Entropia Live at Warsaw Klub Hydrozagadka 16th February 2018

Got down to the Hydrozagadka on the other side of the river in Warsaw nicely in time to catch the Polish band, Entropia, before seeing the Dutch band, GOLD.

Couldn't see that much of the band during the Entropia set, as the stage was almost always bathed in red light and smoke which kind of added to the atmosphere.

Really liked the first (14-15 minute) tune by Entropia, think it was called 'Poison' (???).

Warsaw: Klub Pogłos Big Mirror

Another thing that caught my eye on my concert rounds recently, the big mirror inside the upstairs bar at the Klub Pogłos:

Think that it's such well-chosen/well-thought out decor that makes a place look comfortable for relaxing with a beer before seeing a band live.

Warsaw: Klub Hydrozagadka Decor

Have been to a few gigs at the Hydrozagadka in Warsaw over the past few years, and must say that I find it a quite homely place.

The bears at the side of the bar above seem to symbolise the comfortable atmosphere of the place.

While I was watching Dutch band, GOLD, and Polish band, Entropia, at the Hydrozagadka last Friday, I started taking note of some of the other decor there, including the dolphin or elephant-type wall design below:

Really like the way the seating and wall design in the hallway blended in with each other during the concert:

Finally, the shot below is of my jumper and leg blending in with the carpet:

Here on Earth Live at Warsaw Prog Days 10th February 2018

My last few shots and thoughts from the wonderful Warsaw Prog Days event which took place well over a week ago now.

Like many others, I made a point of getting up to the Progresja to catch the first band on the bill, Here on Earth.

Glad the band did my favourite song of theirs, 'Dream Walk', as the opening tune.

Here on Earth remind me a bit of Riverside, especially with the vocals.

Bury (Lancashire): 1977 St. Joseph's Junior School Football Team Photo

Gosh, this is a picture that takes me back, to early or mid-1977, I think.  It was sent to me on Facebook by Henry (top right above) who I think probably got it from an 'Old Bury' Facebook site.  

Think it was from some kind of Bury School Cup competition when we, St. Joseph's, dominated another Catholic school team from Bury, Holly Mount (from up Greenmount) and somehow ended up getting beaten 2-0.  Still can't figure out how this happened to this day.

The game was played on the Bury Grammar School pitch, somewhere behind St. Gabriel's secondary school, and somebody reminded me a couple of years ago, that we were 1-0 or 2-0 down, when I had a long shot which, according to him, went through the caretaker's house window (can remember it going in the garden, not through the window, if my memory serves me right).

Amorok Live at Warsaw Prog Days 10th February 2018

Still find myself reflecting on Warsaw Prog Days a week after the event took place, that's how good it was.

Like all the other bands on the bill (Here on Earth; Gallileus; Colin Bass and Friends; and Coogans Bluff - what a varied line-up), I really enjoyed Amorok.  Guess that the haunting 'Anonymous', which Amorok came on with, and 'Nuke' with Colin Bass on vocals were my two favourite tunes of the set.

At one point, I felt almost hypnotised by Amorok as the drummer, bassist, and (female) bongo player worked in perfect unison together, while the keyboards and lead guitar glided softly over this.  In this sense, Amorok reminded me a bit of early Santana at times.

Of course, the genius behind Amorok is the multi-instrumentalist Michal Wojtas.

Mruczek

In Eastern Poland, Mruczek returned from the fields feeling hungry, so I guess that he'd had a non-profitable night with the mice.

GOLD Live at Warsaw Hydrozagadka 16th February 2018

Over the past 15 years, I've seen Warsaw develop into a great place for gigs.  Never known so many gigs in February though, and last night it was the turn of Dutch band, GOLD.

In a really short space of time, I've come to really like GOLD, female vocalist Milena Eva's voice reminds me a bit of Debbie Harry.

Really like how her serene and yet intense voice blends in with the kind of crashing guitar sounds.
 

'Shapeless' was always going to be my favourite tune of the night, it's just so beautifully melodic.

Also really liked 'White Noise', think that this tune has a great kind of marching feel to it.

OMD Live at Warsaw Progresja 11th February 2018

Went to this for pure nostalgia, have always kind of fondly associated OMD with my late 1970s/early 1980s secondary school years.  Also went to this for 'Joan of Arc' and 'Maid of Orleans', far and away my favourite two OMD tunes.

Was absolutely knackered for this gig as I'd been at the Warsaw Prog Days event at the Progresja till the early hours of the morning 'the night before'.

Colin Bass and Friends Live at Warsaw Prog Days 10th February 2018

As expected, I really enjoyed the set by Colin Bass and his friends (including some of the members of Amorok and Maciej Meller, touring member of Riverside).

The song that really caught my ear during the set was one about Santiago de Compostela.  Before this song, Colin explained that some time recently, he'd done the walking pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and had enjoyed listening to the stories of the walkers and pilgrims that he'd met on his journey.

Would love to do the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage one day myself.

Gallileous Live at Warsaw Prog Days 10th February 2018

Going up to the Progresja on the tram early Saturday evening, I was thinking that out of all the bands I was going to see that night, Gallileous might not be my kind of thing.  But as things turned out, I really enjoyed their set, their kind of retro thing.

Enjoyed the band's first two tunes, 'Eaten By The Universe' and 'Sonic Boom', the most.  Also really liked the pounding drums and strong female vocalist.

Coogans Bluff Live at Warsaw Prog Days 10th February 2018

It was the early hours of Sunday morning, I'd just seen Colin Bass and Friends; Amorok; Gallileus; and Here on Earth all play great sets, and Coogans Bluff seemed to be taking some time over their soundcheck, so I questioned whether I should stay or go.  Thankfully, I chose to stay.

What transpired was something magical in the early hours of Sunday morning (at Warsaw Progresja where the Warsaw Prog Days event is held each year).

When Coogans Bluff came on with the 12-minute 'Flying To The Stars', it was one of the most dramatic opening songs I'd ever seen in 38 years or so of going to gigs, it was mesmeric, truly riveting, and the band continued in the same vein for the remainder of their set. 

In 38-39 years of going to gigs, rarely have I seen an audience so captivated, so magically caught up in a band's performance.  Would love to see Coogans Bluff again.

Flunk Live at Warsaw Klub Poglos 9th December 2018

My third concert at Warsaw Klub Poglos in a short space of time and another good one.

Like with KYPCK the previous weekend, I discovered Flunk through checking them out after seeing that they would be playing at the Klub Poglos in Warsaw.

In the space of a few weeks, I familiarised myself with some of Flunk's music and happily ended up seeing them last night.

Really like 'Queen of the Underground'; 'Six Seven Times'; 'Personal Stereo' etc. so it was nice to hear such tunes live last night.

It's good to discover a band just in the nick of time to be able to see them live.

KYPCK Live at Warsaw Klub Pogłos 3rd February 2018

Thoroughly enjoyed Finnish band KYPCK at Warsaw Pogłos last night, great band and great beer.

Only discovered KYPCK just before Christmas when I checked them out after seeing they were playing the Klub Pogłos in Warsaw in early February.

Not only enjoyed the more famous tunes that I'd quickly become familiar with such as 'Ya Svoboden (I Am Free)'; 'Stalingrad'; and 'Demon', but also the songs that I wasn't familiar with.

Not often you come across a vocalist like Erkki Seppanen, singing in Russian as a fluent (non-Russian) Russian speaker: 

Think that the bassist Jaakko Yla-Rautio also gives the band some unique character with his one-string bass:

Also really liked the good, warm atmosphere that the band created during the set with regular handshakes with the audience and great stories in English from Erkki Seppanen in between songs.

Also, the Klub Pogłos is a lot more comfortable for a gig when there's a decent turn out without it being packed out.

Lolek and Klex

Up until quite recently, I would never have imagined that I would've become interested in cats, but Lolek (Kotek) above and Klex below have become two good friends.

Really like the wide range of chirping (like a bird), meow-type, singing, squeaking (like a mouse), and almost speaking-type noises that my two friends above make.