Brass Camel has just completed a nationwide tour after trekking 25,000km across Canada. Back home to record their next album, they played a triumphant gig at the Canada Day celebrations yesterday at McLeod Athletic Park.

The band took the stage as the grand finale for the day. They were billed on the program as 70s-inspired rock ‘n’ roll, but I think most of the crowd was unprepared for the heavy prog onslaught that blasted forth from the stage. Is progressive rock the official national genre? From Rush to Brass Camel, the torch of musical liberty is certainly shining like a beacon down from the Great White North. The lucky audience that day got to witness something special.

Brass Camel played six tracks from their debut album Brass, and then finished the show with a track from their forthcoming disc (which apparently has the working title: Camel).

They kicked off the show with “Pressure Cooker,” and to fit the special occasion they threw into the middle of it a version of Canada’s national anthem as a solo section highlighting guitar and synth synergy.

Next up was “I’ve Got the Fox,” complete with an extended scream that must have jolted the audience into realizing they were witnessing something historic, because it was on the order of magnitude of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

The next tune was the witty prog extravaganza, “King for a Day,” which was introduced by a proggy medley of Canadian musical references. Must stunning of all, there was an extended bit of Rush’s “La Villa Strangiato” included as part of the tribute.

The group sounded amazing. No doubt their close musical bonding on their recent tour is what had them sounding so tight. The only flaw I could notice was in the sound mixing, which I assume was beyond the band’s control at this festival gig. The bass, drums, and synths were louder in the mix than the vocals and the twin guitars.

I was okay with that happenstance, since I know all the songs by heart. Thus, I can fill in any gaps in the sound mix by using my memory and imagination. But it’s a shame that new listeners in the crowd would have missed out on the subtle excellences in the vocals and guitar performances. I noted this missed opportunity during the band’s next song, “Only Love,” which has exhilarating lyrics lifted aloft by guitar heroics. So it was sad that some in the crowd may have missed out on the uplifting enunciation within the song’s chorus: “only love conquers all.”

Brass Camel proved that they were pulling no punches in the prog department when they proceeded to play one of my very favorite songs next: “Last Flight of the Vulcan.” How incredible that they expose a mass audience to this elegant flight of extended musical excellence. Perhaps some kids in the crowd had a sonic epiphany that day which will change their musical tastes henceforth. At the very least, it transported the adults in the crowd over 50 years back in time to the heyday of prog.

Continuing the relentless prog onslaught, “Easy” was up next. This song had the most hilarious introduction of all the tunes in the set. The band tossed out frisbees into the audience, but the kids who caught them threw them right back at the band. After all, if you throw a kid a frisbee, their natural reaction would be to continue the fun game and reciprocate your throw.

This went on for awhile as the band tried to explain to the young frisbee enthusiasts that the frisbees were the band’s gift to them and they could hang on to them, keep them, and take them home. It took some time for this message to get across. Eventually the band gave up and announced, “okay, it’s time to rock!” and they charged ahead into “Easy.” Thankfully, they didn’t get pelted with frisbees as the song got underway. But it sure wasn’t “easy” getting it started!

After playing that dazzling set of a half-dozen killer tunes from Brass, they broke out the double-neck guitars for a mind-blowing preview of their next album. The song was called “Another Day,” and it seemed to supply proof positive that Brass Camel has doubled down on the prog for their next album. The song was so epic that the band ran well over their scheduled stage time. Piercing screams, blazing guitars, 70s synth sounds, and even gong crashes treated everybody to a spectacle as wondrous as any acrobatic airshow.

Anyone who was there to witness this concert knows what a national treasure Brass Camel is. I can’t wait for when the nation’s Rush fans — and everyone else around the world — gets to find out what this band is doing to fly the flag for prog.

Rock on, Brass Camel. I couldn’t have imagined a better way to celebrate Canada Day. We can’t wait to hear your new album. Thanks for keeping the prog alive.