Prosaic Paradise

After four years attending, the complete ecstasy of sitting in a big ol’ field on a farm while the most amazing, hardworking musicians play for me has not dulled, not a bit. I think, now that I know some folks and get to hang out, it as even grown. (Last year’s review.)

This year I didn’t really have time to think about things up until I was packing to leave basically the day of. I had no idea how many people I’d get to see again from NEARfest! The social aspect of the experience was a whole different animal as a result. I also volunteered to help work the gate and sell beer again, which exposed me to even more friendly people. (Oh hai, handsome gents.) This I like. Prog fans are great because they really want to talk about music. And they are well-educated about it. I learn so much from these folks.

But you probably are wondering how, you know, the bands were. Right. As usual, not every group was to my tastes. The standout bands for me were:

La Maschera di Cera, an italian prog band in a very classic sense. The thing that grabbed me about their set was not just the vintage sound, but the singer! He was so great, he really took the performance and wrung everything out of it that he could. I failed to have the cash available to buy their CD which I really regret – I will find it online, but later I found out that their flautist did some drawings for the album insert. It seems like these musicians I meet are never creative in just one direction.

On Sunday, we were treated to Deluge Grander in the morning. At first I wasn’t really awake or something because I wasn’t into it, but soon they busted out some grooves that made everyone in the audience start to tap their feet. I swear I saw half the people in the field perk up by about the third song. Halfway through their set, they had a singer join them; things calmed down a little at that point and I lost some momentum from them. I think this may be my own bias; I have a whole post brewing on my own issues with female singers and the way feminine voices are sometimes used. (This ultimately applies to why I am not going on about Brave from Saturday morning, and why last night I was texting instead of keenly listening all during Origin Theory’s set at Jaxx.)

I was selling beer, and thus drinking heavily, all during Edensong’s set. Which is a pity, because I would have really enjoyed taking that one in without distraction. Lots of people said it was a flute-heavy weekend and these guys certainly contributed, but in a good way. This time I had cash and nabbed one of their CDs, meanwhile 17 people ambushed me at their booth to talk about my tattoo. Finally! I had waited all weekend, sheesh!

3RDegree were really on, but what got me out of my seat from where I was resting and listening peacefully was a faithful and beautiful cover of Genesis’ “Me and Sarah Jane”. They know how to get to me!

Sunday when I bid adieu to the site as the Ozric Tentacles set rolled on (and they were way fun! I just had a dinner date), I was just about in tears. I know next year I may not be in a logistical or financial position to attend ProgDay and despite the fact that it sucks up a whole holiday weekend every year, it’s really one thing I can count on to bring me pure unadulterated joy.

I did get parting shots poolside after dinner as I chatted with Paul & Deb Sears, Andrea the Italian flautist, Mike of Orion Studios, and many others about life and music. It helped the sting a little bit, and already I’ve exchanged some emails with those folks and chatted on ProgressiveEars with new & old friends.

And yes, I know that I’ll get to see more prog music soon – Porcupine Tree on the 25th, and Karmakanic at Orion on Oct 15th. (Join me?) But it won’t be in that magical place – not until next year. Or possibly the year after.

Tags: Music, ProgDay, shows

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