Dry River in Murcia: An Ode to Virtuosity

Progressive rock's first wave succumbed to its own excesses. Those British bands born in the '70s were often labelled as pretentious, theatrical, and complex, with other terms suggesting pedantry. The original style of Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, and others evolved and faded over time, but they left behind an immortal seed that has branched out to the present day.

One of these branches bore fruit a few years ago in Castellon, much to the delight of symphonic rock enthusiasts. We are talking about Dry River and, more specifically, their performance last Saturday at the Garaje Beat Club in Murcia. This was the third time the band visited this iconic venue, the last being during the promotion of their latest album to date, 'Cuarto creciente'.

This album and its predecessor '2038' dominated much of the set list. From the latter, iconic tracks like 'Fundido a negro' and 'Perder el norte' were played; while from the latest, they performed 'Culpable' (the opening track), 'La libertad', 'Segundo Intento', 'La Serpiente', and the emotive 'Si estás tú'.

The band has shown notable progression with each step in their discography, which comprises four albums and promises to grow soon. Their singer, Ángel Belichón, announced during the concert that the band is in the process of composing new material. The Castellon band also paid homage to their early works by playing 'Mi pequeño animal', the playful 'Irresistible', and the fan-favourite 'La vida cambia'.

A technically flawless performance, enhanced by Belinchón's banter and rapport with the audience, made Dry River's show a rewarding experience for attendees, who hope the band continues to gain prominence in the country's music scene.