View Gallery

Theater Of The Living Arts (TLA), on South Street, in Philadelphia, played host to the next-to-last date of Korpiklaani's latest North American tour. Oddly, only NYC was left on the menu. Like a German beer hall polka, played by the Charlie Daniels Band, the self-professed Finnish cowboys take the stage to newbie 'Viinamäen Mies'. Floppy hat and boot wearing guitarist Cane looks the part, as does their older, barefooted bassist Jarkko Aattonen, the stoic, long-bearded four-stringer seemingly a doppelganger from the country outfit Oak Ridge Boys. Also onstage, the white jumpsuited fiddler (Tuomas Rounakari), bald accordion player Sami Perttula and dredlocked lead singer Jonne Järvelä. Visual spectacle, indeed!

After the rousing start, green lit 'Lempo' slows down the frenetic energy. Like a late night party that disintegrates into your BFF moaning about his/her ex, who wants melancholy drunks, let alone a half dozen onstage? In the livelier moments, Järvelä dances across the stage and Cane circles, in place, but what happened to our 'Happy Little Boozers', 'Let's Drink' or even 'Beer Beer', for that matter? Know the band has sought to diversify their sound, but having seen Korpiklaani repeatedly overseas (and just this winter, on the 70000 Tons cruise), this appeared to be a heavier, mid-tempo set designed to flog the new Noita album, as six cuts were aired. The fans came to party, dressed as if Halloween, adorned in a variety of costumes, including a yellow banana, space helmet, horns, etc. They sang along to more upbeat numbers, like 'Vodka' and moshed about to 'Petoelaimen Kuola' and 'Vaarinpolkka'.

'Wooden Pints' which closed the proper set, sees Järvelä's dreads flying in different directions, as he wildly headbangs. During the encore Rounakari dispensed with his violin and does an improvised cassock dance around the stage. If only there'd been that much energy earlier.

Streaks of war paint across their faces, Ensiferum's headlining set was full of pomp. Petri Lindroos, front and center, screaming out the likes of 'Heathen Horde' and 'One Man Army'. Entertainment came from his sidekicks, including the animated, kilt sporting bassist Sami Hinkka and female accordion player Netta Skog (ex-Turisas), who frequently moved about the stage.