The Brickyard, Carlisle
Friday, 24th January 2024
When the Temple of Prog calls the other deities get jealous and do all they can to stop the devout votaries from worshipping. They send a vicious storm with a name that none can spell or pronounce. A gale that brought down trees, powerlines and turned small dogs, on leads, into temporary kites. They sent the wrong sort of wind, the type that stops trains planes, and, thanks to over turned lorries, quite a few cars.
Many a frustrated ticket holder was unable to attend as they had no way of getting there, or back and their safety was paramount. However, there were those that lived closer to the temporary temple or were just foolhardy enough to stick two figurative fingers up at the obstreperous demiurges, and were able to mount the steps and enter the hallowed sanctum. Unconsecrated ground but still a place to joyously worship Prog.
Cold and windswept they gathered, but hungry for the blessings delivered by bands that had faced similar logistical issues to the fans. Difficulties that had, sadly, prevented Emerald Dawn from being able to get there. This left many disappointed by their absence but they all accepted that lives was more important than music, even Prog music.
PARISI SYMPHONY
First on the dais stage were Tom Morris and Tim O’Connor. A fusion of two bands, Cowfish and Argham, coming together to create Parisi Symphony. I must admit that, of all the bands this was the only one that I was unfamiliar with but the discovery was a true revelation. With Tim on guitar and Tom on keyboards they delivered songs that seemed to be a carefully crafted combination of lush and evocative airs that were, at times, redolent of Anthony Phillips and at other times they could have easily have been mistaken for Jethro Tull during their Heavy Horses phase. Painting wonderful aural folkesque pictures that drew me in and captured the audience so that they could forget about the storm that was raging outside and enjoy the start of the entertainment.
The Darkness
Mirror Mirror
Penny In My Pocket
Where The Monsters Live
Night Fishing
Little Fox And Bear
Doddering Dodo & The Mischievous Minx
Tim O’Connor – Guitar, Vocals
Tom Morris – Keyboards
LINKS: Facebook (cowfisH) | Facebook (Argham)
SPRIGGAN MIST
Next on stage were the ever entertaining Spriggan Mist. Delivering energy and joy as they triumphantly weave musical tapestries full of mythical and fantastical creatures and creations. At front and centre was lead singer Fay Brotherhood dressed like a pagan priestess, complete with flowers, horns and animal skulls, which made her look like the female version of the Green Man. She gave a performance that, if there was any justice in the world, would have invoked Spring to start there and then.
To assist in the spiritual magic there was the excellent guitar playing of Neil Wighton along with the high energy drumming of new band member Ali Soueidan. Also there was the larger than life Baz Cilia on bass who seems to exude energy both on stage and off as he demonstrates his martial arts skills, with high kicks and ‘kick donkey’ playing. Then, to round off the ensemble, no description of the band would be complete without mentioning the superlative Maxine Cilia, who appears to be the backbone of the band, playing guitar, saxophone, recorder and keyboard guitar. Sadly not all at the same time but we can live in hope for later concerts.
They delivered a set that even had a few of the braver members of the audience actually breaking the unwritten taboo and getting up to dance. This seemed to please the band and confuse some of the more restrained fans but at least there were no members of the Prog police there to punish such un-prog like behaviour. But, in my defence, several members of EBB did ask me to join their jig and it would have been rude to refuse.
Isambard The Mechanical Dragon
The Portal
Brighid
Resurrection
When Stars Collide
Ianatores Teresteres
Kintbury Witch
Spriggan Dance
Faery Queen
Fay Brotherhood – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Baz Cilia – Bass, Backing Vocal
Maxine Cilia – Guitars, Saxophone, Woodwind, Backing Vocal
Neil Wighton – Guitar, Backing Vocal
Ali Soueidan – Drums
EBB
After the break it was time for the true unsung, singing, heroes of the night, EBB. Having carried out the gargantuan, and probably nerve-wracking, task of creating and organizing the whole event they even managed to perform a set that transfixed me with their pure showmanship and theatrics. Bad Dog might look like Mike Harding but any misidentification soon disappears when he starts to play his bass. Alongside him were, adding to the power of the performance, Suna Dasi on vocal and synth duties, the multitalented Nikki Francis on synths and saxophone, Anna Fraser on drums, and who can forget the talented pair of Erin Bennett on guitar and Kitty Biscuit on vocal, percussion and other performance duties?
A show that resplendent with a long list of additional characters that included a jester and maid. It was certainly a set that showed why proggers love them so much.
Some bands are hard to categorise and EBB are one of them, they mix prog, jazz, rock, art rock and stage theatrics to deliver a unique sound that any simple label would fail to capture.
Revenge
Silent Saviour
That’s How
Reason
Nieu
Tension
The Animal Said I
Mirror
Costs And Consequences
No One’s
Mary Jane
Erin Bennett – Guitar, Lead Vocal
Suna Dasi – Backing Vocals, Keyboards
Bad Dog – Bass
Nikki Francis – Keyboards, Saxophone, Flute
Anna Fraser – Drums, Percussion
Kitty Biscuits – Backing Vocals, Percussion, Spoken Word Poetry
LINKS: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Instagram | X
THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN
Finally, it was he turn of the headline act, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. The God of Hellfire making the Temple of Prog their own. Thanks to his many costumes, masks and face paint, if you had not known who he was you’d not have guessed, from his performance that the flamboyant Arthur Wilton Brown was 82 years old and had been a musician for nigh on 60 years. His energetic performance was full of colour, light and theatrics which had the whole place spellbound.
It wasn’t just his headdress that was on fire but the whole band were producing musical flames to warm up a cold hall. Despite the years Arthur’s voice was still up the task and, while he was off stage, on one of the many costume changes which were assisted by the lovely creative director, Claire Waller, his band comprising of Dan Smith on lead guitar, Jim Mortimer on bass, Sam Walker on drums delivered blistering music that ensured the fans were kept mesmerized and entertained. If ever there was a set to end a day of Prog music this was it. All hail and praises to the mighty Arthur Brown, long may he continue to entertain.
Intro
Pigs
Bubbles
Nature
Nightmare
Fire Poem
Fire
Sam Drum Solo
Gypsy Escape / Confusion
Sunrise
Voice Of Love
Touched By All
Time Captains
End Ommm
~ Encore:
Circle Dance
Arthur Brown – Vocals
Dan Smith – Lead Guitar, Organ, Electronics
Sam Walker – Drums, Electronics
Jim Mortimore – Bass, Baritone, Electronics
Drey Pavalovic – Sound, VJ
Claire Waller – Creative Director, Costume
SUMMARY
After all that, what is there to say? Was the venue a bit cold? Yes, but it was January so what did people expect? If they wanted to keep warm they should have got up and danced.
Was Friday the best day to have an all day concert? Probably not, but there were probably good reasons for it, but those that were able to make it were not disappointed and accepted that as a minor detail. But why dwell on such insignificances? The was the first Temple of Rock but I hope it will become an annual one as I truly want to be there again next year, as I am sure most, if not all, of the audience will agree with.
A salute and humble genuflection to EBB for creating it and all the bands that made it such a special day.
THANK YOUS
To EBB for inviting us. Jay Dee for the assistance. The bands who performed. The ‘Collective Crew’ who worked tirelessly all day. The Brickyard for their hospitality. Chris would like to add a special mention for Claire, Andy and the lovely lady who leant him the hot water bottle 🙂
We would NOT like to thank Éowyn for the stormy intervention… 😉