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Topic ClosedNearfest XI, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, June 09
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micky View Drop Down
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Points: 46838 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2009 at 14:47
we are back... I'll let Raff tell you all about it in her own inimitable way.

I do have say.  Meeting HT, David, and David's friend Walter was an absolute pleasure.

lucky I guess... long time patrons said this was the best one yet.  


start counting down to next year... a strong rumor going around to who is playing next year.  ALL prog fans will want to see this..err... reunion if true.
The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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masteroftheuniverse View Drop Down
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Points: 4 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2009 at 13:38
Now I've oriented myself, I probably should have posted that in the Live Reviews, considering the length...  Sorry!
The best classic rock that you don't hear on the radio: Stonehenge, WREK 91.1FM, Atlanta. stonehengeatlanta.blogspot.com
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Points: 4 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2009 at 13:30
I'm registering just to let you know that VDGG were spectacular, in my opinion.
 
Hammill was in fine spirits, and the unadulterated skills displayed by Banton and Evans are undiminished and thrilling to see / hear in the flesh.
 
Some solid gold vintage VDGG (Sleepwalkers, Lemmings / Cog, Man Erg) and some less obvious material (Meurglys III, and damned good too, reggae be damned) rubbed shoulders with new songs from Trisector.  The 4 or so new songs stood up surprisingly well to this fan, and I will be purchasing the album this week on the strength of 'All the before' and 'Over the Hill'.
 
A labyrinthine performance that deserved the rapturous response from the crowd.  Although I would much rather he had been 'Present (pun intended)', I didn't miss Jaxon during the set, as Banton filled in admirably on a distorted lead that often sounded like the Quartet was up there in full force.
 
I was only there for Friday (on the way with my band to play a show in NYC the next day) so cannot comment beyond Steve Hillage, but induge my 2 cents here: 
 
I am a big fan of Mr. Hillage, from Uriel right up to System 7, and I thought he was terrible.  Almost constantly, his guitar would cut out, which begged the question "Why didn't you bring another guitar, like almost any touring musician?'.  The band seemed under rehearsed and the set was peppered with mistakes.  Steve didn't seem to give a toss...  By the time they came on to play 'All too much' for the second time (WHY?!?) the rest of the crowd seemed to be as luke-warm as me.  I would have been disappointed, but the trip from GA to PA was worth it for VDGG.
 
I'll be there next year for Gentle Giant (redux) for sure!


Edited by masteroftheuniverse - June 22 2009 at 15:00
The best classic rock that you don't hear on the radio: Stonehenge, WREK 91.1FM, Atlanta. stonehengeatlanta.blogspot.com
www.wrek.org
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bucka001 View Drop Down
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Points: 864 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2009 at 11:45
Originally posted by threefates threefates wrote:

Ah yes... Friday night.  Sorry forgot..
 Peter Hamill's voice is even worse than it was before, if thats possible.  
 
LOL Well written; pretty funny, I have to admit. I personally love Hammill's singing (and VdGG as well), but I do understand how it can turn people off. Definitely a 'love it or loathe it' voice.
jc
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Points: 4215 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2009 at 11:32
Ah yes... Friday night.  Sorry forgot..
 
VDGG were ok... but they also weren't exactly tight on the music, you could tell they needed a little more rehearsal time.  Peter Hamill's voice is even worse than it was before, if thats possible.  I was missing all those instrumental jams they use to do...
 
 
THIS IS ELP
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bucka001 View Drop Down
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Points: 864 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2009 at 10:01
Originally posted by threefates threefates wrote:

 
Overall, it was a great Neafest.  I didn't walk out on a single band.  Altho I had a bit of a nap during the 2 mentioned above.  :-)
 
How was VdGG?
jc
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Points: 4215 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2009 at 07:35
It was announced last night at Nearfest that next year the mini Gentle Giant - Three Friends, would be playing.  Gary Green came up and announced it himself.
 
Gong were excellent, just as entertaining as ever.  Probably even more so when you realize that Daevid Allen is 72 years old.  Steve Hillage was great with Gong... but his own show wasn't quite as tight.
 
PFM last night sounded better than ever.  Even loved their short movies. Some of their new stuff was just hauntingly beautiful.
 
Other interesting bands.. Cabezas de Cera from Mexico were great.  Their guitarist can play the hell out of anything with a string.  Quantam Fantay from Belgium, a more talented Ozrics...less pushing buttons and more actual music.  We bought their cd.  Beardfish... not really prog, not really Zappa like either (as advertized); actually they reminded me of a Swedish "Govt Mule"... but a great show to watch never the less.  Their bass player moonwalks the entire show.  Made it hard to get any pictures of him... but I tried.
 
Two bands that friends have liked their cds... but I found them extremely boring live - D.F.A. and Trettioariga Kriget.
 
Overall, it was a great Neafest.  I didn't walk out on a single band.  Altho I had a bit of a nap during the 2 mentioned above.  :-)
 


Edited by threefates - June 22 2009 at 07:37
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Points: 66 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 21 2009 at 21:29
I was able to get somebody to lend me (for $20), their wristband just for Beardfish's set and man did they kick ass! Sound and performance were both great! They got an amazing ovation, I saw the entire festival last year and only the headliners really beat the reception these guys got this year. Unfortunately I had to go to a family reunion right afterwards, and then volleyball, but here is what I am remembering of the set thus far...

Roulette
The Gooberville Ballrooom Dancer
Into the Night
Harmony
Destined Solitaire
Mystique of the Beauty Queen
Ask Someone Who Knows
Spegeldans
Abigail (Premier)
-Encore-
Sunrise
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Points: 22 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2009 at 00:12
I dont think so dude... im 19..!! Im a prog rock collector since 9! :D GUATEMALA!!!
Waiting for Baja Prog 2009
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Points: 16889 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2009 at 16:35

Whoever wants to meet Mike and I

Lift Row BB and you'll see the only people there under the age of 25.
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Raff View Drop Down
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Points: 24429 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2009 at 05:54
See you all there tomorrow evening, folksSmile! Anyone who wants to meet us, remember: Balcony, Row CC, seats 29-30. 
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threefates View Drop Down
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Points: 4215 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 09 2009 at 10:40
We have a VIP seat available in Row E, if anyone is interested....
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Raff View Drop Down
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Points: 24429 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2009 at 14:55
Just three weeks to go!WinkHeart
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Plankowner View Drop Down
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Points: 4006 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2009 at 14:53
Campground Phone Number Amenities Drive
Moyers Fishing Lake & Campground
5462 Blue Church Road
Coopersburg, PA 18036		 610-965-9910 Wooded Campsite, Flush Toilets, Hot Showers, Disposal Station, Picnic Tables, Firewood, Snack bar, groceries 18 min
Quakerwoods Campground
2225 Rosedale Road
Quakertown, PA 18951		 215-536-1984 Full Hookup & Cable, Water, Electric & Cable, Disposal Station, Tent with Electric, Tent, A/C or Electric Heater 25 min
Tohickon Family Campground
8308 Covered Bridge Road
Quakertown, PA 18951		 215-536-7951 200 sites, Electric, Water, Select sewer sites, Fully stocked store, On site Laundromat, Dump station, Propane filling station, Clean and coin free bathrooms/showers for men and women 33 min
Evergreen Lake
2375 Benders Drive
Bath, PA 18014		 610-837-6401 Large Shaded Sites, Tables & Fire Rings, Modern Rest Rooms, Free Hot Showers, Laundromats, Dumping Stations, Snack Shop, Camping Supplies, Fishing Supplies, Firewood, Ice Machine, Group Area, Metered LP Gas, Security, Cable TV 35 min
Colonial Woods Family Camping Resort
545 Lonely Cottage Drive
Upper Black Eddy, PA 18972		 610-847-5808 208 campsites, 30 Amp electrical hook-ups, 3 rental trailers available, TV hook-ups, Group facilities, Tent sites are also available, Propane and a holding tank dump station within the park 35 min
Pine Hill RV Park
268 Old Route 22
Kutztown, PA 19530		 610-285-6776 Full Hook-up RV Sites, Picnic tablea and fire rings, Cable TV Hook-ups Available, Big Rig Sites in our RV Park, Rental Cabins, Modem Friendly, Playground Areas, Kite Flying Fields, Horseshoe Pits, FREE Miniature Golf, Gift Shop, Ice Cream Parlor, Large Recreation Hall for up to 275, Catering Service Available, Laundry Facilities, Clean Restrooms, Metered Showers 35 min
Allentown KOA Campground
6750 KOA Drive
New Tripoli, PA 18066		 610-298-2160 RV Sites, Tent Sites, Cabins, 50 Amp Service Available, Cable TV (no charge), Telephone Services, Pavilion/Meeting Room Available, LP Gas, Free Wireless Internet 36 min
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b_squared View Drop Down
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Points: 2 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2009 at 12:02
Originally posted by Mikerinos Mikerinos wrote:


Just bring a tent. :P  I'm probably going to end up just sleeping in my car.


Sure, I have no problems dirtbagging it and sleeping in a tent. But I won't have a car, since I'm flying in. Is there a campground close enough to the theater I could stay in? Would the university tolerate me camping in their campus? Tongue
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Mikerinos View Drop Down
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Points: 8890 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2009 at 10:48
Originally posted by b_squared b_squared wrote:

I'm torn right now! I have a ticket for NEARfest, but between air+hotel, it might too expensive. I could maybe use my saved miles for airfare, but that would still leave accommodations. Is there anyone here that's going that'd be willing to split boarding costs with me? This would be the difference between going and not going.

And the difference between me seeing PFM or not. :)

Just bring a tent. :P  I'm probably going to end up just sleeping in my car.
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b_squared View Drop Down
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Points: 2 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 29 2009 at 13:19
I'm torn right now! I have a ticket for NEARfest, but between air+hotel, it might too expensive. I could maybe use my saved miles for airfare, but that would still leave accommodations. Is there anyone here that's going that'd be willing to split boarding costs with me? This would be the difference between going and not going.

And the difference between me seeing PFM or not. :)
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Mikerinos View Drop Down
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Points: 8890 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 29 2009 at 11:42
Less than a month away!  VdGG, Gong, Hillage, and PFM are some of my favorite artists, seeing them all within a three day time period is going to be insanely epic.  Plus all the others look great too, I gotta research 'em before the festival.
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Points: 4338 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2009 at 13:12
4 band for $70 or 8 bands for $140 is really reasonable. Considering you pay $60 for one band at most shows now.


"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?"
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micky View Drop Down
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Points: 46838 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 07 2009 at 12:09
I do think they have great lineups every year.. this is my first time going.. but sh*t.. .didn't they have Magma last year?

 The best place to see shows like this is in intimate settings anyway...  wouldn't be quite the same in some corporate named arena somewhere.  
The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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