Show 30 - Rosfest 2004
 

This week and next week we'll be celebrating the Rites of Spring festival 4/29-5/1 in Phoenixville, PA. This week I'll be playing artists who appeared at the 2004 festival.

Part I - "The Baltimore Crowd"

Orphan Project -

Coming Into View I - Discovering New Surroundings
Coming Into View III - Gazing Down Golden Streets

Sonus Umbra -

Homo Homini Lupus
Insects (The Watcher, Metamorphasis, Imago)

Orphan Project played opened the first day, and really was a pleasure. I've since seen them outside at a free show at a local plaza, and on New Year's night at a church. Great experiences, and excellent ways to see a live show. Shane Lankford has a great vision and John Wenger is an outstanding musician. Had a special time with John the evening before they played. He regaled us with ad lib tunes on the hotel grand piano.

Sonus Umbra is fronted by Luis Nasser, who is a PhD. Luis and Jeff Laramee (drums) are a very formidable drinking pair. :D I'd seen them the week prior at Orion, with Eyestrings (a Rosfest 2005 band). They opened up day 2 of the festival.

Part II - "The Headliners"

Jadis -

Fanatic
Is This Real
Where In The World
Into Temptation

RPWL -

Trying To Kiss The Sun
Waiting For A Smile
The Gentle Art Of Swimming
Sugar For The Ape

Jadis played last on Day One, with John Jowitt intent on destroying the cracked floor, jumping up and down. Gary Chandler's great song sensibility and Marty Orford's textures made this a fun time.

RPWL was also a treat. Outstanding sound and lighting, and a passionate performance by Yogi Lang. Interesting how bassist Stephan Ebner and John Jowitt resemble each other.....

(Alias Eye and Little Atlas played fine sets, but I don't own any of their music and there's none on the Moon. Little Atlas especially was fantastic and Steve Katsikas is an outstanding talent).

Part III - "The Surprise"

Izz -

Acient Memory
Lornadoone
I Move
Star Evil Gnoma Su
Oh, How It's Great!
Coming Like Light

I had a chance to see them at Nearfest a few years back, but it was too late for my wimpy tail. The Galgano brothers (Tom and John) did do a fun acoustic guitar/voice jam at the hotel one night though. It really showed us how bad we sing. That was also the infamous room where the crazy Finns from Alamaailan Vasarat did the human pyramids (I was also in bed by then) and Andy Latimer, on the floor below, had to check out and sleep elsewhere.

Izz was fantastic. If you ever get a chance to catch them, do so.

Part IV - "Blew Me Away"

Salem Hill -

Riding The Fence
January
Dream
Revenge
To the Hill
Let Loose The Arrow

I'm not playing anything from "Be", since I played that in full on a previous show and it's also a new add to the Moon.

This band is positively incredible. Carl Groves is simply one of the finest talents I've ever seen. I wasn't up on them before the festival, and didn't feel comfortable talking to them, but have since traded a few emails with Carl and he's a fine person, as corroberated (sp?) by others.

Well I've typed enough. A heartfelt thanks to George Roldan (Prog4You.com, give the site a visit) for his persistence and vision in putting on an unforgettable and very professional weekend.

Re: Show 30 - Rosfest 2004
 

While you're listening, check out pix from the ROSfest of these acts and others not featured.

http://www.tmesis.com/bands_2004/ROSfest/

Little Atlas
 

FYI, I have Little Atlas and could have filled in a few tracks for you.

Re: Little Atlas
 

Maybe I can feature them soon. Probably get that on with kirk's CD.

By the way, I've heard about your little atlas...:p

Nice touch with the pics :cool: