Action Beat have toured constantly since 2006, playing up to 117 concerts in one year. We basically played around 400 shows in 4 years, not bad for 9 chumps from a small town in England.
In March 2011, I (Don) will be having a child. Well, my wife will actually be having the child, you gotta give credit where credit's deserved. Anyway, for the next year or so, it will be slightly harder for us to do the long mental 10 week tour's we normally do, but that doesn't mean we won't tour, or play shows that are offered to us.
We are really looking for summer festivals, and shows/tours during July and August. I know this can be slightly hard for promoters, as a lot of places close for the summer, but if you are interested, or know other people who may be interested, you should get in touch with us.
I feel kinda shitty laying it out like this, but something has to be done about our conditions at certain shows.
If you want to book action beat, the deal now and forever is:
Money. We won't play for free ever, ever again. We did this 3 times on our last tour, and I find it quite astonishing that certain promoters would invite a band to play in their town, with absolutely zero intention of paying them. Each agreement will be worked out on an individual basis. We're not greedy, but we're not rich, and so all expenses must be covered.
Clean accommodation. Nothing filthy. Warm rooms, mattresses, shower with warm water. If it's freezing, get a heater. Would you let your mother stay at the place you are planning to put action beat? If NO, then don't put us there.
3 of us are allergic to cats, so if you have cats, put us at your friends house.
3 random horror stories from the previous tour, stories we definitely want to avoid repeating on us.... 1) the promoters at Incubate festival in Tilburg put us up in a squat ran by 18 year olds. It was basically a building site, with no windows or doors. Place was fucking freezing, and the kids spat all over the floor we were sleeping on. A rich fucking festival putting us there to save a few euro's? Needless to say, we'll never play for them again. 2) Rat shit on our beds!! Need I say more??? 3) Hostel with inadequate number of beds, and an old women sleeping in the corner of the room who was obviously freaked our, and overwhelmed by the 9 men who just entered the room. Her knickers were drying on the radiator, so that smelt good too. For one, we don't want to stay with old women, and 2, as if an old woman wants to stay with 9 other guys?!?!
Oh yeah, the place must have a toilet. I know, pretty fucking standard to have a toilet, do I really need to ask? Well, you'd like to think it as standard, but there were at least 3 places on our last tour with no toilet or running water.
Food. A good, home cooked meal or a buy out. Don't give us something you put absolutely zero effort into making. We have been travelling for up to 10 hours at a time, sometimes more. We're starving, and need something nutritious. It's not much to ask. No crap cold pasta, nothing fucking weird like sheep brain's, no fish, or Goat's cheese.
Beer and drinks. Self explanatory really. We want a drink at the show, and there's a lot of us, so you'll need a lot of beer.
Technical rider: We prefer not to sound check, as it's the worst fucking thing imaginable. We started the band to avoid PA's and sound men.
We have:
2-3 full drum kits (Bass drum, floor tom, rack tom, snare, cymbals x 3)
3 Guitar amps (Fender twin, 2 x 100w Head w/ 4 x 12 cabinets)
2 Bass amps
NO VOCAL MIC.
WE WILL NOT TURN DOWN. DON'T ASK US TO TURN DOWN, WE WILL SIMPLY IGNORE YOU. IF THE CLUB HAS A SOUND LIMITER, OR PROBLEMS WITH SOUND, DO NOT BOOK US. WE ARE A VERY LOUD BAND.
So, if you want to book ACTION BEAT, please contact me directly at fortissimorecords@hotmail.com, or message us here.
Thanks for reading,
Don
