Denver’s Fatalist started their tour not with a bang but with a highway jackknife. A literal one. Snowstorm on the Colorado plains, semi blocking the road, switch controllers passed around like communion wafers. The band slept at a Love’s truck stop. That’s how this thing kicked off.
This was no vanity circuit. It was a short, teeth-bared run through Texas and Missouri meant to support the release of their self-titled debut, a record dropped cold on Bandcamp and streaming with no fluff. Emoviolence doesn’t need fanfare, just volume and speed.
Members of Fatalist have played in Iwakura, Untold Want, Scam, Product Lust, Athousandangelsandseven, Fainting Dreams, Merry. Those names probably mean something to someone who’s been squatting basements in the Front Range for the past decade.
We have teamed up to document the short trek like it really happened—grease-stained, roadside-worn, full of little local flashes and backstage moments.
The result is below: a tour report written by Fatalist, one day at a time.
Day 1 – Overnight Drive
The route was made and all venues were set; nothing stood in our way besides a literal semi truck jack-knifed across the highway due to an unexpected snow storm.
Having lived in Colorado for many winters, we knew our only option was to turn on the heat, bust open some snacks, take out the Switch, and start killing time.
About an hour after we came to a halt, the capped heroes (firefighters) arrived, checked in with us, and got us moving along.
We spent the first night driving into Texas before we stopped for a few hours of sleep at a Love’s truck stop.
Day 2 – Finishing Drive to Austin / First Show at The Chess Club
We woke up in the Fatalist Tour rig and proceeded to hit the road.
It wasn’t long before we made a momentary stop in Memphis, TX to grab more snacks, freshen up, speculate on the abandoned housing market, and then take off to our next stop before Austin: The Gas Station.
Only known to the truest fans of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre film (1974), this stop was a part of our Texas BBQ tour that ran parallel with the music.
We had our fill, tried to pet the resident feral cat, and then took off to what would be an amazing show at The Chess Club with Rose Ceremony, The Vinous, and Deerspine.
We didn’t all fit on the stage, but that didn’t bother Ian as he ran the floor to the cadence of our blastbeats before wiping his brow and reconnecting with some old friends.
Once the show ended, we were graced by the food trucks of downtown Austin, and with full bellies we made our way to our host’s (Kyle of Votive) abode.
Thank you Kyle!
Day 3 – Drive to Denton / Overnight to KC
This day began with thoughts of Texas brisket and mac n’ cheese on our minds.
So with a What-A-Burger honey butter chicken biscuit for breakfast, we knew we had received all that Austin could offer us for the short time we were there.
With Denton in mind, we tipped our hats and saddled up. We rolled into the open arms of Heim BBQ the moment we arrived in Ft Worth and didn’t regret it.
With full bellies, we sauntered back to the tour rig and got over to Rubber Gloves.
Nestled up against the train tracks of Denton, Rubber Gloves serves as an oasis for rockers, both local and traveling.
A green room full of beer, VHS tapes and a private bathroom came second only to our sound check.
This was hands down the best we’ve sounded at a venue and it couldn’t have happened without the awesome sound team at Rubber Gloves.
We played with Whep, Llewelyn, and Channelchanger, who were all sick and made us feel welcome and excited to play.
Once again, food trucks were our saving grace as we grubbed down on some surprisingly spicy butter chicken and got back on the road for Kansas City.
Day 4 – Finish Drive to Kansas City / Show at Howdy
Once again, the open road greeted our crusty eyes as we were en route from Denton, TX to Kansas City, MO.
Without any tips for BBQ, we headed straight to the home of our host, a mysterious member of the esteemed Missouri Executive Order 44. Lots of laughs, gear talk and a floor nap got us ready to rock for the night.
We grabbed some Palestinian food and headed to Howdy for the show.
The night was going great, but no more than 30 seconds into our set, it became apparent that Fatalist was in our bag as our opening riffs killed the circuit breaker.
After a quick gear swap, we proceed to add our two cents to what would be an incredibly heavy night of music alongside MEO44, Malevich, and Kariah.
Garnering approval from the devout following that is MEO’s hometown fanbase, we knew we accomplished what we set out to do.
Day 5 – Drive Home
After a great night of music/rest, we were ready for our final endeavor… Kansas City BBQ.
Once again we rolled into a smoke-filled meat shack, eyed the menu, and dove in.
Far from disappointment, we made the happy waddle back to the rig and hit the road.
Intermittent naps, laughs, and jams basically drove the van for us, and the closer we got to home, the more the roadside snow drift reminded us of how much we had accomplished over the last few days.
Heavy music and even heavier meals meant that the Fatalist tour was a success for all involved.
The only question now is when/where will we do it again….
