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Topic ClosedPA members to meet on Symforce Festival?

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glass house View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 03:41
The t-shirts worked, we all met up. Was good to see Alucard again. and it is special to see prog a prog fan from Portugal. LeInsomniac , I will see ya later this afternoon as well as Angelo. Great to see the men behind the posts. Dirk and Antennas were there. At the Riverside concert she was glueed against the stage. Big%20smile 
Before the festival began and just before The Flower Kings began John ( the organisator) had a few words. He promised us that there is gonna be a second edition.
 
Now the concerts I saw beginning with Focus. Did I need to be surprised that it was a fantastic concert, not really. Thijs van Leer is a special sight to see with his hammond and flute. A special mention for Niels van der Steenhoven the guitar player. And what a player, really really good. Next Riverside, a good concert overall, at times the guitar sound was drowned by the other instruments. Pendragon, a very enigmatic and enthusiastic performance. In his talks Nick said that over the years he visited Holland a lot. He called Holland "the viagra of progrock". Big%20smile After that we tried to go to see Beardfish in one of the smaller concert rooms, but it was really crowded. After a few songs from The Flower Kings I had to go. What I did hear made me curious about their music since I'm not familiar with their output.
Looking forward to the second edition.
 


Edited by glass house - September 16 2007 at 14:44
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 03:54
Well I was stuck in the 013 'mortuary' for most of the day, but I did have chance to meet Glasshouse, Angelo and Leinsomniac.........I think I got to wave to the rest of the gang...... who managed a stunning ploy to get to the front of the beer queue..10 out of 10 for that one guys!!!!
 
Just about to leave Tilburg for the long drive home, I am expecting more to read about the fest when I get home!
 
Hug R x
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 04:09
Yeah, that was fun. We had to stand in line to change money when the alarm went of and a voice summoned us out. Short after we went back and the line was gone.Big%20smile
Was great to see you PC, if only for a quick chat and a wave. I did notice there were enough people over at your stand. Good for the band.
 


Edited by glass house - September 16 2007 at 04:10
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 04:09
Originally posted by glass house glass house wrote:

... Next Riverside, a good concert overall, at times the guitar sound was drowned by the other instruments ...

It's out of all reason why they have such problems again and again Confused



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 04:51
 
                                    Hello fellow progheads.
 
I was quite late back at home (after 0200AM Sleepy ) but it was a great day, good to see Alucard, Miguel (Lelnsomniac), Angelo, Dirk, Antennas, Dutch Tony and many Dutch friends and fellow reviewer collagues from iO Pages and Background Magazine. I also had a talk with organisator John Bobo Bollenberg who told me that the price for the ticket was a bit more high than he wished (euro 37,50 but  he prefers 25,-) because of the big names like Focus, Pendragon and The Flower Kings. He was satisfied with the attendance (at about 1000 spectators) but he needed 1300 as the break-even-point. But for sure next year there will be again a Symforce Festival, perhaps two days.
 
Focus was very good with an inspired Thijs Van Leer (great vocal gymnastics), a killer guitarplayer (with a Led Zeppelin t-shirt) and excellent drumming by other progrock veteran Pierre vd Linden.
I was delighted about the Riverside performance but I have to say that the new songs are a bit less dark and more accessible, in general not that compelling as on their previous albums.
The Beardfish gig was outstanding, what an energetic band and what a dynamic and powerful sound they deliver, the bass player totally freaked out during the gig and the crowd was very pleased, a big hand for another good band from Sweden Thumbs%20Up
Another highlight in that Bat Cave hall was Bootcut, a project by the Beardfish keyboard player who played the L100 Hammond organ with a Leslie speaker, accompanied on drums, what a wonderful, often jazzy inspired sound, it reminds me of Swedish legend Hansson & Karlsson, goose bumps and they got a lot of clappies Clap
 
                           John, a great festival, thanks and till next year ClapClap
 
                                            And now the pictures please Wink !
 
 


Edited by erik neuteboom - September 16 2007 at 15:10
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 05:09
I'm glad you allhad a good time.
 
Yesterday, we ( Marie Noelle and I) witnessed the launching of the Hot Air Ballonn race (Gordon Bennett cup ) and this afternoon, we will take a flight of our own in the Ardennes....
 
Good after concert party this afternoon!
 
Hugues
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 14:49
Here's the big mystery of the festival - why does Clive Nolan look up to Arjen Lucassen?



More pictures to come, but I have to finish some work first.

As for the festival: I watched Focus together with the rest of the PA members, and was impressed by Niels van der Steenhoven, who replaces Jan Akkerman. He combines Jan's technique with feeling and a blast of real rock guitar. Yesterday's version of Hocus Pocus made me want to propose Focus for Prog Metal....
Next, Riverside was a positive surprise for me - having only heard about 10 seconds of them before going to Symforce. I'm really going to check out their albums and maybe get the new one as well. A pity about all the reviews for that album on this side, as the singer mentioned that he was not too happy about people downloading it 'from the in-tar-net'. A shame that people do this, and post their reviews here prematurely.
But this is about the festival, not PA, so let's move on to Pendragon. A party band if ever there was one, when playing live. The red jackets and matching shoes from the 9:15 Live booklet have long been replaced by proper 'rocker' outfits, and a matching performance. These guys have fun on stage, especially Nick Barrett and the bass player - I keep forgetting his name, but a nickname of 'Skippy' suites his stage act. Going to see them again later, when they're near again.
After Pendragon, I arrived late for Beardfish, playing the far too small 'Batcave'. I couldn't get in, so I joined Arjen Lucassen and a bunch of others, listening in at the backdoor. After 10 minutes, I decided to leave and buy their album later on. An hour later, it was time for that, when I managed to get to the front row of a far less crowded Batcave, for Bootcut. Beardfish's organ player, with a drummer friend gave us a great Drums 'n Hammond show - another album subtracted from my merchandise budget.  A must hear for hammond fans and party animals.
And yes, I skipped the Flower Kings. They simply don't manage to make 'the click' in my head, but I thank them for allowing me to discover Bootcut because of this.

All in all a great festival, with a great "Genesis 70's bootleg DVD after party" at Erik Neuteboom's house.

So thanks to Bobo and crew for the festival, and to Erik for hospitality at the after party.
Let's all meet at Symforce 2008 (where rumour has it that Beardfish will be asked to play on the main stage)!!


Edited by Angelo - September 16 2007 at 15:03
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 15:18
Angelo, what a BRILLIANT picture...... can I have a copy??? We should run a caption competition!!!

I have just arrived home..... and in need of food and sleep really!

I will say a big HOOORAH to Riverside for their comments re downloading..... stuck as I was in the mortuary I didn't get to mingle much, but I did meet the Riverside merch bloke (us merchies have to stick together!) and the Riverside drummer, my overall impression were of spectacularly lovely people, really sound guys, lots of respect, and due to the kindness of a Pendie fan I got to nip upstairs and see just 5 mins of RS on stage, fab!

More after food and sleep!

x
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 15:21
ps.....

Can I just say before we start a debate about 'sound quality' that FK's were the ONLY band to get a sound check, and I tihnk they were the only band with their own sound engineer........ maybe that will shed some light!

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 15:40
PC, you can pic up the picture in full size (2048x1536) from my photobucket:

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee316/angelopa/P1010088.jpg

Just right-click and click 'Save' in your browser. Too bad I didn't get Arjans face in the picture... Wink

And thanks to Erik for the idea of taking this picture - I didn't notice them myself because there was a pillar between them and where I was sitting.


Edited by Angelo - September 16 2007 at 15:41
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 16:06
What about pics from the afterparty, fellows - I'm very curious Shocked



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 16:26
Every time I went to the toilet, I heard Angelo his camera, I am also very curious, Rivertree Wink
By the way, you were right Riverside, Rivertree today is great, sorry ... Wacko you were right Rivertree, Riverside today is great, in December I will see them again in De Boerderij in Zoetermeer Approve
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 16:28
Working on it, Uwe - hold on!

If time allows, I'll be at the Boerderij as well Erik....


Edited by Angelo - September 16 2007 at 16:28
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 16:49
Pictures from an exhibition

Focus on stage



Riverside on stage


Nick Barrett


Pendragon getting applause


The Aurora Project (also very good - I forgot to mention them in my report. 15 minutes of great prog/metal I heard from them)



Bootcut


Alucard, Erik Neuteboom and Lelnsomniac


Glass House, Dirk, Alucard and Erik Neuteboom


Afterparty Equipment



Glass House, Antennas, Dirk, Erik Neuteboom


Glass House, Antennas, Dirk, Angelo



More pictures later this week, after I sorted out the most useful ones (my camera had some trouble with the stage lights).
And of course, if anyone wants to be removed from the pictures, I have electronic erases available. Just let me know...Smile




Edited by Angelo - September 16 2007 at 17:08
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 16:50
Hi people, just a short 'Hello!'  from me, here!
 
Symforce Festival was GREAT. Really enjoyed all the bands I went out to see, the atmosphere, the people, everything.
 
Winner of the evening? FOCUS, no doubt about that!
Also enjoyed Riverside & The Pineapple Thief a lot. Tried to attend Beardfish's gig as well, but eh... the Batcave was really a BATCAVE, so to no avail, alas...
Flower Kings were a bit disappointing to me, and I missed Pendragon, due to some stomach rumbling at that very moment.
 
Thanks to all the lovely people over there... and not to forget, Erik for his wonderful after-party today!  Thumbs%20Up
 
Karin

Jesus never managed to figure out the theremin either
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 16:51
I had a very good time yesterday, the Focus concert was great, I had never seen them on stage before though they're on of my favorite bands Thijs van Leer showed us all that there is life after 60.

I was bit disappointed by the Riverside concert, don't know if that was due to slight sound problems or that their emusic just interests me less over time.

Pineapple thief gave a good performance, hard to compare this band to others tentatively Anathema,Blackfield etc come to mind.

I managed to get into the very crowded room where Beardfish was playing.From what i heard they were great but i left after 3 songs due to feelings of claustrofobia. Main stage next year i think.

Last act for me was the Flower Kings. They did a lot of improvisations, first a 15
minutes meddly build around the track Retropolis, later a 15 minutes during improv before What if god is alone. Also a drum solo accompanied with noises from the bass guitar. They also managed to get one song in from their new album. The  truth will set you free (begin and end of the song), I am the sun and There is more to this world were more or less played  as they are on th studio albums.

There was a lot of criticism afterwards by some because of the improvs(also by some people who generally love TFK). Personally i loved this concert, but till now i seem to be alone  here.

Today was Erik's afterparty  closely interwoven with the main spirit of this weekend, Music!!. Enjoying some fine beers we watched amongst some lesser known modern symphonic prog a lot of early Genesis video's. I had never seen Peter Gabriel live on
stage and i was stunned by some of his antics, especially the old man impersionation featuring in the musical box.

All in all it was a great weekend, thx Erik and others, i look forward to next year already.


Edit: I ultimately agree with Antennas that Focus won the day, TFK close second.


Edited by Dirk - September 16 2007 at 16:55
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 16:59
Wow Angelo that're some great pics you took thereThumbs%20Up.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 17:01
These are the best ones at first glance from the 72 I took yesterday, and 20 from today. I'll send you the one where you fly off the balcony by your hair later - my camera batteries ran out during uploading. Wink
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 17:05
Great pics, Angelo!!!
 
Hope to get mine posted the coming week, when my new computer has finally arrived... I've got a few nice ones too. :D

Jesus never managed to figure out the theremin either
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2007 at 17:06
hi Dirk, BTW. Pig

Jesus never managed to figure out the theremin either
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