Tours of Note: Apocalyptica

March 21st, 2008 - by Eddie

Tours

Apparently, throughout the history of hard rock, the one thing that’s been missing on stage was an electric cello. It makes sense. They look like guitars and when you smash one on stage, it’s so much more impressive.

This new venture into the world of rock comes courtesy of Apocalyptica, a Finnish band (made up of three cellists and a drummer) that has been rocking like classical musician students on acid (which explains why they enjoy covering Metallica). Their upcoming album “Worlds Collide” will be their sixth studio album and features people like Corey Taylor and Hotel Tomoyasu (who did that song in “Kill Bill” when Uma is on the yellow crotch rocket) joining the band on various songs.

We got the album at the office a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been surprised by it ever since. Sometimes I forget there are cellos involved because it sounds so much like rock. Actually, the drums help a great deal, which I understand was incorporated into the band in 2005 (they formed as three cellists in 1993).

Some people will say that the band is doing wonders to expose a new generation to the classic arts, just because there’s a cello on stage. I don’t buy that. People don’t see something like Apocalyptica and suddenly think “hey, I should skip that punk show and check out the symphony tomorrow.”

Instead, people (like me) will see this and only thing “when are they gonna light that thing on FIRE?” I think I’ll start a band like this and call it Bach Rawk. I can see the t-shirts now….

Apocalyptica “Worlds Collide”

And here’s their current single (and probably the band’s motto) “I’m Not Jesus”

Tour Dates:

4/11 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues

4/12 San Diego, CA House of Blues

4/13 Orangevale, CA The Boardwalk

4/14 West Hollywood, CA The Roxy

4/16 San Francisco, CA Slim’s

4/17 Portland, OR Roseland Theatre

4/18 Seattle, WA El Corazon

4/21 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue

4/22 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre

4/23 Kansas City, MO Beaumont Club

4/24 Sauget, IL Pop’s

4/26 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Cafe

4/27 Chicago, IL House of Blues

4/28 Cleveland, OH House of Blues

4/29 Pontiac, MI The Crofoot

5/2 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club

5/4 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Theatre

5/5 New York, NY The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza

5/7 Washington, DC 9:30 Club

5/9 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade

5/10 New Orleans, LA Parish at House of Blues

5/11 Houston, TX Warehouse Live

5/12 Dallas, TX House of Blues

5/14 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theatre

5/15 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre