Nearfest 2004

[progdirjim(Admin)]

The following opinions are strictly my own. Other people will disagree.

The Friday night preshow with the Musical Box was cool. They do a fairly accurate early Genesis sound, and the setlist (since they were imitating the "Selling England" tour was excellent - all of Selling save "After The Ordeal" and "Aisle Of Plenty"; Watcher Of The Skies; The Musical Box; finishing with "Supper's Ready" and "The Knife" as an encore. I don't think I missed anything there.
Saturday
Yezda Urfa was totally cool. Very complex music, well performed. I was pleased, because at this point in the weekend, 2 out of 2 drummers were left-handed, which I appreciate as a lefty. Nice guys too.
Pallas I really enjoyed. Definitely more straight-ahead, as they are rightfully classified as a neo-prog band. Still good musicians, but a more traditional song structure. The lead singer was a bit goofy on stage to my eyes, but he and all the band played their hearts out - and that's always enjoyable to me.
Richard Pinhas - I was hoping Ricknroll could tell me what was muscially valid about his performance, but he felt the same way I did. My brother and I walked out after 15 minutes, and felt generous about waiting that long.
Mike Keneally - great guitarist, nice guy, and I really dug the portions of the show where the Zappa influence was most obvious - extended soli in particular. He played some nice pop songs, well written, but if I wanted good pop, I'd go to a Sting concert. No complaints, but I just wasn't as moved by him as I thought I would be.
Univers Zero - better than I expected. nice instrumentation - bass, drums, keys, and violin/strings, and 2 woodwinds. Daniel Denis is a unique drummer and the bandleader. They never get into a "groove" per se, so the performance was a bit unfocused for want of a better word. When you payed attention, though, there was plenty going on musically and well done.
Sunday
Hidria Spacefolk - a more earthy sounding Ozrics. pretty cool. I'm ordering their CD, since they were gone when I went to buy it...
Metamorfosi - Italian bass/drum/keys/vox. Better than I expected, especially their newer album length piece "Paradiso" great keyboardist, passionate vocalist - but what the hell was he saying? He certainly has a right to sing in his native tongue, but it makes appreciating the lyrical concepts impossible for me. And the bass player was really good, but I was thinking he might not have been in the top 3 of the weekend - that illustrates the talent level at a Nearfest.
Sean Malone - obviously a top notch bass and stick player, but solo his performance kind of meandered. It had moments, and he seemed like a nice guy, but I was disappointed. I did have high expectations, keep in mind.
Planet X - here's where Rick and I TOTALLY disagree. I think they stole the show. Amazing performances across the board. And Virgil Donati has to be one of the best rock drummers ever - his solo was in the top 3 I've seen - Terry Bozzio and Carl Palmer being the other 2. Nope, Neil Peart isn't even in the top 3 anymore...
Strawbs - well, they are a legend. They play mellotron drenched folky prog well. and they're BORING........

your mileage may vary...

[Rick and Roll]

I'll be chiming in in say.....three hours...tick tock tick tock

[Rick and Roll]

I was looking forward to this Nearfest the least (I've been to them all), due to the line-up and the success of Rosfest just three months prior. Was hoping that the change of venue back to Bethlehem would outweigh that. And it did. The atmosphere was wonderful and so were the people.....

The pre-show on Friday was the Musical Box. The songs were as Jim said. I usually am a bit jaundiced of tribute bands, but damnit they were so good. It made me remember how great those songs are! They are stunning, and I was done after the Muisical Box (my fav Genesis tune), but there was more. And I have a new appreciation for what an outstanding musician Mike Rutherford was. Cinema Show was perfect.....I love that jam in it. Even Supper's Ready was great! never boring. I was riveted.

Yezdu Urfa was nice. The first band is usually the obscure semi-weak act, but they held their own. A lot of Missing Piece/Free Hand-era Giant sounding songs. The only drawback was the singer reading off sheet music, kind of destroys the mood.

Pallas was a lot of fun, and were more fun the next two nights at a sing along at the hotel. I don't think the singer slept. Their set got the blood boiling! Don't know if I'd like their CD's but a strong act. Fist pumping Scots they were......aye.....

Richard Pinhas was a disaster. Loops and a computer, kept motioning to turn it up and down, a horrible soundtrack. That's not music, sorry. 30 minute set, I left after 20. Needed medical attention.

Mike Keneally was a lot of fun. Save for a brutal 15-minute song near the end of the set, he was excellent. Had a few Steely Dan-type songs, and a few fusion numbers. Him and his bass player are damn fine musicians. Having Nick from Spock's Beard with him was a treat too. Although Mike K. isn't a real good singer, him with Nick and the others was quite fun! Mike and Nick were also at the sing along. Mike wouldn't give up the guitar, and that was fine with us!

I missed Univers Zero. Stayed out at dinner too late, and saw some on the outside TV. I'm not into them, but those who went liked them, found them a bit subdued but enjoyable.

Hidria Spacefolk was a treat. I expected more ethereal mellow music, but they played a straight jam w/o being boring. They are similar to Ozrics - except for Ed Wynne of Ozrics is a dominant musician, and the Spacefolk were more of a collective. I chatted with them many times over the weekend. Their English is not great, but we Americans need a reality check on that. They were wonderful people (although generally high as Mt. Everest).

Metamorfosi were splendid. I am a johnny come lately on my euro prog - I was into Focus and Finch but listened to more heavy stuff in high school. I missed PFM, Nektar, all of those bands. The keyboardist was incredible - I noticed him to be a bit pompous later in conversation, but on stage a monster. At their age they were still a powerhouse. The operatic vocals were awesome - we called the singer Gandalf due to his appearance. The Italian vocals were not a problem with me. The finishing tune at the show had him screaming....good in any language!

Sean Malone was as Jim said disappointing. I was expecting big things, but only liked his Jaco P. tune.

Planet X left me cold. I am in the minority here, and that's OK. I quantify this by saying that I love heavy fusion. But every song was exactly the same, with no dynamics, all one loudness, soulless, bloodless. Just riffing. I thought Sherinian was not enjoying himself, and was preoccupied with his keyboard sound. Kept motioning up and down - Derek, no one noticed, really! I was put off by the constant "let's hear it for the best bass player/drummer in the world!" prattle. That being said, Rufus Philpot and Virgil Donati are monsters. They are worthy of every accolade Jim gave. I just think the band can't sustain a show....

I checked out about 1/2 of the Strawbs set. They did a nice tune about walking by the sea and one about 9/11. I'm not into them either, but I gave them a listen and then chatted the hippies up some more

Between bands, there was a preview out in the hall (and later in the theater) of an Echolyn DVD coming out in September. I saw an acoustic version of "Never the Same" that was awesome.

There are some side stories, but that's the shows.

[podakayne]

i appreciate the review and look forward to whatever Jim brings back to add to the library...we got a new moonie in the new chat...he went too, hope to get his review posted (if he dares to really join in).

glad a good time was had by all.

[Yesspaz]

Sounds like a blast. One of these days I'm going to have enough money to go to one of these fests. Hey, why won't some entrepeneur start a SOARfest? SOuthern Art Rock Fest? Birmingham? Memphis? Nashville? Atlanta? Heck, even New Orleans? Book big names, some locals like Questions in Dialect, boom!





...must post QiD in suggestions...

[Rick and Roll]

i just added more to my post...

and the Labor day Prog day is closer, but still a haul I'm sure for you spaz...it's 6 hours for me but I'm tempted by focus and salem hill.

[podakayne]

i'll attend