The month of January offers quite the list of cultural and social gatherings. Some of those is the KalimTour, a month-long tour of Kalimdor by everyone’s favourite metal band, Shredding Accordingly.
For four Saturdays in a row, they will play in four different locations, with four different setlists.
I had a chance to talk to two of the members of the band about their upcoming tour.
Hardhy Lester: "You are half the members of Shredding Accordingly, a metal band, right?"
Xabia : "We are, yes. Vetterick the guitarist and Xabia the drummer."
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Yep, that's us. Baldemar and Octavia make up the rest of the band, both playing a bunch of different instruments."
Hardhy Lester: "How long have you been performing together?"
Xabia : "Feels like an eternity..."
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "I'm rubbish with dates... Let's see... Baldemar and I first got started a bunch of years ago, then Xab and Octavia joined us later. And a good thing that they did! "
Xabia : "About as close of a timeline as we can get, really."
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Yeah, that's pretty much as accurate as it gets. "
Hardhy Lester: "Vetterick, you used to perform in a tavern up north right?"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Oh yeah, sure did! We had a fairly regular thing up in Hearthglen for a while, Barovar ran the tavern there at the time. "
Hardhy Lester: "I remember visiting once with Baldemar I think. Anyway - you play metal, is it only metal or do you also play other types of music?"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "While metal's our signature, we do play a fairly wide variety of stuff on occasion. We've had a few purely acoustic, more traditional shows over the years. Emphasis being in "few". "
Hardhy Lester: "Let us talk a bit about this upcoming tour. KalimTour I think you called it, right?"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "That's right, yep. "
Xabia : "Blame Vetterick for the pun."
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "I accept full responsibility. "
Xabia : "About time you did..."
Hardhy Lester: "I heard worse puns, perhaps you should join for the next Lion's roar jokenight"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "I'd need talent to compete there, I'll just stick to music. "
Xabia : "You need talent for music too. I don't know how we've managed this long..."
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Wait, you do? uh oh..."
The monthly joke night is hosted by yours truly in the Blue Recluse once a month. The next one is on the 20th of January. Anyway, plugging done, back to the interview.
Hardhy Lester: "4 Saturdays in a row, are you not worried that you will tire out your fans?"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "As for the four Saturdays, we look at it this way. There will be those who absolutely want to catch every show, and they'll have a great time. Then there'll be those who can't make more than one, and by having four we give people more chances to catch at least one. "
Hardhy Lester: "But you advertise different set lists? so unless people can go to all four, they will miss out though?"
Xabia : "Anyone who doesn't make one of the shows needn't worry. The songs we'll be playing, including the new ones, will all be ones we add to our repertoire. So, if they can't make the initial show we play them at, they'll hear them at a future show."
Hardhy Lester: "I am sure that will ease the mind of some of the more hardcore fans. "
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "The song's won't be going away, they'll be back. We can guarantee that. "
Hardhy Lester: "Tell me a bit about the concerts, you start out in Uldum was it?"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Yeah, we're kicking it off in Mar'at. Seemed like the most appropriate starting point for this southern tour. "
Hardhy Lester: "That brings me to the next question. Four locations. Take me through how you picked them"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Well, since the second spot on the tour's Xab's choice, why don't you start us off on that, Xab? "
Xabia : "So, Mar'at was the location for Uldum Nights, wasn't it? So it's a well-known place that folk know how to get to, perfect for a show really. Tanaris has an amazing view, but truthfully I pushed for it solely so we could have an awesome beach party in the middle of winter. I'd say don't tell anyone, but... newspaper. The Speedbarge is the perfect place for a metal show because it's made of, well, metal. And the spot in Un'goro we've got scouted is an amazing mix of nature and archaeology, and gives a real... I don't know, there's a definite vibe that suits the music."Article continues after the ad.
Hardhy Lester: "I noticed all four locations are in the south of Kalimdor, is it really a KalimTour then?"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "It is! As you might've noticed in the marketing, we did say "first". Y'see, we plan on doing more of these in the future. "
Hardhy Lester: "Ah hah! "
Xabia : "We've already discussed locations for the next one, but those are being kept top, top secret."
Hardhy Lester: "Surely you can tell me."
Xabia : "Newspaper."
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Of course we can. But we won't."
I had to try.
Hardhy Lester: "Fine, fine. Any new merch for this tour?"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Yep! A certain line of plushies is going to have four new additions made to it. "
Xabia : "Four very personal additions."
Hardhy Lester: "Can you reveal any more about that? maybe prices?"
Xabia : "Where's James when you need him...?"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Probably off on some glamorous holiday, as usual. "
James Griswold is the Merchandising Manager of Shredding Accordingly and is in charge of - well their merchandise.
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Anyway, the prices are intended to be the same as for the regular Shreds plushie. "
Hardhy Lester: "and how much is that?"
Xabia : "Oh, he's good..."
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "See, I was hoping you wouldn't ask that because I haven't ever bought one, so I can't recall. Usually up on stage when the merch stall is open, after all! "
Xabia : "I'll be honest, given I normally bully-... sorry, 'encourage' James into giving them as prizes for things during the show, yeah, no idea, sorry."
After the fact we managed to track down James and I can reveal that plushies will be priced at 10 silver a piece.
Hardhy Lester: "The concerts starts at 20, how long are they planned to last?"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "They may vary somewhat, but the setlists are aiming at between an hour and a half to two hours. "
Xabia : "Just means that we won't be going until stupid o'clock and tiring everyone out. One of the ways we're making it so fans can come to more than one without getting too tired."
Hardhy Lester: "Will there be any sort of beverage sold at the venue? or is it more of a "bring your own booze" kind of deal?"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "There will be beverages, either provided through our own shop or a partnered business. But hey, if people want to bring their own stuff, they are allowed to. We're not going to kick anyone out for bringing their own drinks."
Hardhy Lester: "I assume the concert is free to attend?"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Quite right, we're not selling tickets or charging admission. "
Hardhy Lester: "Finally, for the curious fans out there - are any of the band members single?"
Xabia : "Aheh... good question. Sadly Baldemar's been off the market for quite some time, as have I."
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Baldemar not being single is a common point of grief among many, and who can blame 'em? As for me, I'm not single either. "
Hardhy Lester: "Sounds like the fans are out of luck then!"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "You snooze, you lose! "
With those wise words and many a broken heart - then I'll end this article with Xabia and Vetterick encouragement for the readers and fans out there.
Xabia : "To whoever comes along, whether they've heard us before or not, you're all welcome to come and rock out with us on the KalimTour. You won't be disappointed!"
Vetterick 'Shredduin' Breiden: "Damn right! And if you are disappointed, please send a letter of complaint addressed to James Griswold. "*
According to unnamed sources in close contact with Shredding Accordingly then we have been told they will be debuting 9 new songs, and 12 new versions of existing ones!
Shredding Accordingly's concerts are always worth going to, even if you like me is not totally onboard with their style of music. The show is amazing, and their fans are as well. Go check it out.
The KalimTour takes place the following dates and places:
7th of January, 20:00
- Mar'at, Uldum
14th of January, 20:00
- Caverns of Time, Tanaris
21st of January, 20:00
- The Shaper's Terrace, Un'goro Crater
28th of January, 20:00
- Fizzle & Pozzik's Speedbarge, Thousand Needles
Each show features a unique setlist!