October 22nd, 2005. St. Petersburg, Ice Palace
Report by Admirer
Author: Admirer
I`d like to tell you about my impressions after the concert of MT in Saint-Petersburg. Of course it`s very difficult to describe everything but I`ll do my best.
The weather was quite rainy, gloomy and wet at that day. In spite of everything I was in a very exited mood from the morning. Before I had bought the magazine with the playbill of MT on sky-blue background. The name of the last song of the album “Mergers and Take-overs” was the same as the name of new tour - “HelloGoodBuy-Tour”. From time to time I looked at it and prepared to the concert. In my mind I tried to imagine the future performance…
I like to visit Ledovy Palace, because it`s hude, round, quite comfortable music hall with good acoustics.
At that day there were many-colored flags: red flags with the logotype of MT and their picture from poster and blue flags with the name of tour of MT — “HelloGoodBuy-Tour” (with slogan – “pereydemnaT” and picture of letter “T” inside of yellow heart). Also on the right side of blue flag I noticed a green plane.
Of course I took these flags like a little reminding about concert.
Before the concert I decided to go around the hall, at the same time I listened to the unusual shaman songs in Chinese. I remembered that the first concerts of new tour were in China, I read many articles and heard a great deal about that performances.
My place was in parterre just near the stage but during the concert I was very pity that I hadn`t bought the tickets to the dance-hall. I think you understand me, especially after my story about that concert.
Then I took my place and started to look around. The stage from two sides was decorated with two long posters: the first blue one again reminded me the sky with white clouds and I read the known phrase “Pereydem na T”, that phrase was like the invitation for everybody who liked “MT”. The second poster of bright green color with the logotype “S7” of aircompany “Siberia” was also like the invitation but only with another flying words - “With song by sky”.
The instruments, music stand were already on the stage. Also I paid attention that the screen was designed against a background of dark-blue circles like the site of MT.
Many people of different ages came to that concert, the dance-hall was full, even during the concert people came and came.
Before the beginning of performance the screen was switched on and a hand started to draw the logotype of MT in different colors, then I saw the preview trailers of known companies, posters, picture areas with the cities of future tour, emblems, musicians and different photos of Iliy.
I felt the excitement and impatience of audience, heard how some of them started to applaud.
At last the light was switched off in the auditorium and on the stage. Everything calmed down.
The concert was started by Ivan, he played our favourite “Intro” (I often call it a prelude) to the song “Sorry, kitty” (“Prosti kiska”) slow and cautiously. The sounds of his instrument were as he played the grand piano. The musicians by turn appeared on the stage: Punga, Sdvig, Caler.
The excitement increased with every minute. At last we saw silhouette of Iliy from the darkness of side scene. You can imagine what happened in the dance-hall and parterre at that moment. Nobody could keep calmness, nobody could conceal their feelings of happiness, because after long parting we met again. We greeted them with long cheers.
They were dressed in dark clothes: Caler in black trousers, shirt and tie; on jersey of Sdvig I read the white inscription — “Supernatural”; Ivan in black duster coat with hood; Punga in black trousers and T-shirt.
On the T-shirt of Iliy were white stars on shoulders and inscription in Gothic type. First I thought that it was the word “ecstasy” (why not?!? ) but then I distinguished — «Sexstasy».
From the tragic prelude the music changed into the light one and Iliy started to sing “Sorry, kitty” (“Prosti kiska”). His motions were violent, his steps during his dance were resolute, his voice was careful, his eyes examined the audience. The screen on the stage showed night city, neon signs, shop windows, road. At the beginning of the concert we received the access in the form of key «ENTER».
Then was “Privatization” with the dark-red (like blood) map. Iliy stared inside emptiness, his face was very cruel and impregnable. His eyes changed into steel-blue. ( I am sorry for my suppositions, but this song for me has the silver color). It seemed to me that he pronounced a verdict to all (maybe to all our country or world).
Banzai was like tornado. The beautiful eyes of Iliy sparkled like lightnings. Everybody swung with their flags and posters. On the screen was shown different black and white cipher codes.
When I saw light-green leaves on the screen I suspected “Laminaria” (“Morskay Kapusta”). Iliy smiled, his face was kind and playful. The guitar of Yura played like many different instruments, sometimes his sounds reminded me the sounds of violin.
“Speed” (“Skorost”)!!!!!! It was a great surprise and present to me. There was a running road on the screen. Iliy took his tambourine and started to taxi. With every word he picked up speed. He wrapped himself with the flex from microphone and that flex coiled like black snake. But Iliy didn`t afraid of it, he was determined and fully confident in all his decisions.
The audience began to scan when he sang “Alien guest” (“Inoplanetny gost”)!!! On the blue screen were plaster arms that showed different signs, as they wanted to give instructions.
Like pleasant memories were for me the songs from my favourite film “Books` thieves” (“Pohititely knig”). Iliy sang the grandiose “Gold gates” (“Zolotye vorota”) and many gold (amber) rays were directed to him. During his singing the fragments of cruel boxing battle were showed on the screen. The blinding gold gates were like dangerous dreams and hopes.
“Such girls” (“Takie devchonki”) – Iliy sang very gently and thoughtful, with light melancholy. Together with Ivan he played the clarinet and we, during that marvelous song, dreamt or maybe remembered something (somebody). But our dreams remained in our hearts as our little secret.
“Corals” sang everybody! Pure, gentle and frank performance of Iliy was like a balm for our souls. On the screen beautiful red fish swam between corals. With admiration I listened to that song. It would be very difficult to forget the voice of Iliy, his new deep intonations, his eyes, because they were like sea.
The next song were “Pregnant” (“Hishnik”). The stage was dark. Only yellow eyes of that creature hypnotized all audience. Iliy sang about cruelty and loneliness. We were terrified, but also we felt sorry for that pregnant, especially at the end of the song, when we saw tears in his eyes. I thought at that moment that strong, cruel and successful could be weak. In the long run most of them became lonely.
The song “Unrest” (“Nepokoi”) was like oncoming parting. The song that lives between autumn and winter, between bridges of mysterious cities, not only in Saint-Petersburg, because there are many bridges in different countries, you should just try to find them. Iliy with despair sang that song. On the screen the hidden camera spied on somebody in his flat.
But the next song shook most of us, because the following part of concert was STUNNING.
Cherry-red lips, that tried to kiss somebody, that looked so tempting, appeared at the screen. And Iliy started to song – “Nonrandomness” (“Tak bivaet ne skuchaino”). The new dance of Iliy became so suggestive, his glances were like new invitation. He could persuade everybody that many things in our life were regularity. He was so powerless at that moment, as he had to give himself up.
“Blow away” (“Utekay”)!!! It`s very difficult for me to reproduce what happened with the audience when they heard the first and long letter “U”. It was not only a song for us at that moment, it was a holiday. Iliy turned into new and dangerous person in few seconds. We saw a real sabbath on the stage. The audience on the dance-hall and parterre, the musicians, everything merged. We were not separated, quite the contrary, we were a single whole.
The next challenge was the song «Without fears» («Strahu net»). Defiant motions and looks of Iliy drove mad everybody. On the screen three little charming dolls like Barbie danced among of different whirling circles. I must say that during different concerts of MT, within the performance of Iliy, you begin to find new meanings of his songs, even you have already heard there songs many times. So at that concert this song opened for me in new implications and hints (maybe in future somebody will write the book «Hidden secrets in the songs of MT»?!? in future …maybe…)
«Cat to Cat» («Kot Kota») — Iliy again changed his dance and intonations. At the same time on the screen we saw our favourite clip that returned us to the times of «Marine» («Morskay»).
The song “She-Bear” («Medveditsca») was sung with the help of Yura and Sdvig, Iliy supported them with his dance and joined them during refrain. A violet fluffy she-bear from the screen came near and near.
The native town of our musicians is Vladivostok, so this song is like hymn of their city, for us it`s also a very meaningful song. I am looking forward to see new clip of MT («Corals») that they have made during of his last visit in Vladivostok (on the birthday of Iliy).
After a long ovation Iliy said «Goodbye», then «Hello», then again «Goodbye». It seemed that he hesitated what to do: stay or go away. We held our breath, because we had a presentiment of oncoming separation…
After few seconds we heard «HelloGoodBye» («ZdravstvyDoSvidanie»). The arrangement was similar to new remix and clip of that song. The refrain and rhythm reminded me the fiery Latin-American melodies. I remembered the photos of musicians in Haiti where the album was created. On the screen we saw again night city, neon signs, shop windows, road, bar, bottles of strong drinks. Like foreteller the word «EXIT».
Then we applauded for a long time, nobody wanted to leave the hall. Soon our expectations were rewarded, as the musicians again came to the stage.
Iliy asked us to sing the song «Dolphins» how could we refuse from that opportunity to sing solo. «Dolphins»…some years ago I heard it by the radio, at that time I had no idea about the band «Mumiy Troll“, but I fell in love with that beautiful song.
The last song, that pressed me finally was – “He isn`t able to take you…” (Emu ne vzyat teby s soboi»). Iliy started slowly and easy, as he wanted to calm somebody, but that calmness was illusive, because gradually like a protest against all circumstances, his voice turned into cry from the heart. Instruments joined to his despair as real creatures. Play-lists, instruments, music stand were thrown about the stage. Some seconds we were silent, but after the audience gave a standing ovation.
For me it was a grandiose concert with marvelous new and old songs, interesting video plots for every song, great playing of musicians, excellent acting technique of Iliy.
I hope very much that soon many admirers of «Mumiy Troll» will have the opportunity to visit such interesting and unforgettable concert.
