2006 Rites of Spring Festival

[Rick and Roll]

Magic Freaking Pie......stunning!

What a band, what a performance! It was 1971 all over again...and I wish I was old enough to know it. They played all of the songs from Motions of Desire + a new song that was superior. They played almost two hours, running well over their allotment. I was hoping to hear four. They opened up with Motions of Desire, and nice song sung by keyboardist Gilbert Marshall. "Change", probably the finest song I've heard in 20 years, was third. The crowd was in rapture. What a chorus, what a song. Full Circle Poetry was the highlight, a song with a beautiful chorus reminiscent of early Chicago. I almost expected to see Bobby Lamm behind the stage.

Kim Stenberg is the guitarist and principal songwriter. His arrangements are incredible. I was told he is painfully shy, and writes the songs as he waits for his rides at his job (he is a driver in Norway). His guitar work is blistering, and while front and center, hides behind his shades and lets the two main singers, Allen Olsen and Eirik Hannsen take over. That was my only beef. Olsen held a guitar the whole time, played maybe 10 minutes, and fiddled with knobs and pedals when he wasn't singing. He sung brilliantly - he stood three feet away from the microphone a lot...closer he would have blown the doors off of the place, like the Cryptic Vision guy last year.

Hanssen was even more annoying. He held an acoustic and played a bit...but really added nothing by doing that. Another awesome voice, but when you're not playing,

GET THE F**K OFF THE STAGE.

The bass playing of Lars Peter Holstad was brilliant, but he was overshadowed by Hanssen. It was amusing duing "Change" where there's a brilliant acoustic passage, and I thought, he's not going to play that. Sure enough, he handed the guitar to Stenberg, who ripped through it. Then later Hannsen complained about the sound...Well my friend, the pro had no trouble with it.

But I severely nitpick. Nice guys, very moved by their reception. But the pleasure was all ours.

Oh and a rousing version of Hey Jude.....400 people singing...beautiful.

[Rick and Roll]

Pineapple Thief was as promised, My friend called them "shoegazer" rock. I got through four songs and heard the rest while outside. That is not a prog band. Sort of in the style of U2 and REM with a nod to Porcupine Tree, totally devoid of excitement. Teerminator, save me here, I know you like them. I did not, sam I am.

Pallas was shockingly stunning. I saw them at Nearfest and while good lacked the intamacy needed to fully appreciate them. Graeme Murray had his Rickenbacker CRANKED. If it was anything other than a Rick, I would have hated it. It was loud! Emotional songs, some disturbing, political, and social.

The first two tunes would have been comfy at a Maiden show. Propulsive and tasteful. The highlight was Euan Lowson, a former Pallas singer, relearning 20 year old songs and singing them (he did 3-4). He did a war tune and a song where he played a child murderer, and was chilling in his actions. And a great voice. (A funny moment later that evening, I saw Alan reed with three beers he was carrying, I reached for one playfully, and he replies with a grin, "Fuck off"!)

The Watch I tried to get into and they tried hard. But sonically, they were a bit flat. I found the songs very interesting, not at all like Genesis (although Simone Rosetti's vocals are too much like him). Fabio Mancini's keys were superb, but the rest of the band was not ral good. The drummer was off all night, especially during an encore of "Get Em Out By Friday" that got an A for effort and originality but a D for execution. You don't play straight rock and roll drums on that one.

Well I know I'm long winded but I felt I owed you a review...and sorry about the typos...