#6: LATAM 2025 PART 2: Taco Porn, Lucha Libre Drumming and Hammock Life

#6: LATAM 2025 PART 2: Taco Porn, Lucha Libre Drumming and Hammock Life

I really did wanna get this video out sooner but... life. This video covers the first two stops of the tour: San Jose, Costa Rica and Mexico City. Two very different places but two equally awesome experiences and fun shows. Thanks to everyone who came to see us; it's always an honour to be able to play in these incredible parts of the world.

As mentioned in my last post, these videos probably cover more from my time between shows than the shows themselves. As exciting and adrenaline-pumping as the shows are, touring can become a monotonous cycle of airports, hotels and venues and, before you know it, you're back home having never even experienced the places you've visited. So I really try to maximise my time at each stop and squeeze in some tourism, stuff my face with food and stay away from the hotel/venue for as long as I can before I have to work!

I'll never get tired of visiting these two places. I was fortunate enough to travel around Costa Rica several years ago and it's like nowhere else on the planet. The fact that there's even a metal scene there is a blessing and it's a bonus that a portion of that scene cares about seeing Haken. This show felt like a step up from our previous visit and I hope we can continue that pattern each time we visit in the future. Pura Vida Costa Rica!

Mexico City is somewhere I don't think I'll ever fully appreciate. Such an overwhelmingly vast place! But I'm glad I finally got to visit Chapultepec. And I'm sure I'll be back there next time as there's still so much to see that we couldn't get round to this time. Something I hadn't witnessed before was the sheer number of runners and cyclists out and about on the streets. To be fair, I think there was some kind of event on the day we visited but, even outside of the event, it seemed like the whole city was out making the most of the day which was great to see. 

Again, pretty frustrating not to have the full EAD10 setup with me so the video clips from these shows are a little different from the usual but hopefully they bring some new insight into what's going on back there on stage during a show. 

Also, I thought I'd run a little competition so, if you're still reading this, here goes...

If you can tell me what song the guy in the airport is playing, you might win a signed pair of used sticks. All you have to do is:

  1. Watch this video
  2. Subscribe to my website (scroll to the bottom of this page)
  3. Comment on this page the song title and artist name

In a few days time, I will select a winner at random and send you a pair of sticks.

Good luck!

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9 comments

Hi Ray!
Thanks for posting your tour videos. The life of a touring drummer can be quite challenging at times and I love your positive energy amid all the turmoil. I am in awe of your syncopation skills and the incredibly creative drum parts that you write. Thanks for all the hours of entertainment you have provided your fans throughout the years!
The song is “Dust in the wind”. Hope I win your sticks, my 10 year old is your second biggest fan and he would love love love them! 😁

David Holt

Though it´s certainly less impressive now that everyone´s had it right already, Kansas’ Dust in the Wind undeniably IS a great track! As for the blog – I LOVE THESE SO MUCHHHH!!! If you love Haken, you love Ray- and if you love Ray, you love these blogs. Simple as that. I will NEVER take these behind the scenes clips for granted, they are an absolutely brilliant treat for your fans, and reception seems to be picking up too, it seems – I certainly hope so! In any case, I´ll stick around for sure – and please, eventually, there MUST be sticks added to the merch section! I´ve got my ENTIRE WALL filled with heads, I cant send you more money unless you sell me your sticks damnit! ;P
As always – Cheers from Berlin!!

Lucca Rau

Love the video as a drummer who still has so much to learn! Dust in the Wind (by Kansas) would fit the bill for the song! 😎🤘🥁

Michael Meyers

Hey Ray, hope you’re well man. Loving these videos, really cool :D

Dust in the Wind – weird, been learning it on guitar recently!

Joe Malone

Joe Malone

Hello Ray, thanks again for visiting Costa Rica! I hope all you guys enjoyed your visit and the hot sauces we managed to sneak through Peter XD. While yeah, the song is indeed a cover of Kansas’ Dust in the Wind, I’ll raise the stakes: the percussionist is William Ramos and here’s more of his work if you wanna check out. https://www.instagram.com/williamramosc

Christian Dávila

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