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PROGENY
The Astoria
London, England
November 15th and 16th
2003
DAY 2...
On Sunday morning Jo and I cashed in more Travelers Checks and took the Tube
to yet another flea market but this one was in London. The antiques were
better but the prices were way out of our league.
We also spent time in the British Museum, which was simply wonderful.
First up on Sunday was Kevin Ayers. He played the identical set as he had
played the day before. Only longer. Ugh.
Second up was Arena doing an unplugged set. Clive Nolan on keyboards, John
Mitchell on acoustic guitar and Rob Sowden singing.
I have waited years to see Arena and while this was to be an abbreviated and
“unplugged” set, my anticipation was barely able to be contained.
I made my way into the crowd and positioned myself at about what would be the
fourth or fifth row dead center.
What a wonderful set. If you are a fan of Arena you realize that many of their
songs do have acoustic lead ins or other parts that would lend themselves to a
nice acoustic treatment. Rob’s voice was topnotch and it was clear they were
ready for their upcoming Canadian and European full on tour.
They played for about 45 minutes and the crowd was so into each song. Even
doing a goose bump rendering “Help Me” sing along which seemed to really get
John, Rob, and Clive turned on.
I can only hope that one day in the not to distant future I can see Arena do a
full on set with all the proper bells and whistles.
After a very quick set change we were treated to my top pick of the weekend.
Pure and simply Mostly Autumn blew all that came before and all after their
set away.
I was only familiar with Mostly Autumn’s third release so I was not truly
prepared for what was to follow. Remember those friends John, Jenny, Miles and
David we had met earlier? They had come mainly to see Mostly Autumn and for
two days they had kept telling us how MUCH we were going to enjoy their set.
Well, they were not wrong.
Here is a seven piece band with two female lead singers (Heather Findlay and
Angela Goldthorpe) and one male (Bryan Josh) who just would sing until your
heart felt like it was going to pop. Music of the love of a man for a woman, a
love of our earth, and love of God for His Creations.
This was prog rock mind melded with Celtic music. Heather was dressed in a
white top and long pink skirt and played a tambourine with long pink and white
ribbons. Angela had more of a Goth look what with dark black hair, dark
make-up and black dress. Yet her voice was a sweet as a songbird. Add in her
flute playing and keyboard work and you have a good idea of how well this band
came across.
When they were finished, I could have simply gone home happy. Mostly Autumn
simply stole the show.
And this was never clearer than when The Enid hit the stage. The crowd at
first was still around but it wasn’t very long into the second song that they
started heading away from the stage and back to the bar. The Enid simply came
across as old and stale.
 
While musically they did duplicate many of their songs as we recall them from
their 70’s LP’s, on this day they came across as tired and out of place.
Seriously, Mostly Autumn took any wind they might have had in their sails and
for me it was like watching a great athlete continue on even after their
abilities had left them.
Rather sad if you ask me.
At least by the time Pendragon came on the audience had time to drink a few
more pints and get Mostly Autumn out of their head.
Much like Saturday night when the audience was totally packed with IQ fans,
Sunday night’s headliner, Pendragon, had an audience basically full of their
rabid fans.
They played nothing new but what they did play was perfect. I love this band.
They were one of the first ones I discovered when I realized in late 1996 that
the style of prog music I had loved was not dead but alive and well.
I have 100% of everything Pendragon has put out. I am also a major Clive Nolan
fan and have 100% of all his other projects as well.
Pendragon was tight and precise. Clive was as bombastic as ever on the
keyboards and Nick Barrett’s voice and guitar playing remains topnotch. Peter
Gee on bass rocked, as did Fudge Smith on drums. I can only pray that one day
the US prog show promoters would invite this band to play.
Oh heck, Magenta, Mostly Autumn, Pallas, Arena, and Pendragon should ALL be
invited to play. Would that not make a great gig?
After Pendragon we returned to our hotel room to start packing as we had a 5
am wake up call so we could make our flight back Stateside.
It was a wonderful week of new friends, seeing new places, and hearing great
music.
I think we just might do this again next year…
Stephen Ellis
Prog4you.com
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