October Rage cries 'Victory or Valhalla' as the band comes back to Havre

Australian hard rock band October Rage will be coming back to Havre for the third year Saturday, Oct. 13, drummer Kai Chambers said Wednesday.

He added the band will play two shows back-to-back in Havre this year, a full rock show at Harvest Moon Bowling Alley and a "VIP acoustic meet and greet" show at the Old Station Brewing Co.

Chambers said the acoustic show will start at 7 and end at 9 p.m. The full rock show at Harvest Moon will start at 10:30 p.m. and consist of the "greatest hits plus the new bits," he said.

He added the set will be a combination of songs from the bands three previous albums, "Outrage," "Fallout Dust and Guns" and "Eye of the Storm," and from their new album "Victory or Valhalla."

Harvest Moon and Old Station Brewing Co. will both have tickets for sale on the day of the shows and at the door, Chambers said, adding that the VIP tickets will also be for sale on national-act.com later this week and next week.

VIP tickets will get people to a show that includes sales of band items like T-shirts and css, a meet and greet and hanging out with them before, and after the show on the tour bus, he added.

Chambers said the band has been touring nationally and internationally for years and three years ago stumbled into Havre.

"One of our booking agents booked us (in Havre) a few years ago," Chambers said. "We came in on like a Tuesday and the place was full, it was at the Eagles (Club) in Havre. On a Tuesday night for a rock show to have a packed house was really unique. So we were like, 'Oh we gotta keep coming back to Havre, these guys really love there rock music.' Ever since then we've been coming back every year.

"I love Montana, it's one of my favorite places," Chambers added.

During the band's time in the United States it has toured through 42 states, Chambers said, adding that, one day, he would like to see the other eight.

"Seeing America one truck stop and one McDonald's at a time," he said.

Life on the road for a rock musician isn't all glam, though, he added. It's hard being on the road but it is better when he has great people around.

One of the band's songs, "Reign of Fire," was inspired while on the road, Chambers said, when during a drive from Nebraska to Utah the band was forced to bale out of the tour bus in the middle of the night because it caught fire. He said the bus burned to the ground as they could only just stand by on the side of the road and watch.

He added that Nick Roberts, the lead singer and guitarist for October Rage, and he are planning to write a book someday about their experiences on the road.

The band formed in 2012, based out of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, and since then has played with big-name bands such as Bon Jovi in Australia and numerous other nationally known bands, Chambers said. The band includes Australians William Roberts, bassist; John McMullen, guitarist and keyboard player, and American guitarist Mike Lebay.

Touring with the band is also Great Falls-native John Planck, who is the house engineer and permanent "front of house," Chambers said, adding that the entire crew is filled with hard-working people who are a great asset to the band.

"We've got a really good bunch of dudes that work for us and make our lives so much easier," Chambers said. "It's great."

October Rage also has other shows in Montana this year, playing in Great Falls, Missoula, Butte and Helena, and in the past has also played in Bozeman and Billings as well as the Rockin' the Rivers Festival in Three Forks.

Since the band's inception in 2012 the band members have been working on their own unique sound, Chambers said, which led them to their fourth album "Victory or Valhalla." The release date for the album has been postponed until next year due to high interest from labels and publishing companies, he said. He added that even though the album release has been postponed the lead single of the album will come out Nov. 3.

Chambers said the meaning behind the album "Victory or Valhalla" stems from Norse mythology - which the members of the band enjoy - and refers to how the Vikings, when raiding other countries, would burn their ships after coming ashore. This was done to signify the idea that retreat was not an option, he added.

"That's how we're kind of treating our voyages, so to speak, to America," Chambers said. "Theoretically, touring as much of the country as we can, traveling around with our music and meeting new people and kind of building our following as we go."

The band is working with the independent record label Air Castle Records, which is owned and operated by the members of Royal Bliss, he said. The label has helped October Rage with the band members receiving their visas and getting the band in and out of the United States, Chambers said, adding that they have been a great help.

October Rage will also be performing with Royal Bliss the last month of their tour date for this year, doing a West Coast run, Chambers said. He said October Rage wants to get a strong start to 2019 and keep the momentum going for a great year.

Chambers invited the community to join October Rage for both shows and have a good time, adding that their music has no cursing or screaming, just hard rock.