2020 so far

This year so far, damn. It started so good with the Do It Together Fest in London, UK. So many bands and friends I wanted to see. I'm glad I at least had that. Because that was a really good weekend. The bands and the hugs, wow just what I needed after, what feels like some sort of hibernation last winter. O how do I miss the live-interaction and the hugs now and it hasn't even been that long without gigs...yet!
I binge-watch online gigs now, as long as I can still stay awake, because I still have to get up at six most days of the week to get ready for work at the hospital. I'm not a nurse, but I still work at/in a busy part of the hospital.
But okay, if you find yourself bored and can't be bothered (or tried them all already) to try some musiclessons or get another new hobby, then get to my YouTube to see some actual liverecordings of some great shows/gigs/concerts, whstever you want to call it...I've seen quite a lot of great bands (punk, rock and metalbands) at least in my opinion I have.
So get there and enjoy!:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbMGUAGR6zkPFzE_5-Q7YVA

I'm back

Yes, I know it took a while, but honestly I've been going to so many shows and working inbetween that I didn't know where to get the time from to update this. Also been without inspiration to write something here, or just didn't know how to put it down in words. So let's try and start this again.

If you know me a little bit, you know my love for Swedish and Brazilian bands already and I told you about a few bands that I got to know over there. I promise to tell you in another post about all the other bands that I've found all over Europe (since supporting the great bands all over Europe is supporting the local bands for me, the Netherlands is too little, Europe is my "local" area), but now I want to tell you about all the bands from the UK/Scotland with whom I've seem to fell in love with since a good one-and-a-half years ago. And it does help that they're all so fucking nice guys (and girls). 

On a sidenote: Honestly, it does help as a band that you treat your fans well. Some bands I don't bother seeing or buying stuff from, because they have been behaving like assholes to me or others. As a fan you still have to take the bands point of view in consideration since touring can be or actually totally is exhausting and I try to always keep that in mind. But if you don't act like a prick and have some interaction or just being kind, it make your fans come back over and over.

First up, ofcourse, Darko, I think I've saw their name around back then, here and there, but never got round to see them live. Until I did, and since then, like how we used to say it in the Netherlands, I was sold!! Those riffs, just wow!
Have to say I don't mind seeing them every weekend and some months it's really like that hahaha.
darko.lockjawrecords.co.uk

Bands from Scotland are certainly on my list in UK-bandlove. So, if you've followed me or know me, you know that I do love the Murderburgers a lot. How can you not love the punkrock made by mainman Fraser? I always looked for passion in music so far away, but I guess I was too far off myself to see it all around me in Europe. If you not see the passion he's putting into his music and shows (or gigs, however you want to call it LG..), well...maybe you need to find your own passion first then.
themurderburgers.bandcamp.com

Then we have The Burnt Tapes. I think I saw them the first time in Guildford or was it Southampton. I'm not sure, good thing I keep a list with everything I've visited, otherwise I wouldn't remember everything past last week (no drinking just a bit old), if I even remember that hahaha. Honestly I do remember, but I can't name all the bands exactly anymore, that's why I have my list or if I want to know how many times I saw a band this is the way hihi.

burnttapes.bandcamp.com

Next band you really need to give a listen is Eat Defeat. I should've seen them live by now, but I always seem to miss them when they play unfortunately. But I still know they're certainly worth your time on the album/stream and live. Their new album 'I think we'll be ok', will be released next month (August 3rd) on Bearded Punk Records.
eatdefeat.bandcamp.com

I don not only know all the punk and hardcorebands in the UK, I do know some rockbands that you should check out. Let's start with The Black Spiders. They unfortunately are on an indefinite hiatus right now, but let's hope they'll be back soon. They make rock 'n' roll as it should be. If you like Danko Jones, you'll certainly will like the Black Spiders, with their three man strong guitarwall coming at you at their great songs.
www.theblackspiders.com
www.facebook.com/theblackspiders

A band I certainly can't forget is Almeida. A band I've enjoyed from the start, with excellent guitar-, bass- and drumwork and ofcourse Tom's vocals are on point as well! They always say they make progressive thrash, so maybe you have a bit of an idea to which categorie they fall in now, bur if you just say thrashpunk, that would be a good categorie in my eyes too. But since I don't do categories (okay I do, but only to describe bands), you should just give them a chance and listen, or even better listen (and watch) to them LIVE!
almeida.bandcamp.com

This was just part 1 of the UK-bands to check out, I know so many more, but otherwise this piece will get too long and neverending. More parts about UK-bands to follow inbetween other bands I want to show you/tell you about.

Save some vacationdays

Save some vacationdays, because there's a lot of awesome tours coming your way. E-very-where! Japan, Europe, US.

First off, Straightline will be playing 6 shows in Japan, starting today in 
Yokohama (on tuesday the 6th). These punkers, these thrashers, hell what does it even matter in whah category you want put the guys in, put them in the awesomebox then! Have you listened to the new album "Vanishing Values" yet? No? Then go to Bird Attack Records and get it there: www.birdattackradio.com/bands/14/straightline.

Talking about albums. Just past friday, June 2nd, the new album of  Authority Zero, 'Broadcasting to the nations' came out on Bird Attack Records. And what I've heard so far from it, is awesome. Just a few years I could hardly find the passion in the bands I saw. I don't know if I looked at the wrong bands over here or it was just me, my mood or whatever. But I see more passion and Authority Zero surely have that passion. And if you don't know them yet, it's high time you do! 
www.birdattackradio.com/bands/48/authority-zero
And let's hope they'll return to Europe soon!



Oh just saw yesterday something I've forgot over the past weeks => not only Straightline will be in Japan this week, but Ten Foot Pole as well. They've just released an album re-recorded songs and b-sides and rarities if I remember that correctly. Hoping there will be some new stuff in the future too, but we'll see. For now this is a good week for punkrockloving Japan. Go out and support Straightline and Ten Foot Pole if you can please. 



Europe will be very busy upcoming months, and honestly, I wouldn't want it any other way. This is what I love most about summer, seeing all the bands and friends that I love!

                                         

                                     
First up is Nuclear, they finally are back on European soil this month. This friday they start their European tour in Eernegem, BE. I can guarantee you, if you're into thrash, you will not get enough of them after you seen and heard them! Those riffs are amazing! Some bands you get hooked on after a first listen or first show. Nuclear is one of those bands.












Then it's up to my Aussies from the Decline. I'm happy they're already returning to Europe this month. I just saw them in August last year, but they can never return soon enough for me! These catloving punkers are just a few of the bands you need to see at least once this summer! 

Also a tour of Empty Lungs with support from one of my favourites, as you probably guessed by now, his name is Billy Liar. 
I saw him and his guitar for the first time at a festival in Rotterdam a few years ago and I never forgot this traveling troubadour. I don't know if it was his funny stories or his honest and direct lyrics. But I'm still thankful I got to see him that day. But anyway he tours through several countries in company of the Empty Lungs guys. No matter if it's punk, folkpunk, anti-folk, try something different if you've never visited a show like that. You might surprise yourself and like it!

Agree/disagree?

You may agree or disagree with me on this one and that's fine. People disagree on so many things, that doesn't mean we can't talk or hangout anymore.That's your opinion and this is mine, simple as that. 
I think it's wrong you ask a band to pay to play as a supportband for your band. Why you ask?
Well, maybe because you were that band once. That band that wanted to be bigger, that band that wanted to get invited to play at big festivals and the big venues, that band that was on eberyone's lips once the new album was out...remember that, you were that band once! 
So, the only right thing to do in my eyes is that you bring a supportband on tour because you like them and you want to give them the opportunity that you maybe once had. The opportunity to play for a bigger audience, the opportunity to gain loads of new fans.
Isn't realistic of me and just a 'romantic' view, hmm maybe, but damn aren't we supposed to support eachother in the punk, rock, ska and metalfamily?? Aren't we? This is our scene and a big part of is even DIY, so please don't fuck eachother over, this way or in another way. You give the younger/new bands the opportunity you've had been given once too, you help eachother out. Why you say?...
Because we all have the same passion, the same DREAM.

Lots of bands deserve your attention

Actually, I think all the bands that I write about deserve your attention. But I don't simply write about bands because I'm friends with them. Because even if I'm not (close) friends with bands and bandmembers, I can even see clearly from a distance', how hardworking these bands are and therefore yes that is one of the reasons I want to help them out to get them more known. Other reasons are because they make great music, they're nice and sincere people. And must I always talk about the passion, yes, because that, that is the thing what attracts a real musiclover to a band, the passion and...honestly also the interaction with he fans. As a band, I personally respect a band more that knows that it has the fans to thank for their succes. I mean, it has to come both ways ofcourse. Fans would travel that extra 20 km (or 100 or more) if you appreciate them as well. As fans we can certainly understand that not every day is a good day, that you're tired as hell, especially on tour, it does a person, a fan, good to be recognized, to be appreciated for spending money and free time. You can be succesfull and humble at the same time. Make contact with your fans,and as a big band, don't always depend on 'VIP-tickets' to meet your fans, because even your biggest fans might not to be able to afford them.

Lots of small bands doing it right, the fans are the key, go out and meet them! 

Respect and love works both ways.

Here some bands that I wanted to tell you about today:

Authority Zero, they're a US-band that makes, as lots of media likes to call it: reggaepunk. I guess it's a good name for it, but in my book, as you know, I just have two 'genres': what I like and what I don't like. And these guys are awesome. Past summer they rocked Brakrock ecofest so hard and Pikachu pika'd (or how would you call it?) like crazy! PunkRockHoliday was where I saw them after that, well what can I say: AMAZING! A circlepit with Jason (the singer) in the middle singing and Dan (the guitarist) stagediving. Magical show. Even the year before at Jera On Air they've already made a big impression on me and that show was far from what I saw last year, but so good already, they've seen to have grown so much in just one year.

If you can see them live this year, don't hesitate to go, because you won't be disappointed.
A new album of them is on the way.
See them here at PunkRockHoliday past year: https://youtu.be/CP0Q1POnXu4

Have I told tou guys before about Magnacult? This is a Dutch metalband and damn Seb the singer can leave you stunned with his growl and grunts, wow. I traveled to the other side of my country for them. Their was a great festival, but honestly I was looking forward the most to see them playing in a little club after the festival. And it was awesome, with a weird stage high above the crowd (even though I was standing even higher than them on the side), and wow yes, just what I needed! Worth the 5 hours on the train. 
Their new album 'Infinitum' will be out on May 12th.
Here is the first video of the upcoming album: http://www.graviton-musicservices.com/b2b/PressReleases/EN/Video%20Release%20MagnaCult-RighteousMurder.html

So, the last time I was in South America to see (yes, there you have them again) Satanic Surfers, I got to know an awesome new band. Well, new for me I mean. They're called Straightline, they're from Germany and they would fall in the category of thrashpunk or punkthrash (however fits you the best, I just give you these categories so that you can decide for yourself if it's worth to spend your time on, even if I think you should..😊). Well, maybe you knew I do like thrash a lot, so this seems like a great combination in theory, skatepunk and thrash. And honestly it is a great combo. 
Their new album is out and you can listen to it here: https://straightline.bandcamp.com/
They're doing lots of shows this spring and summer, so go out and show some support if you like them. Here you can find the dates: https://www.facebook.com/straightlinemunich/
(And that goes for all the bands you like: go out and show your support #gotoashow). 

A Dutch band that already exists for years and years, but certainly doesn't always get the recognition and certainly not the attention they should have is Bambix. They travel all around Europe and sometimes a little off route to South America, but mostly Germany and the countries around it. Over all these years there may have been some changes in line-up, but that hasn't compromized their punksound. Still good and still playing often and with lots of fun after all these years. So this is yet another band that you have to go see live.
This is one video of their show that I saw in december in Nijmegen, NL: https://youtu.be/C0g1C9sSHUI

Most of my travels to bands are absolutely worth it. I might have a lack of sleep often, but these shows keep me alive. This is my big love, this is what keeps me sane and one of the main reasons to be alive and well on this planet.

Maybe I keep repeating things over the years in my posts, but I know not everyone has read all my posts over the years and good things have to be repeated so that they stick in your head and to let all my new readers show some good bands or info they missed before.

It's a fucking epidemic!

Hey guys, I've talked about this before, but unfortunately I have to bring this to tour attention again...
Don't leave your gear, personal things and merch unattended, even in a closed van! Please bring it inside the venue, the place where you are crashing for the night or let someone sleep next to the gear and things because it...well it seems like an epidemic right about now. It's already hard to get over your loss if it's your merch since that was your gas- and foodmoney (or even more than that). But think about when your personal stuff gets stolen, things that can't be replaced, because you got it from a person important to you, or it is one of a kind or because you didn't make a back-up (make back-ups  people!! Get an external harddisk, a dozen pendrives, whatever, but do something please, so you haven't lost everything with no chance of getting it back..).

Help these bands and musicians out by keeping an eye out in pawnshops, on instrumentsellingwebsites on the internet or simply just word of mouth. 
You can give them also some help by donating on the go-fund-me pages that their friends have opened for them. If you can look out and/or donate, it will be highly appreciated.

Here are the latest victims that I know of:

Guttermouth got their van robbed in Houston/TX, US
 https://www.gofundme.com/Guttermouth

Malignancy got their van robbed in the Netherlands. 
 https://www.gofundme.com/help-our-friend-mike-heller

Counterpunch's van got robbed in 
https://www.gofundme.com/counterpunch-van-robbed-help/donate

Immortal Bird's whole van with everything in it (gear and all merch) got stolen
https://www.gofundme.com/immortal-bird-stolen-gear-van

Bryan Beller's storage place got broken into and robbed.

This guy could really use your help as well:
https://www.gofundme.com/bmizar

Here also some pawnshoplistings in California 
http://www.pawnshoplistings.com/California/Los_Angeles/

Top ten... no, a top whatever

First of all, let me wish you a great 2017, hope it turns out very good for all of you.

Top tens, I don't always like top tens. Because when you like music as much as I do, it's hard to just put a top ten together, it's always more than ten. So, for 2016, I give you the (imo) great albums that came out last year that you at least should check out, so here's my top whatever (in alhabetical order). 

-Allout Helter - Ruins
-Antillectual - Engage
-Belvedere - Revenge of the fifth
-Caskitt - Old fires new frontier
-Castoff - First step to recovery
-Crobot - Welcome to fat city
-Death Angel - The evil divide
-Descendents - Hypercaffium spazzinate
-Despite - Synergi
-Devin Townsend Project - Transcendence
-Discharge - End of days
-Face To Face - Protection
-Fat Randall - Keep it down
-Frenzal Rhomb - We lived like kings
-Gemini Syndrome - Memento Mori
-Guttermouth - New car smell
-Hellbenders - Peyote
-Ignite - A war against you
-Implants - The golden age
-Komatsu - Recipe for murder one
-Kvelertak - Nattesferd
-Larrakia - Rantallion
-Meshuggah - The violent sleep of reason
-Moovalya - Kings EP
-The Murderburgers - The 12 habits of highly defective people
-Mute - Remember death
-Nerf Herder - Rockingham
-The Night - Deathology
-Pulley - No change in the weather
-Prong - No absolutes
-Prophets Of Rage - The party's over EP
-Radkey - Delicious rock noise
-Sick Of It All - When the smoke clears
-Skipjack - A soundtrack to eulogy
-Statues On Fire - No tomorrow
-Suicidal Tendencies - World gone mad
-Testament - Brotherhood of the snake
-Useless ID - State is burning
-Venerea - Last call for adderall


And let me complete my top whatever with the festivals that you should visit this year, if possible ofcourse (you can also find these under the Festivals tab):

Baroeg Open Air, NL www.baroegopenair.nl
Brakrock Ecofest, BE www.brakrock.be
Dynamo Metal Fest, NL dynamometalfest.nl
Graspop, BE www.graspop.be
Groezrock, BE www.groezrock.be
Hellfest, FR www.hellfest.fr
Ieperfest, BE www.ieperfest.com
Into The Grave, NL intothegrave.nl
Jera On Air, NL www.jeraonair.nl
Manchester Punk Fest, UK manchesterpunkfestival.co.uk
Pitfest, NL www.pitfest.nl
Pouzzafest, CA pouzzafest.com
PunkRockBowling, US punkrockbowling.com
PunkRockHoliday, SI www.punkrockholiday.com
Rebellion Fest, UK www.rebellionfestivals.com
Resurrection Fest, ES www.resurrectionfest.es
Riot Fest, US riotfest.org
Scumbash, NL www.scumbash.nl
Xtreme Fest, FR www.xtremefest.fr

Strung Out, and many like them, deserve more from you!

My apologies for the few that read my posts. I was very busy following my favourite bands around Europe. One of them is Strung Out. How they are not in big arenas yet is beyond me. I mean, look at their history; they exist 20+ years now and they are still bringing out awesome albums. Have you even listened to their latest album yet? Transmission.Alpha.Delta was a fucking amazing when I first heard and it still is. This is not an one killer and for the rest fillers, NO FUCKING WAY!=>This album is all killer!! So again, why they don't even get their headlining shows in little venues sold out is beyond me. This is quality punkrock with (yes again) killer riffs! Honestly I like little venues, but their shows should be sold out in 5 minutes, like all the 'big names'. If you like or even love this band, don't think: "Oh, I'll wait until next tour". No! Go now, they exist now, they tour now, you live now!
And with that many other bands deserve more people at their shows! I was at a show of The Decline just last week and besides the other bands that were there, they played for '2 man and a horsehead' as we say in the Netherlands. These bands with this quality of music and even more important, with this PASSION!; deserve your utter support all the way. You don't have to follow them around Europe or even the world, like I do with some bands, but as I said before and will keep on saying: buy the music, buy the merch. If you fail to do that, who knows how long they will go on making new music and do these great tours? It ends somewhere, it ends because life happens, people quit, people die, but don't let it stop because you are not truly supporting the band(s) you love! Just let that sink in and think about that for a while...Bands exist thanks to the support of their fans and thanks to the undying passion of musicians to do what they love...

This was just the start of the summer

Wow, this tour in Spain of Good Riddance with the Satanic Surfers and Blowfuse was just awesome! I saw three shows and covered many miles with all kinds of transport. I had a bad cold, but that only kept me from seeing all the touristic stuff and not the Satanic Surfers and Good Riddance ofcourse! 
I even did a detour through Germany to see Billy Liar and Freddy Fudd Pucker. Why? Because music is what I love and it's my life. And they're both pretty damn good. It's surely not skatepunk, but acoustic (folk)punk is certainly on my good music list (and the bad music list I just don't pay attention to, too much good music I need to listen to!!). And is was surely worth the detour, I loved every second of that evening/night over there in Kiel, DE.
In Spain I didn't only see Satanic Surfers and Good Riddance, but I catched up with my friends of the Water Rats in Valencia. Unfortunately that was the only show I saw there of them, but okay you can't have it all (apparently hahaha).
That's that about my last musictrip, of which you can find some livevideos on my YouTube.

You already know Nuclear from Chile right? Well, there's another metalband from Chile that I'd like you to meet and that's: Lefutray. They also make excellent thrash that you need to check out.
They're finally making the jump over the mountains and the ocean to tour Europe and they'll include Russia in that tour too. If you have the chance go check them out live. And if you can help them with some tourdates, just send a message to: felipe@ferroda.cl



Pennywise is going to do a big tour in North America together with Strung Out, Unwritten Law and Runaway Kids. They'll crash in a lot of cities from the end of september until the begin of november. Well, I can say this about a lot of tours and festivals, but again: great line-up, Pennywise ofcourse, the awesome Strung Out and then Unwritten Law yeah, don't miss it. So much to see and so little time hihihi.











Did I ever tell you a bit about the stonerrockband Komatsu? They're from the Eastern part of the Netherlands and I got to know them, ehhh I guess a few years ago and I finally saw them live for the first time on Recordstoreday this year in Eindhoven, NL. And as I suspected, they're just as good live as I thought they would be. Now I just need a full concert!!
Here's a video of that day with the new single: https://youtu.be/TFo9c3zZkf0
They're releasing their new album at the stage at the Blue Collar Hotel in Eindhoven, NL on September 23rd.


Right now, at this moment, Napalm Death is touring South America. They'll be playing in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Colombia.
All I can say is: If you can, go to a concert and show your support!

Oh and let's not forget about Despite from Sweden, who have a livestreaming of their new video for the song "Awakening" this thursday, june 23rd.
On their Facebook you can find the info about the livestreaming:
https://www.facebook.com/DespiteOfficial/
I liked the metal from these guys from Sweden from the first time I heard them and it surely took a lot of hard work and years of dedication, but now they're signed to Eclipse Records and bringing out their new album on July 22nd, so keep your eyes and ears open.

New interview and more

Yeah finally a new interview! I did a really nice little interview with Billy Liar yesterday in Belgium. Was about time again hahaha. Watch it here:
youtu.be/qeo8PWl0i0c

Billy Liar is on tour right now in Europe with Freddy Fudd Pucker.

May 27 in Obersulmetingen, DE
May 28 in Fürth, DE
May 29 in Hamburg, DE
May 31 in Kiel, DE
June 1 in Bielefeld, DE
June 2 in Hannover, DE
June 3 in Leipzig, DE
June 4 in Berlin, DE.

Next week the tour of Good Riddance and Satanic Surfers (and Blowfuse) in Spain will start and wow you all should be so excited as I am, this is an awesome line-up and tour. This is a good time to get to know Spain and have some great shows at the same time! Yeah I guess it's fair to say Satanic Surfers is my favourite band, but you guys knew that already I think hahahaha.












And yessss the Water Rats are back in Europe right as I write this. Okay it's only Portugal and Spain and unfortunately not more countries, but hey, they're here and that's good! They even play at the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona and that's great for them!

Yes, sorry for the people that only love metal, but you know I love punk, metal and so much more! So, so far lots of talking about punkrock today..but some metalnews too!

Despite, from Sweden, has signed a recorddeal with Eclipse records and they'll bring out their new album "Synergi" on July 22nd.
You can already pre-order the album:
found.ee/QVcPO

And see the new video "As you bleed" right here:
youtu.be/KcSSoSxXpgQ



If you love festivals, this weekend in Las Vegas, US there's a treat for you. It's finally time for the PunkRockBowling and if you're there you're crazy to miss this! So many bands, so many.

These are just a few bands that are playing there:

I will return with a new and old bands to check out soon! 
Enjoy and go to a show!! 

I won't do top tens anymore

I won't do top tens anymore, well at least not this time. Why? Because I simply can't choose. I don't love one genre but I love punkrock, metal, rock, hardcore, ska and even popmusic. It's too hard.
Instead I just give you my list of the awesome albums that came out in 2015 and I'll just do it iin alphabetical order, so no one is on the 1st place and not on the 10th place either:

Danko Jones - Fire Music
The Decline - Resister
Lefutray - Oath
Nuclear - Formula For Anarchy
The Oath - Consequences
Radkey - Dark Black Makeup
Strung Out - Transmission Alpha Delta
Versus The World - Homesick/Roadsick
The Winery Dogs - Hot Streak

(I'll add more to this list when I come up with the albums, too much to remember right now hahaha).




I have some news as well.

Nerf Herder are bringing out their long awaited new album 'Rockingham' within 2 days (or 1 and a half by now). Quick, go to their Pledgemusic site:
www.pledgemusic.com/projects/nerfherder
I guess it was a difficult delivery as we say here, but I 'm sure it's worth the wait. 
Their first song is already out, called 'Ghostbusters III' (guess which movie? :) and you can listen to it on iTunes: itun.es/us/0l_oab 
www.facebook.com/nerfrock



From Sweden comes the melodic/groove deathmetal band with the name Another Hell. They regularly are bringing out new music and it always sounds great. They don't sing especially about horror and death, but real and daily issues. Like songs about failing governments and the unfair things in the world (that have happened). Everything that can keep the people everywhere in the world busy these days. 

Give these guys a listen:
www.anotherhell.se
www.facebook.com/anotherhellswe



There's a new band out there for a little while, called The Night, and now they've finally released their debutalbum. I was already blown away with the few songs I heard so far and now the album is out and it's called "Deathology"! Get it here:
-The CD goo.gl/ubYULv 
-iTunes goo.gl/UQdwEi 
-Amazon goo.gl/xaIcpP
-Google Play goo.gl/aUhNWC

They've also released their first video past week. 
Look at that video right here=> youtu.be/Ymx3SJU7oFA
www.facebook.com/KissInAsozial

2016 better be ready! Much good stuff coming.

Oh damn, it's february already, that month went quick.
Unfortunately we ended 2015 and started 2016 with lots of bad news of great musicians that have died. Cancer gets everyone it seems, what a horrible disease. 
What this all tells us is that you should appreciate the time with the persons you love and that can be friends and family.
And that you should not wait with going to gigs of bands you like, since people die and bands quit every day. I still regret that I haven't seen Motörhead, David Bowie, Mötley Crüe or many other bands and musicians that I've wished I'd seen. But I know I'm so lucky and happy with all the stuff I did see live (and that's a LOT I can tell you, a lot). Will a lot of people think that I'm wasting my money, hmm maybe, but I live now, my life is now. I can wait until I can quit working when I'm 70 or so (because that's where we are heading), but why should I. I could die tomorrow, for all we know. I could die at 92 as my grandma as well, but you never know. I don't know what life has in store for me, but I'm sure to make it lots of fun with doing what I love most, going to shows and helping bands (even if it's just here and on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and wherever). Yes I could wear another shirt every day, because I bought so many shirts. But I do it for the love of that particular band and to support them as well. That one t-shirt may be the gas they need to get to the other concert or to get home. That cd you're buying might be the food they buy on the way. Or maybe it's to support their own families, because following your heart to do what you love, to do what you can't deny is running through your veins is not cheap or very wellpaid for most.
Support the bands you love, local, national and international, because they're hardworking people that get you through your days with their beautiful thoughts that has been put into music.


And there's some good stuff on the way live...woohoo..
Lagwagon is going to make the South American summer even hotter when they are visiting Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Colombia at the end of this month together with Belvedere, Mute and Adrenalized.

Strung Out is going to tour Australia with Pears for a whole month in March. 
And in the summer they'll return to Europe to play the Brakrock Ecofest and lots more festivals I presume.

Slayer, is starting a long and stagewrecking tour with Carcass and Testament in the US at the end of this month as well.

Unfortunately Peter Pan Speedrock is quitting at the end of this year. But for now they are playing a lot of shows all over the Netherlands and I guess they will add a few shows over the Dutch border as well. Their last 2 shows are at November 25th and 26th at the Effenaar in Eindhoven, NL.

Also some quite nice festivals on the way:

With ofcourse Groezrock on April 29-30 in Belgium that will have their 25th anniversary. I think that's quite an achievement for a festival. Groezrock will be headlined by Rancid. Well, I surely have my ticket already! Also Sick of it all will be there to celebrate their 30th anniversary. And Face To Face, No Fun At All, Venerea, Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, Biohazard, Youth Of Today, Frank Turner will be there as well (and much more).

The line-up Jera On Air, in June in the Netherlands, is looking promising as well with Pennywise, Belvedere, H2O, Municipal Waste, Deez Nuts, Turnstile, August Burns Red and much more.

Punk Rock Holiday is looking awesome again, as, quite frankly, it does every year since I found out about this festival in Slovenia. The only problem you could have, is to get your vacation in the right month and that have saved up enough to visit this. But Even when I've never visited this festival myself (yet), I know it's worth it. Just look at this sweet line-up: 
NOFX, Descendents, No Fun At All, Strung Out, Authority Zero, Antillectual and more to come I'm sure.

More tournews and thoughts next time. I'll be quicker this time with more news and hopefully some interviews. 
But I update the concerts a bit more often than this hahaha. See you at a show soon.

Tours tours tours

As always, luckily, there are a lot of tours on the way or already happening. As an excited concertvisitor I'm happy about that. I'll give you some tours that you can expect or that are already on their way.
And since you never know what happens tomorrow, the world is a beautiful, but crazy place (and life just happens): GO when you can go to a show! If you can't find a companion to go with you: GO ALONE. You are there at a venue for one main reason and that is to see the band (and to show them your support). Also, who knows, maybe you'll make lots of new friends.

Danko Jones starts another leg of Eurotour in Germany in a few days, as he did tour the UK and Scandinavia for the excellent album 'Fire Music' last few months. He will also visit the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium on this run. 
This rock'n'roll guitarmaster is one you just have to see on stage! If this guy doesn't want to make you want to sing along to even his magic fingerwork (on his guitar I mean..I don't know anything about the rest), than no one can.







Millencolin is on tour in South America right as we speak. These Swedish skatepunkers have been around for quite a while, but that doesn't stop them from doing what they love. Making music and touring, what else, I totally understand. 
Maybe this is a one time thing or maybe they'll return next year, you'll never know, just go.

This thursday H2O will start their US-tour for their new album 'Use your voice'. 
You had to wait a lot of years for this new album, but you and I know that their liveshows never suffered because of that. I mean, the liveshows where and will always be a big positive party, where you can't get enough of.








This is it for this post. I'll give you more tours that you have to keep your eye on, in the next couple of days.

Tournews for Europe, US and AU/NZ.

First some European tournews:

Eminence arrived in Europe a week and a half ago to start their European tour. They have been to Europe a few times before, but there's a good chance you have missed them on the stage. Then now is your chance when they visit a couple of cities in Eastern Europe, Germany and the Netherlands.



Chaos Synopsis is on tour in Europe now as well and they're almost finished with their tour, but you can still catch them live in Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Italy this week or hope they return to where you live soon.

The guys from Strung Out already took the plane to mainland Europe over two weeks. Unfortunately without their singer Jason, but luckily he joined them a few days later. This was a weird start of the tour, but maybe you've witnessed or even joined in on a fun karaoke night with the rest of the band on one of the first dates. Now they've already did some great shows on Jera On Air, in Luxembourg city, Paris, London and more. Versus The World also joined them halfway in Berlin, DE. I wish I could've seen them together on stage more than once this tour, but at least I'm seeing them one time this upcoming weekend. And I recommend you to go see them on one of the remaining dates here in Europe too or when they visit your country. (Versus The World will be on tour in Australia and New Zealand in August with Good Riddance).

Yes for the US are interesting tours on the way too. From september on I have some nice tours you shouldn't miss. And remember, with going to shows and buying merch you help the bands you love the most.

First up Aristocrats who started their 'Tres caballeros'-tour this week. This trio with Guthrie Govan, Bryan Beller and Marco Minneman as their members give great and funny liveshows with great musicianship. If you watched these guys once, you will come back for more. This is a treat, especially for the guitarlovers out there.

After that it's time for Krisiun, they are joined by Origin, Aeon and more supportbands on the 'Devastation of the nation'-tour. It will start in Crest Hill/IL on september the 4th. They will play in North America the whole month of september and few dates in october too.



And then Marty Friedman. Your bucketlist isn't complete if you're a guitarplayer or -lover (yes again :) and haven't seen him at least play live once. He'll be on North American soil in september as well and will give you guys over there a good amount of shows. (yes, if you love a band/musician it can never be enough, but you know what I mean). 
Don't let this master at guitar pass by without you trying to get to a show.


Australia and New Zealand, I haven't forgotten you. 
Next month, in August, Good Riddance will come your way again and they'll bring Versus The World along. I know the VTW guys couldn't be more stoked for this tour than you guys out there! Give these guys a bit of your spare time while they're there!