FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
  • Muirsical Thoughts, Muirsical News Last update: February 15th
  • Latest Articles (links)
  • Muirsical Conversation with... Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor
  • Jason Becker - Triumphant Hearts (Featured Album Review)
  • Duncan Chisholm - Sandwood (Featured Album Review)
  • Featured Album Reviews...
    • Jason Becker - Triumphant Hearts
    • Duncan Chisholm - Sandwood
    • Jawbone - Jawbone
    • Steve Perry - Traces
    • Sari Schorr - Never Say Never
    • Joe Bonamassa - Redemption
    • Ben Poole - Anytime You Need Me
    • Hawkwind - Road To Utopia
    • Rainbreakers - Face To Face
    • Frequency Drift - Letters to Maro
    • JCM - Heroes
    • Dana Fuchs - Love Lives On
    • Joe Bonamassa - British Blues Explosion Live
    • W.E.T. - Earthrage
    • The King Lot - A World Without Evil
    • 2017 Featured Album Reviews >
      • Quint Starkie - Ghost In My Heart
      • Downes Braide Association - Skyscraper Souls
      • Dirty Thrills - Heavy Living
      • King King - Exile & Grace
      • Steven Wilson - To The Bone
      • Robin Trower - Time and Emotion
      • Joe Bonamassa - Live at Carnegie Hall, an Acoustic Evening
      • Nikka Costa - Nikka & Strings, Underneath and In Between
      • The Mustangs - Just Passing Through
      • Simon Thacker & Justyna Jablonska - Karmana
      • Michael Schenker Fest Live
    • 2016 Featured Album Reviews... >
      • Glenn Hughes - Resonate
      • King King - Live
      • Aynsley Lister - Eyes Wide Open
      • Kansas - The Prelude Implicit
      • Joe Bonamassa - Live at the Greek Theatre
      • An Evening With Todd Rundgren - Live at The Ridgefield
      • Sari Schorr - A Force of Nature
      • Albany Down - The Outer Reach
      • Cheap Trick - Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello
      • Preacher - Aftermath
      • Ben Poole - Time Has Come
      • Stevie Nimmo - Sky Won't Fall
  • Monthly Album Reviews...
    • 2019 Reviews
    • 2018 Reviews
    • 2017 Reviews
  • Selected 2018 Gig Reviews...
    • Sensational Alex Harvey Experience DreadnougthRock, Bathgate
    • Uli Jon Roth - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender III - Troon
    • Ben Poole - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Dan Reed Network - The Garage, Glasgow
    • Dapper, Paul Gemmell's Black Magic Blues Band - The Union, East Kilbride
    • Lifesigns - Backstage at The Green, Kinross
    • The Nimmo Brothers - Old Fire Station, Carlisle
    • Brian Downey's Alive And Dangerous - Cathouse, Glasgow
    • Chantel McGregor - Hard Rock Cafe, Glasgow
    • Federal Charm and Bad Flowers, Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Rainbreakers - Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh
    • Hamilton Loomis, Mike Vernon & The Mighty Combo, Lights Out By Nine - Town Hall, Darvel
    • Kane'd - NR Rocks, DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Zal Cleminson's /sin'dogs/ - Concert Hall, Troon
    • The King Lot (with Those Damn Crows and Fragile Things) Dreadnoughtrock, Bathgate
    • Arran Rock 'N' Blues Fest
    • Kasim Sulton - Hard Rock Cafe, Glasgow
    • Danny Bryant - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Bourbon Street 5 - Brig Below, Edinburgh,
    • Chris Glen & The Outfit - Concert Hall, Troon
    • Simon Thacker, Justyna Jablonska, Masha Natanson - Glad Cafe, Glasgow
    • The Greig Taylor Blues Combo - Dreadnoughtrock, Bathgate
    • King King - Town Hall, Darvel
  • Selected 2017 Gig Reviews...
    • Anchor Lane & Black King Cobra DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • JW-Jones - Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
    • Burnt Out Wreck - Audio, Glasgow
    • Samantha Fish (w/ Melisa Kelly) - Stramash, Edinburgh
    • Winterstorm Rock Weekender II, Troon
    • Bad Touch & Mollie Marriott - Stereo, Glasgow
    • Mr. Big (w/ The Answer & Faster Pussycat) - O2 ABC, Glasgow
    • John Verity Band - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Squeeze - The Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
    • Raintown - The Arts Centre, East Kilbride
    • Erja Lyytinen - The Caves, Edinburgh
    • Stevie Nimmo Trio - Town Hall, Darvel
    • The King Lot - NR Rocks, Dreadnoughtrock, Bathgate
    • Mason Hill, The Garage, Glasgow
    • Hamilton Loomis - Town Hall, Darvel
    • Blue Oyster Cult (and Jared James Nichols) - 02ABC, Glasgow
    • Dan Reed & The King Lot - Dreadnoughtrock, Bathgate
    • John Verity Band - Cottiers, Glasgow
    • Rebecca Downes - The Old Fire Station, Carlisle
    • Snakecharmer - 02 ABC2, Glasgow
    • Steve Hackett - Royal Concert Hall Glasgow
    • King King - 02 ABC Glasgow
    • Joe Bonamassa - Usher Hall, Edinburgh
    • Sari Schorr & The Engine Room - Aberdeen and Glasgow
    • Broken Witt Rebels & Bad Touch - O2 ABC2, Glasgow
    • Manny Charlton Band - Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Dan Reed Network - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Glenn Hughes - The Garage, Glasgow
  • Muirsical Conversations...
    • Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor (January 2019)
    • Dan Reed (November 2018)
    • Del Bromham (October 2018)
    • Brian Downey (September 2018)
    • Raintown - Paul Bain & Claire McArthur Bain (May 2018)
    • Hamilton Loomis (December 2017)
    • Alan Nimmo (October 2017)
    • Erja Lyytinen (September 2017)
    • Suzi Quatro (September 2017)
    • Biff Byford (August 2017)
    • Dan Patlansky (June 2017)
    • Graham Bonnet (May 2017)
    • Simon Thacker (April 2017)
    • Sari Schorr (March 2017)
    • Stevie Nimmo (February 2017)
    • Dan Reed (February 2017)
    • Adam Norsworthy (January 2017)
    • Colin James (December 2016)
    • John Lees (October 2016)
    • Sari Schorr (August 2016)
    • Mike Vernon (August 2016)
    • Wayne Proctor (July 2016)
    • Laurence Jones (April 2016)
    • Chantel McGregor (March 2016)
    • John Young (January 2016)
    • Michael Schenker (November 2015)
    • Martin Barre (October 2015)
    • Chris Norman (September 2015)
    • Joanne Shaw Taylor (August 2015)
    • Fee Waybill (July 2015)
    • Ian Anderson (June 2015)
    • John Lodge (June 2015)
    • John Lawton (May 2015)
    • Steve Hackett (May 2015)
    • Manny Charlton (April 2015)
    • Ben Poole (April 2015)
    • Alan Nimmo (February 2015)
    • Popa Chubby (December 2014)
    • Paul Young (July 2014)
    • Bernie Shaw (June 2014)
    • Lee Kerslake (December 2013)
    • Pat Travers (September 2013)
    • Steve Hunter (August 2013)
    • Joy Dunlop (March 2013)
    • Gwyn Ashton (Dec. 2012)
    • Greg Lake (October 2012)
    • Ned Evett (August 2012)
    • Steven Lindsay (July 2012)
    • Dave Cureton (June 2012)
    • Jon Anderson (May 2012)
    • Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker (March 2012)
    • Amy Schugar (Feb. 2012)
    • Robert Fleischman (November 2011)
    • Ivan Drever (Sep. 2011)
    • Michael Sadler (June 2011)
    • James Evans (April 2011)
    • Alyn Cosker (Nov. 2010)
    • Scott Higham (Nov. 2010)
    • Kevin Chalfant (Oct. 2010)
    • Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)
    • Duncan Chisholm (Aug 2010)
    • Barbara Rubin (July 2010)
    • Alan Reed (June 2010)
  • Muirsical Articles...
    • The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story
    • Alex Harvey - Framed in Words. And pictures
    • Journey - That Time Forgot
    • KISS - Elder Statesmen, Elder Statement?
    • Phil Lynott - Remembering Pt. 3
    • Freddie Mercury - The Days of His Life
    • Gary Moore - Last Exit
    • Mott - Without any of the Hoople-la
    • Muirsical Six of the Best
    • Music Town: A Decade of the Darvel Music Festival
    • Pat Travers - The Forgotten Power Trio
    • Playing Tribute
    • Gerry Rafferty - Humblebum to Multi-Million Seller
    • Cliff Richard - The Rock and Roll Juvenile
    • Slade - Thanks For the Memories
    • Talon - On Eagles Wings
    • The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest
    • Wild Horses - Thoroughbreds or also-rans?
  • A Personal Journey: Definitive Edition (eBook)
  • Steve Perry (vocalist): One in a Million (eBook)
  • A Writer's Muirsings...
    • A Writer's Muirsings: Introduction
    • Superbowl XLVII MVP: Beyoncé (February 2013)
    • Michael Jackson: The Alternative Verdict (Nov 2011)
    • True Colours (November 2010)
    • It's a New Language, Old Bean (October 2010)
    • Finger Pointing (July 2010)
    • Suffer the Little Children (April 2010)
    • Hey 'Banker', can you spare a dime? (February 2010)
    • Earlier Muirsings... >
      • Muirsical Christmas #1's (December 09)
      • 3-D, or not 3-D, Avatar? (December 09)
      • Pains, Planes and Automobiles (November 09)
  • A Man of Letters...
    • A Man of Letters (Introduction)
    • Letter to Danbury Mint #1
    • Letter to Danbury Mint #2
    • Letter to The Catholic League
    • Letter to SKY #1
    • Letter to SKY #2
    • Letter to SKY #3
    • Letter to Leeds City Council Parking Services
  • Author Bios & Site Info
  • Disclaimer, Copyright Statement & eBook Download Links
  • Contact FabricationsHQ
A Band of Brothers...
Pendragon - The Ferry, Glasgow 28th May 2010

 
I'm not the greatest fan in the world of neo-prog rockers Pendragon yet I have caught them live three times now, most recently at The Ferry in Glasgow, one year after their first visit to that club concert venue on the River Clyde.
 
Pendragon, who were formed in 1978 and released their first album in 1985, are built around the song writing & direction of vocalist, guitarist, and founding member Nick Barrett.
Bass player Peter Gee has also been part of the Pendragon package since their origins, but it's fair comment to say the band really started making progressive waves in 1986 when keyboard player Clive Nolan joined (whose other musical prog projects and collaborations are too many to mention).

For me though the band was truly complete, certainly as regards live sound, with the arrival of drummer Scott Higham in 2008.
I had the opportunity to shoot the breeze with Scott earlier in the evening and his enthusiasm for music, and affection for this band, are very clearly defined in both conversation, and how he plays...

Higham physically drives the sound on from the back, by what I describe as truly 'attacking' his kit, whilst still in control of his playing, with just a touch of anger.
The only disappointment for drummer and audience was that the Ferry stage has a large but low ceiling alcove area where the drums are situated. This meant Higham couldn't do any standing or leaning over the kit (usually part of his performance) for danger of serious concussion.
But we did get serious percussion (sorry). Boom, boom (sorry again).
 
Although I'm more of a fan of what I would describe as their more melodic but no less adventurous prog albums of the nineties, their last album, 2008's 'Pure', was well received, critically acclaimed in the progressive corridors of power, and remains the core of the set two years on.
 
So if I'm not the greatest Pendragon fan in the world, what am I doing at another 'dragon show and, in this case, reviewing it?
Well, primarily because Pendragon are worth seeing out on the circuit, no matter how much of a prog fan you are, or aren't.

Nick Barrett may not be the greatest singer in the world (and at this show he did comment that he was carrying a flu bug or a cold) but he has a very individual vocal delivery and approach, and attacks each and every song with the same passion and vigour, both vocally and musically (Barrett is a solid performer on guitar, and he can be beautifully emotive on some of the Pendragon passages).
This, in turn, is reflected in the rest of the band and something that the audiences clearly acknowledge and appreciate - there is a mutual respect between band and audience, and that's something you don't always find.

The front man also enjoys bantering with the audience as he introduces each song and the story or inspiration behind it, and his lyrics are usually based on real events or personal observations - you won't find many Starship Troopers, Squonks, or Tarkus tank animals in Pendragon's musical or lyrical repertoire (but some of their songs do rival those classic prog pieces in musicality).
 
Prior to Pendragon taking the stage, Abel Ganz opened proceedings, and the Scottish band entertained with a primarily acoustic set, more Celtic than prog.

Pendragon hit the stage to a noisy and warm 'Weegie' welcome, and the power of 'Indigo' (from the aforementioned Pure) was soon reverberating around the Ferry, with the band going on to deliver for close to two and a half hours.
Picture
Other Pure moments included 'Eraserhead' and the three movement 'Comatose' (the featured piece of the album), with 'It's Only Me' ending the main set in quite an emotive style with its "band of brothers" closing statements - quite fitting as regards the relationship Nick Barrett and Pendragon have with their audiences.

Set highlights included fan favourite 'Paintbox' (sometimes given an acoustic setting but here given it's full outing), 'If I was the Wind', 'Not of this World' (a personal favourite), and a rocking version of 'Nostradamus (Stargazing)'.


The encore featured another crowd pleaser 'Master of Illusion', before the show ended with Nick Barrett wandering into the audience to deliver the final lines of the poignant '2am.'
It was a fitting finale to a fine show, with Barrett in good company, amongst friends and very much in the Pendragon's Den.
  
Ross Muir
May 2010


Photo credit: John McGuigan
Website and text contents © FabricationsHQ and Ross Muir
All Rights Reserved