[atlantaprog] My thoughts on NEARFest '05

In order of appearance?


Proto-Kaw:      USA: Early Kansas version. Based on my expectation after 
hearing a song of theirs on a CD, I expected less singing and more burning 
instrumentals. Sadly, most of their stuff was song-based. Disappointing but not 
too terribly bad.

PFM:    Italy: The main reason why I went. I waited 25 years to see them and 
they were definitely worth the wait. The guitar player REALLY impressed me with 
his ability to switch from nylon string finger-style playing to ripping 
electric lead playing all in one song. Masterful musicians with an AMAZING 
drummer who is also the front man/singer who has just a beautiful voice that is 
perfectly suited for the music. They played great songs from my favorite 
albums. I was crying.

Wobbler: Finland: Never heard of them or any of their music until NF. The torch 
has been passed from Anglagard to Wobbler. Blistering dark, moody mostly 
instrumental prog from the Scandinavian playbook. Vintage keys w/GREAT Hammond 
and Moog lines. The addition of the flute was a great balance to the overall 
heavier stuff. I instantly went downstairs and bought their debut CD. I LOVED 
THEM.

Frogg Café: NYC: Imagine Prog melded with lounge/jazz music? I can?t either. It 
didn?t work for me. Boring. Talented, but boring.

Steve Roach: USA: Ambient keyboard stuff with really cool back-screen 
projections. However, even if the music is cool (which it was) actually 
WATCHING a guy twiddle knobs does not make for a stimulating performance. It 
was OK. (In fact, I think my Supersonic Scientist stuff is more interesting and 
varied than his stuff was)

Present: Belgium: Pronounced (PREY- Zahnt) They absolutely kick my fucking ass. 
The darkest, most angular stuff I have heard in a while. To give you some 
feeling of the intensity of their music AND performance, the bass player broke 
not one, but TWO strings in one song and didn?t stop playing!!! Again, I 
instantly went downstairs and bought one of their CD?s. I LOVED THEM. Also 
again, a drummer that just owned the whole friggin thing.

IQ: England: As one of the three original Neo-prog bands, I found their stuff 
very charming and enjoyable. I love their earlier stuff and they played a lot 
of their older material. The guitar player gets my vote for the best variety of 
tonal palette. Great sounds. However, after two hours, the overall band sound 
does start to sound the same.

Knight Area: Netherlands:       As I posted on PE, they should change their 
name to ?A bag of over-used clichés?. In a word: HORRIBLE! The lead singer 
dressed and LOOKED like Steve Perry. There was nothing about them that was 
Progressive, more like bad AOR late ?70?s-early ?80?s arena rock band, and what 
was with the stupid costume changes and the chick singer for one ballad? My 
vote for biggest disappointment. Give up now?

The Muffins: Virginia: Excellent jazz fusion with horns/reeds as lead 
instrument. No guitar. The bass player played with a slide and tons of effects 
that were used to great effect. The horn player played: Bass clarinet, 
clarinet, soprano & alto sax & flute. They even had their kids on stage playing 
trumpet and alto sax for a few tunes. (mostly just whole notes but it was cool 
to see that the band didn?t take themselves too seriously and I could see that 
the kids (about age 10) were having a GREAT time with their dads)

Matthew Parmenter: USA: Used to be the lead singer for Discipline. Performed 
solo playing either electric piano or acoustic guitar. Good stage presence and 
stage banter. Decent songs. He played some Discipline songs which I liked.

Kenso: Prog/Jazz-fusion from Japan. Absolutely incredible musicianship. 
Blistering melodies and harmonized lead-lines between the two keyboard players 
and the guitar player. The guitar player was so amazed at the continual 
standing ovation that they got that he couldn?t speak for several minutes 
because he was crying too hard. They rocked the house. Again, a drummer that 
owned it all. (Hell, they ALL owned it!) My vote for the best surprise for me.

Le Orme: Italy: Even though they have been together for 37 years as a band, 
this was the first time that they have played in the US (as far as I know) . 
Beautiful Italian Prog with a great Hammond player. They played my favorite 
album in its entirety. WOW, I was blown away. Historic on many levels.



Thoughts on NEARFest ?05 (some are tongue-in-cheek)

?       Prog fans are weird misfits of society (and ugly as heck too)

?       Dress for a gig as though you?re really there to perform, not as though 
you?re there for a BBQ.

?       Baseball caps should be banned from the stage.

?       A consensus of wardrobe should be as important as a consensus of the 
musical statement.

?       Drummers who twirl their sticks between rhythms instantly lose my 
respect regardless of their talent.

?       The bands that I really liked had drummers who obviously drove the 
musical train. Bands who I didn?t like too much had drummers who were more 
pedestrian. (the Muffins being one exception)

?       Back-screen visuals are now an expected part of the overall musical 
experience.

?       ?Pose-striking? should be banned from any Prog/Fusion musician?s mental 
state. (Do I really have to remind you of Knight Area??)

?       My musical/compositional DNA has been radically altered.


CD purchases:

Wobbler:        Hinterland
Clearlight:     Symphony
Helmet of Gnats:        Self titled
Present:        High Infidelity
Hidria Spacefolk:       Live Eleven am
Indukti:        S.U.S.A.R
Kyrie Eleison:  3-CD box set: The complete Recordings
Nodens Ictus:   Spacelines
Radio Massacre International:   Emissaries
The Muffins:    Chronometers
The Muffins:    Manna/Mirage
Univers Zero:   Uzed
Yes:    Beyond & Before


Closing words: I had a great time. Met many PE'ers. The weather was great too. 
Rob & Chad are GODs. Looking forward to next year but next time I'm flying NOT 
driving (13 hours up, 11 hours back)...Harold

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