Hopping back on stage at Froggy Daze: Imbolg’s first show of the year
Hello everyone, as you may have noticed since from my previous post "a great day of Pi" or my last post of the of 2025, Long Cold Winter I truly believe the weather has a significant effect on us overall. But I realized something else was unsettling, not being on stage.
After this long hiatus without performing, I was able to perform with the full band a few weeks ago at the Froggy Daze Festival in Narrowsburg, NY. Outside of performing at an Open Mic and doing a facebook live, this was my first official show of the year. I have to admit that I was not in high spirits to say the least. Knowing I was going to travel all that way without the guarantee of money and the expense of a car rental already putting me in the whole. Not that I was doing this for the money, if I was I would have quit a long time ago.
There was just plenty of angst that came along with this show. Wondering why it took almost half the year to get the whole band on stage, that it was the only one all month as opposed to a whole week or month of shows. When you have had a band as long as I have and not done all of the things or most of the things you anticipated you would, it begins to weigh on you. Too many hurdles for too long, and several just by circumstances beyond my control. But as most of us know the only thing we have control over is how react to the given circumstances. So, I looked forward to the therapeutic aspects that come along with going out on the road. Which includes the nice long ride to get there, taking in the scenery and wondering who we will run into. I would include playing some tunes on the way up, but for some reason, I didn't do that this time.
Luckily, we arrived with enough time to take quick breather and set up for our set that was due to start in about an hour. We checked in, got our bracelets(I still have mine on,yes i've showered several times since.Don't worry lol) We pulled right up to the Barn (yes you heard that right) and set up. We were the first band to go on that day (Froggy Daze is an entire weekend of music) and one of the heaviest, so these factors have helped us stand out a bit amongst the other acts. So it has helped me later on as I walked around the grounds to talk to people. See despite their being a stage area where people can watch from up close, there are several acres on the property where people camp out and the music travels throughout it. I've had more than one chat with people that were like "oh! that Metal band" as I proceeded to explain why I came that weekend along with offering them a sticker or button with the band's logo on it.
It was time to hit the stage. I took one last glance at the sheets of paper that I written lyrics to the newest song that we were playing live for the first time yet to be released Blasphemy ( Despite letting those who watched our live feed or saw the video recap posted in my entry I'm still standing : a Celebration of Imbolg hear it) and our pre-printed setlist (Thank you Ken) before getting a quick sound check and starting off our set with Generation Sloth. As arranged, the band's rhythm section starting first as I light some sage and placed it in into the chalice you see me holding in the picture above. Slowly waving it to distribute the smoke and focusing on the vibes I was hoping to send out to all in attendance. I got a few bars into the song, scanning premises. Noticing some onlookers, people scattered about the perimeter and exclaimed how we were there to wake everyone up. Watching throughout our set as some people drifted in and out including one of the events main organizers. Who I greeted by name from the stage.
As the set rolled on, it seemed like all those anxious and lethargic feelings that had been weighing me down seemed to go away. I'm sure many of you know that feeling, but it's hard to describe fully. It was like I had rediscovered all the purpose I had found in life again. Something I knew I had, but was so removed from after all those months. It's no wonder why bands agree to play for no guarantee of payment. No amount of money can replace that feeling you have when you are performing on a stage. We finished up our set with an extended version of a song from our first album, Now. Which we were fortunate enough to have our friend Nate(yes there is another one lol) from the band Azlyn captured video of. And some pictures taken by Abi of Jellyfish Jam & Karl McWherther , who captured pictures of the bands and spectators the entire evening.
For the Rest of the Day, I rested, ate some food in the backstage area (mostly Italian Heroes, my favorite) and watched some of the bands perform. Jellyfish Jam, Azlyn,Coastal High,Jerk and Pudding Time and took some photos of them as well. And made sure to introduce myself to the fine people of WKZE Radio who was there doing a live broadcast that weekend. There were many more bands that I regret not seeing (such as the Scofflaws,The Johnny Jules Band, Spunday Mourning, Eliza & the Organix, Too Many Captains, and Candy Riot) but hopefully next time I will be more prepared and able to stay the whole weekend. It is seriously one of the most affordable music festivals going right now. So if you would like to attend, perform or would like to be a vendor please visit the Official Froggy Daze Website .
But before I left, I was greeted by this guy:
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