By Andrew Bansal
After three months in waiting, it is that time again. On May 2nd, I’m hitting the road all over North America with Night Demon for the band’s longest tour till date in this part of the world, running through July 18th. With the exception of a select few dates, Night Demon will be headlining this tour, bringing a much longer set than what attendees got on the Raven and Skull Fist tours, along with an enhanced live show, a whole new assortment of merchandise, and a strong ambition to reconquer familiar terrain and lay the groundwork in unchartered land.
After returning from the last US tour on January 26th, the guys got to spend only three days at home in Ventura before taking off for a 10-week Europe tour. Following that, they landed in California on April 7th, understandably exhausted, but as I would discover upon meeting up with them for rehearsals on April 25th, the break at home was long enough for them to recupercate and ready themselves for this next tour.
The moment I was called ‘not that white’ by a homeless lady on the street, I knew I was in Ventura. The rehearsals on the 25th were solid, as the band seemed perfectly in shape to play this 65-minute set and it was clear that the practice gained through playing so many shows this year has refined their musicianship. First on the agenda was a warm-up gig at Bombay Bar And Grill in Ventura on the 26th, a free and early show on a Sunday evening, also featuring Visigoth, Wolfcross and Blade Killer. Going through the entire process of loading in, setting up the merch table, preparing the lights, wearing the costume, operating the lighting board and going on stage for this gig, I realized how much I had missed it during these past three months, and I am more than ready to resume touring life.
The gig was really well-attended with lots of familiar faces in the audience, Visigoth put forth an excellent set and it was great to see them finally make their way over here for a West Coast tour, while Wolfcross and Blade Killer also played solid sets of old-school heavy metal. Longtime Night Demon superfan Adolfo Ortega, who made the trip to this show from his residence in Simi Valley despite being on crutches as a result of a recent skateboarding accident, has always been demanding the band to play ‘Heavy Metal Heat’, and I could hear him yelling out the song even before the set began. I almot wrote down his name instead of the song title on my copy of the set list. Jarvis, Brent and Dustin blazed through the set without much of a breather, and even though this set is more than twice as long as what we did on the last two tours, I didn’t even feel it while doing the lights. For those interested, video coverage of the entire show can be found on Arturo Gallegos’ YouTube channel here. The show was done by 10 PM, I held the merch table for a little while, we loaded out, and after everybody parted ways, Jarvis and I hung out briefly with Visigoth at a bar called The Sewer. Following a pleasantly exhausting day, a great gig and a fulfilling low-quality fast food post-show meal, Jarvis and I watched ‘Last Days Here’, the Pentagram documentary, on Netflix. Three words came to mind: life is good.
Attendees on this tour can expect the best and most comprehensive representation of Night Demon’s music, with a set that includes almost all of the band’s recorded material, and to go with it, some new items in the stage setup will help take the visual aspect to the next level. In addition, new t-shirt and patch designs, hats, tour programs and previously unsold vinyl versions of ‘Curse Of The Damned’ will decorate and expand the merch table like never before. North America, you’ve got another thing coming this spring and summer!
Dates:
05/02 – Phoenix AZ @ Joe’s Grotto (w/ Resistance)
05/03 – Albuquerque NM @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge (w/ Suspended)
05/05 – Midland TX @ Blue Max
05/06 – Dallas TX @ Boiler Room
05/07 – San Antonio TX @ Korova Basement
05/08 – Houston TX @ Fitzgerald’s (w/ Venomous Maximus)
05/09 – Austin TX @ The Lost Well (w/ Venomous Maximus)
05/10 – New Orleans LA @ Siberia
05/13 – Orlando FL @ Backbooth
05/14 – Miami FL @ Churchills
05/16 – Ashville NC @ The Odditorium
05/17 – Wilmington NC @ Reggies 42nd St Tavern
05/18 – Washington DC @ The Pinch
05/19 – Frederick MD @ Cafe 611
05/20 – Richmond VA @ Strange Matter (w/ Solstafir & Ancient VVisdom)
05/22 – Montreal QC @ Piranha Bar
05/23 – Toronto ON @ Hard Luck Bar
05/25 – New York NY @ TBA
05/27 – Amityville NY @ Amityville Music Hall
05/28 – Portland ME @ Geno’s
05/29 – Providence RI @ Firehouse 13
05/30 – Peterborough NH @ The Wreck Room
06/01 – Buffalo NY @ Broadway Joe’s
06/02 – Pittsburgh PA @ TBA
06/03 – Hilliard OH @ Satan’s Den
06/04 – Covington KY @ Backstage Cafe
06/06 – Cleveland OH @ Agora Ballroom
06/08 – Detroit MI @ Corktown Tavern
06/09 – Chicago IL @ Livewire Lounge
06/10 – Fort Wayne IN @ Skeletunes Lounge
06/11 – Louisville KY @ The New Vintage (w/ Savage Master)
06/18 – Kansas City MO @ The Riot Room (w/ Starkill)
06/19 – Wichita KS @ Lizard Lounge
06/21 – St. Louis MO @ Fubar
06/23 – Madison WI @ The Wisco (w/ Cognitive)
06/24 – Minnealpolis MN @ Palmer’s Bar
06/26 – LaCrosse WI @ Warehouse
06/27 – Des Moines IA @ Vaudeville Mews
06/29 – Omaha NE @ Hideout
07/02 – Salt Lake City UT @ Club X (w/ Visigoth)
07/03 – Boise ID @ The Shredder
07/04 – Missoula MT @ VFW Post 209
07/07 – Seattle WA @ High Line
07/09 – Portland OR @ Rotture (w/ Spellcaster)
07/10 – Eugene OR @ Wandering Goat (w/ Spellcaster)
07/11 – San Francisco CA @ TBA
07/12 – Los Osos CA @ Sweet Springs Saloon
07/17 – Ventura CA @ Bombay
07/18 – Hollywood CA @ Loaded (w/ Others)