Cheeto’s Magazine @ ProgDreams – Poppodium Boerderij (Zoetermeer, 23.08.2025)

With thanks to Ela Williamson for her assistance with this review

Cheeto’s Magazine from Barcelona brought pure color and chaos to ProgDreams, with a show that was as theatrical as it was musically impressive. Dressed in bright, almost cartoonish outfits and constantly in motion – dancing, writhing and pulling comical faces – the band turned the stage into a spectacle of its own. They describe themselves as prog rock with a healthy dose of humor and that’s exactly what the audience got: a quirky, high-energy set leaning heavily on their acclaimed 2019 album Amazingous. Their southern cheerfulness and absurdly upbeat vibe proved infectious, making their show one of the most vibrant highlights of the festival.

With two keyboardists, the band’s sound was packed with playful yet thoughtful keyboard and piano work, supported by fiery guitar and a rock-solid rhythm section. The music shifted constantly in style: from Moon Safari-like ballads to heavy prog-metal riffs, through poppy passages and even keyboard parts that cheekily imitated brass. The result was prog that’s easy to enjoy on the surface but filled with hidden complexity. Think Moon Safari and Neal Morse-era Spock’s Beard, but with a wild cartoonish twist.

Highlights included the multifaceted “Outflow”, which sparkled with cheerful melodies, humorous keyboard brass imitations, and a tender piano section, before building into a sweeping climax. Fans were treated to the older “Clinc Nutella”, while “Cheese Cheater” kept the energy flowing. The band then launched into the epic “Big Boy”, performed in its entirety, with a brief pause before the explosive finale – a perfect showcase of their blend of virtuosity, humor and prog grandeur.

In a prog world often dominated by gloom or sterile technicality, Cheeto’s Magazine feels like a rare breath of fresh air. Complex and virtuosic, yet colorful, upbeat and above all, a lot of fun.