Cry. <3






6.2.Blues Trash Cabaret, Bar Loose
20.2 Zombie Noise Festival, Nosturi
1.4 Nekromantix, Nosturi

Raku Ya in January.

Cold weather makes me want to eat. Eating is something i like to do in any case, but these last couple of weeks i've found myself heading out for lunch/dinner/second breakfast more than usual. Having two weeks off before starting a new job also means that right now i'm at leisure to enjoy super late brunches, long lunches and late dinners. Here's to enjoying it while it lasts!

On my list of 'places i wanna eat', Raku Ya had been in the top ten for a long while, but for some reason (probably more to do with budgetary restrictions than anything else), i'd never managed to go there for a meal. So when an occasion for a post-xmas family dinner arose, i convinced the fam the Japanese izakaya-style restaurant was something we should go for. High-end both in terms of its central seaside location and standard of neighboring restaurants, not to mention head chef Masato Ikeda's reputation, i had some pretty high expectations for Raku Ya.

The interior is of the restaurant, while not as sleek as that of Hotel Kämp's Japanese restaurant Yume, is pleasant. Our party of five was shown to a curtained, wood-finished booth, where we were asked to take off our shoes and given slippers to wear. Content in our comfy footwear, we proceed to order, going for some Asahi, Sake, and several different dishes to share. In izakaya-style, food is served as soon as it's prepared, which means everything is as fresh as possible.

Our Special sushi platter (29.50 e, pictured above) received good reviews from the pescatarian's of the family, and i'd rate the inari nigiri as some of the best i've had in Helsinki. The Ebi Furai (13.90 e) - giant shrimp tail deep-fried in batter, served with lime mayonnaise and a chili soya sauce - was also a favorite, owing especially to the chili soya sauce.

The Ebi Udon (14.90 e, japanese wheat noodles and deep-fried shrimp in soy broth) as well as its veggie counterpart, my Yasai Udon (13.90 e), were just filling and hearty enough to satisfy the appetite. Plump noodles, tasty broth and fresh veggies. Not complaining, although i'd still rate Wagamama's Udons above these.

In terms of price, Raku Ya is above average, but then again, the food is too. For good Japanese in Helsinki, this is the place.


Raku Ya, Eteläranta 14, 00120 Helsinki