Glass Hammer - Live At NEARfest

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Arion Records / NEARfest Records
Catalog Number: SR1121/NFR 0003
Format: CD
Total Time: 72:45:00

In the wake of the excellent (first) DVD, Lex Live, comes an incredibly good live album by Glass Hammer. Although the line up is the same as on the DVD, the live CD was recorded at the prestigious North East Art Rock Festival, or NEARfest 2003 and this performance brought a surprise that is not found on the DVD.

In a way, I wonder why bands release both a DVD and a live album, with very similar track listings together, or close after each other, as Glass Hammer is not the first to do this. Either way, I must say the CD is just that bit more interesting than the DVD, as the sound quality is better. The new line up works very well here, as they bring a masterful performance to the stage. Walter Moore is a fantastic guitar player and I love his solos and riffs. Not heavy, but perfect for the music. Of course the keyboards play a very important role in the sound of Glass Hammer and they have truly outdone themselves for this show.

On a few songs, they are joined by a choir, which is made up of (internet) DJ?s, webmasters, members of the band IZZ (who also played at NEARfest at the time [the pre-show]) and fans of the band. Especially in the finale of the show, "Heaven," this 18 piece choir, together with the organ, almost turn this song into a heavenly one, with amazing solos by Fred Schendel.

The surprise comes in the form of Rich Williams from Kansas, who joins Glass Hammer on stage for a fabulous version of "Portrait (He Knew)," which is really fantastic and brings a piece of the magic of Kansas in it?s glory days back to the fans.

I really am at a loss for words. If you really want more, please read my review of the Lex Live DVD, but frankly I think it is not necessary to talk more about Live At NEARfest ? you should rather listen to it, for it is the best Glass Hammer disc I have heard so far. Prefect for getting to know GH, but even if you already know them for years, this is a must have. Thank you NEARfest, for inviting these guys to play and thank you Glass Hammer for playing there and letting us enjoy this show over and over again.

Similar bands: Yes meets ELP

[This review originally appeared at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]

Tracklisting:
Greetings Ladies And Gentlemen (1:36) / Chronotheme (5:06) / Tales Of The Great Wars (10:26) / One King (6:12) / Further Up, Further In (14:28) / Cowboys And Mendians (2:42) / A Cup Of Trembling (8:03) / Portrait (He Knew) (6:27) / Chronos Deliverer (5:16) / When We Were Young (8:14) / Heaven (4:08)

Musicians:
Walter Moore - electric guitar, keyboards, vocals
Eric Parker - acoustic guitar, bass guitar
Steve Babb - bass guitar, keyboards, bass pedals, vocals
Fred Schendel - keyboards, lap steel guitar, vocals
Flo Paris - vocals
Bethany Warren - vocals
Susie Bogdanowicz - vocals
Matt Mendians - ums
The Glass Hammer Choir - Patt Christiansen, Laura Dent, Beth Folland, John Galgano, Tom Galgano, Shellyn Ganger, Christine Holz, Tim Kubit, Janie Lindenbaum, Sean McFee, Brian Neilsen, Jen Porta, Mike Rumpza, Stephanie Rumpza, Karl Schendel, Jon Yarger
April Bower - Choral Director, Choral Arrangements

Discography:
Journey To The Dunadan (1994)
Perelandra (1996)
Live And Revived (1997)
On To Evermore (1997)
Chronometree (2000)
The Middle Earth Album (2001)
Lex Rex (2002)
Shadowlands (2004)
Live At NEARFest (2004)
The Inconsolable Secret (2005)
Culture Of Ascent (2007)
Three Cheers For The Broken-hearted (2009)
If (2010)
One (via GH only) (2010)
Cor Cordium (2011)
Perilous (2012)
The Inconsolable Secret (Deluxe Edition) (2013)
Ode To Echo (2014)
Breaking Of The World (2015)
Double Live (2015)
Valkyrie (2016)
Untold Tales (2017)
Mostly Live In Italy (2018)
Chronomonaut (2018)

Lex Live (DVD) (2004)
Live At Belmont (DVD) (2006)
Live At The Tivoli (DVD) (2008)

Genre: Symphonic Prog

Origin US

Added: August 1st 2004
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: www.glasshammer.com
Hits: 3582
Language: english