THREE GOOD TOURS AND ONE REALLY FRICKIN’ WEIRD ONE

Vince Neilstein isn’t at the MetalSucks Mansion today. He told me he had to rush to Washington to save America from our financial crisis, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find him blogging for the guys over at Metal Injection instead. He’s a slippery one, that Vince.

ANYWAY, some cool tours have been announced over the past couple of weeks, and yesterday came the announcement of a tour that strikes me as especially odd, and I feel like discussing, so let’s discuss.

First of all, Australia’s Virgin Black start a US tour this weekend. The group’s last two, Requiem – mezzo forte and Requiem – fortissimo (read my review here) are both very dependent on the work of a live orchestra, and I have no idea how the tape/keybaords/whatever that will substitute for said orchestra will translate live. Still, I think this band is pretty killer and deserving of your support. Read my interview with Virgin Black guitarist/co-vocalist Samantha Escarbe here and get tour dates here.

Meanwhile, Today is the Day have announced a tour with Weedeater. I interviewed TITD’s Steve Austin awhile back (an interview which will get published someday, I swear) and he’s a crazy motherfucker, so I imagine this tour will be buttloads of fun. Get dates here.

And, of course, one of my favorite young bands, IWRESTLEDABEARONCE, are hitting the road as direct support for modern grind masters See You Next Tuesday. There is no doubt in my mind that these shows will kill you so hard yo mama will die. Get dates here.

Finally, Metal Underground reports that “Black Label Society bassist John “JD” DeServio recently revealed during an interview… that Black Label Society are currently planning a North American tour where support will come from Sevendust.” A BLS/Sevendust bill strikes me as totally odd; one band plays beer-soaked biker rawk and the other super-slick nu-metal. But maybe there’s enough a meathead-overlap in their respective fanbases to make this work? The tour is expected to kick off in March ’09. Stay tuned for more details…

-AR