Posted by On May 1st, 2024 I made the trek into St. John’s to see Newfoundland’s favourite instrumental prog/jazz/jam trio Big Space, and it was super-fantastic.
I know what you’re thinking ‘cuz it’s just what I’m thinkin’: I’m always saying that. And without going back to my first Big Space show (in December of 2022) to count, I’m confident that – statistically speaking – my statement would probably be at least halfway true. What would be all the way true is that Big Space still always completely knocks my socks off. No matter how many times I go to see the band I’m still shocked by how good they are, still surprised at how much they remind me of nero and Sisters Euclid (two of my all-time favourites), and still flabbergasted at how much they make my interior feel like it is exploding.
(I’ve never had a heart attack but I wouldn’t be surprised if it feels like Big Space.)
And so allow me to infer all of these things again about this Big Space show at Erin’s Pub, where m’lady and I pulled a pair of curved wooden chairs up to a wobbly old tavern table and gaped for two hours (minus setbreak) at a tiny stage teeming with giant talent. That those three guys can contain such an enormous sound in a room so small and bereft of people is both a wonder and a damn shame.
But such is the bane of high-energy cerebral instrumental neo-prog live melodic jam music*.
*[edit to add:] unless you’re wearing costumes and stuff.
Todd Man Out 