Artists | Issues | CD Reviews | Interviews | Concert Reviews | DVD/Video Reviews | Book Reviews | Who We Are | Staff | Home
 

Spaced Out

Live at NEARfest, 2002

Review by Stephen Ellis

The first thing to be said about the Sunday opening band, Spaced Out is "good band, wrong day". After the long night many had on Saturday, the over the top fusion band was just way too much for this particular Sunday morning. Frankly they would have been far better opening the event on Saturday, as their energy and musical overkill would have been a great lead in to the wonderful music to follow. On Sunday, and again to this reviewer, their overly energetic style and sound just left me feeling like it would never stop.

I liked most of what I heard and listening to their CD subsequently made it clear why they were invited to this event in the first place. The bass player, Antoine Fafard was so in your face. He was clearly the leader of the band and without his guidance I'm sure they would not be able to "pull it off" if you will.

Stephen Ellis
 
Stephen Ellis
   

I really think their name is misleading. They were not so much "spaced out", (which almost implies laid back ambient styled music), as they were speed/funk merchants. One of the comments I heard that was very true to me was "Too many notes". I have to admit that it takes tremendous amounts of musical talent and expertise to effectively play music "with too many notes" - just not on a quiet Sunday morning.

So, bottom line, these guys rocked, but they would have been much better on Saturday.


Dan Robinson
       
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2002 Year Book Volume 3 at  garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2001-and-2002.
 
Return to the
Spaced Out Artist Page
Artists Directory
 
Google

   Creative Commons License
   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.

    © 2024 Music Street Journal                                                                           Site design and programming by Studio Fyra, Inc./Beetcafe.com