Out of this World with Laika & The Cosmonauts, Pollo del Mar and Ape

By Natalie Drest

The Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, March 20, 2001

Opening band Ape was eclectic, to say the least. Instruments on hand included: vibes, log drum, drum set (red Pearl), Hawaiian lap steel guitar, steel guitar, Fender Jaguar (white, w/ mute) Strat (sunburst), 2 P-basses (1 sunburst, 1 natural w/ Tele-style headstock), bongos, guiro, vibro-slap, and ukulele (w/ a pickup). Amps were a silverface Deluxe Reverb, a non-reverb Deluxe, and two small Ampegs (one probably a BR-50; not sure about the other, similar but slightly smaller), both in blue diamond tolex. Other than the vibes player (who also did the log drum) and the set drummer, the others traded off on the other instruments.

The 5 band members sported vintage aloha shirts; three also wore hats: 1 straw fedora, 1 straw cowboy hat, 1 fez. The very finest in Goodwill Store chic.

The music was no less eclectic. Sort of a Hawaiian-Caribbean thang, many of the numbers were instrumentals. We weren't told the titles of the first 3 numbers if they had them. The next was the classic "Hawaiian War Chant," which has been covered by everyone from Spike Jones to The Halibuts. The Ape gang did a fine job with it. "Ho'okino Mambo" was next, which was great fun, though I have no idea what the words meant. We were also treated to an island-ized "Miserlou," with a steel guitar lead, reminiscent of the Hillbilly Soul Surfers' treatment, though more islandish than Nashville-ish. The lively "Cuba Libre!" followed, and then a cool instro called "Jumping Beans." This one featured nifty harmonized twin lead guitar work. Next was a slow quasi-"Oriental" number, which featured guitar and ukulele taking turns on the lead. The tempo was picked up with the vocal "I'm Pau," sort of a Hawaiian jump blues. Ape ended the set with the rousing "Kohala March." This group was entertaining and energetic, though it would have been nice if they'd told us the song titles more. Each member is an accomplished musician, and they have really put together an interesting and entertaining sound. They might want to re-think that name, though.

After a fairly short intermission, Pollo del Mar took the stage. As befits a band whose latest CD is called "Devil and the Deep Blue Sea," they played as if possessed. ("Subliminable" message: Buy the CD.) Our fearless foursome sported some new weapons this time. Jeremy had is familiar butterscotch drums, Jeff had is fretless black Fender Jazz & GK rig, but Jono and Ferenc were using different guitars than usual, though they had their familiar Musicman combo and blackface Bassman, respectively. Jono had a black Strat, while Ferenc had his custom candy apple red "Ferenc" model Sortacaster (Strat shape, 3 lipstick tube pickups, and extended fingerboard, it looked like). I think the different guitars gave the band's sound a little more edge. They really ripped into their set, powering through old and new favorites like "Cutlass Supreme," "Anabelle Lee," "Route 666," "Jonny Foo, Ninja Chiropractor," "Moon Over Marin," "Devil's Slide," and "Insecticide." Ferenc also spoke of a very influential surf band from Seattle, then played Nirvana's "Come As You Are." Another surprize was a cover of Led Zepplin's "Four Sticks." "Insecticide" included Jono and Ferenc strumming each other's guitars at one point. The tune finished with a unison jump by Ferenc, Jono, and Jeff. It was obvious from the get-go that the Pollo boys were excited to be sharing the stage with the headliners, special guests from another continent.

Pollo del Mar is always a hard act to follow, but intercontinental ambassadors Laika & The Cosmonauts were up to the task. For you gearheads, lead guitarist Mikko Lankinen played his vintage Jazzmaster through a blackface Twin Reverb (probably reissue), and also had a few pedals (chorus and a delay/echo of some kind). Keyboardist-guitarist-master of ceremonies Matti Pitinski handled the small keyboards (two, sorry I don't recall what, but not vintage) and sometimes played a grey Strat, also through a blackface Twin Reverb. Bassist Tom Nyman played an early-style P-bass (Tele-style headstock, big pickguard) through a GK head and Hartke 1x15" cabinet. Drumming dynamo Janne Haavisto played a small Yamaha set.

(Note: we weren't told the titles to all the tunes, so I may have some of them wrong.) Finland's greatest surfmeisters kicked off their set with "The Hypno-Wheel," and moved right into "Disconnected" and a couple of other fast rockers. I think "Floating" may have been in there somewhere. Then they launched into "Boris the Conductor," which features really cool doubling in the guitar and bass parts, really fast. At times, it looked like Matti and Tom were watching the Mikko's flying fingers because they couldn't believe anyone could play that fast and accurately.

We were then treated to an audience-participation opportunity, "Look! No Head!" This was followed by an ominous "Experiment in Terror," very Link Wray-sounding. The band's incredible version of the theme from "The Avengers" followed. They blistered though it at a speed approaching 200 beats per minute. Again, it looked like Matti and Tom were watching Mikko in awe (or maybe they wait for the night he finally makes a mistake- didn't happen this time). Next came a Tom Nyman tune, "Land's End," a nice not-quite-so-fast number. Next came a slow number, "Silenzio." We returned to the movies with "Psyko," which combines themes from "Psycho" and "Vertigo." This was followed by a couple of other tunes, one of which was, I think, "Get Carter." They ended with a nifty version of "Baja," where they went into double time at the bridge, with Mikko managing to play harmonics that fast (!). (Kids- these guys are trained professionals. Don't try this at home!) Naturally, the audience wouldn't let them go without an encore, so our friends from Finland came back to do "Enchanted Rock" and "C'mon Do the Laika!" Still more wild applause and whooping and hollering, so they came back for a final encore, with Matti saying that the climate in the club reminded them of a certain Finnish tradition, the sauna. Thus they closed out the night with "Sauna Soul."

Each member of Laika & The Cosmonauts is an incredibly talented musician and composer. In addition, they clearly enjoy their music and playing with each other. They rival Los Straitjackets for the "tightest instro band" title. Janne pounds the drums with amazing power, style, and precision. I think a drum war between him and Dusty would end only when the drums started to fall apart. Matti contributes classy organ and rhythm guitar parts. Not only that, they all seem to be really nice guys, and signed my Laika & The Cosmonauts frisbee. Oh, and "cosmonauts" sounds much cooler when pronounced by a Finn.

They have threatened to return for another U.S. tour sooner; let's hope so. If they come anywhere near you, you gotta see 'em.