Category: progressive rock

Days of Future Passed at 50: The Moody Blues, Live at Ravinia (6/30/17)

On By Bryan MoreyIn progressive rock3 Comments

For some reason, I’ve not delved into the Moody Blues during my relatively recent absorption of classic progressive rock. Over the past 5-10 years, I’ve come to know the music of Rush, Genesis, Yes, Jethro Tull, Kansas, Styx, ELP, Pink Floyd, and many newer bands quite well, but I haven’t ventured much past “Nights in White Satin” in the Moody Blues catalog.

I’ve long believed that seeing a band live is a great way to become acquainted with their music. Seeing Kansas live many years ago was a great introduction to their music for me, and the same proved true for the music of Styx when I saw Dennis DeYoung live for the first time. Thus, when I saw that the Moody Blues were going to play at Ravinia in Highland Park, IL, this summer, I jumped at the chance. In the meantime, I prepared by listening to Days of Future Passed, as well as many of the band’s hits.

Continue reading “Days of Future Passed at 50: The Moody Blues, Live at Ravinia (6/30/17)” →

Loud and proud with Southern accents

On By Time LordIn progressive rockLeave a comment

From Lynyrd Skynryd to Diarrhea Planet! Great feature in the WSJ today on Southern Rock:

The South has long been a wellspring of American popular music, from New Orleans jazz and Memphis rock and roll to Atlanta rap. The latest rock revival shows how dramatically this region’s demographic and economic landscape is changing. In the past decade, the South has seen more growth in Hispanics, Asians and mixed-race Americans than any region, says William Frey, a Brookings Institution demographer. There’s also been an infusion of young people from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and rural parts of the Midwest into Southern cities, drawn by a strong regional economy and lower living costs.

Is Island Land? @KenKraylie

On By Time LordIn progressive rockLeave a comment

Happy Canada Day from the land of RUSH, a.k.a. The Great White North (take off… it’s a beauty place to go).

To celebrate, here’s a brand new electronic experimental progressive rock power pop track from Canada’s Ken Kraylie. You can download it for free from Bandcamp. It’s definitely kray-kray. You will love it!

Push sail hoist stand
Pull up the bells
Is island land?
Is that what we tell them?

Power the tan
To make honest bellows
Is Island land?
I hope you don’t tell them

Count it a lot

Is island land?
Is that what we tell them?
Is Island land?
I hope you don’t tell them

Review: A Hot Date with King Crimson

On By kruekuttIn progressive rock13 Comments

King Crimson at the Chicago Theatre, June 28, 2017.

This was the eighth time I’ve heard King Crimson in concert — and, for me, the best.  Pretty much the entire night was a peak experience, miles ahead of any previous rock show I’ve seen in my forty years of concert-going.

Why?  Because this incarnation of Crimson can play it all, from the muted to the majestic to the metallic.  And because they did play it all — fluent, ferocious, daring and delicate by turns (and sometimes all at once).  Nearly three hours of an utterly unique band hitting one high point after the other, in thoroughly unpredictable fashion.

[Note that setlist spoilers follow the jump.]

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Drifting Sun Announce Pre-Order for New Album

On By Bryan MoreyIn progressive rockLeave a comment

From Drifting Sun HQ:

Hi guys!

This is to announce that the new Drifting Sun is now officially available to purchase as a pre-order from our official web and from our Bandcamp page, see details below.

For those who haven’t received the news of the release yet, the album will be offered as a 4-panel Digipak with a 12-page booklet insert.,

A free sampler track is now available for download from our Bandcamp page (URL below), and our new single ‘Eternal Cycle’ comes free with every order of Twilight.
​
We hope you will enjoy listening to the album as much as we have had fun making it!

Kind regards,
Drifting Sun

Astra! Great News–A Third Album Forthcoming

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock2 Comments

Astra posted this seven hours ago on social media.  Excellent news!  The first two albums are simply outstanding.  Great psychedelic prog.  The “Prisoner” ending is a little spooky, however!

astra update

First off, I have to apologize for just dropping off the map for so long. You all deserve much more than that and since so many of you have been nice enough to write and ask “What’s going on with ASTRA?” I wanted to give you all a status update.

Back when our drummer David Hurley left ASTRA in 2013, no one could really foresee the difficulties ahead. We knew carrying on without Dave would be a hard road to travel but we had no idea just how much of an impact his departure would have on us. The 5 of us had an undeniable chemistry that just worked so well in every aspect, but especially when it came to songwriting. After Dave left, I think we were all pretty bummed out and while we were working on writing material for our 3rd album, our frustrations slowly started cropping up. We decided to take a short break which turned into a long break, which turned into a longer break, which happens to be where we’re at now. Because of this long hiatus some of the guys have become extremely busy with their own musical projects which, unfortunately, now leaves very little time for ASTRA.

However, I do have some good news! I just recently spoke with all of the original ASTRA members, including Dave, and everyone is down to record a 3rd ASTRA album if we can get enough material together. Another bit of good news is that Stuart and I have been playing and writing together and we’re hoping that we can eventually make this 3rd album a reality.

Now, none of this is a guarantee but I think it is a step in the right direction. ASTRA will always be my baby and my first love when it comes to music and I don’t want to give up on her so I’m going to do all that I can to make this happen. This will most likely take quite some time since everyone is so busy but I will try to keep you all updated as best I can. I will also try to be much more diligent in responding to your emails and messages in the future.

Lastly, a huge THANK YOU is long overdue, so, thank you all for sticking with ASTRA through the years and for being such amazing fans. I love you all more than words can say and I’m going to do my best to bring some new ASTRA music to your ears as soon as possible.

Be seeing you,
-Richard Vaughan

Administrative Note for July-August 2017

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock3 Comments
History_President_Andrew_Jackson_rev_SF_HD_1104x622-16x9
I’m Andrew Jackson, and I do NOT approve of this message.

Dear Progarchists, readers, reviewers, and creators,

Just FYI, I (Brad) will be only intermittently reviewing and writing about prog over the next two months.  I’ve contracted to write (and complete!–the private sector actually wants results, as Dr. Stantz reminded us in Ghostbusters) a book-length manuscript on President Andrew Jackson.  All to the good, of course, but it means that I will be living the next two months in the 1830s.  Sadly, this was a violent time, and a time without the benefit of progressive rock.

I’ll do my best to connect the Jacksonians with the proggers.

Progarchy should continue without a hitch, but I do want folks to know that if they submit anything to me (Brad), it might take a bit for a response.

Please make sure you also contact one of the other editors if you need anything–but especially Chris (Time Lord: progarchy@morec.com).  Thank you!

Yours, BB

JCHarris Music

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

Some beautiful and fascinating music I’ve only encountered recently, the music of JCHarris.  Well worth checking out.

Here’s the official website: https://jchmusic.com

And, a great interview as well: https://jchmusic.com/progress-is-declared/

A Highly Rewarding Outing: SLOW RUST from The Tangent

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

The Tangent, SLOW RUST OF FORGOTTEN MACHINERY (Insideout Music, 2017).  Tracks: Two Swings; Doctor Livingstone; Slow Rust; The Story of Lead and Astatine; A Few Steps Down the Wrong Road; and Basildonxit.

tangent slow rust
The antithesis.

Andy Tillison is not a happy man.

From the art work, to the vocal work, to the lyrics of this latest The Tangent album, SLOW RUST, Tillison has embraced a critical response to the rapidly growing and evolving fascistic, fascist-lite, and insular movements of the western world over the last several years.  As artist, as man, and as thinker, Tillison hopes to stay the dark trajectory of the West or even, God willing, reverse it.  While the great red-headed man of prog mischief has never backed away from controversial viewpoints, he’s rarely been this explicit.

Even the album cover makes one pause.  Previously, Tillison has joked that he represents the dark side of prog, the antithesis, in particular, to Big Big Train, and the cover seems to project this rather profoundly, as a (presumably) single Muslim mother walks along dilapidated railroad tracks, holding the hands of her two daughters.  The once majestic train has derailed, and the crossing sign (the closest thing to the viewer of the album) reads “go.”  Clearly, several things have gone very, very wrong.  There’s no hedgerow in the distance, only a ruined, collapsed, and spent civilization.  There’s some blue sky showing, but it’s obscured by the ruddy reds of smoke and grit floating all too freely in a broken and war-torn world.

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