Hidden away in the backwoods of Wolcott, CT is the Lily Lake Inn, a restaurant/banquet hall, and the attached Lily Pad Lounge. The Lily Pad Lounge is a gorgeous stone and wood structure, decorated in a hunting-fishing lodge motif, that sits alongside Lily Lake. It was on the shore of this serene body of water where the band Crucible delivered another excellent night of original progressive rock and classic covers.

Presenting live music was obviously an after thought at the Lily Pad Lounge as the "stage" is really nothing more then the far corner of the room. The fact that the band wasn’t visible from most of the room didn’t keep the large crowd from enjoying themselves as they listened though. The crowd filled the available space inside and then even spilled out onto the patio between the scattered periods of rain on this cool spring night. An actual raised stage and some lighting would go a long way toward improving the live music experience here and as the Lily Pad Lounge gets more experience in this area I hope they’ll invest in improving their band space.

Crucible opened with their original piece, "Over The Falls," which was warmly greeted by the crowd. A couple well-known covers then showed anyone who may have been unfamiliar with the group that this band can indeed play. With the crowd’s attention seized, the band performed what may be their best original song, "The Poet Liar." This song is one of the standout tracks on their debut CD, "Tall Tales," and likely the best example of original progressive rock in the Connecticut music scene today.

They then launched into a mini-set of what I consider to be their best covers, The Who’s "Pinball Wizard/Behind Blue Eyes," The Allman Brothers’ "Whipping Post," Supertramp’s "The Logical Song," and Sonny Boy Williamson's "One Way Out." These five covers successfully show off the individual talents that make up Crucible. The rhythm section of Chris Kasidas on bass and Tony Cappellina on drums is rock solid. Tony’s also pretty animated as he attends to the smallest details of percussion. This is a guy who, when onstage, always seems to be having the time of his life. While Chris and Tony lay down the foundation Dan Esposito, who’s surprisingly low-key onstage, makes sure that his lead guitar shines wherever it’s supposed to. Tim Horan, the band’s keyboardist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, weaves his magic throughout and always proves himself to be an excellent musician. Lead vocalist Bill Esposito possesses the versatility that allows him to switch between vocal styles at will, from ZZ Top to Rush to Supertramp he can seemingly manage any style at a moments notice.

Crucible continues to prove that they’re one of the best bands on the Connecticut music scene today. Use the link to their website, sign up for their mailing list, and check out one of their shows. If you like what you hear, show your support by picking up a copy of their "Tall Tales" CD. The only thing you have to lose is the opportunity to catch this band in an intimate setting.

C-V Management
23 August Ave.
Wolcott, CT  06716