Hard Charger plot ambitious summer tour.
After several trips overseas and thousands of kilometers traveled on home turf, Fredericton’s legendary, hard-hitting grindcore act, Hard Charger, have set their sights south of the border. This summer the band will load up their van and set out on what may be their most ambitious tour to date, with over 43 shows in nearly as many days, playing stages from Fargo, North Dakota to Los Angeles, California.
“Ambitious or crazy, but it should be a fun time,” said vocalist/drummer Tom Blizzard, who has been working over the past several months to fill the band’s summer calendar. “I booked the tour with help from a few friends and some contacts we already made through corresponding with U.S. folks in the past. We’re looking forward to seeing a lot of new places, record stores and hopefully catching some rad bands and making some new friends.”
Touring the U.S. is something many bands dream about, but it’s not something for the faint of heart. Long drives spent cooped up in a van are something any touring act can relate to but when it comes to crossing a landmass like the United States, previous touring experience would certainly be an asset to any band’s survival.
“Hard Charger has toured Europe four times since 2009 and we plan to go again in 2016,” said Blizzard. “Since the first time we went we’ve been addicted to travelling there, and the great people who organize shows and run venues. We have wanted to tour the U.S. for a long time but the hassle of getting work visas has always discouraged us. This year we figured it was time. Hopefully it will be the first of many tours.”
The trip will also see the band visiting parts of Canada they haven’t hit in years.
“We have toured all over Canada but haven’t been west of Manitoba since 2009. We are long overdue and are looking forward to seeing some old friends and making new ones.”
The band will be touring in support of their 2014 split-LP with the band SOTOS from North Dakota, available on Bigger Boat Records. The two bands will have a chance to share a stage when Hard Charger rolls through town on June 25.
Once the tour is complete, the band will finish work on their next album, a project they’re been working on in their home studio for the past few months.
“We started to record for a new full-length,” said Blizzard, “but it probably wont see a release until late 2015 or early 2016. We’re stoked to release it but don’t want to rush anything like we may have in the past.”
The band’s 2015 summer tour will wrap up in Moncton where they’ll perform with Canada’s legendary prog-metal ambassadors, Voivod.
Hard Charger’s current full-length release, This Machine is Driving, is available through No List Records along with a bunch of other killer releases.
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Hard Charger USA/Canada Tour 2015
June
11 Providence, RI- Funky Jungle
12 Albany, NY – Paulys
13 New York, NY – Abcnorio Matinee w/Chainsaw To The Face, Scowl
14 Philadelphia, PA- The Barn
15 Pittsburgh, PA- The New Bohemian
16 Cleveland, OH – Now Thats Class
17 Detroit, MI- The Precinct
18 Chicago, IL- The Fallout
19 Appleton, WS – Union Jacks (early all ages show TBA)
20 Madison, WS – The Vault w/ Temple of Dagon
21 Minneapolis, MS – The Rathole w/ Rifle Diet, Geiger Counter
22 Fargo, ND – New Direction w/ SOTOS
23 Winnipeg, MB- HMS Arlington w/ Plague
24 Regina, SK- The Club
25 Saskatoon, SK – The Thirsty Scholar W/ IRN Lutheran
26 Edmonton, AB – DV8 W/ IRN
27 Calgary, AB- Tubby Dog w/ IRN
29 Victoria, BC – The Victoria Events Centre
30 Vancouver, BC – The Hindenberg w/CHAPEL
July
1 Olympia, WA – Obsidian
2 Salem, OR – The Wisp w/ Iskra,Wilt,Vastation
3 Reno, NV- Ground Zero
4 Sacramento, CA – Casa de Chaos
5 Berkley, CA – 924 Gilman
6 Los Angeles, CA- tba
7 Pomona CA- The Hub
8 Tempe, Arizona – Yucca Tap Room
9 El Paso, Texas – The Love Sprout
10 Dallas, Texas – Three Links w/ Tolar, Steel Bearing Hand
11 Austin, Texas – The Lost Well w/ Deadly Reign
12 Houston, Texas – Mangos
13 New Orleans, LA – Sisters in Christ
14 Birmingham, Al – TBA
15 Atlanta, GA – 529
16 Ashville, NC – The Odditorium
17 Richmond, VA – 25 Watt RVA
18 Baltimore, MD- Sidebar
19 Syracuse, NY – The warehouse
20 Hamilton, ON – Doors Pub w/ Greber
21 Toronto, ON- D-Beatstro
22 Ottawa, ON- House of TARG w/ Slumlord
23 Quebec City, QC- Bar La Source de La Martinière
25 Moncton NB- Tide and Boar w/ Voivod , ZAUM
Dates subject to change. Keep an eye on the latest updates here.
Additional Dates:
Obscene Extreme Festival in Montreal August 21-23, 2015