Now it’s time to start with the part of the blog we all waited for…right? The tour kicks off!

Meet & Greet

The travel to Aschaffenburg was a little adventure itself, thanks to Deutsche Bahn. Trains getting delayed and delayed is always a lot of fun. Not. And dragging around what feels like ten tons of luggage in a bag that’s barely holding together is not so funny either. But I’ll stop complaining, I arrived and that’s the most important thing. And if I hadn’t managed to catch a cold exactly today, I’d be completely satisfied.

Elias & Daniel

By the way, the merchandise looks awesome, it’s totally worth spending your money on. Which I will do. I can already hear my wallet crying. Aside from a Hoodie and two shirts there’s a really cool looking tote bag, Death to Analog and the new Dreamland single. But today, the merch is not the most interesting part. What’s really important: How did the show go?

Mayfield, who filled in for Murder.fm, opened the show with a grunge performance that bore a distinct resemblance to Nirvana before My Passion took over a warmed up the crowd for the things that were yet to come. And how they came.

Around 10 pm Julien-K hit the stage and began their first performance ever in Europe. If you didn’t know, you wouldn’t have noticed for a second that Ryan is actually sick. He performed at full power just like everyone else. I won’t tell you the setlist cause I know that some people like to be surprised and I don’t want to be a spoilsport. I’m just going to say this much: It’s a long, nicely chosen set and the four new songs fit in there really well. The people liked them as well which is a good sign for the new album. According to Amir they’ll try to finish the new stuff until the end of the year and that’s quite a nice prospect, isn’t it?

Ryan

And if you wondered who is doing the back-up voals now that Brandon is not a part of the band anymore: It’s not Fu who took over, but Elias. And he’s doing a great job!

And now, I’ll get back to my hotel and try to get rid a little of that stupid cold before we hit the road to Munich tomorrow. From tomorrow on there’ll be something new to the shows: The Austrian DJ iPunk is the official tour DJ and he’ll do a set before, between and after the bands. If that’s not a nice addition, huh? And we want to see you dance! All of you!

See you tomorrow!

Laura

Here are all the dates with the supporting bands:
(dd.mm.yyyy)

08.09.2010 – UK – London, Borderline /w Generation Graveyard & Kain

13.09.2010 – DE – Bremen, Römer /w Unzucht & The Iron Fist of Fu

14.09.2010 – DE – Nürnberg, Cult /w Border of Insanity

15.09.2010 – DE – Berlin, K17 /w Berliner Bomben Chor

16.09.2010 – DE – Hamburg, Markthalle /w Unzucht & der Schulz

17.09.2010 – DE – Aachen, Musikbunker /w The Very End & encypher

19.09.2010 – BE – Antwerpen, De Rots /w Stallion

Merchandise

Less than a week until the tour starts and as many of you might have already seen on Twitter, the guys are already in Germany – Hamburg to be exact which they like a lot – to prepare the last bits for the shows like press and rehearsals. Today was the first day of rehearsals and the band practices hard, these are the first concerts in Europe after all. It’s actually been a while since Julien-K played live and this tour is the first with the “new” line-up. No doubt that Fu will do a great job on stage!

The new merchandise just arrived at Tiefdruck’s and awaits its buyers. There will be more than just hoodies and t-shirts but no telling. That’s gonna remain a surprise!

Something else found its way to Tiefdruck Musik: The Dreamland singles! Those are available from Friday on Amazon Germany and a number of stores. It should be mentioned again that the CD is limited to only 1000 pieces, so you shouldn’t ponder too long whether to buy it or not. For only 3,99€ there’s nothing to think about anyways. Buy it!

Dreamland

Julien-K are not the only ones working hard. Tiefdruck is busy as hell, too because they’re in the middle of the last preparations for the tour. Tour books and passes are in the works just like another million things. I have a load of things to do as well and I doubt it’s gonna change before the shows start. Keep your fingers crossed for my Germany flag – I hope it’ll arrive until Monday at the latest ot else we have JULIEN-K GERMANY without a flag on tour and that’s a big no-no!

And now, I shall go and prepare food for my sister’s birthday tomorrow. See you soon!

Laura

The raffle

Some days passed by but now I’m back and I have once again prepared some more or less profound news from the Julien-K tour headquarter for you. Let’s start with a few visual allurements… As you know, the winners of the meet & greets are being announced daily, and I wanted to give you a look into how Tiefdruck-Musik selects the lucky winners:

Your responses to the contest are great, by the way – we get more and more entries day by day, and we are pleased about the fact that it is received well! So yeah, let’s keep the photos coming!

Elias' rehersal drums

Furthermore, Elias was so kind to provide us with a pic of the drumkit that he uses to rehearse for the tour. In addition, he also sent us a picture of himself joking around at the kit! Typically Elias ;D

Elias being silly

In other news, the guys have just decided on the final setlist for the tour. Of course we won’t give away the real deal because we want to keep up the excitement But as the guys have already stated on Twitter, Julien-K are gonna present two to four entirely new songs on tour, and this means we Europeans are gonna be the first lucky people to listen to the new stuff!

At the moment, the guys are busy with some more tour preparations and are currently hiding in the studio programming the keyboards. Amir and Fu have taken some pics of them working that I also want to share with you here in this blog:

Amir in the studio

And some more cool news that I’m sure will please many of you (me included): There will be new merchandise for sale which will enable us to get ourselves some new cool shirts, etc. So far, we had only been able to import the stuff from the USA. Reliable sources have also reported that the designs are gonna be really amazing

Fu at work

Regarding my personal touring plans, I can tell you that I’ve taken some huge steps forward. And sometimes it drives me crazy. My flight for London is booked now, by the way, so in the morning of September 11 I will fly out there from Frankfurt-Hahn, and will land only 20 minutes later, thanks to the lack of a daylight saving time in Great Britain – ha! Unfortunately, it was a bit more expensive than expected, but you know Ryan Air is the king of charges… and yet cheaper than their competitors. I’m actually quite nervous because this will be my first flight ever!

Amir and an Orange amp

Besides, I’ve finally booked all my hotels and hostels for quite tolerable prices, and I’ve even survived the service jungle of the Deutsche Bahn in order to get myself train tickets for Holland and France. Not so easy – especially if you want special conditions. On top of that, you also have to struggle with rude and incompetent staff at times. But after all, I’m now the proud owner of (almost) all train tickets, and the last one should arrive within the next days. Hopefully. If the Deutsche Bahn makes it. Then I’m done with the transport issues, at least.

Lots of fancy electronics

What I need now is an endless packing list that I can work off, and I need to make a new JULIEN-K GERMANY flag. The old one was stolen after this year’s Dead By Sunrise show in Berlin and unfortunately hasn’t resurfaced until now.

So long!

Laura

HERE you can download the song for a short time!

GHOSTS AND GOOD STORIES will be released – due to production-related reasons one week later – on August 27^th 2010 in Germany, August 30^th in the UK as well as on August 31st in the US and contains 13 tracks of pure heavy honesty that features intimate lyrics, intense music and an identity all its own, proving that like bottle of Whisky or fine wine, MY RUIN just keep getting better with time.

Produced by Mick Murphy and Josh Lynch, ‘Ghosts and Good Stories’ is a concept album centered around scripture inked in blood, sweat and tears, a testament to the love MY RUIN share as a band and as a couple which they continue to create together against all odds and outside forces.

LONG DARK NIGHT describes an insomnia fueled struggle to find the muse lost in sleepless evenings of losing faith, awake with the inability to create. This is a heavy metal torch song if ever there was one, paying homage to those little slices of death and life after midnight where the revelation will not be televised.

Get the song NOW and spread the word: MY RUIN are back and better than ever!

MY RUIN - Ghosts and Good Stories

The first reviews are pouring in and they are smashing!
Here is the gospel according to the press:

“Ghosts and Good Stories is gracefully bone-chilling, filled with teeth-chattering terror, and leaves your unworthy soul melted in a puddle on the floor. A masterpiece! 10/10″
Sara Heitman – Blistering.Com
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“Pantera attitude, Sabbathesque seventies poison, dirt southern touch, hardcore pride and a courageous tribute to Rollins Band: this is ‘Ghosts and Good Stories’! My Ruin are back with the right dose of high-handedness and brought to us one of the most sincere, shouted loud, sexual and intense records of this year! 8/10”
Simone Sacco – Metal Hammer Italy
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“This collection of beautifully told stories that unwind and unravel before our ears has plenty of bark and a bite to match. Ghosts and Good Stories is an onslaught from start to finish that doesn’t let up; there’s no room for fluff, no room for floundering and certainly no room for questions. My Ruin are pioneers of their own brand of metal that amalgamates so many different styles it can’t be pigeonholed or categorised.”
Lynsey Wright – Thrash Hits UK
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“My Ruin have mutated into something truly monstrous in recent years, as the chemistry between Tairrie B and Mick Murphy has evolved and sprouted wicked wings. Ghosts And Good Stories picks up where 2008’s Throat Full Of Heart left off, with an exhilarating barrage of warped stoner metal riffs and blister-razing gutter-punk.8/10”
Dom Lawson – Metal Hammer UK
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“My Ruin’s sixth official full length album – is their strongest outing since A Prayer Under Pressure Of Violent Anguish from 2000. On the musical front ‘Ghosts And Good Stories’ surpasses everything the band has done thus far.”
Carl Begai – Brave Words Bloody Knuckles
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“This is a powerhouse of an album. It packs a lot of power both vocally and musically
which is what My Ruin has always done well. 4/5″
Mike Grey – Soundsphere Magazine
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“Ghosts and Good Stories vocals and riffs are full of power, an intense delivery from an experienced alternative metal band. 8/10″
Hugo Countinho – Creepy Insight.Com
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“Ghosts and Good Stories their sixth volume literally has to be their most unified, binding, creative, epic whirlwind of pure velocity to date, fact.”
Nickie Hobbs – Devolution Magazine
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” ‘Ghosts And Good Stories’ is a perfect ode to the kind of grimy, smoke rock the band trade in.”
Darren Taylor – RockSound Magazine
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“My Ruin have no interest in delivering antiquated chills and thrills. Instead Mick Murphy delivers a Southern-tinged, Sabbath-y guitar assault, over which Tairrie rails against religion, more religion and, most succinctly, the current crop of vapid female pop singers! 7/10”
Kirk Miller –Decibel Magazine

www.myspace.com/myruin
www.facecook.com/myruinofficial
www.twitter.com/myruinofficial
www.youtube.com/myruin
www.myruin.tumblr.com

For

2 €, if you live in Germany

and

4 €, if you live anywhere else,

you get one JULIEN-K A1 sized, folded tour poster.

Please send an email to info@tiefdruck-musik.de, if you are interested.
Payment is only through Paypal possible.

If you are interested in buying more posters or extras like shipping in a poster tube – please send us an email as well and we will try to find the best and cheapest solution for you.

Here is the poster again:

JULIEN-K tour poster 2010

That was Japanese. It might sound strange, but whatever So today we’ve got an amazing announcement for you that will especially please the people that have already bought a Julien-K ticket in the presale. *drum roll*

Julien-K tour dates

It is true – every day from August 5 to August 27, Tiefdruck-Musik will be giving away an exclusive meet & greet with the Julien-K guys during the upcoming tour!

So what do you have to do to win? Not much, actually. Just take a picture of you with your Julien-K ticket (it must be clearly identifiable) and send it to jk@tiefdruck-musik.com. Sending it will get you into the lottery wherein you will remain until the bitter end! This means, the earlier you participate, the higher are your chances to win. Of course you will be taken out of the lottery after winning but that should be pretty self-explanatory

Can you only participate once? NO. If you attend three shows, then just send in three pictures and you will be entered into the competition thrice. More tickets = more chances.

The winners will be announced every day at the official Facebook and Twitter profile of JULIEN-K GERMANY. Of course the lucky winners will also be notified via e-mail.

This initiative has been set up in order to reward the people who purchase their tickets in the presale, since the presale is a really important issue. You know it is the band’s first tour in Europe, therefore the labels, organizers, promoters, etc. can only know what to expect and how to plan things by watching the presale. So if you have the possibility to buy your tix earlier, please do so! With this, you not only help the band and the other parties involved, but you also save money compared to buying the ticket at the box office AND on top of that, you might now also be rewarded with a meet & greet.

In this connection, I also want to appeal to you again to promote the tour in the best possible way. We Julien-K fans need to activate all our powers and do everything  in order to make the tour a success so that the guys will be able to come to Europe for a second time in the future!

Good luck!

Laura