Glass Harp at Evans Amphitheater, Cain Park
in Cleveland Heights, OH on August 02, 2003

- by Joe Petelin

Hello Special Friends and Harpies,

Since you are clamoring for concert details, I've tried to throw together my comments. It's wonderful that all of you are so interested in hearing about the concert. Wish you could all have been there.

I was so blown away by this concert that Cathy had to keep reminding me to write down the song names in my setlist. I asked Cathy to take a few notes, too during the concert. When I looked at her notes, all she had written was WOW!!!!!! next to various song titles!!

In all the excitement, I may have missed something – please feel free to correct or add to my comments.

On August 2, Glass Harp performed a sensational show mixing material from the newly released Hourglass CD with GH classics in the residential neighborhood of Cleveland Heights - Evans Amphitheatre at Cain Park. The rain held off perhaps due to the fireball energy provided by the trio - add Chris Queen (CQ) on Keys, Jeff on Violin/Mandolin and 3 Horn players (2 trumpets and one sax). By the concert's end, the crowd left stunned by all the talent the trio put forth on stage instrumentally &, vocally on this warm and humid Salsa-fired evening.

Except for a very brief intermission, (which allowed everyone just enough time to catch their breath), the audience, Harpies and Special Friends were treated to musical delights which just kept coming their way all evening. Folks got a lot of exercise tonight while giving standing ovations to the fantastic Glass Harp. What a stupendous official unveiling of all the new Glass Harp material to the public. Congratulations guys!!!!!!

Phil moved around on stage with exuberance, guitar in hand all evening except during John's energy packed drum solo in the 2nd half of the gig. John – every song you drum to is energy packed but what more can I say? Daniel appeared extraordinarily high spirited all evening bouncing around on stage with a riveting bass and absolutely superb vocals especially on the new Hourglass songs. Daniel's heartfelt emotionally charged singing sent a few (harp-string) lightning bolts my way and charged up my spiritual batteries. Thunder and lightning from the stage as the music rained down and soaked the audience.

Where can I start to write/review such a phenomenal evening? Anyway - here's what I got for the concert line-up. Listers, please feel free to add any commentary to the following:

1) Children's Fantasy - GH classic with trio and Chris Queen (CQ) on Keys. What a way to start mesmerizing the audience guys.

2) Seven (7) in a Box - Hourglass – Phil flying and dancing around on stage. Feet off the ground, fingers flying on the fretboard, vocals channeled by the heavenly sent spirit. What a way to start acclimating the audience to new Hourglass material.

3) From the Beginning – PK/GH Classic - Add Horns and Sax "Be Exalted O God, Above the Heavens and Let Your Glory Be Over All the Earth".

4) In Every Cathedral – over all the earth – nice sequential order eh? Hourglass - Trio Harmonies. Phil talks to audience about roots of song from a "student project" which was graded an A+ on the Demo and ---------Well here it is. Can any lister elaborate on the details? Nice SLIDING LEAD PK.

5) Never is a Long Time – Jammer Daniel "warming up" his excellent vocals on this GH classic preparing audience for more to come.

6) Weatherboy – Hourglass – Trio Harmonies. If I heard correctly, this is Youngstown DJ's Smoking Bill's favorite song. As announced by either Daniel or Phil.

7) Sign Came Through a Window – PK Classic - Great lead guitar work Phil! Some of the fastest volume swells that I've ever heard Phil perform in concert. Woodsy drumming effects by John during "You never have to knock on wood"…..

8) Changes - GH Classic – The usual great lead vocals by John. Add Jeff on Violin. Cool extended jamming! Standing Ovation

9) Can You See Me? - Classic GH - Nice Harmonics PK, Musical conversation between Jeff's violin and Phil's guitar - back and forth jam… Add E-Bow at end. Again nice vocals.

SHORT INTERMISSION : AUDIENCE GIVEN A SHORT CATCH YOUR BREATH BREAK

10) Voice of God Cry Out – Hourglass - Great job again guys on a newly released song played in front of concert crowd.

11) I Love to Play Acoustic Guitar – Short impromptu Country Twanger for laughs by Daniel – joking about keeping down the volume. (The City of Cleveland Heights has strict rules about sound volume, since Cain Park is in a residential neighborhood. A few in the audience had yelled out requests to crank up the volume, but city rules prevailed. We were comfortable with the sound level - loud enough, but not painfully so.)

12) Everlasting Light – Hourglass - usual great harmonies on this for real acoustic song. CQ on drums.

13) Once a Daydream – Hourglass – CQ drums, Add Beautiful Mandolin playing.

14) Image – Hourglass Phil on acoustic guitar. Dedicated to STEPH! What a nice relaxing free-flowing and graceful pace to this song accompanied by smooth and soothing deluxe vocals. I've haven't read the lyrics to this song yet but I felt like I was riding some peaceful and calm waves during this one. Vocals! Vocals! Vocals!

15) What's In Your Heart – Hourglass - Add Horns, Les Paul, More deluxe vocals lead by Daniel. Awesome rocker with some southern blues flavor. Jolting lead guitar work.

16) My Prayer – Hourglass – Add Horns and much much much much more. Daniel –Outstanding Vocals! BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO! WOW! Daniel gives his heart out full throttle on this one to audience and inspires GH to an even higher level ( believe it or not) for ensuing jam.

Add : CQ Keys fit for a King and Queen.

Add : PK Salsa solo and Add :Horns to add more Salsa/Caribbean conversation to the recipe.

Add: John Sferra patented knockout drum solo topped off with "mouth popping"solos by John and Phil. (I'm not so sure Daniel can believe what he's started all this off with but he's digging every minute of this).

Add: PK – Triangle percussion.

[Editor's note: This was the same hand cymbal thing he usually uses for "Shades of Green"]

What can I add to this Festive Prayer Song Recipe? Please help listers!!!!!!!!

A prayer, drum solo, guitar solo and SALSA flavoring all in ONE.

Outstanding entertainment!

STANDING OVATION!!!!!!!

17) You Whisper Something – Hourglass - Add: Jeff Mandolin – This song is still my vote for a national single release along with What's in Your Heart to attract mainstream national exposure. Catchy, cheerful, melodic, short and bright, Crisp harmonious vocals that people with different musical tastes would appreciate – appealing to all age levels. An ear catcher to please all. Even some video possibilities maybe! Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and sing this one guys. In my opinion this song could give you a media boost galore.

18) Look in the Sky – The GH Classic Itself - Daniel movin' and groovin' on the bass, John adding that special chemistry jam percussion flavor few bands if any can match. Add: "We are Siamese" (always provoking a crowd chuckle) while Phil plays his awesome riffs and leads and Harmonics.

19) If Love Is All We Got – Hourglass – Exceptional beautiful harmonies. Add: some really cool Keys again.

20) John the Revelator – PK/GH Classic. CQ – Saved his best for last with a great solo jam. Add: More Salsa again. PK Jam Man and Looping, Timing Change and more looping.

21) David and Goliath [+Going Home / Do Lord] – The absolute best version of Trilogy that I have ever heard in concert. Extended jams interspersed between all three songs. Phil interjecting many tricks pulling from under his cap or from his guitar.

The singing, the jamming…….. A+++++++++++++++++++++++ Concert!

Cleveland's on fire with Hourglass and Glass Harp!!!!!!!!!!!

When is the next gig guys?

-- Joe Petelin

[ Steph's Introduction ] [ Photos ] [ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ]

Review © 2003, Joe Petelin, Used with Permission.