PROGTOBERFEST IV
Progtoberfest has become one of the mainstays among prog festivals in America, annually showcasing upwards of 30 artists over the course of a weekend, and this year provides a good mixture of up-and-comers playing alongside prog legends.
The Nick D’Virgilio Project get things off to a top notch start, with D’Virgilio
(Big Big Train) showcasing his world-class drumming while mixing in covers of Jeff Beck, Genesis and Rush along with the band’s new solo material, which they hope to record soon.
Neal Morse plays a mellow solo acoustic set that features songs from his new album Life & Times, which has much more of a folky vibe than a prog one.
A legendary violinist then graces the stage, namely Jerry Goodman of Mahavishnu Orchestra fame. Goodman is part of Dinosaur Exhibit, and when he showcases his skills, Mahavishnu flashbacks inevitable ensue.
Genesis tribute band Abacab blaze through the band’s 70s catalogue. Note for note, they are able to duplicate songs, even though they don’t attempt the theatrics of Peter Gabriel.
The cult band French TV perform a set that takes the audience back to early 80s prog, with retro synth sounds aplenty and off-beat guitar licks that sound like a mix of King Crimson and Talking Heads. This is followed by members of District 97, who opt to play the Bill Bruford album One Of A Kind, and do it great justice.
But the bands that most of the audience have come to see are the two that close the festival: Soft Machine and FM.
Along with Pink Floyd, Soft Machine were one of the major groups to usher in underground psychedelic music in England during the late 1960s, but they haven’t played in America since 1974, which makes tonight’s performance a real must-see for a lot of die-hard fans. Guitarist John Etheridge can still absolutely shred, and his interplay with drummer Gary Husband (best known for his work with John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth) is the undoubted highlight of the whole festival. The band’s psychedelic qualities are still alive and well.
Canada’s FM haven’t played a live gig for a decade, but they play their acclaimed album Black Noise in its entirety, giving the audience their fill of synth space rock with violin and mandolin accompaniment. The set is well received, bringing to an end Progtoberfest IV, a place where fans bond in an intimate venue to hear music from the genre they love most.