OK, why not.
I live on the edge of DC, a mile outside of the DC "Beltway" in Kensington, Maryland. I missed HtM the first time around. I was 18 in '76 but I didn't know cool music until I got to college. I was a preppy boy and not exposed to anything unusual outside of The Beatles, Crosby Still Nash, etc. Went off to college and then a couple of years of grad school and started my music collection but still only knew about the more well-known proggy bands. At least I became a huge Yes fan, which has yet to subside. I hit a lull in music collecting and concert going in the mid-80s but got back into it, I guess, around 1990. A few years later while hitting one of the local independent cd shops in the area, the co-owner/manager suggested I might need to check out HtM. He was right.
I soon met a few other people who were fans, including Steve Feigenbaum, the owner of Cuneiform Records, who became aware of my love of HtM. When it became clear that the boys were reuniting, Steve let me know and I was incredibly excited. Some phone calls were made and I ended up helping HtM with their merch table at their first reunion gig at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA (with the proviso that I wouldn't miss one second of their set). I probably saw a few of you there but will have to really meet you sometime in the future. I was so hyped up for this gig, when they hit the stage and struck the first few bars of 'Service With a Smile,' I literally got goosebumps and got a bit teary-eyed and choked up. It was a dream-come-true moment.
Since then I've had great luck seeing the band on numerous occasions around DC, at NEARfest, and at ProgDay twice. I do feel sorry for those of you who don't live nearby, but at least we can all be happy that the band came back together and isn't just a bunch of 'has-beens' reliving their glory days.
HtM is back and they're still creating great stuff. And I'm happy the man.
Peace,
Mark
I live on the edge of DC, a mile outside of the DC "Beltway" in Kensington, Maryland. I missed HtM the first time around. I was 18 in '76 but I didn't know cool music until I got to college. I was a preppy boy and not exposed to anything unusual outside of The Beatles, Crosby Still Nash, etc. Went off to college and then a couple of years of grad school and started my music collection but still only knew about the more well-known proggy bands. At least I became a huge Yes fan, which has yet to subside. I hit a lull in music collecting and concert going in the mid-80s but got back into it, I guess, around 1990. A few years later while hitting one of the local independent cd shops in the area, the co-owner/manager suggested I might need to check out HtM. He was right.
I soon met a few other people who were fans, including Steve Feigenbaum, the owner of Cuneiform Records, who became aware of my love of HtM. When it became clear that the boys were reuniting, Steve let me know and I was incredibly excited. Some phone calls were made and I ended up helping HtM with their merch table at their first reunion gig at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA (with the proviso that I wouldn't miss one second of their set). I probably saw a few of you there but will have to really meet you sometime in the future. I was so hyped up for this gig, when they hit the stage and struck the first few bars of 'Service With a Smile,' I literally got goosebumps and got a bit teary-eyed and choked up. It was a dream-come-true moment.
Since then I've had great luck seeing the band on numerous occasions around DC, at NEARfest, and at ProgDay twice. I do feel sorry for those of you who don't live nearby, but at least we can all be happy that the band came back together and isn't just a bunch of 'has-beens' reliving their glory days.
HtM is back and they're still creating great stuff. And I'm happy the man.
Peace,
Mark
