Hi CalProggers,

 

I hope you'll indulge me while I share this with you. With CalProg coming up in 2 months and Rewiring this weekend, it's easy to get so lost in contracts, logistics, publicity and PR that I lose sight of the important things. And then a day like today comes along and I remember why I love prog music so much. I just got back from the rehearsal of Rewiring (and Spock's). First, the sheer volume of musicians in the room is a bit mind boggling. There's a ton of wires, instruments of all sorts and a half dozen music stands with complete scores of The Lamb. Then miraculously everyone turns their attention to Nick sitting center along the long wall with a boom mic lowered to his face. He says "You ready?" The room went silent and then the classic arpeggiated piano riff that opens The Lamb is being rendered flawlessly by Ed Goldfarb. Then the words "and the lamb... lies down... on BROADWAY" and the whole band including horns comes in perfectly balanced. A chill went down my spine and a rush of emotion ensued that literally brought tears to my eyes. That is the magic that makes music a transcendent experience. No matter how wrapped up you are in whatever is going on in your life, it can lift you out of it and take you somewhere else entirely.

 

All day I was reminded what a brilliantly written piece of music The Lamb is. But to see THIS music played in THIS way is completely exhilarating. These professional musicians whose main emphasis in their own musical careers range from Dixieland to country to jazz and fusion, show an obvious reverence for this music, and deliver it with a new life and vitality that in many ways take the original to a higher place. Then to hear each song from this sprawling epic unfold in this way, well it was an INCREDIBLE day! And if it sounded this good over a rehearsal studio sound system when I think of how it will sound through our pro-system, with the staging and lighting in tow, man this is going to be one of those "whole life musical experiences" that will rank up there with the best I've had.

 

I know that in promoting these shows you hear a lot of hype from me about the music we host, and  in truth we really have been blessed with some great artists. But I hope you can see in my words here that I am now speaking from the heart as a fan, not as a promoter. I LOVED the Musical Box when they played the Lamb in Whittier some 5 years ago, and was amazed at the reproduction of the authentic original Genesis experience. The nostalgia was overwhelming and transported us all back to when Genesis was at their best. But as good as that was, I can say without hesitation that what I saw and heard today was far more enjoyable from an artistic, emotional and intellectual perspective. I just wanted to share this with you and warn you that those of you that are attending are in for an incredible night of music. Be prepared to be swept away, and you might want to bring along a kleenex just in case.

 

Papa J