Concert Review: Renaissance Performance at the Keswick Theater

Written by: Mitchell Daneker & Aaron Rubin

Edited by: Maddie McVey

One of the most creative and under appreciated minds to come out of the 60s and 70s is Annie Haslam, lead singer of the progressive rock band Renaissance. Her unique and sometimes haunting voice, backed by an interesting combination of classical, jazz, rock, and folk music, led the English band through many years of success and continued performing for fans all around the world. 2019 marks the band’s 50th anniversary. To commemorate their years of beautiful music, they have a tour titled after their most popular album: Ashes are Burning (1973). Their most important night on the tour was October 12th at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA, where they would record it all for DVD, as well as for their live album.

Saturday evening was not the band’s first time in the theatre. Renaissance had rocked mild-mannered Glenside twice previously, in 2012 and 2017 both during late October. However, neither of us had experienced the venue before. Toasting our palms on overpriced cups of coffee, we gazed out at the Theatre’s 1,300-seat panorama, charmingly old architecture, and cathedral-like ceiling; much like an awestruck freshman who visits Gore Hall for the first time. It also didn’t hurt to have pit seats in the middle of the second row.

The band opened with one of their more popular songs, “Carpet of the Sun.” This kicked off an hour of mesmerizing piano, drums, and guitar accompanied by a dozen symphonic professionals and Haslam’s enthralling voice. The conclusion of the first set featured Jim McCarty--one of the band’s founding members. McCarty played supporting guitar in “Island,” the song that Haslam used to audition for Renaissance in 1970 (and the song that convinced McCarty to take her on).

After a short intermission, the rock resumed with the classic “Running Hard.” We were actually treated to two runs, owing to an accidental failure to record the first rendition for the live album. Far from jaded, the crowd responded ecstatically as Renaissance’s master pianist opened once again into a mind-bendingly fast solo, and roared in applause at the finale. More classics followed from the album A Song for All Seasons. At the end of the title track, Haslam left the stage--reappearing in a new dress and introducing McCarty for the encore: “Ashes are Burning.” In a final twist, the band stunned the crowd with a succession of solos on piano, bass, and synth. The crowd looked on in awed silence as each artist commanded the stage with incredible skill. Just before the end of the song, lead guitarist Mark Lambert, who had been strumming a sleek 12-string the entire concert, picked up a beautiful electric for the final three minutes of the night. The evening hit a climactic groove as Lambert decorated the hall in showers of chords. With that psychedelic tie-dye guitar in our minds, Lambert’s riffs rang in our ears for the whole two-hour ride back to Newark.

The crowd reluctantly dispersed, saddened to leave but honored to have listened. Everyone not only had a great time, but took a piece of the concert with them - inspiring them to keep great music alive.

The Setlist:

1. Carpet of the Sun

2. Ocean Gypsy

3. Running Hard

4. Midas Man

5. Symphony of Light

6. Island (with Jim McCarty)

7. Running Hard (again)

8. Opening Out

9. Day of the Dreamer

10. The Mystic and the Muse

11. A Song for All Seasons

12. Ashes are Burning