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micky 
Special Collaborator 
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
 Topic: Nearfest 2010... a review.. and thoughts..Posted: June 21 2010 at 15:07 |
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An off-the-cuff review coming your way for those unlucky enough not to make it to Nearfest... which I suppose is 99.9% of this forum considering the only PA's people I saw... were all 'retirees and forum burn-outs haha.
There are two parts to Nearfest... the community.. and of course the music. First.. the community... Quick show of hands.. who has been to Nearfest.... probably not many judging by the absolute lack of any buzz about the event on this site...for I suppose it is one of those events that once you attend (unless you have finally burned out from listening to f**king Camel and started listening to that Lady Gaga chick) you are hooked and always come back. Amazing to see the community at the event... one even I... as anti-social as they come without BEING anti-social. could not fail to notice. Even though my priorities at the event boiled down the following... 1) listening to great music 2) seeing HT, David and Walter again 3) getting drunk on Newcastles which taste so much better when suffering through prog which doesn't float your boat (more on that later).. or especially when you are taken to another dimension by incredible music (more on that later) 4) CD shopping (yowsers... at least my OT and all that sweat and blood didn't go to waste haha) ... and way down the list. 5) meeting new people.... nothing against people... just enjoy the company of Raff, our PA's friends, and of course myself. However.. next year... my priorities might be a bit different for in spite of myself. I got drawn into the community there... that is the nature of the event. Short of being a complete a****le.. or anti-social.. you can't help but be drawn in when good friendly people come up to you and introduce themselves, or you see a guy struggling with what Italian Prog albums to get and you just naturally just in to help, and finally.. the artists themselves. The artists are incredibly accessible to common schucks like yours truly. While my better half spent her weekend living up to her Queen Prog Reviewer title (more on that later haha) *show of hands how many had their wives kissed artists after engaging them in their native tounge and learning she was the one who wrote such a great review of their work* For mere prog mortals like myself that aren't on a first name basis with prog labels it was still possible to approach and strike up a good conversation. Everything that we love PA's for.. or loved at one time.. was to be found at Nearfest ...without the nastier aspects of this site. The bitching about additions.. or whether this group is 51% X.. or 49% Y.. or god forbid.. whether they should even be here. At Nearfest.. there are artists that push the boundries of what some might see as 'prog rock' and you know what... I didn't hear one damn comment as to why this band was included on the bill. You just listened.. some you liked.. some you didn't.. but the bullsh*t got left at the door. People there were interested in checking out good progressive music.. and as always.. Nearfest delivered. pt 2.. the bands and music to follow... time to go pickup my pickup.. which broke down the night before we were to leave hahahha. Good timing at least... and for those who follow Raff's Facebook page... it WASN'T the transmission thankfully hahha. Edited by micky - June 21 2010 at 15:10 |
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memowakeman
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 19 2005 Location: Mexico City Status: Offline Points: 13032 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 15:38 |
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I am looking forward to the second part.
I've never been to Nearfest, but I did attend to Baja Prog and I can tell you that the community was awesome, very nice unknown people that you will see for 4 days, who share some tastes and who can become your friends. An excellent experience.
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Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
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Staker
Forum Groupie 
Joined: October 10 2008 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 53 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 15:40 |
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Cool review - who's played so far? Their website isn't working so I can't really see it.
Also, sorry to be a jerk but the way you type... like this is... really annoying. Commas work too  |
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I > You.
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 16:02 |
not a jerk at all... it's just a habit by now harder to break than firing up a Winston. will be working on the musical side of things of the review evening. Bear with me... I've had a long break from using my brain and listening to music. There was a lot to digest... |
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 16:08 |
that is one reason I decided to post this.. not sure how many have been to one and if anyone hasn't.. they need to. Unless you are totally turned off the scene, more anti-social than me perhaps, or jaded to the point where communion with fans of the music and the artists doesn't move you at all. Amazing how you can pick up... a full year later.. as if you hadn't left, though you might have hardly spoken to those people. No secret I've pretty much dropped off the musical forum cliff this last year.. but it was like seeing people as if I saw them yesterday. That was nice. |
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rushfan4
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 22 2007 Location: Michigan, U.S. Status: Offline Points: 66007 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 16:13 |
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I'm curious to hear what you have to say Micky. I am most curious to know your "suffering through prog which doesn't float your boat" reviews, as I suspect that those would have been my favorite moments, with or without the Newcastles. Edited by rushfan4 - June 21 2010 at 16:16 |
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Raff
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 29 2005 Location: None Status: Offline Points: 24392 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 16:18 |
Actually, there were not many moments of actual suffering, at least not for me. I won't say anything more now, though, as I'm in the process of writing a real review of the event, which hopefully will be published next weekend on the ProgressoR website. If it is, I'll provide a link for all of you interested in reading it. |
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 16:19 |
unlike Raff.. I haven't used my time away to hone up on my reviewing skills... but I'll take a stab at it. The Bands (for those unaware) Friday - Riverside, Steve Hackett Saturday - Astra, Forgas Band Phenomena, Iona, Three Friends Sunday - Moraine, Pineapple Thief, The Enid, Eddie Jobson and the most insane collection of musical talent known to man hahah (wasn't the official title.. but might as well have been haha) Edited by micky - June 21 2010 at 16:23 |
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 16:36 |
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Friday Night act 1.... Just happy to be there and they had Newcastles.. aplenty!
Friday night? Where to start... by putting it in context... after the experience of getting there... Ivan could have been up on stage in his Speedos playing Mary had a Little Lamb on the Pan Flute and I would have been yelling for an encore. Nine months of a highly stressful, multi-million dollar job I have been helping run made Nearfest (conveniently starting the day AFTER we did our last building changeover) a well-needed and deserved vacation of biblical proportions. unfortunately... as I clock out Thursday night to head home.. so very excited and looking forward to a nice vacation with Raff.. my Ford Ranger, less than 2 years old with barely any miles.. decided to not want to go. Initial prognosis Thursday night was the transmission... f**k me... oh well... rent a car here we go... nothing was stopping us. (found out later Friday as we got to Nearfest that is wasn't and they'd have it fixed for me when I got back) the point... it wouldn't have taken much on Friday to please me. I was just happy to be there. So after a long nap after checking in.. we headed off to the land of Lehigh University to check out the CD vendors..then catch Riverside. The CD vendors... for those that haven't been to a prog festival... there is something spiritual and erotic about seeing thousands of prog CD's from all over the globe.. HAH.. that was just from Greg Walker. Times that by various vendors spread across 2 large rooms and a specialized 'artist' vendor area and what you have is the greatest threat to your account balance since the discovery of internet porn.. After our first raid through the CD vendors.. mine made with a specific band in mind and completing their discography (Dungen from Sweden). Once that mission was accomplished.. we got down to businesss... what we all were there for... the music...... Edited by micky - June 21 2010 at 16:37 |
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harmonium.ro
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: August 18 2008 Location: Anna Calvi Status: Offline Points: 22989 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 16:44 |
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^ Great story so far!
 Nice to know you're a Dungen fan, I only know Ta Det Lugnt but I love it. |
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Rivertree
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions Joined: March 22 2006 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 17584 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 16:47 |
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I would be happy to be at Nearfest sometime ... such occasions unfortunately drop here in Germany
 I have noticed the lineup for some years now, really exciting! Astra and Riverside on one event .. fantastic! looking forward to your reports, Raffaella and Michael
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 16:52 |
oh lord have mercy.... get Tio Bitar... classic mix and light and heavy.. with a 'classic' sound to it (you know what I mean.. very retro sounding .. especially in it's lighter sections. |
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 16:56 |
thanks Uwe! a lot of people from outside the states seemed to be there .. if you have the chance.. definitely try to make it. Edited by micky - June 21 2010 at 16:57 |
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 17:28 |
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so back to the music...Friday Night..
sorry for the lack of many details regarding songs, setlist, and all that.. this review is a spur of the moment so to speak... i didn't take notes and am just trying to recreate the vibe.. the experience. That is what people missed... the music you probably know better than me in a number of cases. Friday night ..especially.. I was really jazzed to get a chance to see Riverside... much like Gong last year. They are a group that I knew of.. but really hadn't listened to much. (my tastes and proclivities towards prog and well lamented facts of PA's lore ..so no real surprise that there isn't enough time in the day to listen to all I should.. or want to listen to). So what did I think... do you really want me to say what I thought.. ok.. you asked... it wasn't a good sign when the first thing that struck me was how much their keyboardist, Michal, looked like a guy that I work with whom I have a secret man-crush on ( no..not that kind of crush... the kind of jealousy based crush like... 'jesus.. wish I hadn't missed the table that passed out those kind of good looks'). Thankfully though the music soon penetrated the web of my own manly insecurities and I was drawn back into their music. I was really curious to see Riverside having followed the 'debate' as to their placement here. I really enjoyed their music... and I guess a residue of man crush did remain for I intently watched Michal's performance and interaction with the band for the entire set. Amazing stuff.. though I must admit.. the Theremin got overused a bit and didn't really.. do it for me. Minor detail though. The crowd was wildly enthusiastic for the band and they no doubt fed off that and delivered a killer set of material culled from their albums. then came Steve Hackett... oh lordy... did I prepare myself well for this... another 20 bucks in Newcastles down Micky's piehole. There is no doubting the man's brilliance and his talent... but let's face it.. I'm not a fan of his or his music based on what I had heard. It wasn't bad... I'm no idiot... but it had never never grabbed me. Well... that is why we go to these shows.. and why you NEVER...EVER write an artist off. It took ONE song for me to lose my Hackett ambivalence. Mechanical Bride is what he opened with... when that killer riff first hit me.... I was on the edge of my seat. (seeing Nick Beggs in a skirt and ponytails weilding a Rickenbacker and playing up a f**king STORM sure did help). wow... his album... To Watch the Storms is now on the very top of my must have list.. would have got it there.. but not surprisingly.. i don't think I was the only one so impressed... I think all the vendors sold out of it. Back to the show... a boon for Genesis fans.. Hackett and his band tossed out some Genesis songs for the enjoyment of the audience... and to my pain. Carpet Crawlers was.. .errgg... the whole brilliance of that was the lovely vocal melody... while the drummer (name escapes me) did a fair turn of it... it just didn't compare and probably should have been left alone.. HT thought it would have been better as an instrumental... I couldn't have agreed more. Hackett in short... pfff on the classic stuff..did very little for me (but that is no surprise) .but lord have mercy... I do love his recent stuff which I was completely ignorant and oblivous to. Check it out if you like your Genesis more like King Crimson on steroids hahha. Edited by micky - June 21 2010 at 17:31 |
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 18:01 |
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after a great's night sleep.. and with one eye on the USA world cup match we moved into Saturday.. a day we both were looking forward to... and dreaded in a way...
here is what I thought going into Saturday... Astra- never had heard them, but they came highly recommended by someone I really adore so I was very curious to hear them. No expectations.. (a recurring them.. see later acts) Forgas Band Phenomena - L'Axe du Fou was .. not the Decemberist's Hazards of Love (though it was #2). was my top ranked album of 2009. Needless to say I was REALLY looking forward to seeing them. Hell as Raff will note... J-R/F is not exactly a favorite sub of mine.. so that says something as to how frickin good that album is. Not to mention I adored Forgas' 1977 album Cocktail. Both albums have pathetically few reviews.. that is a shame. Makes you wonder what people are listening to... Forgas was booked at Nearfest because his album was so highly rated on other sites. Oh well... let's have another frickin PT thread shall we... Iona - who? enough said... Three Friends - *key the scene in the Mexican restaurant before the show where Micky and HT make hand gestures simulating a train wreck finding out that they were using a short notice replacement singer* no expectations.. could be incredible.. or simply terrible.. |
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 18:27 |
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so to the music we go...
and let's start with Astra... sorry to say but general feedback was quite contrasting probably as much (or more than any other artist over the weekend).. but let's put them in some context. While I was outside taking exterme pleasure in drinking Newcastles before 11am and taking another 10 minutes off my life saving me from pissing on myself and having high school dropouts that serve as caregivers drawing mustaches on me as I drool on myself.. I overheard something that might be common sense.. but might be forgotten in some of the criticisms of the group. I overheard someone commenting on how excited and jazzed up they were during their soundcheck... what an experience must it have been for such a new, young group to play this show. Perhaps the most important prog festival of all.. and definitely the most important here in the states. Astra has been.. probably still is across prog internet land being trashed (at least places where they are discussing the show) for their UTTER lack of stage presence and lack of interaction with the audience. Get f**king real people.. .this is group of your kids ... I don't know about you... but if I was some 20 something playing a make or break show... I'd be f**king scared out of my mind. So people want to nitpick them as if they were seasoned pros... come on. Now for the music... you got what Astra plays.. it was cool groovy psych-spacey rock.. it wasn't Close to the Edge, let's not judge it that way. Even at 11am I sure didn't see anyone falling asleep around me and it seemed everyone was digging their music. Granted I will admit that opening your set with some mammoth epic piece might not be the best way to open a set.. especially as an unknown group.. yet as a latter group would show. Best to deliver the goods from the start.. and not throw out 3 minute songs and lose the audience before you do get around to hitting the prog nail on the head. I enjoyed the music.. but I do love psych-space.. so it wasn't a stretch to please me. Just would to see a bit more patience shown a new group just getting started everyone. Edited by micky - June 21 2010 at 18:31 |
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 19:59 |
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second up on the bill for Saturday was a group that I think many of us were really looking to seeing judging by 'buzz' and that would be the Forgas Band Phenomena.
Like many things in life.. I stumbled into discovering them.. lord knows outside of Assaf's wonderful suggestions I probably would have missed them (and for those..ie.. smart people.. who take stock of the man's suggestions.. ask yourself.. when he has ever suggesting something that sucks haha) since that really isn't exactly the type of music that I dig or reach for for my own listening pleasure. Of course when I say stumbled .. I really mean that I discovered them through my better half who has an album pile taller than me of albums that she is sent to review, and this was one of them. Thanks to the Cuneiform Records for providing her (us) with the album. Here is her review.. a highly recommended album.. and live? ..well... read on regarding their show.. http://www.progressor.net/review/fbp_2009.html My memory is bit foggy as the whole setlist.... a bit like asking what color the sheets are in the middle of having sex but remember specifically that Forgas played 3 of the 4 tracks from L'Axe du Fou and several new tracks to be coming on a future release for next year. How to describe their set?.. in a word.. incredible. Standing ovations for the various soloists... and I think many a man-crush was born (including our dear HT hahahha) thanks to the inspired violin artistry of Karolina Mlodecka (and what an incredible smile she flashed the audience in response to the audience's applause after a wicked solo.. in contrast to the dead seriousness of her on stage concentration.. enough to take the breath of a very happily married man completely away) Needless to say Karolina had the audience in the palm of her hand.. and the band was not far behind. It was an incredible hour plus of incredible music..which took what was incredible music to a new level with an inspired performance. Those that knew of them and their music were not disappointed.. and those that didn't.. were blown away. In spite of having language difficulties they engaged the audience a (only a couple of band members apparently knew enough english between them to self-deprecatingly communicate with the audience haha). Guess music speaks louder than words. Be sure to check them out... especially if me.. that kind of music is NOT your kind of thing. It might have that something that other bands.. other albums might be missing. Perhaps when or if I review the album I'll be able to put my finger on just what that 'it' was. btw.. a big shout out for Mr Forgas for having the guts to give my wife a kiss with me standing right next to them trying to make heads or tails of what they were saying in French hahha... it's sad when your Kobaian is better than your French. A group we both made a point of meeting and expressing our admiration for their music. |
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 20:44 |
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talk about the pressure of having to follow up after the incredible Forgas Band Phenomena...
next up was Iona.. then again.. maybe they were the perfect act to follow up Forgas. I don't even think they knew they were playing at a prog festival until several songs into the set hahahha. Hey.. I'm a FIRM believer that ignorance is indeed bliss. And when you notice several songs into your set that your audience is predominantly male.. and older as opposed to normal audiences... you are happily living in the world where the politics of prog don't exist. It is a wonderful place indeed. Iona is the type of band that would drive the terminally anal here at PA's nutty... I know jack squat about new age music... and where the dividing line between new age, folk, and folk-prog lay.. but let's just say as I sat listening to Iona .. I nearly busted outloud in laughter at the mental picture of the organizers of Nearfest being replaced by those of us here at PA's... 'oh... let's invite Iona to play Nearfest' NO!!!! then you'll have people asking for Clannad to be on the bill for 2011... 'yeah.. you are right... dump Iona.. don't invite them' Variety is a good thing I suppose, and one of the mantras at shows like this.. and festivals in general I suppose is to not only see the bands you like, have heard of, but also to discover gems of groups that you have heard zippo about. In fact.. till 20 minutes ago I didn't even know if they were listed on the site and for sure I had never heard of them. It isn't my thing at all. To some it was new age.. to some it might have been pure folk with a spiritual/religious slant.. and to others it was prog of the folksie variety. Nice thing I suppose with shows like this is you just get to sit back and enjoy the music. I have read much of the open-mindedness of prog fans... perhaps experiences here and the substantial close-mindedness that is often of display here has obscured that it really is that way outside of the fishbowl of this site. What ever one might have thought of Iona.. I sure didn't hear people talking about whether they should have been there at Nearfest.. and that.. is a very good thing. As far as the music and performance... not my thing.. but a long way from not being good. From what I was told.. if you like Clannad.. Iona is for you. The band was very good and the singer was quite infectious with the happy and positive spiritual vibe that had me tempted to hug a tree as I left the Zoellner Center haha. A very good band if you like that kind of music. Anyhow we all stayed through the set but left before the encoure to check out a killer Mexican restaurant that HT found ...that was a bit away from campus. All of us having horrid memories of being late getting out before the Gong set to close Saturday night last year and having to settle for dinner at the sport's bar from hell with bad food and worse service.. later that year immortalized for trying to have a customer arrested for not paying a tip after a similar dining experience as we suffered. Edited by micky - June 21 2010 at 20:46 |
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 21:22 |
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dinner at the Mexican joint.. yeah... it looked like a dive.. but man alive was the food good.. and HT even picked up the tab. Good memory since I grabbed the tab at the ..sport's bar from hell last year... though to be honest HT.. I just didn't want to wait another hour for them to split it hahha. (and I did get Sunday's dinner.. oh.. Sal's deserves a post of it's own)
We did have a great dinner.. I ordered .. oh yeah.. Nearfest. While at dinner our thoughts and conversation turned to the night's headliner... the comically named 'Three Friends'.... now reduced to Gary Green and Malcolm Mortimore... or using basic math.. One and a half friends. With all the excitement of trying to get out of dodge here and up to PA we didn't get the email sent that the regular singer of Three Friends had visa issues (imagine what Raff had to say on that hahah) and wouldn't be able to appear so they were going to have to use a late minute replacement. Oh lordy.. half jokingly... the other half nervously we all joked about the potential for severe train wrecks. Look at Carpet Crawers from the Hackett set.. no matter how good the instrumentists.. if the vocals didn't hold up..and remember.. we ARE talking about Gentle Giant where the vocals and the incredible vocal melodies and tradmark vocal arrangements are as much to Gentle Giant as Squire's treble jacked Rick are to yes. needless to say... I think there was among the schmucks of us that don't know Gary Green (a regular at Nearfest) or really in the know... a very real sense of lowered expectations. I know for myself... I would take what they gave us.. but that was at the cost of really being excited for what I really wasn't exactly excited about in the first place. For all intents in purposes.. a tribute band with no Kerry Minear or any of the Shulmans. Once again our lowered sense of expectations served us well again.. for we were completely blown away by this cat who they ....found? not sure what his story is... a friend.. singer in a tribute band.. no clue. But he made you forget... consciously at least.. that you were seeing a shell of that great group.. and saved the evening.. for us at least. We were able to sit back and enjoy incredible rendictions of my personal alltime favorite GG track. Schooldays.. along with most of the 3 Friends album ...a great version of Pantagruel's Nativity along with Proclamation and others from later albums. Well done whoever you were.. you saved the evening for all of us. Not that I suspected they would take someone like...errr... me and put me on stage but this guy totally took over the stage with his infectious smile and his at time powerful vocals and allowed us to sit back and enjoy what we all wanted and hoped for... a night of Gentle Giant's music without having it thrown in your face that what we were watching was just nothing more than a tribute band.. though one of great ....great talent. Kudos to the bassist especially.. who played Ray's incredidbly demanding and difficult basslines to perfection. so Saturday night came to a close... great music.. and another wonderful day of music, friends, and seek and destroy missions targeting the stocks of the CD vendors. |
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Drifter
Forum Groupie
Joined: May 23 2010 Location: Pa. USA Status: Offline Points: 40 |
Posted: June 21 2010 at 22:22 |
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Geez.
I live in the area and I'm just now finding out about the event.  |
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Nearfest 2010... a review.. and thoughts..
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Staker wrote: