Back in Baarlo!! I guess that is what counted most for all the regular visitors of Progpower. This festival managed to become more than just watching some bands to most of us, so the simple return to Baarlo put a smile on our faces. This is that weird place where you can see British people hug. Mind you also not naturals like the Dutch, Germans and Scandinavian. This year visitors came from 26 different countries, which could have been 27 if Andrew managed to bring his wife not only to Baarlo, but actually inside Sjiwa as well. Back to Baarlo for us starts at camping de Berckt. Caravans booked and Friday afternoon arrival commemorated by our traditional range of bockbeers. This year the camping had a German popduo performance for the Saturday, so note to selves was stay at Sjiwa and its basement until late that day. A direct result was that we were surrounded by Germans, but what is worse not by our English PPE camping friends. Apparently they did not find good original new outfits for their Sunday dress up affair, so Lee David and Mark see you in 2023.
The festival itself this year was to me one of the editions, where I would know only few bands on forehand. Further my participation at the chat and listening session of the Progfiles, made me somewhat worried about the lightness of it all. I started calling this to myself PPE 2022, the Progdreams edition as in my ears some of the bands would better play de Boerderij, than the sacred stage of Sjiwa. As such not a problem as I do like my progrock as well, but on forehand I did miss a franctic tech metal band waiting to blow us away. From what I knew of the bands playing I realized I probably would like Saturday night and Sunday afternoon best.I also do realize that this must have been the hardest year to complete a line-up as the uncertainty until spring on possibilities and the large amount of last minute cancelled tours by mainly US bands did show that a mix of corona and rising costs put our concert going future into uncertainties. Finally what annoyed before we could get started was the direct competition of prog related shows in The Netherlands at exact the same dates. Both Soen and Vola did show the finger to their earliest and loyal fans who received them with open arms, before they were known by the rest of the country. Small excuses of delayed tours by covid can be given, but in my book a progmetal band that was first appreciated in Baarlo should never book two Dutch shows during the very weekend PPE is held. Geoff Tate doing same is less of an impact, as I saw that tour earlier in the year and I already adviced that noone needs to see Geoff Tate and his playbacking coverband playing Queensryche. So only if he starts playing new own material I will go see him again. Looking at my own wide range of musical taste, I could (or should) have gone to Keep It True, where no less than twenty bands were playing that I have on CD and many I never saw live before. That would be in Germany, where also that annoying Euroblast keeps on programming in the same weekend, fishing in the same progmetalish fan-pool. But to me PPE is above any competition and not going was simply no option after the two year draught. One of the results of this competition was that we lost 2 out of our 12 people 2019 group to Soen. We further lost 2 due to postponed holiday trips falling over this weekend and 1 due to work and one due to a reason noone really knows. So back to twelve years ago we were with six again. Still all looking forward more than a bit to a return to Sjiwa and Peter with recovering broken foot even had a barstool available upon request, so a first thanks to organization, before we even got started. Before I start commenting on bands it is 2022 so a disclaimer is needed. These are just my thoughts of the bands and I do realize that in some cases bands could be hugely successfull, but not my cuppa. The other way around can happen as well.
Friday kicked off with Mother Of Millions. I knew of their name, not of their music. When they came on I did recognize the vocalist though as I saw Poem before. Mother of Millions was slightly more moody and postrocking than that band, but opened the festival in style with a good set. For people like me not knowing their albums maybe a bit repetitive in their songs. What struck most is that the response of the audience was massive for an opening band. For me not one that made me run tot the merch table afterwards, but one to get in the right PPE mood again. The observing man in me also noted that back in Baarlo facial hair on stage is popular and even the seventies porn moustache is today acceptable again apparently.
The Friday headliner was Von Hertzen Brothers a band that managed to stay very much under the radar in The Netherlands. Years ago I subscribed Prog Magazine, where they were one of the 25 bands often hyped. That did not make me dug into the band, so another one where I started blanco. The good thing here was that I noticed throughout the set, that I moved more and more forward. What a great live band these brothers (and friends) turned out to be. At the start their combined high vocals reminded me of Styx and I do like Styx. When their third song was a single that Rune posted before (All Of A Sudden You’re Gone) I was won over. As they told themselves, their serious songs needed to be mixed with more upbeat light songs. Result of that was that I loved every minute of it and they did win over many new fans. Not as many as Mother of Millions did, as for some this was not the perfect headliner of the first night. For me they were and I got already confirmed why PPE is so good for discovering new bands. Question now is if they become slightly bigger than before in The Netherlands. I will go and see them again, if they return to Holland that is.
Saturday started with some sun, oh no rain, no sun again. So strategic planning of your cycling trip into town was needed, or you would be soaked. Inhalo opened the day. All I knew from them was that the vocalist used to sing in A Liquid Landscape. He mentioned this and I was surprised we saw that band already 10 years ago. Inhalo were all fine and smooth, but for me not overly exciting as I missed some speed at times. The playing was flawless, but a typical half hour band , meaning that after a fair chance, good impression and half hour I went outside to catch up with friends.
Smalltape are from Germany, so why did they start ten minutes late? Technical issues solved this turned out to be interesting, but at the same time lost at the wrong stage. No power whatsoever, Smalltape play progrock. Pretty decent too and when the mainman starting joining drum rhythms the Brazilian in me (yes he exists) felt like singing Neeeense. As noone would understand that declared love for Fluminense I did not. Also as I can do so the coming month. Drifting back to the music, I felt after a while attentions moving elsewheer, so another 30 minute band to me. If they ever play de Boerderij in the future I might go and see them.
Feather Mountain was the next completely unknown outfit to me. For starters they looked more like a metal band, but what’s that about the flowers? Nice stage lighting they brought along and a fine hour of djenty progmetal. At times going double loud at vocals, with a grunting bassist. The vocalist himself had a good voice, but was not overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Better at ease while singing, than talking. I did stay the full hour and pretty much liked the set throughout.
After dinner (or tosti in my case) Godsticks were on. I did not know them until recently, when in August I saw them at Comendatio Music Fest in Portugal. That was a positive surprise, since live they are pretty heavy all the time and there is some bulldozering rhythm coming at us. Tonight Godsticks were as good and with less technical issues in an even better flowing set. This was the first real highlight of the day to me and Godsticks proved they need to be seen again if returning to Holland.
Iotunn coming next and I was getting excited, like many others who loved their 2021 album Access All Worlds. For me one of the best CD’s of 2021 so would Iotunn be able to be as convincing live on stage. Here I can be short, they bloody well were. Everything fell tinto place and we got a mysterious presentation, a truly heavy sound and some amazing guitars. Vocalist Jón Aldará is one of the best voices in metal, as he seemingly effortless can move from clean powerfull singing to deep grunts. I saw him before with Barren Earth and Clouds and now I almost saw him with Iotunn, since a hoody did hide his face. That fitted the whole presentation, which was Black metallish. So no smalltalk inbetween songs, just letting the music do the talking. And the music spoke out loud. Completely overwhelmed this show goes straight into my top ten of Progpower performances ever. Nothing to complain? Well the T-shirts did not come in biggest sizes, but I hope to correct that when I will see them again at Brainstorm Festival next month.
So good luck Green Carnation following up on that energetic show. Well it turned out that Green Carnation could. Their music is slow and heavy, but their peformance was ace. When seeing them a few years ago at Prognosis, they turned into my favourite set of the day. I than also realized I have all their albums. Something you tend to forget when a band disappears for years. So again I did recognize the songs and they were good. At the merch table they did have Light of Day, Day of Darkness T-shirts, but we were not that lucky that their 90 minute set, would include that 60 minute song. A fine closer of the Saturday, which proved my advance feelings, that Saturday evening would be ace.
After a fine evening, one needs a cooling down. So hallo basement it was, where the metal karaoke made a welcome return. Filled with Dutch courage I also decided to destroy one classic rock song, but a wonderful way to end the Saturday it was. Arrriving back late, there were no more signs and more important sounds of a German Popduo at the campsite, so sleep well.
Sunday started early and unknown again. Neverus, are Dutch, while their vocalist is British. This was their first concert ever and that was hard to believe looking at their proffessional performances. Apparently their music is similar to Wintersun, but I don’t know music by that band. What they played today was good. A mix of death and powermetal with symphonic backgrounds. Their presentation was very sympathetic and this made them come over great as I saw many people enjoyng this set, which included even an air guitar. Nice opener of the day.
Nero di Marte are Italian and yet again a band I knew no music of on forehand. Some people tipped me that I would like them and they were right. This was one intense show where those trying to clap or bang along were challenged all the time. Nero di Marte mixed the very heavy with the truly progressive and for those getting their point definitely a highlight. Definitely not a band for everyone and I also would not know in which mood at home I would pick up a CD with such hectic and intense music. Finally with good Italian sense of humor they brought their nicest T-shirt only in S size, which means 98% of the crowd are out. So no merchandise support from me, but a really good show it was. Candidate for best comment of the weekend was made by Andrew "I knew their CD's expecting lots and than live they turned out to be a bit commercial".
With Vulkan the first band of the day came of whom I actually know music. All songs came from their strong 2020 album Technatura. Openening and ending similar to the album, with a collection of songs inbetween at random order. Partially sung in English and partially in Swedish makes it hard for most to get their concept album. Live as often happens it all sounded a notch heavier and I thought Vulkan great. Even after the two heaviest bands of the day, they stood their ground. Unfortunately for me the T-shirt story repeated itself yet again, as the one with the cover of their album was too small for me. So a beer in the basement was next. Having a dinner during the diner break (as the flyer tells) was no good plan as many people already left during Vulkan’s last songs in order to return in time for the next band.
Meer=Less. So I said it. Good band, wrong festival. I gave them an unfair three minute chance and they rubbed me in all the wrong ways. As tactically scheduled time for the fastest pizzas ever served at Milano. Outside I bumped into other angry white middleaged males, who love their old skool Heavy Metal and wondered what them lot where doing in Sjiwa. Inside some 90% of the audience saw what was for them the finest show of the weekend. Goes to prove that musical taste is nice for discussion, but pointless. Later on talking with Jean Paul he reminded how during the early years A.C.T. were invited and the consensus was that they were probably too soft for ProgPOWER. Well Meer…
Avandra are the first band from Puerto Rico to hit the stage. They also were the most typical Progpower band of the weekend. By that I mean they play progmetal with some virtuoso playing and the right amount of heaviness. If you thought the keyboards were of the better level, that was because they brought Vikram Shankar along (known from Redemption, Silent Skies, Lux Terminus among others) Actually the whole band were mastering their instruments pretty well. Only that girl lost on stage? I could not hear her and later learned that people at the other corner also struggled to hear her sing. A nice show and a good band bringing us in mood back to older Progpower years.
Seventh Wonder were invited to close the fesstival. There is a certain group of bands that might headline Progpower and Seventh Wonder is among them. Their progmetal all sounds fine and is played very well. For me I liked them more during the early years. When they played Headway some 15(?) years ago and they had Waiting in The Wings as album to support. I think they got both a bit calmer and a bit repetitive of themselves thereafter. So for tired me a good sounding show, but not shocking and after some time I went outside for final talks. Tommy’s presentation shall always be good material for lively debates though.
And then it was over, or was it? Back to the eighties for some Hair Metal was scheduled in the basement. Together with Lia’s birthday a good reason to have one final beer downstairs. Again the organization added some fun, with 16 wigs for headbanging. Being bold I tried one to find quickly that wigs in mouth taste pretty disgusting. So horns up to the bold men banging to YMCA and Metal Militia on the stage. Suddenly I felt that also I did get three years older in the meantime. Back to the Campsite it was and one huge thank you for all involved in the organization of this truly magical festival experience ProgPower always is. Got the chance to catch up with so many old friends and vague acquaintances, that I am exhausted now. Maybe a month in Brazil can help getting over this. Now that’s a good plan.