We all have our favourite bands don't we? We love some more than others. But sometimes it happens that that one band that didn't really appeal to us releases an album that is exceptionally good. This happened to me when listening to the latest album by the Finnish band Overhead. Wow, what they put out there on their album Telepathic Minds (see review) is of a very high level. Many lovers of our beloved genre put this album on top of their year list of 2023. Well deserved of course. I certainly would like to see this band on stage someday. Doing all those excellent pieces of music that you can hear on this fantastic album. Lucky for me they were booked by the amazing people of ProgFrog to do a Sunday afternoon show at 't Blok in Nieuwerkerk aan de IJssel. The second time for the band at this venue. Unfortunately I did not witness this concert. For me it was already ten years ago when I saw this band for the first time. It was in Belgium at the 10th Convention Prog-Résiste (see review) at the Spirit of 66 in Verviers. Now they are back again with their Telepathic Minds Live - 25th Anniversary Tour celebration 25 years of Overhead. Bringing them to stages in Belgium (again in Verviers), three times in Germany and in the Netherlands of course!  

Alex Keskitalo (►more pics)

The band performed their music over two sets and an extensive encore. Before the band started their one hour long first set a kind of welcome word from their singer Alex Keskitalo. Talking about how long ago it was that they played at this venue and about how much the world is changing. Finally Alex wished peace to everyone before playing a song about war. War To End All Wars to be precise. The first of many songs taken from their fantastic latest release. These many songs could be heard in both sets. With songs from their previous albums in between. I will not mention all of the songs they performed, just look at the setlist for more details, but I can tell you they gave excellent versions of all those songs.

Armed with a flute strapped to his back, Keskitalo led his band to many musical highlights. A flute that was used in many songs. He also used a small musical device that produced strange sounds. A device that he also used ten years ago to provide their music with many special extra sounds. His voice was also in great shape just like the rest of the band. The rhythm section, containing of Ville Sjöblom on drums and Janne Katalkin on bass, did a great job on stage.

Mikko Patama (►more pics)

Providing the other musicians enough space to let them shine on their instruments. Like the new keyboard player Mikko Patama. Who did a great job behind his two keyboards. Also founding member and guitarist Jaakko Kettunen was in great shape and let the audience enjoy many of his excellent guitar solos and riffs. Both musicians improvised on a very old classic King Crimson composition during the rather long encore. A song taken from the band's debut album In the Court Of The Crimson King released in 1969. 21st Century Schizoid Man is already for a long time on the band's setlist. Mainly because at the start of their career people were not familiar with their repertoire and therefore they had to come up with something most people would know. They also practised the title track of the album but that was more difficult to perform. As for the musical highlights it's rather difficult to mention any favourites. Because you could say the whole performance was for me personally one musical highlight. But if you insist I would say the earlier mentioned War To End All Wars, Tuesday That Never Came and Ghosts From The Future. The last mentioned title includes an instrumental musical part which reminded me of a famous song from the seventies. Namely (Don't Fear) The Reaper a song by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult from the band's 1976 album Agents Of Fortune. Kettunen admitted after the concert that he knows the song. However he was unaware of the musical similarity of the breaks in both songs. I probably also have to mention something about the first song of the one hour long second set. Metaepitome, the title track of their second album. During this piece of music Alex played the excellent role of a crazy man who was taking a fool's journey.

All in all I it is easy to say that our friends from Finland gave us an excellent 25th anniversary birthday party. All made possible by the people of the amazing ProgFrog team. Once again thanks guys! And of course thanks to the musicians of Overhead for giving an outstanding performance!

Henri Strik (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen)