Nearfest 2006

[Rick and Roll]

Guapo is not my cup of tea. But I enjoyed them when I did not look at them. Their music is so noisy and unchanging that by closing your eyes, you can pick out intricacies better. I again concentrated on the drummer, who was excellent. never seen anyone play a gong more different ways.

The guitarist had not played with them before, and was told just to "make noise" (I got this infor from Luis Nasser of Sonus Umbra). It showed. I found him incrdible annoying, especially the 5-minute note he held that destroyed my equilibrium for an hour.

All that said, they were well received. I can't knock that.

Another weird thing was two of them walking around the crowd playing a paino-type woodwind and the drummer also walking around bankin a symbol behind people's heads for 10 minutes. I wonder how they sit around and think of this stuff.

I like what the keyboardist said...he took a picture of the crowd about 1/2 way through and said "Now I can have a full picture before everyone leaves"

Michael manring was excellent. He was more mellow that I'd seen him (with MMS) and very appreciative. Pulled off a solo bass performance very well. had some sweet mellow songs, and on the heavier stuff was his usual killer self.

Ange, I never got into their records. But live they were great! The music, first and foremost, was superb. Their second song had an acoustic start and went into a jam straight out of the 70's. Some macigally written pieces, and when they wanted to, they could really rock out. Hassan Hajdi was amazing on guitar. And again...broken record here..the bass and drums were outstanding. Highlight was the showmanship of singer, keys, and acoustic guitarist Christian Decamps. He's a stocky man...along with Caroline Crozat's vocals, belly dancing, and sleazy demeanor, picture a French version of Meatloaf, and you get the idea here. Once you looked past the amusing antics (the dominatrix dog bone scene was hilarious, and the reference to her crotch as "hell" was addling), the musicianship was first class.

Finally, the vocal at the end by main keyboardist Tristan Decamps was amazing and operatic, and unexpected...he'd not sung lead to that point. He was excellent.

I expected great things from Niacin. They surpassed them! I'd seen Billy Sheehan with Mr. Big way back when and last year with Vai and McAlpine. That was an orgy of over the top playing. I was excited to see him with a band that could keep him in check, while enabling him to go nuts. He sat down the whole show! I've seen Berlin, Hamm, etc and nobody touches the things he does on a bass. Words don't describe him adequately.

John Novello is amazing. he has some electric piano moments, but mostly B3. With the other two, you don't focus on him, but he does some frightengly amazing things. He's fast and tight.

Dennis Chambers hits the drums with such force, yet is always on time. Never misses, never. His kit was moving so much it reminded me of Pangea!

That band never had to look at each other, just to say "1234"....tight!

Keith Emerson also exceeded expectations..he gets his own post!

[Rick and Roll]

I didn't come into this show with any preconceptions, althogh he's been touring. I was blown away by his casual stories, his still sharp technical ability, the band, and especially the arrangements. I love it when songs are played differently, it keeps them fresh.

The band was top-shelf. Drummer Pete Riley and Bassist Phil Williams were solidly spectacular spectacular (sorry couln't help it). Marc Bonilla is a great musician. He sings, plays guitar, and arranges songs incredibly well. He was cited by Emerson as the catalyst for digging out some old gems, and arranging them so that Emerson could want to play them again.

Karn Evil 9 # 1 Part Two was just ok...Last time I could say that, the remaining show was killer.

From The Beginning, with acoustic piano and guitar only was amazing! Lucky Man was done such that it was bombastic yet fresh. A Nice song, Dylan's "Country Pie", was homespun yet proggy. Living Sin was dug out from the vaults...what a great heavy song. Bitches Crystal was another surprise..one of my favorite piano leads, and he didn't disappoint. Opened with Piano Concerto from Works. Touch and Go was excellent. Did a number that I thought was Romeo and Juliet from Black Moon but I think I'm wrong there.

Did a Marc Bonilla solo number that has just killer guitar work. Bonilla told a funny story of when Emerson saw Bonilla in a club, watched him play and approached him to collaborate on his song he was playing. So Bonilla got a big laugh when he said "I took him under my wing"...

Emerson told a story about meeting heroes, but was disappointed with Jimmy Smith. An odd story of how he grabbed Emerson's balls.....his repartee between songs was funny.

Also played America, Fanfare, Hoedown...no Pirates but hey...Nutrocker closed the set.

And lastly, all of Tarkus. Done brilliantly by the whole band. It was awesome! The lead guitar in Battlefield...damn. Tarkus is a great piece of music. Having a separate guitar and bass really added to the music.

Rob LaDuca (original Nearfest organizer) was telling us this morning about how Emerson was humbled by getting carpal tunnel - and how he's greatful to still be playing at his age.

He was so good. And how do you play standing on the other side of the keyboard? (He did that on a part of one song).

OK, I think that covers it!

[progdirjim(Admin)]

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

Karn Evil 9 # 1 Part Two was just ok

My brother and I ALMOST walked out after Karn Evil 9. Bonilla's voice wasn't quite warmed up, he fumbled the outro on one of the leads, and there was a timing glitch from the drummer at one point. Subtle mistakes, but I've seen ELP a bunch of times. Iwas quite dissappointed. Fortunately, as Rick says, they got much better quickly. I too was pleased with the song selection (some gems I've never seen live) and new arrangements.

Did a Marc Bonilla solo number that has just killer guitar work. Bonilla told a funny story of when Emerson saw Bonilla in a club, watched him play and approached him to collaborate on his song he was playing. So Bonilla got a big laugh when he said "I took him under my wing"...

I liked the line, after Emerson said "I'd like to play on it" when Bonilla said "So what have you done - is this your first gig?"

Emerson his repartee between songs was funny.

This was perhaps the best part of not having Greg Lake - Keith spoke more than I've ever seen him, and while he can be a bit arrogant, he's mostly pretty engaging. Also, Bonilla is a better guitarist than Lake. The vocals weren't bad, but Greg has the edge there.

He was so good. And how do you play standing on the other side of the keyboard? (He did that on a part of one song).

Too bad you haven't seen the whole routine with the hammond, where he stands it on edge, spins the damn thing, and ends up laying on stage, with the Hammond on TOP of him, and he's playing over the top/back of it. I'll have to see if I can find a video of that somewhere - it made what he did at NF seem like child's play!

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by progdirjim

Too bad you haven't seen the whole routine with the hammond, where he stands it on edge, spins the damn thing, and ends up laying on stage, with the Hammond on TOP of him, and he's playing over the top/back of it. I'll have to see if I can find a video of that somewhere - it made what he did at NF seem like child's play!

I have seen that. But I have to give him a pass this time given his age and prior health issues.

Good point about Lake - he's one of my favorite singers. There were signs held up of "Greg who" which wasn't fair to either one of them. Again, the advantage of guitar and bass came through.

[progdirjim(Admin)]

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

Guapo is not my cup of tea. <snip>

Another weird thing was two of them walking around the crowd playing a paino-type woodwind and the drummer also walking around bankin a symbol behind people's heads for 10 minutes. I wonder how they sit around and think of this stuff.

I ws one of the people he gonged. Interesting. Guapo was fascinating to see live, very unique. Not my cup of tea either, but I did enjoy them. The first slot at NF plays for about an hour, and that wasn't too long to enjoy.

Michael manring was excellent.

Duh. Another guy where you're looking for the other musicians you think you're hearing. He played a cool "hyperbass" - it has a bunch of levers so he can change tunings on the fly - but allowed for a really rich sound. Good stage presence as well. This year was, by far, the best of the solo spotlights in my opinion.

Ange, I never got into their records. But live they were great!

I'd say about the same as Rick for Ange. Very enjoyable. THe stage antics approached camp at some points, but certainly better than stoicism on stage.

I expected great things from Niacin. They surpassed them!

I saw Niacin a year or so ago in a small club in SD, so knew what they were capable of. I think they were even better at NF - in SD, when I was chatting with Billy afterwards, he told me they were just starting the tour and weren't in the "comfort" zone yet. They were still tight, but at NF it was dialed up a notch. It's pretty incredible when Michael Manring isn't even the best bass player of the DAY, let alone the festival.