PAKT - Live in Syracuse (September 11, 2021) (2024) [Official Digital Download]

So the setting for the Epic Fest was outdoors on the massive grounds of Sharkeys B&G with a huge festival stage built with accompanying live sound system. It was a surreal setting. An old cabin cruiser boat sat near the stage with a gaping hole in the bow. Next to it were hundreds of empty childrens school chairs, just set out in the field in all forms of random positions. Quite strange. I have some photos somewhere. Epic Fest is mostly a Prog Festival, with some great bands, one whose name I can’t recall, were playing Zappa music, and they sounded great. Leonardo presented the debut of the PAKT t-shirt on this gig. It was good to be here.

Our travel entailed 3/4 of PAK(T) and our label honcho and manager Leonardo in a van from NYC, quite a long journey complete with speeding ticket! As for me, I had an early start but was quickly trapped by an accident on the I-76 expressway getting out of Philly. This put me behind by over an hour, and added stress, so it was gonna be close. Once I made it through to I-80, I had to press the pedal-to-the-metal to 80-90mph to make our soundcheck. I listened to Nefertiti and Red on the way up, and made it just in time. Thankfully no speeding tickets for me! The rest of the band was on stage set up. Rushing is a crazy thing when you’re on tour. But it all worked out. A great and helpful crew here, and the sound is quite good, and BIG! It was so great to reconnect with Percy, Alex, and Kenny! Nice vibes! After soundcheck, we retired to the ‘green room’ which offered many sugary delights on the table, cupcakes, jellybeans, assorted candy, donuts, etc but no real food. Sugar is the last thing we were looking for. It was quite odd. Eventually we were fed some bar food prior to the gig—strange salads, and something resembling chicken tenders! In the green room was a giant swordfish suitable for a big trophy wall. Everything here was surreal to us. We chatted about all kinds of things and joked about the lack of deli tray. remember saying to Percy that Steve Hackett was playing the same day as us in Liverpool UK, as we were playing Liverpool NY. Percy worked with SH on Voyage of the Acolyte back in ’75, I think it was. Liverpool Syncronicities.

But what a gig it was. I’m happy this one was documented. I think this set echoed our travel day, speeding upstate NY trying to beat time. It was a great sprawling set. We stretched and unleashed some great music. It was fresh and good to play again, and felt like we were all in it together, chemistry, one collective improvisation. High points all around. I love the way we listen, and carve out and sculpt the music. Great vibe, and the audience was loving it and vocally letting us know. We even got deep into some mutated sputtering blooze. You never know what will show up or vector in during our sets. I think this concert displays some jaw-dropping soloing too, and exquisite interplay. Folks there were so blown out, and we talked to many afterwards. Magic was present. I’m so happy this was recorded and it does sound great. You don’t always get a good sounding recording night to night. Markus Reuter did a great job mixing and mastering this set. Thanks Markus! I think you’ll agree. Can’t wait until our next gigs in December. We hope you’ll come see us, and in the meantime, enjoy this PAKT in Liverpool concert. Until soon!

PERCY JONES - bass
ALEX SKOLNICK - guitar
KENNY GROHOWSKI - drums
TIM MOTZER - guitars, electronics

Tracklist:
1. Arrival (Live in Syracuse, September 11, 2021) (06:10)
2. Abandoned Transport (Live in Syracuse, September 11, 2021) (26:25)
3. Skanked and Sputtered (Live in Syracuse, September 11, 2021) (07:22)
4. Outside Snapped (Live in Syracuse, September 11, 2021) (12:51)
5. Onondaga Penumbra (Live in Syracuse, September 11, 2021) (11:11)
6. Double Scanning (Live in Syracuse, September 11, 2021) (14:08)
7. Cascades Of Light (Live in Syracuse, September 11, 2021) (10:40)
8. Liverpool Outre (Live in Syracuse, September 11, 2021) (15:30)


Thanks to the Original customer!