Progressive Nation Act II: Bigelf
Second to take the stage was Bigelf. Like Scale the
The band put on a high-energy show that combined the heaviness of early 70s metal (when that term meant something quite different from its current usage) with the irreverent, winking approach of Cheap Trick (or, for you younger readers, Presidents of United States of America). Their songs struck just the right balance of doom, bombast…and fun. While all four members played well, their primary instrumental strength came in the way they played as an ensemble. The dour, humorless approach of so many progsters was totally lacking while Bigelf was onstage.
I look forward to getting and listening to their albums. As happened when I discovered Porcupine Tree a few years back, I’m filled with anticipation to learn that Bigelf have a back catalog; in this case, five albums. Their latest is Cheat the Gallows. Put in simplest terms, if you think Wolfmother is cool, you gotta check these guys out. I bumped into the guys from Bigelf at the bar later in the evening (Dream Theater was giving me a headache; more on that forthwith) and told them, “you guys are fantastic.” Vocalist/keyboardist Damon Fox was quick with his reply: “You’re fantastic.” Well, ok then.