† I went to the New York show but decided against Atlantic City when I heard it was 3 hours away. I was just too scared about how I would get back to NY etc. Anyway according to an article I found in the New York Post as Ville explained about last year's unforgettable concert "I'd been partying with my mates until 8:00 in the morning and I was stupid enough to think that I'd be in great shape to perform. Unfortunately I'm not the Lizard King. I promise you it won't happen again."

What New York got was a very tight but unemotional concert at least in my view. I don't want a drunken slurring non-singing Ville but I miss the nice little patter he would give in between songs so I was disappointed in the show. He did the same in Cleveland. I really like that connection he has with the audience when he talks to them either about his dying dog or whatever, you know what I mean? Part of Ville's appeal is his audience/fan connection and I hope he doesn't lose that. All the New York show got was a couple of Thank you very muches, "Nice" when people sang along and a See you soon at the end. Otherwise nothing I can remember.

I saw Bam at the beginning of the show in the HIM guests section. Also saw Jonna trying to be as anti-goth as possible in a long satin white outfit which badly needed static guard because it kept on clinging to her. She also wore a black fedora. Must have been a bad hair day. I was fearing that either Bam would either introduce the band or worse go up on stage and sing but after taking pics with fans and signing autographs he disappeared probably backstage. Knowing Bam he was probably itching at the bit to go on stage. Shades of last year when Ville tried to reunite Bam and Jen by making them sing out their anger in Joy and Sorrow. Poor Jen! This time she was nowhere to be seen. So much for loyal friends.

Funny thing about the HIM camp thruout HIM's set everyone was on their feet and singing but the HIM guests just sat there like they were too cool. What a bunch of Lazy Asses! Of course on the second and third level tiers there were a bunch of nerds dancing with their backstage passes in view. Some older lady was there and I think she might have been related to Mige because she got on the bus with him unless of course he prefers old lady groupies. Anyway the show must have been a success because I saw good old Seppo beaming so this NY concert went as it should I guess. Ville was wearing some glittery shirt which I wasn't crazy about. This shirt and that awful white Saturday Nite Fever suit he wore at the Tsunami Benefit will hopefully be making or made their way to the Finnish Goodwill. Hope Ville isn't going to start wearing cheesey Tommy or that scary Versace woman designer clothes like every other wanky rock star.

I waited to see Burton and Linde who were whisked away in a cab but did stop for autographs which is unusual for them since they seem so introverted. Mige took the bus with the old lady. Ville snuck out some other door I suspect with Bam and friends. As for Gas well who knows what Gas did. Suffice to say I did get a strange autograph from Mige. All I can say is that Fins have a strange sense of humor.