Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #254

03-16-17   Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #254 features the Gaea Star Band as well as very special guests Amanda Potluck on vocals and Justus Conant on 6- and 12- string acoustic guitars and vocals.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s set begins with an unbroken 40-minute suite of three pieces beginning with the gently elegiac “Right Before My Eyes”, an ode to opening flowers from Mariam with gorgeous flowing melodies from both Mariam and Amanda.  A climactic countermelody section segues into the mystical “Windows Of Air”, a mid-tempo minor meditation with more effective and affecting braiding, circling vocals from Mariam and Amanda, imaginative piano from Bob and lyrical native flute work from Mariam.  The third piece in today’s extended tryptich is the earthy, powerful “It’s Coming Down To How We Walk On This Holy Ground”, a song of admiration and support for the water protectors of North Dakota, featuring especially potent, bluesy vocals and lyrics from Amanda who stood with the protectors at the beginning of the winter.  A powerful spoken section from Mariam brings the piece to its conclusion.  Next up we feature three songs by Justus from his Bleu Collar Pirates project, the sardonic folk-rock of “Saint Arne’s Day” and the pro-immigration anthem “Night In The Mojave”, punctuated by tart flamenco guitar runs from Bob Sherwood on acoustic guitar.  The third and final song from this set from Justus is the wrenching, beautiful “Goodbye”.  We close today with Bob leading the group through an intense reading of Roxy Music’s deeply romantic 1980 classic “My Only Love”.