..........
Freak Parade at Backstreet Blues, L.I.,July 13th 2001  Review by Mark Steinberg:
Close your eyes and your back in 1974, it's a utopian vision but Todd Rundgren is nowhere in sight. This is Freak Parade 2001! Moogy Klingman's latest musical venture performed at a small Long Island basement bar Friday the 13th to an appreciative audience. The band is currently performing in support of their self titled Freak Parade Disc. Most of the songs on the disc were performed at the Backstreet Blues nightclub on Friday and sounded fantastic. As a sound engineer I am always impressed by a group that can grab hold of their dynamics and convey their music through a small sound system. The Freak Parade did that and more. .......Kevin Ellman hasn't lost any of the technique that made him a sought after live and session drummer in the 70's and Moogy Klingman was the consummate showman. It doesn't matter if he's performing for 25 people or 2,500 Moogy gives his all! Guitarist Don Celenza played both the new material and the older Klingman written Utopia stuff excellently and Even Steven Levee laid down the Bass lines tightly. Stevens work on the Utopia theme was wonderful and he had a nice solo where Moogy was genuflecting before him. The surprise of the Freak Parade was singer Katia Floreska whose vocals stood out on such songs as "Lady Face" and "Crazy World" then was equally impressive providing vocal treatments on the Utopia Songs. This is a band that deserves a larger audience and I am really happy I went to see them play live. Do yourself a musical favor,
 Dont delay; see the Freak parade today!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE FREAK PARADE - July 13, 2001, by Cervenna Gold

 The SETTING: A quiet little Long Island bar on a cool summer night, people straggle in by twos and fours. Some never having been there before, while others are ready for the show. Live on stage the Freak Parade! 

 The BAND: From the start, the music is stimulating. The happening sounds fill the bar. The audience is immediately drawn into the enthusiasm of the band. Before you know it, the audience is on their feet. Giving 120% of a great performance Moogy and Katia challenge each other to new heights. Don, the guitarist, keeps the music alive, while the ever-talented Kevin, drummer, never lowers your expectations. Even-Steve's picks up the ride and takes you even higher. They are alive!! 

 The CHANCE: If you ever get the chance to see Moogy and the Freak Parade live, do it. You MUST see this band. It will be a great time for all - and just try - go ahead - try not taping your toes or standing and dancing. Bet you can't see performance just one either!


From Kasim Sulton's official website, about Freak Parade at the Triad Lounge, Aug. 3rd

........Jeff asks Lisa  " lia -  how was the freak parade? what songs, type of energy, band setup, etc.? have heard that the disc is very good." 

........Lia responds," Jeff, I didn't stay for the second set, but the first one was quite a lot of fun.  they did Ladyface, Utopia Theme and Freak Parade;  Utopia fans will know that the second two songs, from the very first Utopia album, are looong and the boys got into it very well.   there were a few other songs I was familiar with from seeing Moogy's show before, as well as  from the one cd I have (old times, good times).  Don't know the band members' names offhand,  but there was a guitar, bass, drummer and lovely singer, in addition to the moogster;  oh yeah, as sue posted on KI.com, there was a HILARIOUS poster (which I swiped on my way out, shh) with the funniest drawings of the guys, reminded me of the Way Outs!  It's not on moogy's site anymore, at least I can't find it,  but you can
 learn more about his band here: 
                                      http://www.moogymusic.com/ 

           Now I gotta say this, even though I know i said it in so many words before,  but damn, Kas was great.  He really blew everyone away.  There were plenty of old Utopia fans there, so his audience was automatic, but even the people on the upper level of the bar, who were just there to DRINK on a friday night ended up quietly watching the stage.  When moogy introduced kasim, he requested that everyone be quiet because it
 was a solo acoustic set.  He didn't have to. 


THE FREAK PARADE - July 13, 2001, by Flo Goodman

shunning dire warnings from city dwellers that visiting the suburbs might be injurious to their health or perhaps cause blindness, intrepid Freak Parade journeyed to rockville center, long island, on friday night, july 13, 2001, and captured the hearts and minds of the house without suffering any noticeable ill-effects to their persons....... not knowing that i'd be writing this piece, i neither took actual nor mental notes on the gig, and enjoyed plenty of pressings of the grape..... thus won't offer any detailed account of the two sets.   let me just wax wildly enthusiastic at the sweet musicianship displayed and total energy created at backstreet blues, one of the premier live clubs in the 'burbs....apparently inspired by the synergy with the crowd, moogy and company rockingly outdid themselves, with extended and fresh solos by don celenza, kevin ellman, and moogy himself powering the mix of Freak Parade winners and Utopia classics...... rarely showing up without interesting guests, moogy introduced allyson downey, robert downey jr.'s sister, to the suburban crowd, who graciously stood up and bowed.....moogy was also presented with a "shrek" poster straight from steven spielberg's desk, by an LA friend who was in town to see him and the band......(moogy having co-wrote "you gotta have friends", featured prominently in the film.....) a wicked-good time was had by all and my guess is that the folks in the 'burbs won't let moogy and Freak Parade elude them ever again........