(De)Composition

Almost finished up with all the lyrics to the new 'Buckle record. I'd say 90% of the record (lyrically, anyway) was written on the road during the last North American tour with Korpiklaani. A glimpse of what's to come:

The stars fall across the night like skulls cast down wells
While the clinks and clangs of metal tankards clatter on like bells
Here's to eves spent arguing how the final drop of ale is chased
In hopes of forgetting how these wasted mornings really taste
So hang my corpse from port and signal to the salted winds
A warning to those who choose a path nestled amongst their sins

~RedRum

Chicago @ Reggie's

Chicken in the car, and the car won't go. That's how you spell Chicago.

Toronto @ The Opera House

Hello all. So we're three days into our North American tour with Korpiklaani, Tyr, and White Wizard. Tonight puts us in the fine town of Toronto. Looking forward to another great Canadian crowd. We rocked Montreal last night at a venue we were all unfamiliar with. The great place Le Medley, where most metal shows used to be put on, closed down. Thus, a new venue choice was in order. Club Soda surprised us all. A very cool place.

If you guys and gals in the audience pay attention you'll surely notice the pirates three teching and backlining for this package. I was weary at first, but I must say, it really passes the time. There is usually A LOT of down time during a tour. Feels great to have something to occupy that time with and be monetarily compensated therewith.

Last time we played here at The Opera House we had our stand in drummer Paul Christiansen fill in for Captain Crashride. Tonight sees the return of our regular asshole. Cool. Can't wait.

Cheers
RedRum

Quebec City

What you need to know: Quebec is the best crowd there is.

That is all.

~RedRum

Toronto! Fuck yea!

Thanks for the awesome reception dudes and dudettes! Was great to be back and see some familiar faces.

This marks the first time Swashbuckle has played with a drummer who isn't Captain Crashride. As you may or may not be aware, Crashride was arrested for mopery (revealing himself to a blind person), thus negating is ability to legally enter Canada. We enlisted the likes of Paul Christian of the central New Jersey experimental metal band We All Have Day Jobs, who from this point forward shall be known as Bootsmann Collins. He killed it in Toronto and will be accompanying Nobeard and myself the rest of the Ensiferum tour.

We are pumped as fuck to play Quebec City tonight. This town was the BEST crowd on last year's North American Paganfest so we are expecting good things. See you all tonight!

Backstage Beer Info
Toronto:

Molson Canadian
Moosehead Lager

St. Paul

So it feels like I was just here. Oh wait... I was, with Heathenfest. Zing! Only this time, it has been brought to my attention that the club has one of my favorite beers on tap - Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat! w00t!

So, watching some football, enjoying some beer. About to sup on tasty chinese and/or pizza. Tonight marks the end of our first stint on the Monsters of Death tour with Vader. We book it home tonight and then meet up with Ensiferum December 1st in Canada.

Crazy Times

So Crashride was not let into Canada. Fuck us. We hauled ass from upstate New York to Detroit to catch our friends in Eluveitie and Alestorm kick some ass on Heathenfest. I ended up ditching my 'Buckle mates for some far more enticing company. I feel very lucky I was able to tag along with Heathenfest for a few days before meeting back up with the Monsters of Death package in Detroit again. Eluveitie puts on one fucking kick ass show. The recent shows have been mediocre at best. No showers, no food, what little beer we have is spread thin amoungst 6 bands and crew. I eagerly await our return to the Ensiferum tour at the beginning of December. Those shows are sure to be ass-whooping.

The show tonight in Addison, IL is actually pretty good. I had some tasty tortellini. Really good presale ticket wise. The much better venue here around Chicago called the Pearl Room closed down apparently, so we were forced to take refuge in this lesser known venue called the Pyramis Club. However, this turned into a fruitful gain as the venue is located directly next door to a great thrift store where Crashride and I plundered many a flannel shirt and mesh hat. Trucker Metal is the future.