So im finally home long enough to tell you all about the wonder that was 'The Brontide & Shapes Clam Rock/Holy Monster Tour'
We begin in the streets of London at the Old Blue Last with Holy State, Tupelov Ghost and new tour buddies, Shapes. We also have a special guest, Paul W from Youves filling in for Will behind the kit! Excitement levels are high.
The place packs out and heats up setting a trend for a weeks worth of sweaty shows. Paul, after only 2 rehearsals does a stunning job leaving most of the crowd wondering how a boy barely 2 weeks into puberty plays so dam well.
We stay at Alex Holy Roars new flat, we admire his snakeskin trainers and steal from his stock room.
Day 2 is London again at Jamboree, which reminds me of an italian taverna, nice musty smell. Paul excels again and we retire back to Holy Roar HQ before making an early start back to Nottingham. Along the way we pick up a sleepy Will. Fresh from travels of America. When I say fresh, I mean jet-lagged and naked in a room full of free trainers. A quick stop at the offy for some luckozade and we are good to go!
We hit up the chameleon for a delightful rainy load in, up two flights of stairs. The Shapes chaps rock up and we rig up ready for what was one of probably my favourite shows. Mainly becasue it was so much fun, again immensly hot but well mosh-tastic. I place myself firmly front-row-centre for Shapes. Tonight they shine and afterwards we begin to gush about how we much we like each others band. Great men.
Day 4 is Birmingham and Brontides first trip to this sexy city. The flapper is surprisingly adylic and full of gems such as a Mcdonalds buy out and a visit from my old housemates. Some gents really get into our set and we have another first in the form of an stage invasion, its not as cool as it sounds.
Buckley of Shapes puts us all up for the night. Will catches up on sleep while the rest of us dont, making the drive to Norwich all the more fun.
Day 5 has more sun and the discovery of 'KneeBall' a game a lot like football but better and for cool people. The promoter has made cake and we all get fake tattoos...loads of em! We shack up in a house with a giant penguin in the front room and lay our weary heads on a wooden floor. Nathan, after two tours still has no sleeping bag, yet manages to weave one out of a few beers.
Day 6 presents the daunting task of driving to portsmouth, luckily the decision is made to stop for a pub lunch on the way. This place provided the biggest meals ever, no wonder England is so fucking fat, my pie was about 3 metres in diameter.
Eventually after some intense driving we roll up to the Edge of the Wedge. Tonights show is another good'un. We have started a long list of various challenges to try out with Shapes so our sets have essentially become a place to score rock points. Gavin brings some powerfills, Will catches sticks. Myself and Steve cram more pinched harmonics, busted jumps and metal leg spreads into one set then most would deem necessary. We are all winners.
A short busrt along the coast and we arrive at Nathans in Brighton ready for day 7.
The evening presents a delicous lineup incluing Blakfish and Mutiny on the Bounty. Some of our mates turn up and as instructed by Blakfishs banner, we 'fucking party' Me and Nath take on club Oceana for a buddies last night in town, Will has his a party planned too but would have been a bit gay had me and Nath go...LOLZ
Anyhow, we stock up on a bit more luckozade and yorkies ready to trek back up north to leicester for a show with Blakfish and Mutiny again but sadly no Shapes, it was like losing a limb. I broke a million strings but the mutiny chaps proving themselves as not only the best band from luxemburg but the nicest too.
Now technically we arrive at the end of our little tour, but wait! What is that in the distance? Rapturefest of course! It feels like a reunion of sorts with one of the best lineups and so many of our friends bands. Everyone slays and its great to see the likes of Youves again.
The entire was mega fuckin' fun time. It was our first time touring with another band and it was an absolute pleasure playing shows with Shapes, who are just as good as they are sexy.
We also had our first vinyl out! This things looks and sounds incredible, you can still get em here....
http://holyroarrecords.bigcartel.com/product/holy-monsters-10-vinyl-brontide-holy-state-tupolev-ghost-shapes-preorderThank you to everyone who gave us a place to stay/something to eat. Thank you to everyone that came to the shows and thank you for buying the record. We appreciate it from the bottom of hearts.
Tim x