Laki & Järjestys is a finnish group which sings in finnish too. They play really good streetpunklike music and here is an interview with the group done in september 2024.

Please tell me a little history of Laki & Järjestys  how you met and why you did start to play together and when ?

-The roots of Laki & Järjestys extend to the times of more than 10 years ago. We had project bands and we played Oi! for several years. The line-up was more or less the same as the original line-up of Laki & Järjestys.

Two of the songs in our first EP, Idiootit and Reilua Peliä, were made on those days. Only lyrics were updated.

Why did things fade away ten years ago? I moved to Helsinki, we all were busy with other things and so on…

But then in 2020 we all noticed we had time to start to play again. And here we are.

Have it been the same members all the time, or have it been many lineup changes? Earlier bands?

-The first line-up change was made 1,5 years ago once Topi, our drummer, decided to step away. Now, while writing this, we are in the situation where we will have a new guitarist in the near future…

Laki & Järjestys s is the name, where did it came from and you wasn´t afraid that some other group would be named so?   What does it mean...is it Law and order?

-Law & Order, correct! In January 2020 I was hanging in Tavastia, the legendary rock-club in Helsinki, when I got the idea to start up the band named Laki & Järjestys. I went to Tavastia to see the band Ne Luumäet. It was a Ramones-styled punk band which was a very famous band in Finland in late 80’s and early 90’s. I grew up listening to such bands as Ne Luumäet. They broke up in mid 90’s but since then they’ve played some gigs every once in a while. This gig was supposed to be their last act as a band and Tavastia gig was sold out. I was standing in the crowd and while Luumäet was playing their song “Laki ja järjestys” I said to my friends “Hey listen, this would be the great name for the Oi! band, right?”. Friends agreed. And a couple of days later I asked Pasi, Pietu and Topi to join the band. They all showed the green light. Our first impression was to play stuff like Blitz and all other old-school Oi! bands from Britain.

You have a sound which is a little bit hard to say which type you play...on Discogs it stands Oi/punk but more punk I think...how would you describe it yourself?

-The sound is unique. It’s a mix of stiff Oi punk with vibes from ‘77 Finnish punk rock. And with aggressive and meaningful lyrics.

Is it important to give out the record as physical releases do you think? Would it feel like you have released a record if you only release it digital?

-Well, truly speaking I’ve been thinking more and more that we should just start to put songs out via streaming platforms. Why? Because physical records are selling poorly. And it gets worse and worse. But streams, like in Spotify, have increased like a rocket.

Do you play any covers when you play live? If you do, which then? I know that you do Cock Sparrer and L.A.M.F. covers on Uusi Aika?

-I think we’ve played Blitz’s Youth in every gig we’ve made. It has come to our traditional encore song.

Please tell me a little about what your songs are about?

a) Ei Katumusta

The song is about the current era of polarization, where everyone must choose a side to be accepted. We have a slightly different view and believe that everyone should be who they are.

b) Räjähdysten aika

I wrote this song immediately after the first news of the Bucha massacre came to light…

c) Liekki Palaa

You’ve learned how tought the world is and how much blood and tears it takes to live here. But then you hear Pistols and Sparrer playing and it lights the fire inside of you.

Is it important to get out your opinions in your music, or do you only sing about "trivial things"? Which is your most political song or shouldn´t you put politics into music?

-The statement we made when we started this band was that we would always stay away from politics. However, our songs always carry a serious message, and the lyrics are written in a provocative way.

Do you think that your lyrics can have effect on other people who listens to them...any example on it? Have you changed anyones mind?

-I have personally received feedback that our songs (and lyrics) give a lot of energy to survive to another day.

How is it to play this sort of music in Finland and which type of bands are you having concerts with? Which is the most peculiar band you have been playing together with?

-It's not easy, I have to admit. Playing Oi! in Finland means that punk rockers reject us, and on the other hand, Nazis won’t accept us because we're too 'punk’, hah! So, it’s not easy to get gigs. Of course, we don’t play at any political events, whether left-wing or right-wing. We just want to keep music as music.

Do you have any footballteam that you support? (I support Arsenal and a Swedish team which is called GAIS)....have you ever done a song as a tributesong to any team or something similar? Or doesn´t you music fit into that sort of thing?

-As a band we don't support any football team, or maybe I could say Huuhkajat, the national tema of Finland. Personally I support HSV from Hamburg, Germany.

What does punk mean to you, is it only a word, or only music or is it some fort of lifestyle??

-For me PUNK is a DIY attitude.

I like beer and also make beer.. If Laki & Järjestys would do a beer , what would it be named and which sort of beer would it be? Or maybe you´re straightedge?;-)

-Actually we’ve ongoing negotiations with a local brewery who might produce Laki & Järjestys -beer. We are very traditional Finnish guys so this is not a straightedge band.

And how is it to live in Finland now? Racists, the cost of living, and is people going to Sweden nowadays to buy things or isn´t it so much cheaper here anymore?

-Prices have increased all the time.

Which is your own favoritesong among your own songs? And which song is the people choice?

-Hmm, it’s hard to say because I love all of them. But one of my favorites is “Tyly Maailma” and its demo version. That song really captures what we’re about. We’ll release that version at some point in the future. From the new EP, I love all the songs. I think we did a brilliant job.

Our most streamed songs are “Ei katumusta”, “Rintamamiestalo”, “Kuka lystin kustantaa?” and “Suomi, oi Suomi”. So they might be the favorites of our fans.

What´s the biggest difference when you plays live nowadays if you compare when you first started to play in a band?

-Of course we can perform better and better all the time. And a new drummer has helped a lot because he is a very professional guy.

What is the most odd thing which have happened during a livegig with the group??

-Nothing so special actually.

Is Hell´s Tone Records a good label?

-Yes, and we’ve been friends with the owner, Vesku, for decades.

What´s your biggest livegig you have done this far? The biggest band you have played with? And which is the best gig you ever have done? Are you only playing in Finland?

-I’ve liked all the gigs we’ve did. We have played with f.ex. Legendary old Finnish punk bands like Kohu-63, Widows etc.

The first gig abroad will happen in January 2025.

What do you know about Sweden? What is typical Swedish?

-I used to travel a lot for work in Sweden years ago, so I have a good knowledge of your country. I think Sweden is very similar compared to Finland.

Any good bands from Sweden that you like?

-My opinion the best Swedish bands are Ebba Grön and Perkele (older records). I also want to mention Ultima Thule and Pitbull Farm.

Your audience when you play live, which type of people comes, age?

-Typical fan is a male with shaved head and the age from 30 to 50, hah!

What´s the best of playing live?

-The energy that playing gives you.

What is typical finnish behavior and typical Swedish behavior??

-We are always drunk as fuck and I guess you guys are eating meatballs in IKEA’s sofas.

Is there any good bands in Finland today? New and young bands which is good?

-Truly speaking, I don’t listen to new Finnish bands at all. All I’ve tried have been not-so-good…

Which is the record that you always must have in the tourbus?

-Normally we don’t listen to any music, we meet each other rarely so it’s very nice just to sit down to chat.

Do you buy much records, or is it only Spotify and those type of things to listen to music? Is there any good record shop in your hometown?

-Nowadays I buy records very randomly. Mostly I listen to music from Spotify & YouTube…

Which was your first record, the latest you bought and the most expensive you have bought?

-The first record was one of Klamydia’s first albums in early 90’s. Don’t remember what was the latest. But the most expensive might be one of Clash’s albums.

Do you care about reviews? Which is the most peculiar you ever had, with this band or any other band you have been to?

-I always read the reviews but all have been “normal” so nothing very peculiar so far.

If you could choose five bands from the past and the history and nowadays and both dead and living bands to have a concert together with your band. Which five have you been chosen?

-“The Clash”, “The Highwaymen”, “Condemned 84”, “Blitz” and “Freud, Marx, Engels & Young”, would be VERY cool gig!

And if you been paid for do a cover-record with four songs,which four songs have you done then?

-Probably the songs from the bands mentioned above.

Futureplans for the band? And for yourself?

-More songs, more gigs, more records, so the train will keep rolling.

Wisdomword?

-People in Sweden: Why the fuck you guys eat ‘surströmming’? Hah!

Anything more to add to the interview?

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