Berlin Falls Into The Rasmus’ Shadow: A Night Full of Nostalgia and New Fire
Written and Captured By | Anne Einecke
Finnish alternative rock band The Rasmus played the second day of the EU leg of their Weirdo Tour 2025 at Metropol Berlin. The historic venue greeted fans with glamorous charm: three floors with curved balconies, magnificent pillars, and opulent chandeliers as far as the eye could see.
The sold-out show opened with Block of Flats – an alt-rock/metal band from Finland. Their bleached-blonde singer, Jonne Nikkilä, entertained the crowd wearing heavy black eye makeup and delivering a powerful performance. Lots of red and green lights and lively crowd interactions hyped up everyone who had filled the room early.
With the second support act of the evening, The Funeral Portrait, the crowd got the perfect warm-up. Singer Lee Jennings entered the stage perfectly on brand: a neon-green mohawk, Dr. Martens boots, and a black leather jacket with the band’s logo (a skull with a moon) on the back. The Atlanta rockers owned the stage and were visibly happy to play Berlin, as it is their first tour in Europe. During the performance, Lee held hands with fans, split the crowd for sing-along action, asked for flashlights, and showed off his energy by jumping and kicking around. He also gave insight into the meaning of their songs, which mostly deal with heavy topics: one about coping with OCD and anxiety, one about toxic exes, and Voodoo Doll, written about addiction. Their song A Hearse For Two felt truly special as the singer got emotional explaining its origin – a love letter from his grandfather after his grandmother passed, and how hard it is to wake up alone after spending 64 years with someone.
After a short break, during which people sang along to Linkin Park on a well-curated pre-show playlist, it was finally time for The Rasmus. For over 30 years, the band has delivered its unique blend of rock, pop, nu-metal, and post-grunge. The dedication of their fans showed in the sold-out VIP upgrade, people arriving from abroad (there were flags from Poland, for example), and almost everyone in the front rows wearing merch – there was even a phone case with the singer’s face on it. The applause was correspondingly loud when the band entered the stage after bright purple flickering lights. Singer Lauri Ylönen wore white platform sneakers, a black top, baggy pants, a black hat, and white eyeliner symbols on his face. He captivated with remarkable stage presence and precise, heartfelt vocals. Guitarist Emilia Suhonen, wearing fishnets and an oversized black graphic tee, greeted the fans and expressed gratitude for the sold-out gig.
The first song, Rest In Pieces, is from their new album Weirdo, released in September this year. They followed with Guilty (2003), setting the tone for the night: a strong mix of old fan favorites and newly released bangers. Video installations on a large screen contributed to the atmosphere of each song, showcasing flames or a foggy forest. A clear drum kit added to the aesthetic. Drummer Aki Hakala wore a fishnet top, while bassist Eero Heinonen chose a distressed black knit sweater. He praised the team for handling the technical difficulties they apparently faced, though none of it was noticeable to the crowd.
The songs captivated the audience. After the gloomy ballad Not Like the Other Girls, which is about a girl whose father tragically passed away, The Rasmus shifted into a more powerful part of their set. Lauri screamed, “Let’s party!” right before the 2011 hit F-F-F-Falling, and when they played the new song Banksy immediately after, the crowd was audibly hyped. Emilia supported Lauri vocally on this one as well. Eero talked about how performing Livin’ in a World Without You in Berlin feels extra special, since the song was created in the German capital at the world-famous Hansa Studios, where artists like The Beatles and U2 once worked. Emilia, who joined The Rasmus in 2021, explained how In My Life was her favorite song as a teenager. She visibly enjoyed playing it, jumping across the stage.
When the first notes of In The Shadows – the song that made the band famous overseas and reached number one in the German charts for 19 weeks – filled the room, people screamed their lungs out, clearly having waited for this moment. The Rasmus closed the show with Weirdo, the title track of their new album. Since it is a collaboration with The Funeral Portrait, TFP singer Lee Jennings came back on stage to perform it with them. Afterward, the band played an acoustic version of Sail Away and ended their set with the sarcastic power track Love Is a Bitch. The crowd applauded wildly as the band took a bow, and fans bought plenty of merch at the stand. The unmistakable sound and perfectly curated setlist made this an evening to remember – whether you’re a devoted superfan or someone who only knew their world-famous radio hit until now.