The second of two shows in one day – this one was at the super cool Luxor Live in Arnhem.

Once again we ate some of the greatest catering we’ve seen. The lasagne was incredible and then the strawberry desert made with balsamic vinegar was out of this world.

The show was amazing! Our energy was pumped and despite the room being small, it was packed.

Great to see the Schwenken community in full force at this show again. The flag was flown high again. Love you folks.

And the after party with you all was a super great ending to a rad night!

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Next up we play the Egopop festival in the Netherlands:

Egopop Festival:
19th May ’12 NL – Egchel, Egopop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Before a headline show in France:

Headline Show:
1st June ’12 FR – Alencon, La Luciole [Buy Tickets]

Tracer then join the USA’s Black Label Society for a run of shows in Germany and Portugal:

Black Label Society Support:
7th June ’12 DE – Leipzig, Werk 2 [Buy Tickets]
8th June ’12 DE – Osnabrück, Hyde Park [Buy Tickets]

more headline shows:

Headline Shows:
10th June ’12 ES – Santa María Del Páramo (León), Taberna Belfast [Buy Tickets]
13th June ’12 ES – Zaragoza, La Ley Seca [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
14th June ’12 PT – Porto, Hard Club [Buy Tickets]

Headline Show:
15th June ’12 ES – El Sueño De Lola, Alcala de Henares, Madrid [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
19th June ’12 DE – Saarbrucken, Garage [Buy Tickets]

Before the almighty Graspop Festival in Belgium:

Graspop Festival:
22nd June ’12 BE – Dessel, Graspop Festival [Buy Tickets]

And then the Rosrock Festival in the Netherlands:

Rosrock Festival:
30th June ’12 NL – Rossem, Rosrock Festival [Buy Tickets]

The first of two shows on the same day, at 3pm we played the Afterdauwpop Festival in Posterenk.

The sun was out while we played and it was awesome to see our fellow mates from the Schwenken community raising the flag once again for us!

Thanks to everyone who came out to see us!

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Next show is also today in the Netherlands:

Headline Show:
17th May ’12 NL – Arnhem, Luxor [Buy Tickets]

Then another festival in the Netherlands:

Egopop Festival:
19th May ’12 NL – Egchel, Egopop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Before a headline show in France:

Headline Show:
1st June ’12 FR – Alencon, La Luciole [Buy Tickets]

Tracer then join the USA’s Black Label Society for a run of shows in Germany and Portugal:

Black Label Society Support:
7th June ’12 DE – Leipzig, Werk 2 [Buy Tickets]
8th June ’12 DE – Osnabrück, Hyde Park [Buy Tickets]

more headline shows:Headline Shows:
10th June ’12 ES – Santa María Del Páramo (León), Taberna Belfast [Buy Tickets]
13th June ’12 ES – Zaragoza, La Ley Seca [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
14th June ’12 PT – Porto, Hard Club [Buy Tickets]

Headline Show:
15th June ’12 ES – El Sueño De Lola, Alcala de Henares, Madrid [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
19th June ’12 DE – Saarbrucken, Garage [Buy Tickets]

Before the almighty Graspop Festival in Belgium:

Graspop Festival:
22nd June ’12 BE – Dessel, Graspop Festival [Buy Tickets]

And then the Rosrock Festival in the Netherlands:

Rosrock Festival:
30th June ’12 NL – Rossem, Rosrock Festival [Buy Tickets]

What an awesome reception for our first show back in the Netherlands!

The Schwenken Community, you folks are amazingly schwenk!

Thank you so much for all the effort and support – we LOVED the flag!!!

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Two shows today!

Both in the Netherlands:

Afterdauwpop Festival:
17th May ’12 NL – Posterenk, Afterdauwpop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Plus another headline show:

Headline Show:
17th May ’12 NL – Arnhem, Luxor [Buy Tickets]

Another festival in the Netherlands:

Egopop Festival:
19th May ’12 NL – Egchel, Egopop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Before a headline show in France:

Headline Show:
1st June ’12 FR – Alencon, La Luciole [Buy Tickets]

Tracer then join the USA’s Black Label Society for a run of shows in Germany and Portugal:

Black Label Society Support:
7th June ’12 DE – Leipzig, Werk 2 [Buy Tickets]
8th June ’12 DE – Osnabrück, Hyde Park [Buy Tickets]

more headline shows:Headline Shows:
10th June ’12 ES – Santa María Del Páramo (León), Taberna Belfast [Buy Tickets]
13th June ’12 ES – Zaragoza, La Ley Seca [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
14th June ’12 PT – Porto, Hard Club [Buy Tickets]

Headline Show:
15th June ’12 ES – El Sueño De Lola, Alcala de Henares, Madrid [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
19th June ’12 DE – Saarbrucken, Garage [Buy Tickets]

Before the almighty Graspop Festival in Belgium:

Graspop Festival:
22nd June ’12 BE – Dessel, Graspop Festival [Buy Tickets]

And then the Rosrock Festival in the Netherlands:

Rosrock Festival:
30th June ’12 NL – Rossem, Rosrock Festival [Buy Tickets]

Spent a few days in Berlin recording with Ole of Royal Republic tour manager/sound tech fame.

The studio was owned by a mate of Ole’s, Thies Neu and was actually inside an old brewery, hence then name Tonbrauerei being quite appropriate.

It was really great to see Ole again!

I draw the majority of my tour managing skills from him, having watched closely and learnt while on the Royal Republic/Tracer tour last year. His tactile approach with venue staff, professionalism when demanding of promoters and general mannerisms are desirable and if I could be even 1/2 of what he is to the Royal for Tracer I would be stoked.

Also in Berlin recording at another studio (the infamous Hansa Studios none the less!) was Adam Grahn of the Royal Republic. He invited us into the studio to say g’day and get a sneaky listen at a new song.

The studio was very impressive. It had lots of musical recording devices that made the boys penis’s collectively get hard. I appreciated the musical gear, but to a slightly level of stiffness.

Back at Tonbrauerei studios, despite being closed to the public, the brewery within the old building, Rollberger had been opened especially by owner Wilko to drink his own brew with mates while watching a important football game on projector screen. Wilko is a rad guy who loves his rock. He had previously popped into the studio with two massive pitchers of his brew for us to sample.

He invited us to drink at his bar with his mates while the game was on. Free, rad boutique beer, self poured from the tap? Well hello!! We dug in for some of the tastiest Berlin beer ever. A tour of the brewery to see where Wilko does his magic capped off a already sweet day!

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Next show is in the Netherlands:

16th May ’12 NL – Tilburg, Little Devil [Buy Tickets]

And then a festival in the Netherlands:

Afterdauwpop Festival:
17th May ’12 NL – Posterenk, Afterdauwpop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Plus another headline show also in the Netherlands:

Headline Show:
17th May ’12 NL – Arnhem, Luxor [Buy Tickets]

Another festival in the Netherlands:

Egopop Festival:
19th May ’12 NL – Egchel, Egopop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Before a headline show in France:

Headline Show:
1st June ’12 FR – Alencon, La Luciole [Buy Tickets]

Tracer then join the USA’s Black Label Society for a run of shows in Germany and Portugal:

Black Label Society Support:
7th June ’12 DE – Leipzig, Werk 2 [Buy Tickets]
8th June ’12 DE – Osnabrück, Hyde Park [Buy Tickets]

more headline shows:Headline Shows:
10th June ’12 ES – Santa María Del Páramo (León), Taberna Belfast [Buy Tickets]
13th June ’12 ES – Zaragoza, La Ley Seca [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
14th June ’12 PT – Porto, Hard Club [Buy Tickets]

Headline Show:
15th June ’12 ES – El Sueño De Lola, Alcala de Henares, Madrid [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
19th June ’12 DE – Saarbrucken, Garage [Buy Tickets]

Before the almighty Graspop Festival in Belgium:

Graspop Festival:
22nd June ’12 BE – Dessel, Graspop Festival [Buy Tickets]

And then the Rosrock Festival in the Netherlands:

Rosrock Festival:
30th June ’12 NL – Rossem, Rosrock Festival [Buy Tickets]

Played a private party in Schmalfeld the other night for the legendary Zaida Motorcycle Club.

It was their 30th Anniversary and we were there to rock it until whenever we felt like stopping.

Josh Deicke was our gracious host and he looked after us the entire time we were there, so we played a Hendirx medley that went for 20 minutes for him. Thanks Josh! You rock mate!

We had unlimited Jacks all night and a killer breakfast spread the next morning, all thanks to him. Cheers mate, we REALLY needed that breakfast!

Big thanks to Tina and Elvis for sorting us with sleeping arrangements. It was so great to hang with you all again!!

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Got a few days off now in Berlin where we will record with Ole of Royal Republic fame, then it’s off to the Netherlands for a headline show:

16th May ’12 NL – Tilburg, Little Devil [Buy Tickets]

And then a festival in the Netherlands:

Afterdauwpop Festival:
17th May ’12 NL – Posterenk, Afterdauwpop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Plus another headline show also in the Netherlands:

Headline Show:
17th May ’12 NL – Arnhem, Luxor [Buy Tickets]

Another festival in the Netherlands:

Egopop Festival:
19th May ’12 NL – Egchel, Egopop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Before a headline show in France:

Headline Show:
1st June ’12 FR – Alencon, La Luciole [Buy Tickets]

Tracer then join the USA’s Black Label Society for a run of shows in Germany and Portugal:

Black Label Society Support:
7th June ’12 DE – Leipzig, Werk 2 [Buy Tickets]
8th June ’12 DE – Osnabrück, Hyde Park [Buy Tickets]

more headline shows:Headline Shows:
10th June ’12 ES – Santa María Del Páramo (León), Taberna Belfast [Buy Tickets]
13th June ’12 ES – Zaragoza, La Ley Seca [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
14th June ’12 PT – Porto, Hard Club [Buy Tickets]

Headline Show:
15th June ’12 ES – El Sueño De Lola, Alcala de Henares, Madrid [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
19th June ’12 DE – Saarbrucken, Garage [Buy Tickets]

Before the almighty Graspop Festival in Belgium:

Graspop Festival:
22nd June ’12 BE – Dessel, Graspop Festival [Buy Tickets]

And then the Rosrock Festival in the Netherlands:

Rosrock Festival:
30th June ’12 NL – Rossem, Rosrock Festival [Buy Tickets]

Absolutely rocking crowd at the Maiwoche Festival in Osnabrück!

We were running late as a 7 hour drive from Switzerland turning into a 9 hour drive due to road works on the autobahn, so upon arrival at Jurassic Park (don’t ask) we did the ultimate quickest load in and soundchecked and then BAM stage time.

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Next stop on the tour, a private party for a motorcycle club in Germany:

Headline Shows:
12th May ’12 DE – Schmalfeld, Private Party

Then off to the Netherlands:

16th May ’12 NL – Tilburg, Little Devil [Buy Tickets]

A festival in the Netherlands:

Afterdauwpop Festival:
17th May ’12 NL – Posterenk, Afterdauwpop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Plus a headline show also in the Netherlands:

Headline Show:
17th May ’12 NL – Arnhem, Luxor [Buy Tickets]

Another festival in the Netherlands:

Egopop Festival:
19th May ’12 NL – Egchel, Egopop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Before a headline show in France:

Headline Show:
1st June ’12 FR – Alencon, La Luciole [Buy Tickets]

Tracer then join the USA’s Black Label Society for a run of shows in Germany and Portugal:

Black Label Society Support:
7th June ’12 DE – Leipzig, Werk 2 [Buy Tickets]
8th June ’12 DE – Osnabrück, Hyde Park [Buy Tickets]

more headline shows:Headline Shows:
10th June ’12 ES – Santa María Del Páramo (León), Taberna Belfast [Buy Tickets]
13th June ’12 ES – Zaragoza, La Ley Seca [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
14th June ’12 PT – Porto, Hard Club [Buy Tickets]

Headline Show:
15th June ’12 ES – El Sueño De Lola, Alcala de Henares, Madrid [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
19th June ’12 DE – Saarbrucken, Garage [Buy Tickets]

Before the almighty Graspop Festival in Belgium:

Graspop Festival:
22nd June ’12 BE – Dessel, Graspop Festival [Buy Tickets]

And then the Rosrock Festival in the Netherlands:

Rosrock Festival:
30th June ’12 NL – Rossem, Rosrock Festival [Buy Tickets]

A few days off at the Farm in Wolfwil, Switzerland before setting off on a run of festivals and headline shows saw the guys set up in the basement to jam on new tracks.

I took a forest walk, drank alpine water from streams, saw some bizarre new animals, including bumblebees, local wasps (they’re not called European Wasps here!) weird rat-looking squirrels, unidentifiable furry, thin brown rats (?) that squawked at me from under a pile of wood, a big-ass brown owl and an albino snail. Sadly (or thankfully?) I didn’t see the wild panther that has been on the loose in Wolfwil recently. Seriously. Google that shit.

New tour dates for Spain just announced, scroll down after the photos.

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Next stop on the tour, a festival in Germany:

Maiwoche Festival:
11th May ’12 DE – Osnabrück, Maiwoche Festival [Buy Tickets]

Some more headline shows:

Headline Shows:
12th May ’12 DE – Schmalfeld, Private Party
16th May ’12 NL – Tilburg, Little Devil [Buy Tickets]

A festival in the Netherlands:

Afterdauwpop Festival:
17th May ’12 NL – Posterenk, Afterdauwpop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Plus a headline show also in the Netherlands:

Headline Show:
17th May ’12 NL – Arnhem, Luxor [Buy Tickets]

Another festival in the Netherlands:

Egopop Festival:
19th May ’12 NL – Egchel, Egopop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Before a headline show in France:

Headline Show:
1st June ’12 FR – Alencon, La Luciole [Buy Tickets]

Tracer then join the USA’s Black Label Society for a run of shows in Germany and Portugal:

Black Label Society Support:
7th June ’12 DE – Leipzig, Werk 2 [Buy Tickets]
8th June ’12 DE – Osnabrück, Hyde Park [Buy Tickets]

Headline Shows:
10th June ’12 ES – Santa María Del Páramo (León), Taberna Belfast [Buy Tickets]
13th June ’12 ES – Zaragoza, La Ley Seca [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
14th June ’12 PT – Porto, Hard Club [Buy Tickets]

Headline Show:
15th June ’12 ES – El Sueño De Lola, Alcala de Henares, Madrid [Buy Tickets]

Black Label Society Support:
19th June ’12 DE – Saarbrucken, Garage [Buy Tickets]

Before the almighty Graspop Festival in Belgium:

Graspop Festival:
22nd June ’12 BE – Dessel, Graspop Festival [Buy Tickets]

And then the Rosrock Festival in the Netherlands:

Rosrock Festival:
30th June ’12 NL – Rossem, Rosrock Festival [Buy Tickets]

Had an off day in Paris, so we did the touristy thing and hit the Eiffel Tower.

For the band and myself it was a return visit, yet for Laptop (sound) & Leigh (merch) it was their first.

Laptop strolled off to “find an angle that didn’t make the tower look incredible” (his words) while the guys fulfilled thier Aussie dream and kicked a footy on some very scenic grass.

I handed my camera to Leigh (merch) while I went to line up for 30 min at the only public toilet (wtf?) in the place and of course I came back to over 4gb of happy snaps taken in my abscence.

The guys know how much I loathe music photographers who crop instruments in their shots and how important solid composition is to me, so all these shots were intently poorly composed, out of focus, some questionable subject matter and even upside down.

The selection here are not even 1/4 of the entire set. Hahaha!

I laughed.

The laughter soon died rather rapidly as we sat bumper-to-bumper for over an hour in heinous Pais traffic trying to get out of the city. Seriously, the worst grid lock I’ve been in, and I’ve been to KL city!

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Next stop on the tour, a festival in Germany:

Maiwoche Festival:
11th May ’12 DE – Osnabruck, Maiwoche Festival [Buy Tickets]

Some more headline shows:

Headline Shows:
12th May ’12 DE – Schmalfeld, Private Party
16th May ’12 NL – Tilburg, Little Devil [Buy Tickets]

A festival in the Netherlands:

Afterdauwpop Festival:
17th May ’12 NL – Posterenk, Afterdauwpop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Plus a headline show also in the Netherlands:

Headline Show:
17th May ’12 NL – Arnhem, Luxor [Buy Tickets]

Another festival in the Netherlands:

Egopop Festival:
19th May ’12 NL – Egchel, Egopop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Before a headline show in France:

Headline Show:
1st June ’12 FR – Alencon, La Luciole [Buy Tickets]

Tracer then join the USA’s Black Label Society for a run of shows in Germany and Portugal:

Black Label Society Support:
7th June ’12 DE – Leipzig, Werk 2 [Buy Tickets]
8th June ’12 DE – Osnabruck, Hyde Park [Buy Tickets]
14th June ’12 PT – Porto, Hard Club [Buy Tickets]
19th June ’12 DE – Saarbrucken, Garage [Buy Tickets]

Before the almighty Graspop Festival in Belgium:

Graspop Festival:
22nd June ’12 BE – Dessel, Graspop Festival [Buy Tickets]

And then the Rosrock Festival in the Netherlands:

Rosrock Festival:
30th June ’12 NL – Rossem, Rosrock Festival [Buy Tickets]

The second support slot for Gojira was in Caen, FR in a place called Le Cargö.

Large stage, massive sound (somehow still under the French dB limit) a great lighting rig and a room packed full of fans set the scene for a rad night. Super rad French catering and hospitality was the icing on the cake.

The guys from Headcharger also came to the show tonight which was super cools and after the show it was great to have the three bands, Tracer, Headcharger and Gojira all in the same room, so I lined up some shots (of the photo kind). It was a really great ending to a series of rad shows with some seriously talented musicians and downright night people.

Not long after, we were lining up shots (of the other kind) in a French bar Headcharger took us to. I do believe some naked bar dancing may have occurred at some point. It’s probably for the best my camera was packed in the van. Headcharger, you guys are awesome!

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Tracer & Heacharger:
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Tracer, Headcharger & Gojira:
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Next stop on the tour a festival in Germany:

Maiwoche Festival:
11th May ’12 DE – Osnabruck, Maiwoche Festival [Buy Tickets]

Some more headline shows:

Headline Shows:
12th May ’12 DE – Schmalfeld, Private Party
16th May ’12 NL – Tilburg, Little Devil [Buy Tickets]

A festival in the Netherlands:

Afterdauwpop Festival:
17th May ’12 NL – Posterenk, Afterdauwpop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Plus a headline show also in the Netherlands:

Headline Show:
17th May ’12 NL – Arnhem, Luxor [Buy Tickets]

Another festival in the Netherlands:

Egopop Festival:
19th May ’12 NL – Egchel, Egopop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Before a headline show in France:

Headline Show:
1st June ’12 FR – Alencon, La Luciole [Buy Tickets]

Tracer then join the USA’s Black Label Society for a run of shows in Germany and Portugal:

Black Label Society Support:
7th June ’12 DE – Leipzig, Werk 2 [Buy Tickets]
8th June ’12 DE – Osnabruck, Hyde Park [Buy Tickets]
14th June ’12 PT – Porto, Hard Club [Buy Tickets]
19th June ’12 DE – Saarbrucken, Garage [Buy Tickets]

Before the almighty Graspop Festival in Belgium:

Graspop Festival:
22nd June ’12 BE – Dessel, Graspop Festival [Buy Tickets]

And then the Rosrock Festival in the Netherlands:

Rosrock Festival:
30th June ’12 NL – Rossem, Rosrock Festival [Buy Tickets]

Arguably the best venues/catering are in France, La Nef in Angoulême was right up there with the best we’ve had on this tour.

A full hot and cold lunch cooked by chefs on the premises upon arrival which included chick pea salad, grilled pork and a weird “cafe” mousse type desert was followed only a few hours later with a dinner spread including oven baked salmon, prawns, beef, cheese & macaroni and of course a fine selection of French wine. Amazing!

We gorged like it was the last meal on the planet.

Not long after the two bathrooms copped a flogging.

Similarly to the catering, this venue was equally as amazing!

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Next up, Tracer share the stage with Gojira once more in France:

Gojira Support:
5th May ’12 FR – Caen, Le Cargö [Buy Tickets]

Then a festival in Germany:

Maiwoche Festival:
11th May ’12 DE – Osnabruck, Maiwoche Festival [Buy Tickets]

Some more headline shows:

Headline Shows:
12th May ’12 DE – Schmalfeld, Private Party
16th May ’12 NL – Tilburg, Little Devil [Buy Tickets]

A festival in the Netherlands:

Afterdauwpop Festival:
17th May ’12 NL – Posterenk, Afterdauwpop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Plus a headline show also in the Netherlands:

Headline Show:
17th May ’12 NL – Arnhem, Luxor [Buy Tickets]

Another festival in the Netherlands:

Egopop Festival:
19th May ’12 NL – Egchel, Egopop Festival [Buy Tickets]

Before a headline show in France:

Headline Show:
1st June ’12 FR – Alencon, La Luciole [Buy Tickets]

Tracer then join the USA’s Black Label Society for a run of shows in Germany and Portugal:

Black Label Society Support:
7th June ’12 DE – Leipzig, Werk 2 [Buy Tickets]
8th June ’12 DE – Osnabruck, Hyde Park [Buy Tickets]
14th June ’12 PT – Porto, Hard Club [Buy Tickets]
19th June ’12 DE – Saarbrucken, Garage [Buy Tickets]

Before the almighty Graspop Festival in Belgium:

Graspop Festival:
22nd June ’12 BE – Dessel, Graspop Festival [Buy Tickets]

And then the Rosrock Festival in the Netherlands:

Rosrock Festival:
30th June ’12 NL – Rossem, Rosrock Festival [Buy Tickets]