Eläkeläiset

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Eläkeläiset on stage in Germany spring 2004

Eläkeläiset (Finnish for "pensioners") is a Finnish humppa band founded 1993.

Current members of the band are Onni Varis (keyboard, vocals), Petteri Halonen (keyboard, guitar, vocals), Lassi Kinnunen (accordion, vocals), Martti Varis (bass, vocals) and Kristian Voutilainen (drums, vocals). Ilmari Koivuluhta (sound technique, logistics) and Pekka Jokinen (graphics, merchandise) are completing the humppa family. According to the band's statements, they play between 80 and 100 concerts, of which only 20 in Finland and 40 to 50 in Germany. Rarely performing in big venues, they visited several international music festivals, e.g. the Wacken Open Air; they travel mostly with a private lorry and no bus.

Eläkeläiset plays mainly cover versions of famous pop and rock hits in a fast humppa or slow jenkka style with Finnish lyrics — the original songs are barely recognizable. They also publish bootleg recordings of their own concerts. Every song title until the album "Werbung, Baby!" contained either "Humppa", "Polkka" or "Jenkka".

Due to their popularity, Eläkeläiset play more concerts in Germany than in Finland. The band once stated they do around 80 to 100 shows per year, but only 20 in Finland and 40-50 in Germany.

"Päivätanssit" (Pahvische, 2002) (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- A cover of the 1988 Pet Shop Boys hit "Domino Dancing".
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Eläkeläiset is very popular among some OpenBSD developers and frequently played at their hackathons, where they claim they are, "thwarting evil with humppa and math." ^[1]