British Neo-Prog band ZIO are back on tour in the UK this month with four exclusive gigs to promote their brand-new live album, ‘Elibomevil’, which was released on 24th August through the Posh and Rock label. As well as the London Prog Gigs arranged date at The Bedford in Balham, tonight, they also stopped off at The Musician, Leicester on the 29th, The Citadel, St. Helens on the 30th and the 1865, Southampton on 1st September.

The Bedford is a superb little music venue a short walk from Balham tube station in deepest South London. The music room at the back of the pub is elegantly decked out and resembles a smaller version of the Roundhouse in Camden Town, North London, but with a more intimately warm ambience.

ZIO were founded by Ex-Karnataka/Frank Carducci drummer Jimmy Pallagrosi, who is also the leader and main driving force. To date ZIO have released two studio albums ‘Flower Torania’ (2020) and ‘Truewaves’ (2023), plus their latest live release, ‘Elibomevil’, which features tracks from both studio albums. The current touring lineup features Pallagrosi on drums, original guitarist Mark Fascia along with Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy bassist Simon Fitzpatrick, Nostalgic Orange’s keyboardist Ben Vize, ex-Riverdance and Karnataka vocalist Hayley Griffiths, Frank Carducci's vocalist/dancer Mary Reynaud and ex-Mostly Autumn vocalist Heather Findlay on guest vocals.

Heather also performed a thirty-minute solo supporting set which featured two songs 'Here's to You' and 'Already Free' from her 2019 solo album 'Wild White Horses', two new songs 'Still Burning' and the title track from her forthcoming 'Wildflower' album, plus two old fan favourites from her time with Mostly Autumn, 'Evergreen' and 'Caught in a Fold'. An enchantingly seductive set got the evening’s musical proceedings off to a superlative start.

After a short interval, ZIO hit the stage for their two-hour set without any break. The band performed their new live album in its entirety. On the album most of the vocals are shared between Hayley Griffiths, Charlie Bramald and Joe Payne. Unfortunately, neither Charlie nor Joe was able to make the gig. Fortunately, in their place and covering their parts with sparkling panache was the wonderful Mary Reynaud. The equally wonderful Heather Findlay also guested on several songs.

The full set featured the tracks 'Untenable', 'Straight Up Underneath', 'Wings Inside', 'Gold and Power', 'Amused', 'Space Heater', 'Inner City Shorroma' (+drum solo), 'Living Behind', 'Ma Petite Histoire', 'Flower Torania', 'Erwin's Opera', 'Above the Wheels', 'Ride Along', 'X-Ray', 'Jupiter', 'Close', 'I Hear Them Whistling', 'Lonely Diamond Pt. 1' and 'Interstellar List'. All three singers got their chance to shine, interchanging throughout the set, with some songs only requiring a solo vocal, some as a duo, and even all three singers at once! A special mention must go to Simon Fitzpatrick for his jaw-dropping bass solo rendition of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rapsody’. Quite stunning!

The ZIO sound could be described as extravagantly theatrical, intricately complex with resplendent symphonic overtones. As I was not overly familiar with their repertoire, it is a show I would like to see again to fully take in all the details and nuances of the material.

Steven C. Gilbert