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.

Cruise to the Edge: Register Now

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock music1 Comment

Cruise to the Edge 2014

Cruise: CRUISE TO THE EDGE, the third annual YES fan cruise and ultimate prog rock experience
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl

New LOGO

Promoter: On the Blue Cruises (otblue.com)

Itinerary: Pre-cruise event on Saturday, November 14 in Miami before setting sail along Bahamian waters Sunday, November 15 through Thursday, November 19, visiting Key West and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.

Yes Logo

Lineup: Legendary progressive rock bands YES and Marillion will lead an all-star lineup of over 25-plus bands
Booking: Cabins aboard the full-ship charter are now only $499 USD per person. For booking and more information, visit: CruisetotheEdge.com and connect on Facebookand Twitter.

Updated Cruise to the Edge artwork

On course to sell out for the third-year-in-a-row, the 2015 CRUISE TO THE EDGE–the annual YES fan cruise and ultimate prog rock experience sailing the Caribbeanthis November 15-19–announced a few updates today (8/6), including: the addition of Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse Band and Haken to the artist line-up; confirmed an all-star tribute and musical farewell to beloved bassist and founding member of YES, the late Chris Squire; and two new payment options designed to make it affordable for prog rock enthusiasts to attend this historic event. Fans may secure their spot aboard the cruise for only $499 USD per person (details outlined below).

The third annual five-day, four-night cruise will feature multiple stages of progressive rock music from the iconic and GRAMMY-winning rock band YES, special guest Marillion and 25-plus bands, aboard the NCL Pearl. A new addition to this year’s cruise itinerary is a special pre-cruise event, complimentary to all cruisers, on Saturday, November 14 at Magic City Casino in Miami, before setting sail to crystal clear Bahamian waters, visiting Key West and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. The special pre-cruise concert will feature an IPA beer tasting, artist meet and greets, performances from Martin Barre of Jethro Tull, Three Friends and Lifesigns, as well as an after-hours “Electric Prog Jam,” where passengers become the stars, playing instruments to selected prog rock songs.

Legendary progressive rock bands YES and Marillion will lead an all-star lineup aboard this year’s cruise (with most artists playing at least two sets), including the just-added acts (iconic drummer Mike Portnoy; Neal Morse Band and Haken), plus Anathema; Allan Holdsworth; Three Friends; PFM; Saga; Martin Barre, Caravan; Spocks Beard; Nektar; Änglagrd; Lifesigns; IO Earth; Airbag; Casey McPherson; Messenger; Dave Kerzner; Moon Safari; Barracuda Triangle; Jolly; Enchant; Thank You Scientist; Steve Rothery; Bad Dreams; and AHEPJ. It will all be hosted by UK journalist and preeminent YES expert, Jon Kirkman.

Portnoy will act as official “music director” for an all-star tribute to beloved bassist and founding member of YES, the late Chris Squire. Portnoy will be joined on stage by many friends of Chris in this musical farewell to one of Progressive Rock’s Greatest Performers.

Besides the great musical performances, prog-rock music fans will get a chance to participate in special events and activities, including: “Storytellers” style concertsfeaturing behind-the-scenes stories from select bands, showcasing their writing/recording style and process, band history; Prog Panel Q&A Sessions; Meet & Greets; Bon Voyage Sail-Away Concert and more. In addition, Multiple Performance Stages throughout the ship will keep the action going into the wee hours with a surprise or two along the way.  Finally, cruise attendees will be able to enjoy the ship’s 13 bars and lounges, various eateries, casino, spa, fitness center, basketball and volleyball court, bowling alley and more.

CRUISE TO THE EDGE has announced two new payment options (beyond the standard payment plan):

– EZ PAY PLAN: This special no interest installment plan is designed to assist fans who need an extended installment option in order to attend. While supplies last, fans may secure their spot aboard the cruise for ONLY $499 USD per person down (double occupancy), with the remaining balance payable over twelve equal monthly installments beginning the month after the initial reservation is completed and debited on the 15th day of each month (or next business day). Click here for more information.

– PAID IN FULL PLAN: For those who prefer to pay their cruise fully in advance, a 5% discount off the base fare is available.  Fans will save money and have the peace of mind of knowing that their cruise is squared away and fully paid for.

CRUISE TO THE EDGE has been carefully designed to meet the discriminating requirements of the most avid music fan/cruise vacationer, producing a true fan and artist experience in a surreal and relaxing setting.  Produced by On the Blue Cruises, CRUISE TO THE EDGE is a playground for the serious fan where music and a luxury cruise hook up for the vacation of a lifetime. For more information, visit CruisetotheEdge.com and connect on Facebook and Twitter.

The Gift Working Titles

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock music2 Comments

Mike Morton, the Peter Gabriel of our generation, has the following update on social media.  And, the picture for the new album–a cross between a Ray Bradbury scene and a Glass Hammer album cover!

The Gift have a big lump of music ready to finesse and record. The next release will be an album, not an EP! Working titles are: Pandemonium, Lost In Echoes and Sacred & Profane. The first one decribes this summers, the second is where we go to more often as we lose people, the third is what rehearsals with the boys can feel like! Artwork being scoped out already. Here’s a tease…

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Wow, double-live Glass Hammer coming

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock musicLeave a comment

And, it looks beautiful.  What a captivating cover.  To go to the actual site, click here.

Glass-Hammer-Double-Live-Deluxe

Two CDs – One Bonus DVD

Recorded at RoSFest 2015, Glass Hammer “Double Live” marks the bands first live album in over ten years.

Prog Magazine declares Glass Hammer’s RoSfest 2015 performance, “…the boldest set of the weekend. Steve Babb and Fred Schendel have always succeeded in creating an ensemble that fully complements their sense of musical grandeur.”

Stay tuned! Release date to be announced soon.

Progarchy. com declares Glass Hammer, “. . .awesome.”

Why Neil Peart, Part I

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock music4 Comments

Why Neil Peart?

[Be forewarned, this is a serious essay that leads to an advertisement.  Proceed at your own risk!!!!]

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R40 Tour. Rush in Lincoln.

A year ago, I had the great privilege of reading a fine history of Rush: Robert Freedman’s RUSH: LIFE LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE.  It was a very satisfying read, and, as I finished it, I sighed to myself. . . “I wish I’d written this.”  I don’t think my reaction was one of hubris, but rather one of joy.  I was glad to see Peart taken so seriously at an intellectual level.  All too often, even in a culture that can go utterly ga-ga over the most trivial things, Americans still tend to dismiss rock music as a fad or rock musicians as a low form of artist.

For those of us who love prog and art rock, we cringe at such slights, and yet, in our heart of hearts, we’re kind of glad that we are among the few who know—as almost a secret treasure we possess—that good rock as art most certainly does exist.  Sure, we’ll argue until we’re blue in the face about what makes art good.  But, in the end, we’re somewhat satisfied that we’ve chosen the past least taken.

I’m as guilty of this as anyone, and I know that much of my life, I’ve been a total music snob.  Sure, being from Kansas, I can do it with manner and a smile, but I’m still a snob.

When the four editors of progarchy and I started this website, we dedicated ourselves to promoting—as widely as possible—the beauty of music in all of its forms.  We’re each music snobs, of course, but we so want to make our snobbery general and widespread.  That is, we’d love to have Big Big Train playing on every rock station across North America.  Rock music is at a crossroads, and we think we can destroy the mediocrity and corporate vanilla the so prevails and gives rock a bad now.  Now, this truly is HUBRIS on our part!

One of the persons I find most intriguing over the last half century is Neil E. Peart.  Whether you agree with his political views or hate them, whether you think he’s a god among drummers or just a guy dealing with his ADHD, you have to give Peart credit for making his own way, no matter the cost and no matter the obstacles.

Just a few nights ago, Rush played their final show of R40.  The chances are pretty good that that show will be the last normal Rush show ever played.  After 41 years of constant success and considered artist endeavors, that’s huge!

Cultural RePercussions cover

[Remember, I warned you above!]

So, why Neil Peart?  Well, I try to answer this very question in NEIL PEART: CULTURAL (RE)PERCUSSIONS.  The biography comes out officially on September 15 from Kevin J. Anderson’s Word Fire Press.  For another 9 days, however, you can get an advanced review copy of the Peart bio for $15 from Humble Bundle.

I’m biased, but I’m really hoping you’ll purchase a copy.  I could explain to you that every time you buy a book, you put food on the table for my huge family.  But, this isn’t quite true.  Still, it would help for the college funds!

Mostly, though, I wrote this book to spread my love of all things Peart.

To be continued. . . .

Advent’s SILENT SENTINEL: A Review

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock music2 Comments

Advent, SILENT SENTINEL (released on August 11, 2015). 

Tracks: In Illo Tempore; On the Wings of an Ant (Verse 1); Voices from California; The Uncharted Path; Reloj de Sol; On the Wings of an Ant (Verse 2); The Silent Sentinel; 12/12; Sentinel’s Reprise: The Exit Interview; Second Thoughts; On the Wings of an Ant (Verse 3); and Romanitas.

Birzer Rating: 10/10

Advent's third album, SILENT SENTINEL. Out August 11.
Advent’s third album, SILENT SENTINEL. Out August 11.

Without question, this is one of the most interesting releases I’ve heard in a long, long time.  I don’t mean there aren’t or haven’t been other incredible releases in the recent past.  There’s no question that 2015 has turned out to be one of the finest years in the history of prog.  This is high praise, indeed, as the last five or so years have been nothing short of mind-bogglingly good.

By claiming that SILENT SENTINEL is interesting, I mean INTERESTING.  Really interesting.  There’s never a shortage of musicians doing the tried and true, just as there’s never a shortage of musicians trying to do something radically new.  It’s rare that the former last long, and it’s equally rare that the latter can create something of beauty.  The best art is always that which honors the past while making the old palatable to the present.  This is where Advent admirably succeeds.  SILENT SENTINEL is art, pure and simple.  It’s also well-executed and beautiful art.  It honors the past while making something old new.

Over four decades of listening to prog, I’ve never heard anything quite like this new Advent album.  I hear elements of Genesis, ELP, Gentle Giant, and A LOT of what sounds like Glass Hammer—at least in terms of music composition.  What makes SILENT SENTINEL so fascinating is 1) its vocal lines; and 2) the intersection of its vocals and Glass Hammer like music.

As it turns out, this is Advent’s third album.  I must admit, I thought it was the band’s second.  And, I’m more than a bit embarrassed about this mistake.  I’ve been listening to what I thought was the band’s first, CANTUS FIRMUS, rather lovingly for years.  I’m now eager to get the first album.  My loss, and soon my gain.

Regardless. . . .

If I had to compare this new album to anything on the current music scene, I would definitely name it the cousin of the work of Babb and Schendel, as mentioned above.  But, SILENT SENTINEL not a clone, by any means.  And, I hope this doesn’t turn off any readers, but it must be said.  This is Glass Hammer if someone were writing really artsy and innovative jazz mixed with some really good (not Marty Haugen!) liturgical music.  There’s an element of Hebraic chant, but there’s an even stronger element of Palestrina-like music.  Don’t worry: no one is screaming scripture at you.  The religious element—as far as I can tell (as I don’t have the lyric sheet)—is in the music and vocal lines, not the words.

I’ve said in half-seriousness for several years that CANTUS FIRMUS is Chestertonian prog.  SILENT SENTINEL is more Tolkienian prog.  I could easily imagine this music being sung in the First Age of Beleriand, most likely under the protection of Melian.  It’s Sindarin Elvish, to be sure.

As you can see—even from a cursory glance at the track listing—this is a joy, pure and whole.  There are a lot of themes that repeat throughout the album, and there’s playfulness intermixed with intensity passages of beauty.  The production of the album is especially crisp, with every instrument really shining forth as a part and as a part of a whole.  Really, everything—drums, keyboards, guitar, and bass—sound perfect.  And, it’s clear that the producer and sound engineer gave everything to make this cd work so beautifully.  I have a feeling that no matter how many times I listen to this, I’ll be rewarded with hearing something new.

While there’s nothing half-way done on the album, and I like it all, I’m most drawn to the epic title track, The Silent Sentinel.  I’m not exactly sure what the context of the story is, but the music flows mysteriously and cinematically.  I presume it’s a play on the title of the band, as Advent is a time of watchful waiting.  Thus, the Silent Sentinel is a guard over time as well as space.

Again, I don’t have the lyric sheet, but it sounds like there’s some real Homeric evil happening as well, with the guardian protecting the crossroads of this world and the next.

I really can’t exaggerate or overstate how much SILENT SENTINEL grabs and intrigues me.  It’s the kind of release that makes me not only proud to be a prog fan, but it actually makes me proud to be alive–to live at a time that produces such artists.  This is the equal of Big Big Train and The Tangent in terms of quality, innovation, and beauty.

Progarchists, SILENT SENTINEL is something truly special.   Don’t let this release pass you by.  Pre-order and prepare to be dazzled and downright overwhelmed.

For more information and pre-ordering, make sure to visit Advent’s website: http://www.adventmusic.net

Concert Review: Rush at The Forum – The Final Show

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock music2 Comments

Drew's avatarDrew's Reviews

There will never be another Rush.

This much is true.

The trio hailing from Toronto, Canada closed a large chapter of their 40 year + career to a sold out crowd on Saturday at the Forum in Los Angeles. The final concert of the 40th anniversary tour is quite certainly the last of its kind but whether it is indeed their last of all time only the future knows or at least Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart.

It was another stellar evening with Lee in strong command of his vocals along with a very present bass, Lifeson, ever the virtuoso on guitar, in pristine form, and Peart the professor behind the drum kit. They kept it straight, no extra songs, nothing different than what hasn’t already been played since they embarked on the R40 tour on May 8 in Tulsa, OK.

The final show got “Losing…

View original post 1,539 more words

Less Than 3 Hours Left: Pre Order Advent Bundle: SILENT SENTINEL

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock musicLeave a comment

Order the Silent Sentinel pre-sale bundle

Silent Sentinel cover art
USA
US $20

Canada
US $25

Worldwide
US $29

http://www.adventmusic.net

NOTE: Shipping/handling included in all prices.

LIMITED-TIME OFFER (expires 9 PM EDT on August 1st)

Pre-sale bundle of Advent’s Silent Sentinel album includes:

  1. A copy of the 77.5-minute Silent Sentinel CD
  2. 24-bit/96-kHz audiophile files of the entire album (sent electronically)
  3. An exclusive 29-minute bonus CD-R featuring:
    • Classical guitar duet from “On the Wings of an Ant (verse 2)”
    • Vocals-up mix of “Voices from California” (first half)
    • Vocals-up highlights from the “The Silent Sentinel”
    • Vocals-up highlights from the “Sentinel’s Reprise: The Exit Interview”
    • “Canto XXVI (The Evil Counselors)”
    • “Awaiting the Call …” live at MARPROG

NOTES: Includes early shipment of physical media unless autographs are requested*. Audiophile (24/96) files to be delivered electronically via the Internet on or before date CDs are mailed. The Silent Sentinel album (CD and corresponding 24/96 audiophile files) mastered by Bob Katz at Digital Domain.

http://www.adventmusic.net