Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
Glass Hammer kicks off new ‘ tour’
First of all, Glass Hammer doesn’t tour. It doesn’t have to.
But, the musicians do take their prog-rock show on the road when it makes sense; and when they do, they’ll kick off the season with a show here. The 201718 concert schedule starts on Saturday, May 6, with a show at the Camp House.
“It will be the first show in two years,” says songwriter/singer/ bassist Steve Babb.
After that will be the Terra Incognita Festival in Quebec on May 20, the Veruno Prog Festival in Italy on Sept. 1, ProgStock New Jersey on Oct. 13 and Cruise To The Edge Feb. 3-8. These will be large arena shows in front of several thousand people.
Babb says the band, which is celebrating its 25th year, likes opening its concert schedule with a show here for several reasons.
“It’s our hometown and we want to do it for friends and family and fans. But, it also lets us work things out technically.”
The other dates are all very purposefully chosen because they are high-profile events that put the band in front of a large audience, and they make sense financially.
“They are also where we have been invited to play,” Babb says with a laugh.
The band is often invited to perform overseas during a traditional tour, but those are often break-even at best ventures, and Babb says Glass Hammer has built a large enough fan base that supports the group via online sales that it doesn’t have to spend weeks chasing money or fans on a drawn-out tour.
For the shows, the band will perform its latest album “Valkyrie,” and will “pull some epic songs from our back catalog.”
“Valkyrie” was a return to form in some ways for the group. They recorded it as close to live as Glass Hammer can, though they did do some editing and production in the studio. They also brought Susie Bogdaniwicz back in to handle much of the vocals.
The title is based on female figures in Norse mythology who lived and who died in battle. It’s about a man who goes to war and can’t return home. Whether that inability to return is physical, mental or self-imposed is up to the listener.
“It’s a story about dealing with trauma, and it has connected with people,” “It’s our hometown and we want to do it for friends and family and fans. But, it also lets us work things out technically.” — SONGWRITER/SINGER/ BASSIST STEVE BABB, ON OPENING THE BAND’S CONCERT SCHEDULE HERE Babb said.
He said the band has spent the l ast several months rehearsing because the entire album, with the exception of maybe a couple of recorded loops, will be played live on stage.
“It’s really complicated,” he said.