It’s a bit late to write this as my memorabilia. But, Who cares???!!! XD
October 15, 2010 : a good friend of mine, Setyo Hanurogo mentioned about a ‘yearly ritual’ Rock In Solo. But I couldn’t go because of my health condition. And my wallet condition too, doctors, hospital and medicines made me totally bankrupt!!!
June 22, 2011 : again, Setyo mentioned about Rock In Solo again, that made me think : can I go there this time?
July 5, 2011 : Setyo shared Rock In Solo 2011 that made me suddenly decide I WANT TO GO THEREEEEE!!!!! And Setyo is soooo kind to bought me the ticket… Thank you, Pyoooo!!! XD At first, I was surprise that Kataklysm will perform at there. I heard that this band is cool, I also curious about Korean Gothic Band – Ishtar, my friend told me that I shouldn’t missed Deranged and of course : ‘The Lord Prayer’ part by Down For Life. 5 July to September 17, I counted the days. I bought the latest CD of Kataklysm and hope to growl together with them.
September 11, 2011 : Mas Bassy, a friend of my brother, who’s supposed to go to Solo with me, told me that he had an accident that probably broke his shoulder. Haizzz!!! And he had a surgery on September 13, 2011 there was a possibility that he might not go. And he gave me Pak Irwan’s number, let say he’s the leader or the elder of the group, who has the train ticket. I will go with him and his group, the people that I’ve never know before. But, who cares? We’ll have almost 5 hours in that long tube called train to know each other before reach Solo.
September 13, 2011 : Doctor found out there’s some liquid in my lungs that has to be taken out. Oh, craps!! I cannot missed this RIS 2011!! Things has set up!!
September 17, 2011 (the big day!!!!) : Whoa! Finally!!! All my bags are packed, also Si Thole, my beloved camera, and The Pinokio – Olympus E – PL 2 with the ‘long nose’ that Pak Edy, my office colleague lent me. Too much for 1 night trip but what the heck! Took a bit longer for the taxi to come to my house while I have to be in Gubeng train station at 6.30 AM, the train leave at 7 AM. It was a big surprise that Mas Bassy joined us while he just left hospital a day before. So, both of us, took a big risk with our health to go there… what a metalhead!!! There were 7 of us in the group : Pak Irwan, Mas Bassy, Pak Sumantri, Pak Hendri, Pak Yulianto, Pak… uuhhmmm… damn! I forgot his name… and me… the only girl in ‘town’! Hihihih….
11:18 we arrived in Solo Balapan train station and directly transfer to Sunan hotel. The room was nice with bathtub and the ‘dutchlady’. I took a hot shower for a while, need to make my body warmer cos I kept coughing in the train (well, doctor asked me to avoid the aircon). Had my black Led Zeppelin t-shirt and went down to the lobby. My new friends was there already with some others metalheads. I saw some white guys, tall, black shirt, long hair and tattoo walked around the lobby to the dinning room. Feels like I’m Alice In Wonderland. I’ve been a metalhead since 9 or 10 when my big brothers ‘poisoned’ me with Van Halen, Extreme, Warrant, God Bless, I have to confess that I was also a big fans of New Kids On The Block at that time :p But it was for the 1st time I surrounded with bunches of rock star.Then my eyes stood on a guy who’s smoking near the elevator… John Petrucci???I thought… hahaha… that was Thomas Ahlgren, guitarist and also vocalist of Deranged. But guess what, I wasn’t the only one who thought so XD
Around 12 o’clock, the hunting time begun. Those gentlemen put their collections on a grand piano (poor that grand piano) and started to call their idols to signs and take a photo together. If I was a freelance photographer in the carnival, I must be RICH!!! Hahahaha… It was fun and unless when it’s my turn to take a photo with those stars… Most of them are blur… next time, reminds me to bring a pocket – easy operating – camera with me -_-’ I took a photo with each member of Kataklysm, what was a great honor! Btw, seeing those metalheads ‘hunts’ for their idols, reminds me of the teenage hunts for boyband idols hahahah… sorry, guys!! But you’re much better, no annoying hysterical screams… :p
1:30 PM Pak Irwan, Mas Bassy, The Gentlemen that I forgot the name :’( and I went to the venue, Alun-Alun Lor, Solo, Central Java. Alun-Alun means the main square of the city and Lor means North. The silly taxi driver dropped us in the wrong place til we have to walk around the alun-alun to the entrance. I met Setyo at the gate, but we didn’t walk in together. With 3 sections of security, we entered the venue. There were thousands of men in black in there. We walked around check the stages, looking for merchandises, and absolutely, food!!! We were starving. Honestly, the foods suxx, maybe because I chose the wrong merchant coz there are some kind of foods that forbidden for me. At least I enjoyed the pizza :p
At 3 PM, I was ready for Ishtar. Standing right in front of ONE, the guitarist. They’re amazing. I love their performance and the music that they brought us. Pak Irwan and I really enjoyed it, except the smoke of the cigarettes made me moved backwards, remembering that around 120 cc liquid has been taken from my lungs few days before. Mas Bassy was left behind, avoid the crowd because of his injured. They played 5 songs if I’m not mistaken, and Binna, the vocalist, seemed became the beautiful witch who attract the heart of the men at there. she hypnotized the crowd with her voice. Also the Dei, the bassist. OK, Boys! At this time, your eyes and ears are spoiled. The next band will be my turn!!! Hahahaha… For almost one and half hours I accompanied Pak Irwan to have the moment of taking photo with Bina (and take advantages to take the photos of Andreas Johansson and Thomas Ahlgren in candid hihihihi). As Pak Victor said : ‘We’re a huge fans of them who took a long hours in the train to see them!!!’ And, we made it!!! We got Bina, too bad that no chance to take a photo with One -_-’ We bought the cds and got the signature too!! Thanks to Pak Victor :p
4:30 PM, Deranged on stage! Rock on Vikings!!!! I was in the front line, right in front of Andreas Johansson, the bassist. Then again, the smoke of the cigarettes kickin’ me away… But I stood not too far from the stage. And still remember their music hit my heart harder. To be honest, Deranged was the 1st Death Metal band that I saw life in the concert. That’s what made it unforgettable (well, I was in Sepultura’s concert in Surabaya in 1992, but that was too chaos and I couldn’t enjoy it). How was the crowd gone mad, headbang, growl together, moshing… That was really cool!! OK, let’s say that I have such a weird imagination. But feels like I was in the middle of the Vikings that attack the gargantuan dragon in the ‘How To Train Your Dragon’. That was really awesome!! Even-though without their former vocalist Martin Schönherr, who has resigned just few days before RIS 2011, Thomas Ahlgren, the guitarist, filled the vocal position. A bit monotone, but that was uncounted when I saw the people enjoyed the show so much. Too bad that in my position, it’s impossible for me to catch Rikard Wermén behind his drum with my camera. And Setyo told me that he was kicked on the head twice and almost lost his glasses :p
We had a long break after that. Around 6 PM there were marching ‘band’ of Kasultanan Solo passed. It was really interesting to have that kind of traditional stuff in the middle of death metal concert. You won’t see that kind of thing in the other place!!! Near the merchandise tent, I met Thomas Ahlgren, and we took a photo together.. YAY!!! Thanks to Pak Irwan, and sorry for the difficulty in operating my camera :p
At 7:30 PM the show started again. Started with Oathen, from South Korea too. I sneak out to move forward, closer to the stage to get good photos because it was for the first time also for me to use that E – PL 2 in night. I had few nice shot. They were kickin’!! And makes me hungry too, so I had another 2 slices of Paparons Pizza :p Setyo shook my shoulder from the back and surprised me. You were lucky that I didn’t smacked you down, Brotha!! hahahaha… I enjoyed Down To Earth, had the Lord Prayer together XD but fell asleep during Burger Kill, I was sooooo tired :’(
Few minutes fell asleep recharged me for Kataklysm. They rocks!!! I did the growl, the awful one, but I growl!!!! XD There was a delay once because of the sound problem but they’re back and kickin’ again! There was round about 5000 people in front of the stage. Kataklysm were also doing a video for it. Will it be in youtube?! Can’t wait to give a comment : I was there too!!!!
Too bad that I couldn’t really enjoy Death Angel. Maybe I was too tired or what, I don’t know. The crowd reduced during the Death Angel… But one of my friend said they’re amazing! Good to hear that!
Around midnight, we’re back to the hotel. Wants to fell asleep suddenly because I was hungry but not in the mood to eat. But then, my cough bothering me, dammit!!!
September 18, 2011 8 AM, having breakfast, again, feels like Alice In The Wonderland by seeing those big white guys with long hair, tattoos, black shirts around the dinning room. Only One of Ishtar that doesn’t look like as metalhead while having lotsa spaghetti for his breakfast.
The coolest part, I had chance to meet Deranged and Kataklysm again… Took another photos. And Rikard Wermén captured behind Kataklysm and me with his funny face :p Goossshh… Stephane Barbe makes me look so tiny!!! Then they departed to Solo tour, then my friends and I packed my bag and departed to Surabaya. Stop by in Timlo Solo for lunch and Orion to buy some snacks and gift for people at home. *Thank you Sunan Hotel for the transfer.*
Having another 4 hours in the train accompanied with Pak Yulianto’s growl was unforgettable memory in one big package. Too bad Pak Irwan got stomachache.
8:05 PM reached home safely, thanks to Pak Yulianto for the lift. And thanks for the other gentlemen who has made the trip was really fun and enjoyable. Thanks for the band who performed so well : Deranged, Ishtar, Oathed, Down For Life, Burger Kill, Kataklysm, Death Angel and the other band who has made this trip worth it. Overall, it was a great trip, great gigs and great friends to go with!
Last but not least : Thank you, My Jesus, who has blessed me with this joy, strenght, great friends – old and new, and keep me safe during this trip. You’re still and always be the ONE!!!!
