SPRIGGAN MIST/HAZE
Musician Pub 13th April 2024
What a fabulous saturday night at The Musician Pub... two mighty magnificent bands who deliver classic prog as it should be played...
First up were Haze who have been playing their glorious brand of prog since the late 70's... very much a family band based around the brothers Chris (bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Paul (guitar, vocals) McMahon with Paul's son Danny (Drums) and partner Catrin Ashton (flute) who deliver a heady brew of their own music . Hugely talented and creative musicians who produce a glorious mix of textures in the music... at times when Chris is playing bass the guitar/bass/drums format rocks like mad, with Catrin's flute weaving patterns in and out... The keyboards then add a new dimension, whether tinkling melodically at one end or delivering powerful waves of sound akin to a cathedral organ and all points between...
The songs are very much based around fantasy themes, and they also throw in a folk song, the "Outlandish Night"
Visually, you just cant take your eyes off of this band... the brothers appear to have wandered out of middle earth (that is said as a compliment...) into a rock band and they top off their outfits with a series of outlandinsh and spectacular headgear... i dont normally comment on how a band look, but in this case it is integral to the overall effect and performance...
A truly eccentric band.. .musically superb... hugely entertaining... and absolutely wonderful
Sometimes when a support band delivers such a wonderful well received set, you wonder how the headliners will fare by comparison... in this case, no worries... headlining were the wonderful Spriggan Mist
Difficult to describe the band... but maybe pagan prog folk rock points the direction. They are an all action hugely energetic powerhouse of a band, and must be one of the very best live bands on the circuit... not to be missed!!
The Music powers along from the first note to the last, never flagging or losing heart or power. Baz Cilia (bass/vocals) and Colin Garratt (Drums) drive the music , playing brilliantly with huge energy and power, while Neil Wighton delivers some wonderful guitar to the mix... on the other side of the stage Maxine Cilia provides superb creative guitar work and also chips in with recorder, sax and keyboards
Main singer is Fay Brotherhood... a hugely charismatic performer with a fabulous voice and very folky influenced way of singing... i also felt echoes at times of Kate Bush in there.
The songs are predominantly written by Max, and others by Baz and Neil, love of ecology and paganism are constant themes.. while other material features the dream legend of Isambard the Dragon.
Whatever the subject matter the songs are well crafted and delivered in superb arrangements...
As with Haze, you can't see Spriggan Mist without thinking of Fay's pagan, legendary, nature/ecology based stage outfit which fits so admirably with the nature of the songs
Spriggan Mist are unique... musically stunning and visually alive and vibrant they provide a truly uplifting energetic and wonderful show... they are back at the The Musician Pub as part of Danfest later this year... you would be daft to miss them! Guaranteed a great evening.
Two brilliant bands... both basically prog, but very different... both unique and hugely enjoyable... a really great evening
Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues
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