RED BAZAR
P ost-lockdown, a visiting musician remarked that The 1865 now has the ambience of an intimate jazz club. With its tables and chairs sensibly spaced apart, concert-goers are happy to continue taking the necessary precautions as the regular Sunday night prog gigs resume.
Viriditas are enjoying a red-letter day with the launch of their second album, the double CD Green Mars, follow-up to Red Mars. This is their third support slot at The 1865 where the headcount on stage is down to seven from the usual eight. However, this doesn’t detract from a compelling hour of complex, multilayered compositions, several featuring up to four different voices.
With their songs’ sci-fi storylines, some Magma-esque overtones are at play, as well as shades of Bowie and prog metal. Indeed, lead singer Mike Waters’ voice has all the muscle and finesse of a band like Uriah Heep. It’s a shame, though, that he has to sing from a lyric prompt sheet on a stand, especially during some of his most dramatic solo parts. Keyboard player Julie Kvaerndrup gets her chance in the limelight, taking the lead vocals on the Floydian Ares, accompanied by David Stanton’s fluid resonant guitar.