Author: bradbirzer

By day, I'm a father of seven and husband of one. By night, I'm an author, a biographer, and a prog rocker. Interests: Rush, progressive rock, cultural criticisms, the Rocky Mountains, individual liberty, history, hiking, and science fiction.

Burning Shed News (August 16, 2018)

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Anthony Reynolds

Cries And Whispers 1983-1991 (book pre-order)


Cries And Whispers is the long-awaited follow-up to 2015’s A Foreign Place, Anthony Reynolds‘ hugely successful biography of Japan.

Detailing the fascinating musical adventures of Richard Barbieri, Rob Dean, Steve Jansen, Mick Karn and David Sylvian from 1983 to 1991, the book takes in Sylvian’s solo work, The Dolphin Brothers, Dali’s Car, the brilliant but ill-feted reunion release Rain Tree Crow, and more.

This limited deluxe hardback first edition (cloth-bound with a gold and silver foil debos) – designed by Carl Glover – includes many rare photographs, plus contributions from Bill Nelson, Johnny Marr, Bill Bruford, Robbie Aceto, Simon Raymonde, Ivo, Martin Fry, Michael Brook, Tim Bowness, Paul Morley, Thomas Dolby, the late Colin Vearncombe and others.

All copies will come with a postcard signed by the author.

Pre-order for 26th October release. To coincide, the softback version of A Foreign Place will be available at the special price of £13.99 until the release date of Cries And Whispers.

Continue reading “Burning Shed News (August 16, 2018)” →

“Hymn for the Dormition of the Mother of God” — The Imaginative Conservative

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Editor’s Note: Scored for a cappella choir, John Tavener’s “Hymn for the Dormition of the Mother of God” was composed in 1985 as the second part of a pair of Marian devotions. 347 more words

via “Hymn for the Dormition of the Mother of God” — The Imaginative Conservative

Best Concert Venues — Drew’s Reviews

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The ultimate concert experience not only features a great band along with great sound but the venue plays a part in the overall success and enjoyment of the evening. Sure, professional musicians playing their best can certainly make up for a bad locale but how about that same concert inside a phenomenal place that begs […]

via Best Concert Venues — Drew’s Reviews

Glass Hammer reveals CHRONOMONAUT!

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Glass Hammer Chronomonaut
The cover from the latest album–a thing of intense beauty.
Straight from Steve “the Mighty” Babb!
Glass Hammer Set To Release “Chronomonaut” Concept Album
Glass Hammer have been teasing a concept album based on “the ultimate prog fan”, and now it’s official.
Fans will no doubt recognize the name “Tom” from 2000’s Chronometree release and videos on Glass Hammer’s social media sites show that Tom has recently resurfaced to promote his own music. Bassist Steve Babb explains, “While Chronometree documented Tom’s prog-rock influenced alien-encounter in 1979, our new album Chromomonaut tells the stranger story of all that happened later; from Tom’s failed early eighties prog-rock band, The Elf King, to his most recent musings on nostalgia and the glory days of progressive rock.”
“We wanted to create a truly immersive album experience,” says Babb.  “So we’ve been releasing videos of Tom and giving him a virtual life on the internet. He has recently interacted with other fans on prog forums and on his own social media pages. Tom’s attempts at restarting his old band have even been the source of articles on Progarchy.com. There was just something about him that fans really related to back in 2000 when Chronometree proved to be the turning point in Glass Hammer’s career. People liked that Tom took his music so seriously – he reminds us of ourselves, prog-fans and prog musicians alike. Tom loves his album collections, maybe too much. But then so do we.”
Bandmates Fred Schendel, Susie Bogdanowicz and Aaron Raulston are all on board for this release. Guest appearances include Discipline’s Matthew Parmenter and Chris Herin.
“Chronomonaut” will be released on Friday, October 12th. Pre-ordering for autographed copies will begin one month ahead of the release on September 12th at the band’s website.
Youtube Teaser Link: https://youtu.be/UuWJFWwYxKs
Band website: www.glasshammer.com
                                           
***
This Friday, look for a feature length article on Glass Hammer at The American Conservative by yours truly.

Big Big Train’s True Founder: Tom Bombadil

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Since his first appearance in English literature, in 1954, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Tom Bombadil has intrigued readers to no end.  Could he be an angelic vala gone native, an Adam without sin, or merely an enigma?

With the Bodleian’s new exhibit on J.R.R. Tolkien, some vital and compelling evidence has surfaced.  Vala gone native, Adam without sin, and enigma, Bombadil is also the founder of the greatest British progressive rock band of all time, Big Big Train.

Look closely at the Hildebrant Brothers’ depiction of Tom.  You, too, will be amazed.

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Photoshop by Brad Birzer (but, really, by Martin Teraud).

The evidence, of course, had always been there, but most refused to see it.  Here’s the most telling passage from The Fellowship of the Ring.

He then told them many remarkable stories, sometimes half as if speaking to himself, sometimes looking at them suddenly with a bright blue eye under his deep brows. Often his voice would turn to song, and he would get out of his chair and dance about. He told them tales of bees and flowers, the ways of trees, and the strange creatures of the Forest, about the evil things and good things, things friendly and things unfriendly, cruel things and kind things, and secrets hidden under brambles.

If this isn’t proof, nothing is.

Tears for Fears Tour 2019 – Fan Travel Info — Tears and Kooks International (Tears for Fears Travel Fans)

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We hope this basic info will provide you with a reasonable hotel you can stay in while you travel plus links to the venue so you can explore and be ready for each show. Remember to take care of your travel documents such as passport and passport card. Keep your passport card with you at […]

via Tears for Fears Tour 2019 – Fan Travel Info — Tears and Kooks International (Tears for Fears Travel Fans)

Tom Timely Chronomonaut Video #4

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Tom “The Elf King” Timely has released a new video–this one from August 1983.  He’s approaching Hawkins, Indiana, rather quickly.

Metal (and Rock) update – 7 August 2018 —Man of Much Metal

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Just as I complete my mini-series, looking at the music still to come in 2018, I receive news of a whole host of new music coming our way throughout the remainder of the year. So, what better than an impromptu post that updates you on what I have found most interesting over the past few […]

via Metal (and Rock) update – 7 August 2018 —

The Mystery of the Three Quarters by Sophie Hannah — The Rockin’ Chair

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Harper Collins [Published 23.08.18] This is the third novel from Sophie Hannah featuring Agatha Christie’s famous detective Hercule Poirot. It is the first one I have read by the author and I am pleased to report it does recall those classic Agatha Christie mysteries. ‘The Mystery Of The Three Quarters’ is set in 1930’s London, […]

via The Mystery of the Three Quarters by Sophie Hannah — The Rockin’ Chair

Triple Feature: Corque, Grill, and Hago — The PROG Mind

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https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/track=3831457911/album=2316277551/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=0f91ff/tracklist=false/artwork=small/

I offer some words about three exciting new releases.

via Triple Feature: Corque, Grill, and Hago — The PROG Mind