As more and more bands pack their tour schedule in efforts to make up for sagging record sales, music fans in the Metro Moncton area have been a spoiled bunch in recent years.
While the city has hosted its fair share of “big name” acts, the fact of the matter is that we are now seeing bands of all statures pass through the Hub City.
Take for example Grammy-nominated Connecticut band Hatebreed: For a group whose album sales have moved more than a combined one million units in the US, they might not exactly warrant doing a show at the Coliseum, however, the group couldn’t care less how big of a venue they play, they just want to get out there and play for their fans.
Their upcoming show at the Manhattan Tavern in Moncton will be the group’s first visit to the Atlantic region, although guitarist Frank Novinec says it hasn’t been a lack of wanting to visit the Maritimes.
“We have wanted to do a proper Canadian tour for quite some time,” he admits. “Although this tour that we are on now isn’t covering the Western part of the country so I don’t know if we can consider it a full-fledged Canadian tour or not,” he laughs.
“We are fortunate that we are given the opportunity to play all over the world but it can be a blessing and a curse. Being so busy, it prevents us from getting to some parts of the world where we would love to play but just can’t get it scheduled in.”
Indeed, while some bands feel forced to tour, Hatebreed have been touring machines since their formation in 1994. Influenced by almost equals parts heavy metal and hardcore, Hatebreed have found themselves on the same bill as legendary acts such as Slayer and Black Sabbath while also having logged miles with “newer” acts such as System Of A Down, Korn and Disturbed.
“Coming from the hardcore scene, touring has always been a big part of what we do. You know, album sales might not be the greatest right now but it isn’t going to discourage us from getting out to play for our fans and help build up those markets that we haven’t previously been to. It is all a part of keeping the machine rolling,” Novinec says.
The machine does roll on for Hatebreed for now but there is a light at the end of the tunnel: Novinec excitedly notes the band is coming up on five weeks off once their Canadian tour concludes in Halifax on September 14. After their well-deserved break, the band is headed to Japan, Thailand and the Philippines all before the year is out.
“We will probably get around to working on new material at the start of the New Year and get a new record out later in 2011,” he says. “Then the touring cycle will start all over again! We love it though – wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Article published in September 10, 2010 edition of the Times & Transcript