Nearfest returned to Bethlehem Pennsylvania in 2004 at Lehigh University's Zoellner Arts Center. In my opinion, the show wasn't nearly as good as 2002 & 2003 shows, but it it was the most consistent in terms of talent and I did not dislike any of the performer's sets. It also featured solo-artist spot-lights that was a nice change-of-pace. The concert shots again were token with NO FLASH with my so-so digital camera from the third from the last row on the lower level.
Yezde Urfa- Was a very nice opening band for Nearfest. The lead singer reminded me a lot like Jon Anderson in certain songs and the band played some very good tight old Yes- influenced music (with a dash of Gentle Giant). Still quite original, challenging, energetic and quite interesting. Bass work was excellent and the keyboards (a mixture of analog and digital) was spot on. Why they had a poster of the Three Stooges in the back (to the left of the drumkit), is beyond me. Nice start!
The Strawbs Band leader - Dave Cousins said early in the set. "It's hard to believe its been over thirty years and I haven't aged a bit." Well instrumental-wise this original Strawbs line-up have not lost much when it comes to playing folksy prog-influenced rock. But with all respect to the bands enormous talents, I never thought they should be at Nearfest, let alone headline the festival. And after seeing them, I did like the band's contrast with the other groups and their middle-to-later part of their set (the proggier side), I still believe they were given the headline spot because of their history not what they are capable now. Unfortunately, Mr. Cousin's vocals are to put it kindly- an acquired taste and with his age, they haven't mellowed. The guitarist had a better voice in my opinion and was really happy to be playing at Nearfest. Chas Cronk (Steve Hackett), provided solid bass and guitars. Unfortunately, John Hawkens (ex-Renaissance) keyboards were mixed too low. I could see him waving many times for someone to push up the mix, sometimes they did, sometimes it fell on deaf ears.
After getting used to Cousins' Dylan-ish voice (well at least trying to get used to it), the songs began to get more complex and I enjoyed the set much more.
The band was louder and more potent that I thought they would be and definitely showed quality musical expertise. The song- "Autumn" was a highlight. After the first encore, we left, it had been a long day full of very good music.... The Strawbs were better than I thought they would be, but Dave Cousins voice (his guitar playing was excellent), is not my taste in singers and thus while I can listen to the band and enjoy them to a point, they didn't change my mind about their validity to be headliners... but again, they've been active for 30 plus years... how many bands can do that?
Pallas was one of the bands I really wanted to see after buying the DVD (and knowing most of the tunes). They started off strong with a cut from their `Cross and the Crucible,' album, then ventured into a few poppier songs I had no idea of their origin. This is where a few dozen NF attendees left (perhaps melody-hating Prog-snobers? LOL), which was unfortunate... as Pallas second half of the set was fantastic. Powerful, melodic and beautifully played. The highlight was The Atlantis Suite... Guitars and keys were expressive, as was Allan Reed's energy and showmanship. The band received the most elated standing ovations of the entire festival in my opinion, especially the second half which Mr. Reed described as being more `Progtastic.' The visuals for the set were for the most part uninspired (as was most of the festival with a few flashy exceptions). The use of bass pedals by Graeme Murray (who also has a very strong voice), really made an impact to the power of the band. With the exception of a few middle songs, the band was wonderfull.
The Mike Keneally Band was the total opposite to Richard Pinhas. Keneally played with emotion as well as incorporated lightening-induced chops on both guitar and keyboards. His set list was eclectic, including jams, short songs, odd tunes (Gravity Grab) and plenty of humor (bantering with the crowd). He was THE MAN!
Performers were very good, especially Spock's Beard frontman- Nick D'Virgillio was seasoned and cooked when needed. As they were tuning, Mike even did some Yes and a Gentle Giant snippet on the keys- to huge applause). How Mike constantly shook his head with uncontrolled vigor- while playing amazing riffs (making him resemble a mad scientist), is far beyond me... An amazing set. Visuals started to get a tad better... but same as last year.
Oh, for you people who do not know Mike's music... yes he sorta resembles the professor from Gilligan's Island , but this guy can blister the guitar when needed and is a serious rock and fusion monster... he was also one of the nicest persons to talk to.
Hidria Spacefolk: opened day two of Nearfest 2004. If anyone was tired or hung over, this band woke them up. This was spacerock without an overabundance of keyboards. The band played an inspiring set with psychedelic-inspired visuals (I caught a few brief drug references in them). Keyboards provided solid atmospheres while the guitars pulsated the rhythm and made the sound flow. Guitar jams were excellent and I loved the rhythm guitarist's energy in the set. Pulsating psychedelic instrumental goodness. Very cool dreadlocks guys!
Universe Zero- Headliners- Day One of Nearfest was the Belgian avant-garde band- Universe Zero This was the band I really wanted to see. It goes without saying that these guys can play and create some amazing sounds and dark textures with un-rock like instruments such as clarinet, oboe, bassoon and violin. The music reminded me a bit of a slower paced, less energetic Magma. And personally that was a slight problem, listening for 2 plus hours. not enough variation. I still liked the band a lot, but they played a lot of songs with similar rhythms and tempos. I expected a few change-ups in their approach, especially given the creative mix of instruments for a `rock' band. Still these guys could play, and the drummer was amazing! He reminded me so much of Magma's Christian Vander. When the band mixed it up in terms of melody and texture, they were brilliant... The video again, was modified images trying to appear to be artsy.... why can't people shoot simple powerful images instead of adding the trying-to-be-cool effects? On the whole I enjoyed the set.
Metamorfosi: Was my favorite band (tied with Mike Keneally (with Pallas being a close second). This band is 30 years old with only 2 albums (almost a quarter of a century between recordings). They were amazing and I totally enjoyed the set without understanding a word of the Italian lyrics. Their show consisted of both albums in their entirely- `Inferno,' then `Paridisio.' Jimmy Spitaleri delivered passionate and powerful vocals over washes of amazing organ and synths. Dressed in leather pants with Edgar Winter long white hair, minister-like dangling scarf, unbuttoned shirt, and perhaps in his later 50's; his powerful baritone voice was perfect for the bands dark music, but also worked with the more melodious parts. Metamorfosi played many long instrumental parts with amicable precision and confidence unheard of in a group that has not played this music often in 30 years. During those passages was where the kryboard player really shined. The band was gracious and genuinely happy to be at Nearfest... and so was I. Bravo! Visuals were enhanced by some dry ice.
Richard Pinhas was the first of Nearfest's solo performers. His reputation of an experimental techie performer is well-known and revered. But I found the short set too repetitive and computer-dominated. Richard's solo mix was muffled under the waves of computerized sounds, digitalized voice wavs and drum patterns. When he soloed and changed sounds and tempo, Richard shined, but there was a lack of time changes and his mix was so quiet that my interest wavered to the video, which was trying to be artistic in a NYC Soho sort of way..... I thought what Richard was trying to do was very interesting, but a performer needs to understand the audience that he was playing to and his poor mix wasn't helping audiences hear his craftmanship... still though it sounds critical, it was mostly enjoyable, but I would have preferred a bit more variety and layering.
Sean Malone: was the second soloist and he did not disappoint... in fact, his set was far too short. He started out playing bass, but utilized the Chapman Stick for more than half the set. He honored legend bassist Jaco Pastorius by playing one of his pieces and then played some Gordian Knot tunes including the track-`Grace.' Solo bass playing is an art and Sean varied the tapestries of his sound and made his bass sing. He was engaging, funny, informative and was a pleasure to listen to and watch.
Planet X: Besides Pallas, I was familiar with Planet X's music the most as I have the Moonbabies album. Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater introduced the band. Promoted as `The World's Sickest Instrumental Band,' I was dazzled and blown away by their musicianship. These guys can cook and blow everyone away in terms of speed and complexity... but something was lacking. perhaps dynamics? Maybe just leaving more room to solo and not have everyone blasting at the same time. New guitarist TJ Helmerich successfully replaced Tony MacAlpine and though controlled, he started to warm up and smoke during the later half of the set with his two-handed technique. . Bassist Rufus Philpot was fantastic and his solo was memorable. Drummer Virgil Donati cried "No way!" when someone in the audience yelled out- `DRUM SOLO!' Then two songs later pulled off a mind-boggling 20 min. drum solo that was phenomenal, technical brilliant, adventurous, flashy- the ultimate drum showman. The keyboardist- Derek Sherinian had the keyboards angled down for all the Nearfesters to see and he didn't disappoint for flashiness or technical brilliance. A few people walked out as the wanted to hear something more than pulsating technical expertise, but the band was well-received and people were shaking their heads after the set- saying- how can they play like that? I hope that as the band gels and matures that their compositions vary a bit more, maybe becoming more adventurous in terms of influences too. Gentle Giant was a great example of complexity with dynamics and melody. An earful but a great set!
Annie Haslam Didn't sing or perform at Nearfest, but she set up a rather nice display in the second floor lobby of her oil paintings/artwork and spent a lot of her time chatting and greeting fans. As an illustrator that works in realism and fantasy, I connected with her work immediately, especially her more expressionistic art that also had a touch of impressionism. Annie's `Dream Expressionism,' is fluid, dreamlike and full of colorful spirituality- quite refreshing. I bought a framed print entitled- `Growth in Wisdom.' Annie was gracious, signed everything for the attendees and I thought- sold quite well. She also said that she "hated the music business," after seeing one fan's CD that she believed to be a bootleg... graciously, she signed it anyway.
FRIDAY PRESHOW
The Musical Box- Canadian tribute band- The Musical box- played an amazing `Selling England By the Pound tour,' set that dazzled the packed Arts Center. The band never went `out of character.' Visuals and Musicality was dead-on! They are not a copy band but a recreation. photo rules changed from No flash, to only pictures during first three numbers, to NO PHOTOS AT ALL. The band never comes out later to talk to the attendees after a set and the show wasn't an exception. They seemed as unapproachable as the real genesis- a shame. Still is was amazing to see the Peter Gabriel-lookalike- wear all the costumes and sport the stories that Gabriel told while the band tuned up. If you have never seen these guys. SEE THEM! Amazing!
Performers were very good, especially Spock's Beard frontman- Nick D'Virgillio was seasoned and cooked when needed. As they were tuning, Mike even did some Yes and a Gentle Giant snippet on the keys- to huge applause). How Mike constantly shook his head with uncontrolled vigor- while playing amazing riffs (making him resemble a mad scientist), is far beyond me... An amazing set. Visuals started to get a tad better... but same as last year.
