Glass Harp ‘reunites’ for concerts

By JOHN BENSON

entertainment@vindy.com

Don’t call it a comeback.

For Glass Harp, which seemingly has had more reunion shows than Led Zeppelin, a year doesn’t go by without the ’70s power-rock trio getting together for what invariably will be billed as a reuniting. In fact, that’s the sentiment surrounding the upcoming Glass Harp — Phil Keaggy (vocals, guitar), Daniel Pecchio (bass) and John Sferra (drums) — dates Saturday and Sunday at the Ford Family Recital Hall.

“Yeah, that term ‘reunion’ shouldn’t be used,” said Pecchio, a 1965 Chaney High School graduate who calls Chagrin Falls home. “We play if we were asked to play, and if it fits in our schedule and fits into the criteria involved.”

A large part of the criteria involves Keaggy’s solo career schedule. In fact, it was only a few years ago the trio agreed not to play any shows. In 2008, the band decided to take a hiatus with the idea being to record a new CD. Half of that goal was met when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum came calling with an offer for Glass Harp to do a benefit show for the Cleveland music institution.

It turns out that charity event, at the Beachland Ballroom, unexpectedly led to the release of a new Glass Harp concert album.

“It was just one of those nights where we walked on stage and everything was clicking,” Pecchio said. “More than that, it brought us back to very much how we used to play when we were on stage three or four nights a week, every week for two or three years. We had [a song in mind], but we’d just start out noodle-ing around. We’d end up playing for 30 minutes to see what we’d get. And from those things, there would be a few chords or passage or something that would strike us, and we’d save that and we’d start to develop songs out of it. When we did the show at the Beachland, this is what went on, and it was that kind of a night like we used to play. When we walked off stage we went, ‘Wow.’”

Even more surprising for the band was the fact the concert — by happenstance — was recorded. The result is the brand-new CD “Live from the Beachland Ballroom,” which will be available soon at Glass Harp’s Web site (www.glassharp.net).

Still, the question remains what is it about Glass Harp that allows the band to remain dormant for the better part of a year — or years — but once a new show is announced, the diehard following turns out in droves?

“I think just like any band that has a following over the years, clearly our music meant something to people who knew us,” Pecchio said. “Whether they knew us from the ’70s when we were together or were introduced to us through Phil’s work or when I was in the Michael Stanley Band or a new generation recently introduced, it’s just the music.”