Very few things make me get up and literally do a happy dance but an recent email from my buddy Loana at Nuclear Blast totally made me do a happy dance. Swedish face melters (and Brainfart favorites) Graveyard have released the first batch of dates for their 2013 North American tour. Graveyard will be out supporting their amazing new album Lights Out (due out in the US on November 6th) and I can guarantee you that these shows will sell out quickly. Every show on the last tour was a sell out and the shows were absolutely mind blowing, face melting, and just all out amazing to say the least.
Launching on January 23rd in Boston, Massachusetts, the tour will feature special appearances in Seattle, Washington and Houston, Texas from The Devil’s Blood and Royal Thunder. I really hope that The Devil’s Blood will do this whole tour as that right there would be a force to be reckoned with.
Bassist and founding member Rikard Edlund will be sitting out the tour due to seeking treatment for substance abuse. The band issues this official statement:
“Sometimes in life you have to make decisions that are neither simple or easy to make. GRAVEYARD have — after a time filled with difficulties and a search for solutions — been forced to make such a decision.
“Due to personal problems with addiction, it has come to the point where Rikard [Edlund], to get the proper help, will have to take a break from touring with the band.
“Rikard is, without a doubt, still a member of GRAVEYARD, but as things are at the moment it just doesn’t work and something has to be done. The other members give Rikard their full support and the time off needed to try to beat this.
“How this will affect the band — it is agreed upon by all four members that the show will go on and to do so the band will tour with a stand-in bassplayer.
“This has been a far-from-easy decision to make and the timing isn’t the best. But GRAVEYARD as a band has its mind set on being around for a long time to come. And looking at it from that perspective, and Rikard‘s personal health, this is the only option. This is all the band have got to say about this somewhat personal matter and we’ll give the final words to Rikard himself: ‘After living the hard life for most of my life. It has come to the point that I have to take a break from playing the music that I love.'”
Here are the confirmed dates for Graveyard’s 2013 Lights Out North American Tour:
01/23/13 Royal Boston – Boston, MA
01/24/13 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA
01/25/13 Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
01/26/13 Black Cat – Washington, D.C.
01/27/13 Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY
01/29/13 The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
01/30/13 Exit/In – Nashville, TN
01/31/13 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
02/01/13 The Hi-Tone Café – Memphis, TN
02/02/13 The Firebird – St. Louis, MO
02/04/13 The Shelter – Detroit, MI
02/05/13 Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
02/06/13 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN
02/08/13 Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO
02/09/13 Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT
02/11/13 The A Club – Spokane, WA
02/12/13 Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
02/13/13 Neumos – Seattle, WA *featuring The Devil’s Blood and Royal Thunder*
02/15/13 Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
02/16/13 Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
02/17/13 El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
02/18/13 The Casbah – San Diego, CA
02/19/13 The Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
02/21/13 Emo’s East – Austin, TX
02/22/13 Granada Theater – Dallas, TX
02/23/13 Fitzgerald’s – Houston, TX *featuring The Devil’s Blood and Royal Thunder*
Additional shows will be announced soon.
I’d like to send out my best wishes to Rikard and his family and bandmates. Addiction is not a laughing matter and the fact that he is making strides in trying to kick his addictions is admirable to say the least. Hang in there Rikard and know that we’re rocking out for you!
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