The band came on with 'Numbers', and it soon became clear that vocalist Hasse Froberg has an incredibly melodic voice which obviously helps to make The Flower Kings the fine band that they are. Below are a couple of pictures of Hasse Froberg working in unison with Roine Stolt.
The good thing about being at a really intimate concert is that you can get to take mobile phone shots from near the front of the stage, which I need to do as my small mobile is very weak. Having said this, I'm happy with the shots I got below, from the other side of the stage, showing keyboard player, Tomas Bodin, and Roine Stolt in full flow.
Just never managed to get shots of the drummer, Felix, and bassist, Jonas, who were tucked in at the back of the stage. The two pictures below capture some of the emotion of Hasse Froberg singing 'Stardust We Are'
Finally, it's nice to see a band who really appreciate an audience, no matter what size it is. It's the quality of the people involved that matters, not the numbers.
It really was an honour to be at this concert, as The Flower Kings are really top drawer, like seeing ELP or Yes, and they're genuinely nice people. If you get the opportunity to see this band, don't miss it! I'm certainly glad I caught them.
Below is a video of The Flower Kings doing 'Numbers' from 'The Night of the Prog' in Germany. Many thanks to whoever put this on Youtube.
Sounds like one amazing concert Pat? You can't beat progressive rock.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this band are in the same league as Rush; ELP; Yes; King Crimson; early Genesis; Gentle Giant; Kansas; Marillion; Camel etc.
ReplyDeleteBeing with your own (older) age group in the audience also makes a difference, Dave. When you're almost 47, you prefer to be with discerning listeners, rather than with (sometimes overgrown) kids jumping up and down.
I felt really at home with this concert, as all the components were right. The Klub Progresja is also one of the few places in Warsaw that does a good pint of Zywiec (not the greatest Polish beer, but good enough).
I'm 49 in December. I know exactly what you mean about being with discerning listeners. Progressive rock must be similar to listening to a poet recite or a violin solo. You want to feel and listen and absorb every note and lyric.
ReplyDeleteSometimes think we were born too late Pat. Imagine seeing Hendrix or Bob Dylan with his electric guitar at the Isle of Wight, the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park, Woodstock or Led Zep at Knebworth.
What would you say was your most prestigious concert and do you think Rush are rock royalty?
I think we were born a little too late, but not for the 'crew' that you mention, Dave. I would've loved to have seen Jefferson Airplane in the 1960s, and bands like Curved Air and Pentangle, and especially Fairport Convention with Sandy Denny, in the early 1970s.
ReplyDeleteMy friend from Canterbury, Ross, saw Led Zep at Knebworth, and said it wasn't that special, because of the sheer size of the crowd. Also, theoretically, I could've gone to this, as I remember the tickets coming out and getting snapped up incredibly quickly; and then the massive music paper reviews of the event. I actually remember getting an edition of 'Sounds' with a review of Led Zep at Knebworth, and being more interested in reading a review about the Kansas album, 'Monolith', which had just been released.
We would have been a bit young for the Stones in Hyde Park or the Isle of Wight festivals Pat. Imagine seeing Jimmy Hendrix or Bob Dylan playing his 'ELECTRIC' guitar for the first time.
ReplyDeleteRemember going to a christian festival (Greenbelt) at Knebworth House and I was in awe that I was walking where Charles Dickens and Led Zep had tread the boards. Think the one concert for me would have been Kate Bush at Hammersmith Odeon.
Great nostalgia Pat.
The one for me would've been Rush on the 'Tour of the Hemispheres' with the incredibly underrated Max Webster (Kim Mitchell is one of my favourite guitarists) supporting them. I was just a touch too young for this, but I didn't have to wait long, as I got to see Rush on the 'Permanent Waves' tour at Manchester Apollo in 1980.
ReplyDeleteIf I could see one band who I've never seen it would have to be Max Webster/Kim Mitchell. Should've also seen Japan at their peak in the early 1980s, although I did get to see David Sylvian with Robert Fripp at Manchester Apollo in the early 1990s.
I would also have liked to have seen Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. Think Sabbath made Heavy Rock/Metal in England.
ReplyDeleteSaw the classic Deep Purple line up (Gillan, Blackmore, Lord, Paice, and Glover) at Birmingham NEC in 1986 with Bad Company supporting, but would've loved to have seen this line up in the early 1970s, true.
ReplyDeleteAlso agree with you about Black Sabbath, saw them with Dio in the early 1980s which was an honour but never with Ozzy Osbourne.
I think that 'Never Say Die' is an incredibly underrated Sabbath album, do you agree?
Deep Purple and Bad Company - what a line up.
ReplyDeleteI only ever saw Dio at Castle Donington. I love 'Heaven and Hell'.
'Never Say Die' was very very underrated, I agree. I like most of Sabbath's early stuff. They had a distinctive sound of their own, didn't they?
Don't get too excited, Dave, it was Bad Company without Paul Rodgers, but with the rest of the band members.
ReplyDeleteOne side of Black Sabbath's 'Never Say Die' is really experimental and jazzy with a saxophone being played in parts. They got 'panned' for this, but it was brilliant. I especially love a track called 'Over To You', and bought 'Never Say Die' on tape when it came out in the late 1970s.
You're right, albums like 'Sabotage' and 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' are classics.
Just been playing 'Over To You' on good old You Tube. Think it's a Sabbath week for me this week. Have a look on You Tube Pat, at: Black Sabbath Paranoid Live In Birmingham May 19 2012. The guitar riffs are still incredible and Ozzy looks back to his best.
ReplyDeleteI would still liked to have seen Bad Company with or without Mr Rodgers. How do you rate Ritchie Blackmore?
Great guitarist, Dave, no two ways about it, but my favourite guitarists are Alex Lifeson (Rush); Kim Mitchell (Max Webster); Pat Travers; and Rik Emmett (Triumph).
ReplyDeleteDo you know that Rik Emmett has gone on to become a successful Jazz guitarist?
Talking of guitarists, it's Steve Vai at Warsaw Stodoła on Sunday.
I didn't know that Rik Emmett is a successful Jazz guitarist Pat. A lot of intelligent people follow jazz. Do you have any interest in it?
ReplyDeleteSteve Vai should be (will) amazing. Think my favourite guitarists all played for Thin Lizzy at some time. Don't ask me to choose which one though.
Never really followed Jazz, Dave, although I enjoyed listening to it in passing in the Krakow cellar bars when I lived in Nowy Sącz 13-15 years ago.
ReplyDeleteThink quite a few famous rock guitarists had jazz influences Pat. Carlos Santana and Uli Jon Roth both come to mind. You will have seen Mr Roth with the Scorpions won't you Pat? Germany seems to be the European capital for heavy rock music. I only ever saw the Scorpions once at Birmingham N.E.C. I rate them very highly. The Krakow cellar bars sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteSaw The Scorpions six times in the 1980s, Dave, but unfortunately, Ulrich Roth had left by then.
ReplyDeleteThe stuff with Uli Roth such as 'Fly To The Rainbow' and 'We'll Burn The Sky' was really amazing, I think.
I watched a television programme featuring Uli Roth recently Pat. He was in a church playing classical music on his electric guitar. The man is a genius. I agree that 'Fly To The Rainbow'..., are classics.
ReplyDeleteI also like the Electric Sun albums, Dave, especially 'Firewind'. Not surprised to hear about him playing inside a church, as there are some Christian/New Age overtones to his music.
ReplyDeleteHi Pat, like a lot of heavy rock/prog rock musicians, Uli Roth is from a classical music background. There are so many different genres of music that have influenced heavy rock; Gospel, jazz, blues, classical, folk... I find it fascinating.
ReplyDeleteWhat about your Donald Campbell book review, Dave?
ReplyDelete