A Käärijä London gig at the Roundhouse, Camden – this was likely the stuff of dreams for Vantaa resident and Finnish rapper Käärijä (Jere Pöyhönen) in early January this year.
With a London crowd of roughly 3k and promise of some “special surprises” (perhaps the rapper’s pink crew of cha cha cha dancers,) – this was the biggest and most anticipated date so far.
From 5am, swathes of dedicated fans had already commenced queuing fuelled by the determination for a coveted barricade spot.
It was already evident that the passionate audience cultivated was a result of his wild energy and charismatic stage presence.
13 hours later the adrenaline charged Kääryleet (Käärijä fans,) rolled through the doors with bellows of ‘Huhhahhei’ (Käärijä’s latest release) building the atmosphere.
Once the standing area was open to the public, the Roundhouse filled out fast as chatty fans exchanged handmade bracelets and shared cups of cold water.
Opening act and Eurovision hopeful July Jones tore up the stage with a feisty, electric feast which oozed intoxicating femininity and an assuredness in her strength and vocal power.
Minutes before the main event, coloured balloons bobbed cheerily above party-goers’ heads as rave music blared through the sound system.
The lights dimmed, hearts fluttered and the growling bass reverberated through my ribcage as I stood just shy of the barricade in second row.
Ordered to clap our hands in time with the beat, a wave of thunderous applause welcomed the brazen bowl cut sporting 30-year-old.
The fuzzy techno of the intro pumped up the crowd as the pocket rocket rapper commanded the stage with his bouncy moves.
After the rowdy schlager-rap march along tune ‘Auto Jää,’ Käärijä peeled off the chic trench coat, freeing himself of the pleather prison.
Emphasis on freedom here – a key form of expression the artist encourages during his show alongside advocating safety and consent.
Because today this is the safe space y’know. And nobody no fight today.
– Käärijä, Roundhouse London.
He now embodied the true Käärijä ‘Paidaton Riehuja’ (Shirtless Rampager,) persona – no naysayer nor fabric layer could stop him.
Following the removal he urged others to join in with his shirt stripping activities in time for the guitar-heavy headbanger (also titled: ‘Paidaton Riehuja’).
Käärijä gigs have fast become renowned for their music/comedy split.
The unexpected element always brings different balance to each Käärijä show – however I can vouch that London boasted the perfect 50/50 ratio of music:comedy.
Fan favourites like ‘Mic Mac’ even packed surprise as Käärijä’s iconic yellow doppelgänger Häärijä gave his first on-stage voice reveal!
Party-metal banger and latest single ‘Huhhahhei’ received an overwhelmingly positive response at the prestigious venue.
Fans chanted along enthusiastically in Finnish despite the track only being available on streaming platforms for three days!
Other highlights included an exclusive performance of 2016 track ‘Urheilujätkä’ with close friend and Käärijä crew member Jesse Voss.
A sea of white torchlights greeted the duo as the pair put the ‘rap’ in ‘rapport.’
‘Cha Cha Cha’ of course tied up the show as the pink dancers were indeed led out on an extending leash, before liberating themselves to bask in the feral energy reciprocated by the crowd.
As the team collapsed in a huddle on the floor all beaming smiles, a genuine pride and gratefulness could be felt exuding from maybe not Käärijä but Jere himself.
With a diversely international foreign audience selling out his European shows, it’s clear that ‘Cha Cha Cha’ was no fluke success, no ‘one hit wonder.’
Eurovision was a stepping stone in Käärijä’s story, and I can’t wait to watch the thrilling tale unfold further for this bolero wearing phenomenon.
Follow the writer: @lflaurs on Instagram!
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