Originally Posted by
Wilton Said...
Nice review by Doug Leblanc who runs a Yahoo Prog Group with an emphasis on Canadian Prog.
Wilton Said… Live at The Black Swan
WOW!!! Wilton Said's show at the Black Swan last Saturday was incredible! They just keep getting better and better! They have improved after every show, but this was amazing! Delightful playing by the band, especially Chris Reid on guitar. He was at his clever best, subtle when he needed to be, but fiery and powerful when the music called for it! Also making a strong performance was Deb Ray. The last time he played with the band he was still new, and obviously struggled a bit with Wilton's complex compositions. This time, though, his playing was strong and powerful!
On drums is the always enjoyable Richard Rizzo. He brings so much to each performance, soft and melodic at times, thundering and exciting when called upon!
However, the big star of the performance was Wilton himself. His voice is stronger than ever, his ability to entertain was nothing short of dazzling! He always puts on an enjoyable show, but his showmanship is better than ever. He really seems to enjoy playing live, and puts so much into his shows. The light-hearted songs were delightful, although I must admit to being a bit disappointed that there were no costume changes during `Pretty' . I thought a bit of frockery, maybe even a wig, would be in order. Nope, all we got was a feather boa. A very nice, pretty red feather boa, but just a feather boa all the same. At one point Chris was adorned with said feather boa, but it simply ruined his Harry Potter look. Eventually it found its way off stage, hopefully to go on to lead a fulfilling life that feather boas aspire to. We can only wish it well.
However, Wilton Said at their most serious side were awesome! The classic `Empty Sky' was perhaps a shade understated compared to past performances, but the finale of `Half Life', the title track from the latest album, was nothing short of utterly magnificent! I was blown away by the passion, the fire with which they performed this powerful song.
A great show, again orchestrated by Wilton himself. The band definitely benefited from a longer set, and hopefully this is the start of bigger things for them. There was also a sizable crowd this time, which was a delight to see, for a change. We can only hope this will not be the last of such shows, because they bring prog music alive.
Doug Leblanc
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