Wyvern...Can We Talk?

[Walter_Langkowski]

:Spin:


Wyv, let's have a group discussion about your homeland of Costa Rica. You mentioned once that live tours rarely come through (for Metal anyways). So really, how bad is it there? The rest of us are probably pretty spoiled, so this can be like a group consolement of sorts for you.

 

[SickBoy]

You mentioned once that live tours rarely come through (for Metal anyways). So really, how bad is it there? The rest of us are probably pretty spoiled, so this can be like a group consolement of sorts for you.

One doesn't need to live in Costa Rica to have scarce concert offer...
I live in Croatia and if it wasn't for a few of my friends who are as crazy about music as I am, I wouldn't see a darn thing!
We really travel 12 hours without any second thoughts, a few of them even attended Wacken, which means some 25hrs of driving from here, so you figure the rest...

 

[Walter_Langkowski]

One doesn't need to live in Costa Rica to have scarce concert offer...
I live in Croatia and if it wasn't for a few of my friends who are as crazy about music as I am, I wouldn't see a darn thing!
We really travel 12 hours without any second thoughts, a few of them even attended Wacken, which means some 25hrs of driving from here, so you figure the rest...

That's insane. So 10-12 hours of driving is probably average for you? And where is that to, Germany?

 

[rokk]

Try living in IDAHO!!!

 

[Wyvern]

OK Costa Rica will be the subject.

It's a small country ~54000 sq.km, you can fit the whole country inside the state of Nevada. Actually the distance we have from our capitol San Jose to the capitol of the southern neighbor country Panama it's the same distance from Reno to Las Vegas. You have ~350 km to each border from the capitol and in 2-3 hours you can reach any of the oceans.

Our population is ~4 million and culturally speaking it's a typical Latin American country but very oriented to USA influence (especially now with globalization).

There's a rock/metal history in the country but as any small one it rarely went beside the borders. Also recording was rare and spaced through time, so most of the national production stood in demos or just live acts.

As a market is small and expensive (for some reason as a flying destiny is way more expensive than go to Panama as an example, with just 50 minutes fly difference) so a band have to get a good deal from any promoter here before jump into the plane.
There's a fairly good metal crowd for such a small country but usually goes to soem people my age and income or lots of kids with not much money, also the income here is way lower than US in comparison. So a $45 ticket here it's out of many fans pocket possibilities.

All and all through history (and as far as I recall) we had some bands showing here:

Jethro Tull (I went)
Aerosmith
Bon Jovi
Deep Purple (I went)
Rick Wakeman (I went)
Yes
Camel (was a surprised gig and nobody told me )
Sepultura
ELP
Misfits
Angeles Del Infierno
Ozric Tentacles
Marduk
Rata Blanca (I was in US )
Helloween (I was in US )
Gamma Ray/Masterplan (I was in US )
Hammerfall (I went)
Dark Tranquility
Avalanch

All those in a 10 year span or so, but increasing towards 2002 and now.

I have a friend who's a promoter and he tries to get some stuff but it's very difficult/expensive most of the time and it's no use to bring a band just a few of us like, money have to be made otherwise...

So basically those of you with metalfest, progpower, KIT, HOA, WOA, metal mania etc are sincerely blessed (and thin on the wallet )

NP: Helloween - 'The King For A 1000 Years'

 

[wdiv]

Try living in NORTH DAKOTA

It's pretty bad here in Baltimore for concerts... since DC & Philly divert most of the good bands. But I'm sure that the North Dakotas and Idahoans don't have much pity for me...

 

[kittybeast]

and everyone prolly "hates" me because most everyone plays Los Angeles 1-2 times in a tour and sometimes more.

I myself only travel for a few bands and go to as many shows as I can within the state or near by states.

Should anyone travel to CA to see a show, do give us a holler!

 

[Unfaithfully Metalhead]

I'm Costa Rican-American (next time i visit let's go CD shopping... ).. and i have it worst then Wyv.. i live in NY ...

 

[J-Dubya 777]

and everyone prolly "hates" me because most everyone plays Los Angeles 1-2 times in a tour and sometimes more.

I myself only travel for a few bands and go to as many shows as I can within the state or near by states.

Should anyone travel to CA to see a show, do give us a holler!

Ever see Mike Keneally play in LA (usually at the Baked Potato) or in SanDiego? You guys get GREAT gigs there, not to mention NAMM convention every year.....I SO wanted to go the last couple of years.....

J-Dubya

 

[Wheezer]

Colorado's not too bad. It's a looooong way from Texas to Cali so sometimes we get a good number of shows just to break up the distance. Sometimes they stay South and go the Albuquerque/Phoenix route. Sometimes, like with Nevermore, they're headed to the Northwest and we get them. Mostly hit and miss.

 

[Wyvern]

I'm Costa Rican-American (next time i visit let's go CD shopping... ).. and i have it worst then Wyv.. i live in NY ...

Ah shut up UM Even Rata Blanca plays in New York. I guess the problem in NY it's not that bands don't show but the traffic to get to a gig is a killer

Next time we do have to tag along

Ever see Mike Keneally play in LA (usually at the Baked Potato)

Cab plays at the Baked Potato. Really living in the LA area is like heaven for a musi fan, everybody plays in LA and around it.

I guess it'll come to the point of saturation: nah, I'm not going to see Iron Maiden I've seen them 6 times already

 

[kittybeast]

Ever see Mike Keneally play in LA (usually at the Baked Potato) or in SanDiego? You guys get GREAT gigs there, not to mention NAMM convention every year.....I SO wanted to go the last couple of years.....

J-Dubya

Nope, never saw Mike K. Play. and I'd liked to go to the NAMM show, it always seems to sneak out and surprise me.

 

[kittybeast]

I guess it'll come to the point of saturation: nah, I'm not going to see Iron Maiden I've seen them 6 times already

THAT would never happen...well at least not to Iron Maiden or the Scorpions.

 

[zeppelin]

I get the feeling that bands fear the Third World, mainly because Third World people are mostly cannibals and savages. A lot of them are hideous and stupid due to inbreeding and lack of television. You also stand a good chance of getting shot in the head, hi - jacked, robbed or being malled by an elephant on the way to the hotel/gig. You can't even think of drinking the water, breathing the air will put you in quarantene for at least a month and never ever ask what you just had eaten, trust me, you don't wanna know.
Be afraid
Be very afraid.

 

[Walter_Langkowski]

Really living in the LA area is like heaven for a musi fan, everybody plays in LA and around it.

I guess it'll come to the point of saturation: nah, I'm not going to see Iron Maiden I've seen them 6 times already

Well, I live in the Chicago-area, and now that you mention that about Maiden...:Spin:

Thanks for the infor on CR! I was always curious about the area and I work with a couple of dudes that are from there. They don't listen to Metal though, so I call them Pinches Jotos...:Spin: They laugh anyways.

 

[Wyvern]

I get the feeling that bands fear the Third World, mainly because Third World people are mostly cannibals and savages.

Nah, that's mainly on the Amazon rainforest

Actually the South America market (especially Argentina and Brazil) is huge for the metal bands. Any time they toured there (and it's a lot) they always fill up stadiums and venues. I'm sure that bands touring smaller European countries or those outside the EC also find a lot of eager fans that willingly will fill up any venue.

Let's not forget the political problems, have you seen lately how many bands can't play due to visa problems? And today like it or not USA is a transitional port for many other countries, so basically you cannot go to YYY because you have to pass through USA or other country HHH and they don't issue visas for your band. And no one will make a worldwide tour on a cruiser isn't it?

But in t end the mean factor (IMO) for bands not to tour the Therd World is lack of money (of the potential attendants) and expensive travelling (for the band). And like it or no tbands have to make a buck in order to continue making music

 

[zeppelin]

But in t end the mean factor (IMO) for bands not to tour the Therd World is lack of money (of the potential attendants) and expensive travelling (for the band). And like it or no tbands have to make a buck in order to continue making music

Yeah I know, that and the fact that there has to be a hudge following to make it worth while.

 

[SickBoy]

That's insane. So 10-12 hours of driving is probably average for you? And where is that to, Germany?

You wish...
Italy, Hungary, probably Austria, that's it I suppose...
We'd have to travel at least 15 hrs or so to any larger German city.

 

[Wyvern]

You wish...
Italy, Hungary, probably Austria, that's it I suppose...
We'd have to travel at least 15 hrs or so to any larger German city.

What about train? Most parts of Europe are railway connected isn't it, even to the Eastern part?

 

[Orklord]

True, but it isn't cheap and you always have to travel for ages.