Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The Campaign Begins...

This will be somewhat short because there are a lot of logistical minutia that even I don't care about...Just want to keep up on things while they are somewhat fresh...

So, we get the name for the tour, dates and venues are getting secured, artwork by the ever so awesome Jeff Zornow is completed, vehicles are secured (or so I thought...more on that later), word is being spread all over the interweb, etc. I, along with the rest of Cardiac was feeling really good about things. We about finished the writing process for the 4th Full Length (!!) and now, we had to pick a setlist and just practice the hell out of it...Again, things were moving along...



The next part of the story is something only very few know about...It is really cool, so I wanted to include it...

One day, out of the blue, I get a call from Thorgrimm (Gravehill drummer if you weren't aware) wanting to shoot the shit a bit...We get to talking and he informed me that their last guitarist was no longer in Gravehill...It was an amicable split, but now they were stuck without a second guitarist. I was asked to fill in for the tour, which I reluctantly accepted. Don't read into that reluctantly part too much...It is hard enough playing in one band on a given night, let alone two...especially with how nuts I get on stage...I have done back to back sets with Severed and Cardiac...It is not something I totally enjoy. So anyway, I started learning the Gravehill tunes and the plan was for me to fly out to LA a week before the tour to practice with them...So, what happened??

Matt Harvey (Exhumed/Dekapitator/Repulsion to name a few) happened...and let me tell you, it was for the best. I was on eggshells and really nervous about filling in. I don't think I would have done Gravehill justice if I played with them. It was a relief and a pleasure watching them play every night...They for sure made the right decision...

Ok, not so short I guess...I tend to ramble, hence the title of this blog...Next up will be a major wrench thrown in that would make 95% of the bands out there say "fuck it!" Not us...Good thing or not?

To be continued...

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Pre Tour Preface

Need to go back a bit to kind of put this into scope...

Back in 2008, we had our brothers in metal, Gravehill, up here in the crappy Midwest...We did three shows over Halloween weekend in Dekalb, Milwaukee, and Mt. Prospect (no, that does not count as Chicago). We had a blast hanging together for those three days and the shows went quite well considering...We vowed to share the stage again in the future for something a lot more extensive, the idiots that we are...

In 2009, we played the Indy Necrofest where we met our other brothers from other mothers, Hod...Not H.O.D., but Hod...It does not stand for anything...look it up...To say we hit it off is an understatement...and I was always grateful for them sharing their stash of Lone Star Beer with me (hard to find up here)and their friendship...

In Late 09, Gravehill did some dates in Texas with Hod...kind of the same thing they did with us a year prior...The wheels were put in motion as they say...

Also in late 09, Cardiac signed with Ibex Moon Records...Wow...what a coincidence...Gravehill just signed with Ibex Moon too...And, Hod was already on the Ibex roster...Hmmmmmmm...

Now we get to 2010...Earlier in the year, Cardiac planned a mini tour with Hod, again, in the Midwest...we have already committed to quite a few shows throughout the summer, so we felt a late spring/early summer jaunt would work just fine...

Ibex Moon was to release the new Cardiac Arrest album, Haven For the Insane in early June...we had to get out there and move it...Everything seemed to be lining up until I got a phone call from Jim (Cardiac drummer)...

Jim: Dude, the Hod tour is off...

Me: (Still kind of groggy from waking up with a buzz still) Um, really...that sucks...What happened?

Jim: Well, John (Ibex Moon) wants Cardiac, Hod, and Gravehill to do a US tour together in June...Can you do it?

Me: Really?? Um, yeah, I guess...

The ball started rolling and plans started being made...all we had to do is wait and prepare for...

The Campaign for Death Metal Purity...

Here we go again

Yeah, in February, I said I was going to keep up on this...dropped the ball yet again...

This time I will keep up for real...

I'm planning on a series of write ups on what Cardiac Arrest has been up to the last month, mainly The Campaign of Death Metal Purity and Central Illinois Metalfest...As much as I drank, I still remember everything pretty vividly and figure I would jot down some stuff for those who care to read my ramblings...

First installment coming later today...