For Bakersfield’s If It Kills You, September 2025 marked a first trip overseas. The California post-hardcore band crossed the Atlantic for four shows with London’s Ritual Error, playing Cardiff, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, and London between September 3–6.
Instead of the usual promo blurbs, they chose to keep journals — each member writing about one stop along the way — turning the run into a lived-in snapshot of what it feels like to throw yourself into a DIY tour.
The band didn’t try to hide the small details. “Our first run overseas felt like a blur of long drives, late nights, new friends, and more pints than we could count,” they wrote. “Each city had its own cast of characters, every band left its mark, and through it all, Ritual Error reminded us why we love doing this in the first place.” What tied both groups together wasn’t just the shows but the common language of punk and hardcore. As they put it: “Just knowing we both shared a love for Sarah Kirsch’s bands, or our mutual admiration for Sam McPheeters, was enough to fly across the world and jump in a van together.”
Both groups came into this run with history behind them. If It Kills You have been touring and recording steadily, with releases like “Invisible Self” (2021), produced by Jim Ward of At The Drive-In and Sparta, and a split with Division of Laura Lee in 2022.
Their next material, recorded at Electrical Audio by the late Steve Albini, is due in spring 2025 via Noise Real Records.
Ritual Error, meanwhile, have been active across the UK since 2022, releasing their debut album “Dial in the Ghost” on TNS Records in late 2024 and sharing stages with Mclusky, Deaf Club, Pissed Jeans, and Scream.
The full tour diary, written by the band in their own words, can be read below.
Our first run overseas felt like a blur of long drives, late nights, new friends, and more pints than we could count. Each city had its own cast of characters, every band left its mark, and through it all, Ritual Error reminded us why we love doing this in the first place.
Because really, no other genre besides punk and hardcore could make something like this possible. Just knowing we both shared a love for Sarah Kirsch’s bands, or our mutual admiration for Sam McPheeters, was enough to fly across the world and jump in a van together. From the start, we knew wholeheartedly, these were our people!
09/03/25: Cardiff, Wales
First day of the tour, we had the pleasure of going to Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. As we arrived in Cardiff, our first sight was Cardiff Castle. The venue was right by the castle, so the environment was really cool. Everyone at the venue was nice and friendly. We were even asked why we had funny accents, which I don’t blame them.
This show was combined with another gig that was going on. The crowd stayed throughout the entire show and checked out all the bands. We shared the stage with Skloss, who were also from America.
Great night. Great people.
After the show, we were starving, and we walked many miles to finally come across something that tasted like home: Popeyes Chicken. After we ate, we paired up and shared an 8×8 room. You couldn’t have asked for a better first show.
– Mikee Lee
09/04/25: Wolverhampton, England
From what looks like a more industrial city, which differs from some of the more historic cities we visited, we came across a beautiful street strung with overhanging rope lights with a “Dive” sign displayed over a black painted door. Behind that door was the stair way to Dive which had 5 levels of steep climbing – past a gentlemen’s club called “Cinderella’s” (which was closed).
This show was the least attended; we ended up playing for other musicians along with the absolute sweetest sound technician the world has yet to see. The band Ritemaker was to kick off the show who had a left handed drummer as tall me and was an absolute beast on the Kit! Mike set up his kit the exact same as I do and beat the hellout of the drums with ferocity. This would have been the easiest band turnover night considering the rarity of two lefties BUT we sandwiched a righty drummer (David of Ritual Error) between the two – to keep things spicy!
After all bands played, we drank and laughed for hours before striking up the courage to load gear back down the stairs to find our hotel. The next day we walked for 30 miles to find breakfast, which was delightful and the trip was sponsored by David the great.
– Tyler Patterson
09/05/25: Nottingham, England
Ale, our fearless Italian navigator from Ritual Error, parks the van across from JT Soar, an unassuming brick building that could pass for a farmer’s market if you didn’t know any better. We meet Marty, the Irish promoter, who takes us out for tacos and beers before the show. We like Marty! Back at the venue, Nick from Hyperopics (sound tech, drummer, badass) has a vegetarian taco spread waiting. That’s when things come into focus: JT Soar isn’t just a room with a PA, it’s ran like a co-op, a space built by bands and kept alive by the kids who pack it out.
Hyperopics open the night, if you don’t know this band, fix that! Racehorse keeps the fire burning, Ritual Error tears the place apart, and right before our set we slip down to the corner shop, four pints for four pounds, and smuggle them back in our coats to JT Soar. By the time we plug in, the room is still buzzing. Turns out JT Soar is also a recording studio; the stage is the tracking room, it sounds good here.
No one left. No one slowed down. By the end, it felt less like a show and more like being folded into a community. Welcoming.
– Justin Martin
09/06/25: London England
The last day of the tour brought us back to Ritual Error’s hometown of London. This was also the last time that all 7 of us would be riding in the van together. A bittersweet journey capped off with 1 last banger. (Pun intended).
After making our way through traffic back across the city we arrived at the Sebright Arms. The parking gods gifted us with a spot directly in front of the venue’s entrance. We loaded in, (more stairs) and sound checked then went off to find some food before the show starts.
Watching Ritual ripping through their set tonight leaving everything on that stage including Okala, leaving the stage to scream in the faces in the middle of the crowd, brought me back to those early hardcore shows when I was much younger and less grayer. The highlight of the night for sure.
After the show, we said our goodbyes. We parted ways with Okala & David and took one last journey through London with Ale (our captain) to unload the gear at Ritual Error’s studio, then drop the van off at the rental place. We drove across a Tower Bridge at night (highly recommended) then crashed at Ale’s house.
-Kevin Clark
