Pangaea Sky
An Afternoon of Connecting Through World Music
Photo by: Larry Goshen
Pictured left to right: Tom Clark, Peter Kienle, Ron Kadish, Julian Douglas
On Sunday, March 8, Clear Vibes House Concerts welcomed the incredible musicians of Pangaea Sky for an afternoon that perfectly captured what these living room concerts are all about: connection, curiosity, and a room full of good vibes.
It was a special gathering. The audience was attentive. Everyone was really listening and really present. Guests were eager to learn about the instruments, the rhythms, and how the music was created. This engaged group of listeners brought a beautiful energy to the room.
The musicians of Pangaea Sky are seasoned professionals, and their music reflects that depth of experience. They performed two sets. There was mix of original compositions along with some wonderful selections that most in the audience had never heard before. There was an incredible amount of talent, creativity, and fun in the room!
The Musicians
Percussionist Julian Douglas brought an entire world of sound with him. His setup included bongos, congas, a cajón, cymbals, gongs, singing bowls, ankle bells, and more. Julian has a wonderfully sensitive auxiliary playing style that adds so much to the momentum of the music while also shaping textures that give the band its dynamic feel. He was also eager to answer audience questions about the instruments. He explained what they were made of and where they came from, which made the experience even richer for everyone listening.
Bassist Ron Kadish has become both a collaborator and a friend through these concerts. Ron was instrumental in helping bring the band together for this performance, and he’s always great to work with. As a bassist, he provides a steady and reliable foundation for the music, but he also knows exactly when and how to step forward, shining during several bass features throughout the concert. Outside of performing, Ron also works in the music industry and runs Dog Ranch Music PR, a full-service music promotion company. In getting to know each other, we discovered we share not only a love of music but also similar professional interests, which has made our connection especially fun to collaborate.
Guitarist Peter Kienle clearly loves what he does, and it shows in every note he plays. He’s also a wonderful composer. Throughout the performance, you could often see him with his eyes closed, feeling out the sounds and textures of the music. Peter plays unique guitars with a beautiful tone that adds a warm and expressive voice to the group’s sound.
Multi-instrumentalist Tom Clark was actually the first musician to arrive that day, showing up early to set up his extensive gear. His station included a keyboard, computer, and several pieces of equipment that created a wide range of sounds. Tom also managed much of the group’s sound during the evening while performing, layering textures and even looping his own parts during one of the tunes. The reason he arrived so early? He had to leave to play a fundraiser gig before heading back over for the house concert and wanted to be all set up. House concert guests were lucky he was able to fit two performances into one day and still bring so much energy to the room. Hearing him play both flute and saxophone was added so much to the experience.
A Room Full of Returning Friends
One of the most meaningful parts of this concert was that the entire audience was made up of returning guests! Once people experience a living room concert, it tends to stay on their radar. They come back—and often bring a friend along so they can experience this intimate musical setting too.
Seeing familiar faces, neighbors, and friends returning again and again is one of the greatest joys of hosting these gatherings. House concerts create something special that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. Connections form between the musicians and the audience. Musicians connect with each other in new ways through music. And audience members often leave having made new friends.
As the host of Clear Vibes House Concerts, that sense of community is something valuable. The continued support from everyone who attends means so much, and each concert becomes another memory shared through music.
And, judging by the smiles and conversations after the concert, this afternoon with Pangaea Sky will stay with us for quite a while.
