Imagine Shadow Gallery, a band despite releasing masterpiece after masterpiece, never going on tour, finally hits the live circuit! If Shadow Gallery can play live then anything is possible in the world!!!
The first two songs were marred by poor sound quality which however improved as the gig progressed. It was total relish to finally hear some of those songs live. The band were visibly having fun and that positive energy translated into the audience as well.
Other than the epic songs, those hauntingly infectious vocal harmonies, guitar solos and keyboard sound scapes: all being incredible treats , the most pleasant of surprises - the icing on the cake - was when the members switched instruments and treated us to epic instrumentals of magnanimous proportions! Joe Nevelo is a VERY frighteningly good drummer. I neither knew that Gary Werhkamp could play the drums that well nor that new vocalist Brian Ashland was an accomplished guitar player!
If a mathematical formula could be devised to describe the band's music it would be as follows:
The Shadow Gallery Formula
Musicianship + Melody = Magic
The band did a meet and greet after the show where they chatted with everyone, took pictures and signed everything that the fans threw at them.
On a personal level, I was touched that Gary, Brendt and Carl actually recognised me as their 'friend' from Facebook! Such a thing would never have happened pre-FB! I was also very pleased when Gary gave (more like threw it!) me one of his guitar picks.
This was a gig of a historic nature which I feel privileged to have attended.
