Hateful Chains

 Summer gigging

It's already been a week into September! Oh well, time flies, it seems. The summer has been quite hasty because when the covid situation seemed better, all the places opened up and gigs just kept coming! That is, other than Hateful Chains. I've done Disco gigs, sixties rock -cover gigs, all kinds of stuff...and was working full time until the end of July. 

So, time hasn't been on my side. But it has all become easier since I started working halftime at the theater. The other half of the time has been consumed by independent work at my workspace, where I first and foremost create Hateful Chains merchandise and my own designs, but also do other work, and then gigging and practicing.

We had one seriously fun gig trip with Hateful Chains this summer, and that was at Seinäjoki, north from our home town Turku. We rented a van to fit all the gear in. Of course, we still don't have a tour bus. Maybe it would be useful if there was an actual tour at some point. Thumbs up!

The gig was arranged by an acquaintance of mine, who has a Ramstein cover band called Rumstein. It was a kind of a collaboration. The place was a genuine rock cave, with even covid directions given with an attitude. Being a cave, they still had a pro doing the mixing. Nice for a change not having to do everything yourself. That means we had to wait for quite a while, before Rumstein were ready with their soundcheck. Hanging out at the hotel, then.

Backstage

By the time we were ready with our's there were already people oozing in. Audience! And yeah, at summer gigs there's audience, the kind that just want dance, just want to hear their favourite songs and are there just for the drinks and partying. The ones that are interested in new stuff, the genuine music lovers, they are usually early. And it warmed my heart to see so many of them there!

                              

On stage again!

The set was perfect. I mean, it wen't so smoothly, we had such fun, and it was over way too soon. I could have played another one right away! Which was a really good sign for me personally, but also gave a hint where this group is heading, if everything runs our way. After such a high and rush there was so much energy left, and it couldn't have been a better timing for Rumstein to play!

And I mean, they nailed it! They had quite a long set, but since Ramstein is practically heavy-lover's party music, at least here it is, it didn't feel long at all. They had the lights, the smoke, the stage dramatics, a clown who didn't actually play, but whose role was to be the clown. Everything thought out to make a great show. I think Rumstein is quite ready to play Ramstein for bigger audiences. It was just a great, great party!

                             

Backstage with Rumstein

                              

And after that we partied some more. And continued at the hotel. And the next day we gathered the gear and started our slow descent southwards. Party continued. Every stop was long. And music went on and on. It's a kind of freedom, not healthy in the long run and definitely not for every gig trip. But every once in a while very enjoyable. And we had a great driver to take us there and back, Heidi, whose been helping us around in many other ways too! Many thanks!

 Aside from gigging, we've been preparing for the recordings of our second album. I've finished as many pre-demos as possible and we've been trying out the songs at the rehearsal room. We'll be doing a cover of a Finnish song and a new one of our own, the first single of the future second album! I really can't wait to start hyping about that! But I'll still get into that in the next part, just to keep you on your toes...

Until next time, Flora