The Slambovian Circus of Dreams pulled another surprise out of their hat by performing a wonderful outdoor concert in the woods and grasses of The Sanctuary in East Haddam, Connecticut.
To top off their promotion for their newest album “A Very Unusual Head” it was a most unusual night. It’s not often you get to listen to fantastic music in the company of goats, a dog, a cat and I heard there were some beaver very close by who more than likely heard the show as well.
The setting was eclectic at The Sanctuary which is a 40-acre land preserve in East Haddam, Connecticut. It’s a place to commune with nature and includes a labyrinth, community garden, apiary, composting eco-temple, and walking trails past quiet brooks, beaver ponds and forests. This night it was also the backdrop for a fun night of music.
The band has been on tour since February of 2022 in the USA and in the UK, where they were performing for audiences of 20,000+ and headlining the Wickham Festival.
The band did one long set including popular songs and a couple from the new album. One was “Solve It All Dali.” Joziah spoke of growing up in Philadelphia and being introduced to the works of the great artists like Dali as a child at museums. He’s a talented songwriter and most of his songwriting is lighthearted, but if you listen to the lyrics, they have a deeper meaning.
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams band members are Joziah Longo (guitar harmonica), Tink Lloyd (accordion, flute, recorder), Sharkey McEwen (guitar, mandolin), RJ McCarty (bass, keys, sax) and Matthew Abourezk (drums).
They have been making music for about 2 decades now and have built up a faithful following. Many travel hundreds of miles to see them and one gentleman I spoke with once traveled all the way to Ontario from New Jersey to take in one of their shows. Some of them carry umbrellas with lights and coverings and float through the night around the audience like jellyfish. A bit surreal but it definitely works with the vibe of the band.
They encourage the audience to sing along and dance during some songs.
The concert was great and this was the second time we’ve seen The Slambovian Circus of Dreams and they are unique, talented and their songs while sung sometimes in jest really are not. They are to make you think of the world how it is, may be and could be. All that depends on the future and what we do with it and ourselves. If you get the chance to see them it’s a night you will enjoy.
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams
https://slambovia.com
Review by Donna Erichsen
Photos by George Bekris
Setlist:
Lost Highway
Look Around
Summer’s Day
Brilliantly, Brilliantly Dumb
Step Outta Time
A Very Unusual Head
Tink
Beez
Everyone’s Dumb In Their Own Special Way
Never Fit
Solve it all Dali
Circus of Dreams
Talkin’ to the Buddha
The Trans-Slambovian Bipolar Express