Article and Photos by Elsa Piazzini

FIRST STAGE: MEZZAGO – ITALY
Since the club was not far from my town, I arrived around noon in front of the entrance and during the nine hours of waiting I even managed to peck out the band out from the club. Finally at 9 pm we entered: The place was small and intimate atmosphere. The first that took the stage were the Turmion Katilot, very famous for their extravagant performances, between the various songs have also performed the famous “Grand Ball”. For seconds have played Engel that with a little bit of Melodic Death Metal they gave more vent to our adrenaline! The singer, as a reward for my long wait outside the room, he dedicated me “Heartsick.” But finally getting on stage “Pain” (headliner of the evening) see them again after so long was a big thrill. Fifteen wonderful songs including three of the last album. A very powerful show! Peter who was inciting the public, made the evening indelible for us, able to excite us even with a “Thanks”. A particular compliment goes to Andrè (Clawfinger) who replaced Johan extremely well. Back home after a superb evening, I was ready to restart again the next day…

SECOND STAGE: RONCADE – ITALY
After four hours of travel I am finally arrived at the New Age where I waited about five hours before entering at 9 pm, and in the front row I waited the performances of the same groups of the night before. Turmion Katilot, always ready to make jokes with no rules to the public. Then Engel, warming the hearts with songs like “Sense The Fire”, and “Burn.” A few minutes and then again Pain with Peter always in shape! The chorus at the end of each song made me feel proud! I’ve always loved to see bands in small places where emotions are multiplied and with them it was like living a miracle for me. When you’re in front of someone you admire you can forget everything because your mind is focused only to live that moment .. The most highly acclaimed songs were “Same Old Song” and “Shot Your Mouth” over to a wonderful Unplugged version of “Have A Drink On Me”.  Although i listened to the same songs almost every night, it seemed to me to listen to them for the first time and this is the power that they have on me! After a few hours of sleep at the hotel I was back at the start…

THIRD STAGE: BRUNICO – ITALY
After leaving home very early and after six-hours’ trip I arrived at UFO Club and I felt more than ready to review Peter and his companions, moreover the band began to recognize me! At 9 pm, as always, Turmion Katilot opened with a series of floorfiller-songs and with band’s typical show attitudes near to the limits of censorship! Then again, Engel who gave us a series of Hits drawn from all their albums. See the bands throughout the evening without the barriers has been wonderful, especially with Pain who arrived on stage with shivering atmospheres, offering seventeen songs.  What can I say? I lived at 100% these 3 Italian tour dates! And of course I was increasingly convinced of the promise to follow them abroad …

FOURTH STAGE: BARCELLONA – SPAIN
Thirteen days later, on October 28th, I went to Barcelona. I arrived at Salamandra at 3pm and the crew recognized me and made me enter the venue so I didn’t have to wait in the rain. Later on I found even a photo of me on Michael’s blog! At about 9pm  the show started (without Turmion Katilot) without barriers also this time. Engel conquered the crowd immediately after the first few songs, and with a great surprise I was re-dedicated with “Heartsick”! After the fans were warmed, Pain came on stage to ensure that the heart of Barcelona was burning. Here, too, seventeen songs and a really intensive live show, a journey that every fan wouldn’t want to see ending..  Being my very first trip to Spain, this show made it really indelible. Even have time to go back home I was already thinking about how and where to review Pain, so five days after, I booked a ticket to participate the last gig of the tour, for me.

FIFTH STAGE: GOTHEMBURG – SWEDEN
And there I was in front of the venue, Brewhouse, after four planes in two days, craziness well rewarded, because also this time the crew recognized me and made me enter early so I could spend time with Pain and Raubtier. Differently from other previous dates, the fans have started to enter at 7pm, I was ready and happy in the front row of course, because for the first time in my life I was in Sweden, homeland of my favorite band! The show started  with Raubtier, a band similar to Rammstein, that sent the audience into raptures with creating an absurd moshing! After an energetic performance, a short pause, and finally the big moment “Pain Live in Gothenburg”!! A vision that before that moment I thought that I could see only in dreams. Sixteen songs and a perfect evening where I could see Johan, the “real” bassplayer of the band and I had the pleasure of hearing Peter talk in his native language even if I didn’t understand a word…

CONCLUSIONS AND SPECIAL THANKS:
Unfortunately I can not explain everything that I experienced but I think that something deep has come out from what I wrote up to now. I thank first and foremost Turmion Katilot, Engel and Raubtier for their great charisma during the performances. All the guys in the crew that have treated me like a sister. Macke Ring, Patrik Douglas, Mattias Hedberg, Kimmo Ahola. Thanks also to André Skaug from Clawfinger for his friendliness and professionalism. To Denis and Goria that I met in Barcelona and Gothenburg with the band. For the latest, the most important, Pain, especially to Peter Tägtgren: for his kindness and especially for giving me a lot of wonderful moments. In his music, I found the strength to live, to smile and to survive. The strength to fight against the world that wants to kill me. He is able to fill my life and turn on the light of hope in me even when sometimes I do not find a way out. And when I find someone who improves my days then I can give that thing called “Devotion”. I admire him for  his personality, his strength and his love for music. That pretty part of him that seems hidden but it exists, because I felt it. And that’s why I’m honored that he spoke to me and thanked me, for when he gave me a t-shirt after I had given him a present for his son. To stay close to him was the greatest satisfaction because he always alleviated my suffering. And who is a true fan like me can understand what I’m saying. When I can, wherever I’ll have the opportunity to reach, I will follow this band.

THANKS PAIN!

Article and Photos by Elsa Piazzini – Translation by Sylvi Taürie