Nearfest 2007

OK, here we go. I will do this in several installments. First, let me say that it was a wonderful experience. Lots of prog people, great music, pleasant town, and beautiful mountain country to travel through on the way there. I met some very nice people, but didn't find anyone else from P.A.

There were a few special guests too.

First, a guy who many of us know, but few have probably met.


Will the real Greg Walker please stand up!


Next, a lady who you might have expected to see on stage, but wait, she paints too.



The lovely and demure Annie Haslam.


Oh, who's this guy? He looks familiar? That's right, I wrote his band's biography.



Mr. Tony Spada. (Holding Pattern)


Caught these two coming up the stairs. Is that him?



Nope, but that is Stella (Vander).


It's hard to meet a celebrity as gracious, and genuinely nice as this man.



Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Roger Dean. (I know, he's not looking at the camera. I like to think of him like this, only with a brush in his hand) He let slip a little rumor that there is a good possibility that Yes may be hitting the road for a 40th anniversary tour.


Now, here is my favorite. This guy is also very nice, and a little quirky. It was fun just to watch him interact with people. He is also responsible for the cover of the best prog album of all time! (IMO of course)



Paul Whitehead is responsible for that classic Genesis cover art. I couldn't resist buying a numbered print of "Foxtrot" and having him sign it. He is currently working on illustrations for a new Genesis book.


Next, The bands.

Day one, opening band, IZZ. I have their most recent album, and like it a lot, but had no idea what to expect live. They were excellent! A perfect show. The sense I got was one of precision jamming. They could pull out the stops, but there was discipline to it all. They featured two drummers on a riser, two and female vocalists. Tom Galgano also sings, but they all share the lead. They have a wonderful avant-symphonic sound, and recreated it on stage with passion and instensity. John Galgano and Paul Bremner both began on guitar. John then switched to bass, and even shared the keys with Tom. Speaking of Tom, on stage he came off a bit like a taskmaster ( ala Zappa). His brother John had to ask for permission to talk. After the show it was a very different vibe. He was almost gentle, and hung out with the crowd for the rest of the festival. But, what matters is the performance. I told Tom that I hoped they were keeping a recording of it. They quickly became the darlings of the festival, and those who followed would have to go far to measure up (if that was at all possible).






Sorry about the quality of the photos. First time with a digital camera.

Now, each day, right after the second act, in the shortest time slot, there was what I would describe as a novelty artist. Bob Drake fits this description to a T. The best way I can put his music into words is hippie punk. I probably wouldn't buy an album, but the act is very entertaining. He plays an out of tune guitar (which he tunes after each song), and is accompanied by a bassist (at first). During the second number, a man in a bathrobe and shower cap, toting a towel and pillow, wanders in. He turns on a bedside lamp, and sits down at the drum kit. For one song, he is accompanied by Oliver Tejedor (NeBeLNeST) on keyboard. During one number, a lady in a red dress and hooded black cape, walks out with a small guitar on a platter. The band dramatically stops, and Bob turns to scratch a little on the mini guitar. Then back to the song, and the woman leaves the stage. This happens again. The third time there was something I couldn't make out on the tray. Bob held up his hand, and turned her away. Fun stuff.

Day 1 headliner, Hawkwind. I have a couple of Hawkwind albums, and like them very much. People were saying that they were going to blow away the rest of the bands that day, so I was looking forward to this. Well, they did not live up to the hype. The opener was good, but they soon descended into a string of similar, monotonous numbers. The light show was very cool, and retro, but you got used to it after a while. They striked me as nothing more than a washed up act still clinging to past glory. The previously mentioned technical problems also were a hinderance to enjoying the show. The sound was mixed so that the keyboards overpowered the guitar and bass. The stage was also so dark, that you couldn't really watch the guys play. After you got used to the light show, there was nothing more to see. Now, I'm not saying they were bad, but I wouldn't pay to see them again. Izz takes day one, hands down.






Edited by bhikkhu - June 26 2007 at 12:26

Great to see a picture of Greg Walker, he's a kind of legend for me, his progrock mailorder-servive was my Holy Grail since the late Eighties, at least half of my 1000 reviews are CD's and DVD's I ordered at Syn-Phonic! Once he offered me to buy Spock's Beard their first album when nobody knew it in Europe, I am still grateful for that Incredible he has time for prog with his huge family, 5 or 6 children

Edited by erik neuteboom - June 26 2007 at 19:07

Novelty act #2 was ambient artist Robert Rich. I'm not a fan of this kind of stuff. It's fine as background music, but as the main focus ...
Anyway, I checked it out, quickly got bored, and left.

erik neuteboom wrote: Great to see a picture of Greg Walker, he's a kind of legend for me, his progrock mailorder-servive was my Holy Grail since the late Eighties, at least half of my 1000 reviews are CD's and DVD's I ordered at Syn-Phonic! Once he offered me to buy Spock's Beard their first album when nobody knew it in Europe, I am still grateful for that Incredible he has time for prog with his huge family, 5 or 6 children

He gave me a recommendation for something we don't have on P.A. I haven't had time to check it out yet, but I trust him.

1. Thanks for sharing your experience, HT.

avestin wrote: 1. Thanks for sharing your experience, HT.   2. Did you not attend the Friday Fusion pre-show?   3. What did you buy in the Vendor Zone?   4. For all members here; You might also want to check the abundant threads on Nearfest at Progerssive Ears.com to read more of what happened there and other views (www.progerssiveears.com) Aparentely, a lot of folks there went as well.   5. Nearfest X in 2008 has already one band confirmed: Discipline !!! Yes, the same Discipline that released Unfolded Like Staircase!

It's a long drive from Ann Arbor Michigan to Eastern Pennsylvania, so i didn't make the Friday shows. I definitely spent some money at the vendor tables. Found some great rare CDs, and some new stuff. John Reagan from Big Balloon Music has put a band together called Elsewhen, and I got the sampler. Expect a full album soon. I bought some Roger Dean prints (signed of course), and my coveted "Foxtrot" from Paul Whitehead.

bhikkhu wrote: But, it was all a great experience. I also met a couple of lesser known artists. The Frogg Cafe guys were cool, and I will be spinning their stuff soon. I also got to know Tim Boney, from a new band called Contrarian (We will probably be adding them soon). The couple sitting next to me were also from Michigan (Lansing, not too far away), and fun to be at a concert with. There was a New Jersey couple behind me that were very interesting to talk to before and after the shows (Has a copy of "Felona e Serona" in English, and great Gentle Giant connections too ). Loads of fun, and I will probably become a regular attendee.