Nektar @ Orion Studios – January 12th 2020

English prog rockers Nektar took a long 22-year break after releasing a string of influential albums throughout the 70s, before reuniting in 2000 to continue their story. in the two decades since, the band has gone through a number of line-up changes. The latest one brings together three original members – drummer Ron Howden, bassist Derek Moore, and visual artist Mick Brockett – and joins them with two alumni of the band, guitarist and vocalist Ryche Chlanda (previously a member in 1978) and bassist and guitarist Randy Dembo (a member from 2003 to 2006) as well as new keyboardist Kendall Scott. The resulting group, sounding as fresh as ever, has already completed a new album, The Other Side, which is due for release at the end of this week.

To introduce the record, the band went brief of East Coast tour, including two consecutive sold-out nights at Orion Studios in Baltimore. Mixing songs from the new record, including “Love Is / The Other Side,” “Devil’s Door,” “I’m On Fire,” and “Skywriter,” along with now classic tracks like “Remember the Future,” “A Tab in the Ocean,” and “The Dream Nebula.”

Though their short run of January dates is over, the band has more shows coming up through the month of February and into March, with plans to tour extensively throughout the year. If they’re coming to your town, it’s a show not to be missed!

Nektar setlists

PHOTOS © MATT CONDON

Nektar