Eläkeläiset

Eläkeläiset (Eng. The Pensioners ), founded in 1993 is a Finnish humppa band from Joensuu, which mostly plays cover versions of famous pop and rock music.

• 5.1 LPs
• 5.2 EPs
• 5.3 Singles
• 5.4 DVD

History

Eläkeläiset born in 1993 as originally planned only for a few gigs a side project of some musicians in the band Kumikameli (German rubber camel ). After an appearance on the Provinssirock two more concerts followed at festivals in Laituri and Kemi. After that, the project should be actually terminated again. But nothing came of it. Instead took Onni Waris, Petteri Terävä Martti Waris and Tapio Santaharju end of June 1994 in improvised studios - by its own account, among other things, a bus and a sauna - at the request of Stupido Records her first album Humppakäräjät on. This was followed by first overseas appearances at festivals in Gothenburg and two Swedish Hultsfred. In autumn 1994, the band recorded before some line-up changes: Petteri Terävä was replaced by Lassi Kinnunen and Tapio Santaharju by Kristian Voutilainen. In 1995, the band has played to more than thirty concerts in Finland and has again made ​​some appearances in Sweden. In July of the second album Humpan Kuninkaan Hovissa arose.

1996 returned Kristian Voutilainen, who was in between working as a sound engineer for the band, again as an active member on the back band. Two tours through Germany with a total of 25 appearances and a concert at the Danish Roskilde Festival took place. The performances in Roskilde and Erlangen, the first live album In humppa We Trust was formed. In addition, the band for the distribution of their music in Germany signed a contract with the German label TUG Records and the German Agency Knock Out Music Service.

The year 1997 brought despite large changes in the line-up more tours through Germany, Austria and Sweden and in the fall of the third studio album Humppamaratooni. In 1998 and 1999, the delivery schedule of the band was full. Among other things, she appeared for the first time at Wacken Open Air in summer 1999. In addition, the musicians recorded in October 1998 for another album. In March 1999, this was the name of advertising, baby! published. It is the first album of Eläkeläiset that made ​​it into the Finnish album charts. A recently published split EP with Kumikameli rose - also as a premiere - in 10th place in the Finnish single charts.

In 2000, the band toured still active, but the band composition was again subject to change at many performances. So jumped a few times Sakari Liimatainen (actually Aku Syrjä of the band Eppu Normaali ) a. With the double album humppa Akatemia a compilation which brought it into the Finnish album charts at number 17 appeared. 2001, the band performed the first time in Russia, followed by a Russian label compilation humppa! brought on the market. Another studio album - The Speed ​​of Sound - While there was, however, never released due to lack of approvals of the original artist. In addition to the traditional spring tour of Germany and Austria Eläkeläiset published in 2002 a new album - Pahvische. In addition, the Christmas EP joulutorttu arose.

2003 Eläkeläiset celebrated their tenth anniversary by. Provinssirock on, a festival which also celebrated its 25th anniversary, and on which the band had their first gig in 1993, a 25- hour marathon played humppa The band members got the support of former members and session musicians, so that a total of 16 people took turns again and again.

2004 is also the first concert in Switzerland took place alongside a further appearance at the Wacken Open Air and the Ruisrock. The previously often Onni Waris in live performance representing Petteri Halonen joined as the fifth permanent member of the band. With Humppaelämää the band also released a studio album with the owners of the desired cover versions of songs for the first time contained only original compositions due to the increasingly frequent problems. Followed in 2006 with Humppasirkus a new album of cover versions. Furthermore, the band released the EP The Humppawerk containing sung in German songs. In 2007, the band first break and held a single concert. Humpakonsertto, which was published this year live album, had already appeared on several gigs during the preceding year. In 2008, the band held its own account 26 concerts, including a free concert in Helsinki as part of the 160 - year celebration of their hometown Joensuu. In addition, the band released the album humppa United.

The end of September, 2009, the band announced, with the signature drink Hulluna humpasta the Euro Vision Song Contest 2010 - of them as " Humppavision Song Contest " means - to want to participate. The decision as to which Finnish contribution in Oslo is at the start, fell in the Finnish Trials for Euro Vision Song Contest, where Eläkeläiset in the final of the best could not prevail against Kuunkuiskaajat to Three on 30 January 2010.

Style

Eläkeläiset plays mostly cover versions of famous pop and rock music in the fast or slow humppa Jenkka style. The songs are often barely recognizable, memorable melodies but are usually accepted. The lyrics are all in Finnish and consist of both usually rather irreverent translations and own, often nonsensical seals together. This approach was welcomed by the record companies, the original title of resistance, which is why the band his own words their versions of Wind of Change must ( by the Scorpions ) and Smells Like Teen Spirit ( Nirvana ) no longer play or publish. In Finland sees the matter with permits something different: Most bands know and accept Eläkeläiset. So the DVD Chaos Ridden Years, published in 2006 contains - Stockholm Knockout Live by Children of Bodom, among others, an argument advanced by Alexi Laiho cover version of Eläkeläisets Vihaan humppaa that a cover of Hate Me! is from Children of Bodom. Lauri Ylönen of The Rasmus in turn had the song Falling offered in a random encounter for a cover.

Concerts

Although Eläkeläiset rarely play in large halls, but still occurred already at festivals such as the Provinssirock, the Ruisrock and Wacken Open Air. At their concerts, the band travels mostly by private vans. A special feature of Eläkeläiset concerts is the fact that the band frequently hidden alcoholic beverages, after which visitors can search.

The live line-up of the band was often subject to fluctuations. There were several performances in which only one of the permanent members was present. The drummer Kristian Voutilainen states in an interview that Eläkeläiset had once occurred simultaneously on two concerts in Helsinki and the Netherlands in 1997.

To work around the problem with the permits for their cover versions, the band cuts more often privately with their concerts and released these recordings then without their label as (actually illegal) bootlegs of itself

Fans

There are several fan groups that keep Eläkeläiset loyalty. End of the 90s there was a fan club of " The Retiree youth " called himself, of whose whereabouts are unknown. Since 2004 there is the " Humppajugend ", which now has several local groups. In addition, there are organized groups of fans in Poland ( " Polish humppa Team") and in Finland ( " Humpparetkut ").

" Geek " culture

Goods usually found in punk environment, the first fans of the band, computer geeks have now discovered this music for themselves. Eläkeläiset is now regarded as an integral part of any hackathons, and it is, large parts of the OpenBSD kernel code had been written under humppa influence. Numerous in-jokes on the website of the OpenBSD project testify to this.

Discography

LPs

• Joulumanteli (1994, cassette only as published)
• Humppakäräjät (1994, album)
• Humpan Kuninkaan Hovissa (1995, album)
• In humppa We Trust (1996, live album )
• Humppamaratooni (1997, album)
• Advertising, Baby! (1999, album)
• Humpan Kuninkaan Hovissa (2000, album, and in 2010 re-release )
• Humppa Akatemia (2000, double album )
• Humppa Till We Die (2000, CD reissue of " Humppamaratooni " )
• Humppa! (2001, album)
• Pahvische (2002, album)
• Humppaelämää (2003, album)
• Humppasirkus (2006, CD / LP)
• Humppakonsertto (2007, live album )
• Humppa United ( 2008 album )
• Humppabingo (2009, Best-of- double album )
• Humpan Kuninkaan Hovissa (2010, album, re-release, including bonus tracks )
• Humppasheikkailu (2012, album)
• Humppakalmisto (2013, album)

EPs

• Humppalöyly (1995, EP)
• Humppaorgiat (1999, EP with songs censored )
• Huipputähtien Ykköshitit (1999, Split -EP with Kumikameli )
• Jenkkapolkahumppa (2001, EP)
• Joulutorttu (2002, EP)
• Katkolla humppa (2003, EP)
• Keväthumppa (2003, EP)
• The Humppawerk EP (2006, EP)

Singles

• Pyjamahumppa (1995)
• Dementikon Keppihumppa / Take Me to the City ( 1997)
• Sensational Monsters of humppa (1998)
• Yes humppa Soi (2000)
• Jukolan humppa (2006)
• Ukki, oli Mitä Jenkka? (2009)

DVD

• Sekoilun Ytimessä 1993-2003 - Ten Years of Finnish humppa in the Core of Sekolation (2003)

Swell