Here's a review of the music from the magnificent Three Rivers Progressive Rock Festival, held last weekend in Pittsburgh PA. Mostly the musical highlights.
Manifesto opened up the festivities only a few minutes past the appointed time. Led by Tim Malone, this trio played tight, tasteful instrumental music. Howard Levy, the organizer of the event, afterward asked me how I liked them...he then told me Tim is teaching him drums. Apparently Tim has been part of the music scene for a long time...I really liked the way Tim used the drumkit - was reminiscent of Bruford, heavily hit but no wasted energy. Gary Schaeffer's guitar carried the band. All the melodies flowed seamlessly, especially during the covers - Watcher of the Skies (to open the set, was incredible), a bad ass version of Red, and the Moodies duo to close out the set (Seesaw and Question). Tim Comer's bass was solid, and provided the support for the guitar leads. Red and their original "Floydian Slipp" were my favorites. Surprised to learn there were no recorded material for sale. So far, so good...
Another local band followed, Mandrake Project. I bought a CD from them after the show, listened to it on the "beautiful" PA Turnpike. It features a large collection of musicians, built over a long period of time. On stage it seemed no different. There were eight people. Each member did not stand out, and sometimes the playing was sparse. But put together, it was like a perfect puzzle. The notes linked...I know I wouldn't have the patience to play in this style. Sometimes there was much repetition in the instrumentation. But again, it all seemed necessary. The music was brilliant at times. And LOTS of percussion, including a steel sheet that was used quite often.
Gongzilla was next, and everything I'd hoped for materialized. It had been a long time since I've seen them. Bon Lozaga and Hansford Rowe used to play the Of Sound Mind record store and Orion Studios, often to less than robust crowds. The atmosphere at those venues were electric, and being a few feet away from the music was unforgettable. I got the same vibe at 3RP. Bon is not only an excellent lead guitarist, but he is one of the best rhythm players ever. He and Hansford lay the foundation for some serious jamming. Hansford is just superb. Ever since the late Pierre Moerlen's Gong records, I've found his playing astounding. He added some vocals on three or four of the songs, delivered in a raspy style that fit just right. "Jersey Pines" was one of these, and was a really nice song. Straightforward but well written. Mike Miz on guitar tore down the house on that and other songs with his blisteing work. Bon told me later that they stole him from an opening band
Nate Laguzza on drums was also a nice addition - Bon always selects great musicians.
I have the set lists from the first three bands, did not list them here - but for Gongzilla, the list included favorites Aquila, Suffer, and Gongzilla. Image is on the set list but I think it got cut, I don't remember hearing it. I really liked Gongzilla's Dilemma, a variation of PM Gong's "Golden Dilemma", in which they are always changing it around. And of course the Hansford vehicle "Soli" was as usual, mind-boggling. Perfect fusion.
A surprise was the wacky Ryo Okomoto joining them on the second song, concert staple "Haniface". Ryo and Mike traded some wicked leads. And again Ryo joined the band on the next to last song, Zappa's "Peaches En Regalia" (is there a more covered song?). It tore down the freakin' house. I'm glad it took Spock's Beard some time to set up...we needed a break! There are many Ryo stories and things to say about his ordeal, but that is covered better in other places.
I was apprehensive about the Beard...at Rosfest, Nick was very sick, and the band performance also suffered from an interminable soundcheck and the delay from one of the stage crew. And the time I saw them before that, it was very late, and I missed 1/2 the show. So I was ready to be rocked. And they were up to the task. The opener of course was "On A Perfect Day", played flawlessly. Nick was in fine form, commanding the stage. As usual, Alan Morse was hamming it up, but the pickless wonder can play. Dummer Jimmy Keegan is a great addition (and really nice, we were chatting at length on Friday PM). Dave Meros as usual is rock solid. And of course there's Ryo. One time the nut stood on one of his keyboards and put his hands on the other, stretching out about five feet. A couple of stage hands ran out before he took down his rig, saving him from the hopsital (by only hours it turned out after he collapsed later that evening).
Next up was "On the Edge" from the first record and the awesome "Cakewalk On Easy Street" (I love that song) from the Kindness of Strangers. On The Edge featured Nick acting quite silly. A bit later was "Avalanche" and "She Is Everything" from Octane. Great vocal by Nick. I could research some of the other songs they played, but I don't have time...I'm pretty sure they did Skeletons at the Feast too.
Although they did not play my favorite, The Doorway, there was of course the triumphant return of Neal Morse. I had heard a few minutes before the doors opened that Neal and the band were rehearsing "The Great Nothing". I spent half the song looking for Neal to emerge, meanwhile the band is ripping through the tune - 15 minutes in, no Neal. I thought, wow they're doing this entire song, I was floored - outstanding song. The Neal comes out pumping his fists and firing up the crowd. He was content to just be a fan for about 3-4 minutes. Nick even offered the mic up, but Neal declined. He then disappeared and the band finished the epic, ten minutes later. I wasn't sure if that was the first time Neal had attended a post-Neal Beard show, but it was odd indeed.
Thoughts (Pt 2) was of course played, but some other meaty classics were skipped in favor of 25-30 minutes of "Nothing". I'll gladly take that trade.
And then, after a maybe 15 minute soundcheck while banter abounded, Neal and the band played "The Light". He commanded the stage, and the band played like they'd never been apart. Everyone was amazed. A little oddity - on one of the lyrics, Neal purposefully avoided saying "got no time for you people" instead, just singing "got no time". It seemed as if he is purposely avoiding anything remotely offensive. He did sing "Ryo is rock and roll"....how true!
And then Neal Morse's solo set. The only thing I found lacking in the weekend was that there were too many bands. The music had already went from 11:10 AM to well past 8PM, with little break. I DID like the shorter breaks. It made sure we were focused...but the sets were long. I was a bit bushed when Neal came on, but it was the first time I've seen him - and as expected he showcased his mastery of all things music. His opener off of "One" got the crowd going. And playing most of "Sola Scriptura" was great, although very long and intense (must have been 45 minutes) - it's his heaviest record. After some Testimony songs I was ready to party. However...Mike Portnoy and Roine Stolt joined in for the beautiful "We All Need Some Light". Then a long one, I think Stranger in Your Soul. Featured a lot of jamming and singing by the band + Roine and Mike. Although Neal drumming with his clean white shirt was a bit out of place
The music didn't end until almost 1AM. I didn't want to be late the next day so I only stayed at the party an hour or two. Got to chat with Bon, Hanny, and Erik/Lana/Don from Rocket Scientists. But I left everyone else alone - I wish the party was earlier - but open bar + great food - and especially a nice gin and tonic to decompress.
Kalon opened Day 2. They were the third local band, and had won a battle of the bands. The band came out in robes and barefoot, the bass player sitting Indian style on an ottoman. The music was as I hoped, consistent with their recorded material. It takes a while to build, but then hits you over the head with cello, bass, and guitar like nobody's business. Think of an enjoyable GYBE!
Izz I've now seen at many diverse venues, the NJ Proghouse, Progday, Nearfest, Rosfest. The remain one of the best bands of this decade. Opening was "Spinning Round", in which my friend Jeff commented how it opens up I Move in a deceptively poppy way....same as the show! Ready To Go was next, then the emotionally sung Razor from the first record. A new tune, Iluminata, followed...great stuff! I Get Lost, then the brilliant Assurance. Get the nearfest live CD and listen to it for a flavor of their performance of this song.
Endless Calling is on the set list but I'm certain that didn't make it. Laura Meade sang solo on Light From Your Eyes, just riveting. And of course, my favorite Izz tune Coming Like Light was the highlight of the show.
The sound was a bit soft, but I think I was "Kaloned" from before...still awesome musicianship by Brems (the man is a guitar hero), Brian, the Galganos and the ladies. Brian handled the percussion solo, I also think it was just him at the Proghouse also. I missed "Mists" as the encore but that's ok, all good. And it was a blast to catch up with John and Tom afterwards.
Rocket Scientists were just aces. The only time I'd seen them was at Rosfest. So I was psyched. Erik Norlander opened with a long keyboard solo that seemed as if it would go into "Shine On Crazy Diamond" but served instead as a atmospheric intro. Mark McCrite is a superior vocalist, and the final song Picture Show (his song) was really good (I hope he found a brownie, as he was on the prowl after the set). Lana Lane added the vocals on a few songs, most notably Oblivion Days. A dead ringer for a Dio tune, she is indeed the female Ronnie James. Erik, a wizard, instead of hogging solos, lets his band extend out, drummer Chris Quirante with his heavy hitting and guitarist Jim Williams with his brilliant guitar stealing the show. Lana did not terrorize him with her scarf as she did Per, the previous guitarist at Rosfest. But of course the virtuoso himself Don Schiff on stick, is the best. What an outstanding talent and person. His solo piece was a good 7-8 minutes, maybe longer, and tested the drummer's endurance. And I thank him for signing my dollar bill
If it wasn't enough, the fabulous California Guitar Trio was on tap. They relied heavily on classics Bohemian Rhapsody, Heart of the Sunrise, and Tubular Bells (which was incredible), but easily the highlight was Echoes. I did not know that Echoes is covered on their latest record. I have no Rocket Scientists or CGT and need to remedy this. It was simply in the top 5 of greatest song performances I've ever seen. Probabaly about 15 minutes long, it encompassed every section of the song, pulled off stunningly. I am still trying to find my jaw.
A few things I noticed: Hideyo played more "bass" than I remembered, letting Bert solo quite a bit. And Paul is solid as the glue between the two. Although no Classical Gas or Good/Bad/Ugly this time, a great performance by three men who are uniquely unchallenged in what they do.
At a show in VA several days after their Nearfest performance (where CGT opened), the Flower Kings played 150 minutes, six songs, including 90 minutes of Garden Of Dreams and Stardust We Are (another top 5 performance). At another VA show (different venue), they played some gems like King's Prayer and End On A High Note. And at Summers End a few weeks before that the selection was nice. So I was a little disappointed by their selection this time, focusing on a lot of material I did not think was their finest. They have so much to choose from though, and unexpected dustoffs like World of Adventures made my evening. As usual, watching Jonas and Roine is job one. And then you have Tomas and Hasse who are so much fun to watch. So what do they do, they add Ola Heden on keys and vocals, with the solid drumming of Erik Hammarstrom. Too much to watch! And of course it was LOUD. But all in all, it's the Flower kings, a commanding live act who I'd see anytime anywhere.
Before they came on, one of the venue staff was lamenting the fact that one of the band members was hollering at the crew because the sound was bad. I asked him which one it was (suspecting Roine), and he says, "I don't know ,the Swedish guy". We were rolling. (It indeed turned out to be Roine).
I have a few odd pics, but as usual it will take forever to look assemble. There is a picture of a Tomas Bodin signed piece of fruit we spotted on the ground outside. Strange.
One more thing - big thanks to James Byron Schoen who had a table set up selling the CD from his band Edensong. I stumbled across his music (then an EP) on myspace last year and really dug it. I'd have an email that "The Fruit Fallen" was out, but let it sit in my in box. What a surprise to see him there, and furthermore to have him instantly recognize me (only from the myspace pics). His disc is really good and I will be playing it soon. It's a thought provoker for sure.
Lastly - Howard, words cannot express the appreciation I feel about the weekend you delivered. Although it's not my business or place to say, I don't know how you covered the costs of all that you did and the talent you brought in. It's amazing to me that this occured at all, but I am so grateful. I'm sure you are innundated with suggestions and requests...if I have any, I am waiting until asked. I look forward to being a part of the future and hope that in my small way I was able to assist you.