Happy the Man US Tour 2005 [tix on sale now]

[Rick and Roll]

Saw Happy the Man last night, and for the fourth consecutive concert, they played almost the same set. Which is no issue with me

They played 9 of the 11 tracks from "The Muse Awakens". The highlight was the great tune "Il Quinto Mare". Fast tunes like "Contemporary Insanity" left the audience breathless, and was they slip into mellow passages is outstanding.

Stan Whittaker is Frampton-like with his tastefulness on the guitar. He'll solo a bit (and is damn good at it), but is mostly content to augment the others. The drummer (Joe Bergamini) is fabulous, and I always enjoy watching Frank Wyatt slip seamlessly between saxes, flute, and piano.

Compare David Rosenthal in the pics to his previous metal-hair days...it's jarring, He's a world-class talent on keys.

The old stuff played was "Stumpy Meets The Firecracker In Stencil Forest", "Knee Bitten Nymphs In Limbo", "Service With A Smile" (both beginning and ending the show"). The keys in that are just like Floyd's "Shine On", "Ibby It Is", "Steaming Pipes", "Wind Up Doll Day Wind", "I Forgot To Push It".

Another successful show!