The PH car
moved from Turin to Schio on Friday 30 November at around 11.00 am. Some 300
km were waiting for the Italian driver, his son and the two Spanish-American
friends.
During the route we stopped along the motorway for a sandwich and we had the
surprise that the band too had chosen the same rest area (but they were
having a real lunch!).
We arrived in Schio around 5.00 pm well in time to attend the soundcheck.
As usual Graham Ewins was responsible for the very good sound
during the night.
Here he is pictured at work, in the rear of the Teatro Astra, during the
soundcheck.
Anyway I would like to add something, according to me quite
important, to the soundcheck notes
made by One Eye and edited at BtP the day after ...
With my great surprise (it’s probably my favourite Procol
number), and after a long
time of absence, a portion of Repent Walpurgis was played a couple of
times ...
After the soundcheck I asked Josh if these were, maybe, the first attempts for a nice surprise later on during the concert.
His answer was negative and, effectively, the song was not part of the setlist.
This time the transfer to the venue was made without any kind lift from the band ...
In reality the Teatro Astra was only 50 metres from the hotel where both we and the band were lodged.
The 50 metres were occupied by a pub where both before and after the concerts we had, all together, a few drinks.
A view of the Teatro Astra from the stage during the
soundcheck. Among the few in attendance you will surely recognize
BtP correspondent Al 'One-Eye' Edelist. Is he preparing his soundcheck
report?
Soundcheck again
As you can see from the poster PH’s gig in Schio was part of
the Festival della Musica Contemporanea (Festival of Contemporary Music).
You will
note that New Trolls, the band that shared the stage with PH the previous
day in Turin, were part of the festival too but, this time, on a separate
night.