Nektar live in Liverpool, New York, USA, 16 April 2025

Stephen Mazikewich

If you haven't noticed, progressive rock from the 1970s is really getting on. If it was a person, progressive rock would be collecting a pension or at least looking forward to one. This has certainly changed the live playing field when it comes to prog. Just about any band from this era probably does not exist in a complete form with original members or in some cases any original members at all. There are two ways this can be approached, either writing the band off completely and using it as an excuse to not attend concerts, or celebrating the rich history of the world's greatest rock sub-genre. The latter is definitely a better option indeed.

My recent live experiences have included a myriad of situations. In some instances it has been solo performances like Jon Anderson from Yes, Carl Palmer from Emerson Lake and Palmer, Steve Hackett from Genesis, or Justin Hayward and John Lodge from the Moody Blues. Bands such as Yes, with a lack of any original members, however, prominent members were present such as Steve Howe. Frank Zappa offered up some unique scenarios, in true Zappa fashion, with his one son Dweezil playing his father's music, and his other son Ahmet who put together a tour with a hologram of his father, but accompanied by many musicians who played with Frank. There is one thing all of these shows had in common, I didn't regret going out of my way to see any of them. It is not about who isn't there, but who is. Such is the case with Nektar.

Nektar's first decade of existence throughout the 70s saw a mostly stable lineup with Roye Albrighton on guitar and vocals, keyboardist Alan “Taff” Freeman, Derek “Mo” Moore on bass, and drummer Ron Howden. Let's not forget Mick Brockett who was always credited with lighting, an integral part of Nektar's live shows. Unfortunately, Roye, Taff, and Ron have been taken from us, but Mo is keeping the legacy of Nektar very much alive.

Sharkey's Bar and Grill was host to Nektar in Liverpool, New York, not England, but just outside of Syracuse on April 16th. As a VIP guest I was able to speak to the band before the show, and they could not have been more welcoming. The band sat with me for an hour discussing the past, present, and future of Nektar. The conversation led to many side stories involving Frank Zappa and other rock-related anecdotes as well as a lot of laughs.

Nektar took to the stage at 8:15 and offered up a blend of old and new music. Their latest album _ was played in its entirety throughout the night. Mission To Mars is Nektar entering into a more straightforward rock territory, but the prog leanings inserted into their more anthemic like songs, such as the title track, remind the audience and themselves of their more progressive roots. Their previous album On The Other Side, featuring unfinished material from the late 70s, was also well represented with “Skywriter” and “Drifting” making the setlist which fit more in line with their progressive material.

Aside from the original bass player Mo Moore, Nektar features musicians with decades of experience and diverse résumés. Drummer Jay Dittamo and keyboardist Kendall Scott have worked on various Frank Zappa projects. Dittamo is one of the newest members of Nektar making his debut on their latest album Mission To Mars the first album since Howden's passing. Dittamo happens to be the only drummer Mo Moore has ever played with outside of original Nektar drummer Ron Howden. Dittamo pays homage to Howden's drumming style while maintaining his own identity. An opportunity for Dittamo to solo would have been welcome to show off the chops of someone who almost got the job playing in Zappa's band in 1981. Instead of Ron's On maybe Jay's Day? Just a thought.

Kendall Scott brings a sense of stature and professionalism to the stage whilst surrounded by multiple keyboards. Scott shifted seamlessly from conjuring up deep organ sounds to synth flourishes throughout the performance. Any time Scott took the lead, he commanded the audience's attention, and even during the most straightforward rock moments he would steer the song into prog territory uniting the Nektar fans across all generations.

Guitarist and vocalist Ryche Chlanda hails from the mid-70s New Jersey-based band Fireballet that produced two albums that stand with any symphonic prog releases of the period. Chlanda's voice was smooth, and he sang with ease the entire night. He plays guitar with such precision and can bring the house down when given an opportunity to shine. At any given moment during a 70s Nektar song, you could close your eyes and picture Roye Albrighton performing on stage, although the Ryche's own style would reveal itself during newer songs.

Nektar has also been joined recently by vocalist Maryann Castello harkening back to the Down To Earth album with singer P.P. Arnold. Let's face it, female backing vocals improve just about any prog song and certainly enhances Nektar songs new and old. Even when not singing, Maryann maintains a solid stage presence swaying to the music with grace. Off-stage, Maryann wears many hats for the band. Anyone would be open to an increased role for Maryann on a follow-up album to Mission To Mars.

Of course, the anchor of the band is Mo Moore. Mo's defiance to aging is very prevalent on stage. For someone on the cusp of joining the list of octogenarian rockers at the age of 79, his fingers worked effortlessly up and down the fretboard of his bass. In moments when he stepped up to a microphone, a very strong youthful voice could be heard making you wonder if he could have sung a song or two during the night. Mo being the gentleman that he is even approached me after the show just to see what I thought. Of course, it was met with overwhelming approval.

An integral part of any Nektar live show has been the lighting and background projections, so much so that until recently they had a dedicated lights engineer, Mick Brockett, who was credited as the fifth member of the band throughout the 70s. Mick unfortunately recently retired, but the light show is still in good hands. The background screen reflected the period of the music, whether it being colorful psychedelic backdrops reflecting their roots or more updated visuals for their recent recordings, including images of the original band. Either way, the visuals and lights augment the musical experience.

Nektar did pay tribute to their past with Cryin' In The Dark / King Of Twilight, a medley including Preacher, Nelly The Elephant, Marvelous Moses, Smile, and Let It Grow, the prog epic Remember The Future Part 1, and the finale Good Day. Every classic song was played with authenticity that would have made the original band proud.

What struck me about this incarnation of Nektar is that they have the enthusiasm of a band signing their first record deal even after decades of service and absolutely love playing with one another. There are definite talks of another album with even a direction in mind. A lot has changed for Nektar since the inception of the band, but a lot has changed for the genre and the music industry in general. Nektar reminds us that it is important to look closely at all members of a band even if they aren't original. In most cases the newer members could be connected to a much larger network in the prog genre such as Fireballet and Frank Zappa. The history of a band will always be there, but a touring band might not be. So experience it for everything it's worth... which is a lot.