Back Stage Pass

APRIL 2009

Harder Beat Magazine Online

Nightmare Festival

Story and photo by Andy Laudano

Seven Witches

Nightmare Metal Fest II in San Antonio was a lot of fun. Although local attendance was hurt by the SXSW conference in Austin, fans from across the U.S. enjoyed the fest’s laid back, intimate atmosphere. Everywhere you looked, band members were posing for photos, signing CD’s, jamming out in the crowd or hanging out at the merchandise tables.

That’s where you could usually find Halcyon Way singer Sean Shields and his trusty megaphone. In between sets. Shields would crack everyone up with his comedic styling while encouraging all to “Buy our CD!” If the music gig doesn’t work out, he could have a career in stand up. Shields is also a big fan of HB. After their set he said to me, “Now that we’ve played in Texas can we finally be in the Harder Beat?” Sean, you got your wish!

Symphony X bassist, Mike LePond, was there moonlighting in fellow Jerseyite Jack Frost’s Seven Witches. LePond said Symphony X was very pleased with the positive reaction to their last album, Paradise Lost. He also commented that they were starting to work on new material for the next album, and he couldn’t wait to get back out on the road with Symphony X.

After seeing Theocracy at ProgPower, I was surprised to see founder Matt Smith decided to make the transition from singer/guitarist to simply fronting the band. After all, Smith played ALL the instruments on Theocracy’s debut. But Matt has definitely come into his own and really did a great job.

According to promoter/label owner Lance King, next year’s festival will be Nightmare at Sea, The Metal Cruise. That could be fun!“Fly on Freebird”