One of my guilty pleasures is to plan a solo adventure to see a film or any other cultural event. That way you just have to please yourself. You can sit back in your seat and absolve yourself of all responsibility, with the onus no longer on you. These guilty pleasures don’t materialise on the calendar often, and when they do they are to be cherished. My latest was going to see Liverpool’s After The Flood, a quartet of serious musicians headed by the supremely gifted guitarist and composer Neil Campbell. What lay before me and the rest of the appreciative audience was more than an hour of progressive music of the very highest quality. When you are enjoying yourself time seems to travel at light speed. The key, obviously, is the calibre of musicians, and After The Flood are all top notch in their departments, with considerable local musical heritage between them. The rhythm section of Viktor Nordberg (drums) and Roger Gardiner (bass) is both fluid and rock solid at the same time, belying a sort of musical telepathy. Neil Campbell pretty much orchestrates on the lead guitar front, but to overlook fellow guitarist Marty Snape’s musical contribution would be naive. It is obvious that he is an extremely accomplished musician in his own right, but his great strength to the band is filling the sonic registers left potentially bereft as Campbell blasts off on another stratospheric solo. And yet Snape shows his composing credentials when the band perform one of his songs – 'Ten Men Dead' - sung by Una Quinn, who is no slouch on the songwriting stakes herself. Her debut album “Inside Out” is also a must listen. But it is not all about Neil Campbell. Yes, he is a mesmerising guitarist, but he is allowed musical latitude because his fellow musicians are more than technically proficient enough to support him and they have an obvious emotional connection to his musical pathway. But the man’s playing is simply staggering. If you like and appreciate thoughtful progressive music along the lines of King Crimson’s more esoteric moments, then After The Flood are your group of choice. Buckle up and let them take you across continents and other worlds of musicality. And as you look across to your fellow audience member, nod sagely. Sometimes it’s okay to share guilty pleasures, especially when they are this good. SET LIST To the New World To Asia From Africa Europe After the Rain Higher 517 Symzonia Don and Walt's Hawaiian Vacation Solar Monarch Land Locked Deja Two 5HTP Lantra Ten Men Dead 3572 The Great Escape
Band Links:-
https://neilcampbell.org.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/aftertheflood1/
Play in YouTube:-
Picture Gallery:-

intro
Steve Kinrade watches an excellent set from brooding progressive rock After The Flood, the project of composer and guitarist Neil Campbell, at the Capstone Theatre in Liverpool
most viewed articles
current edition
Spear Of Destiny - InterviewRobert Forster - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pistol Daisys - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Credits - ARC, Liverpool, 17/5.2025
Gary Numan - Berserker
Nils Petter Molvaer - El Molino, Barcelona, 24/4/2025
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPDwina Gibb - Interview
Boomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Serge Gainsbourg - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Susie Hug - Interview
Chuck Prophet - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Ray Humphries - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleGarbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Little Simz - Lotus
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
Eddie Chacon - Lay Low
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
HAIM - I Quit
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart