PAST AND PRESENCE

Very pleasant and tasty neo-prog show. When the show started and all these old guys were jumping around looking a bit cheesy I started getting worried. But I ended up won over by their obvious love of melody and jamming. The band brings out some ancient members for sort of a reunion show to the delight of the adoring audience. They do an admirable job but the real story is Barrett. Vocals are just spot on, always pleasing in a Jon Anderson way but a few notches lower in a more comfortable range. His guitar playing is a feast for the senses, way out front in the mix and just the perfect amount of squeal to it. He plays with much emotion and blends so nicely with Nolan's keys. The relatively new drummer Crabtree is also formidable in the live setting, adding some real punch to their sound. The visual production is great as is the sound, crisp and clear with one exception. I felt that the bass player was much too low in the mix-I like to feel some bass and I had trouble here. I'm not real familiar with Pendragon's albums so my review is on the live performance more than the material itself, but I will say that the music is pretty good. Certainly a recommended view for neo fans and symphonic fans who like the more pop side of prog. 3.25 stars.