The Revenge of the Analog: BBT’s Grimspound @saxdavid @rushkoff

On By Time LordIn progressive rock2 Comments


Perhaps you’ll want to purchase Big Big Train’s magnificent new album, Grimspound, in a vinyl version:

There are two vinyl versions of the album. There is a limited edition frosted clear vinyl version alongside the standard black vinyl version. Both vinyl versions are gatefold releases featuring double heavy weight 180g vinyl and a 4 page booklet insert including the lyrics and the stories behind the songs. A complimentary code for a high-resolution download version of the album is provided with each vinyl order. Orders of the limited edition frosted clear vinyl will also include a postcard signed by all band members. A limited edition blue vinyl version of 2016’s Folklore album is also available at Burning Shed and includes a complimentary hi-resolution download code.

What is it that people are seeking when they deliberately and consciously go against the digital grain and cultivate an analog experience? Don’t worry, it’s not merely indulging in nostalgia. If you want to obtain a truly insightful perspective on the human need for the analog (a connection that the music of Big Big Train excels in establishing), then you’ll want to check out David Sax’s new book, The Revenge of the Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter.

Continue reading “The Revenge of the Analog: BBT’s Grimspound @saxdavid @rushkoff” →

The Pillars of Prog, Part 1 – We Are All 21st Century Schizoid Men

On By Bryan MoreyIn progressive rock10 Comments

Welcome to the first in a new series about some of the most important/influential songs in the history of progressive rock. I’ve been trying to come up with a new idea for a series or regular column here at Progarchy, and last week, while enjoying the vast beauty of northern Michigan for a week, I was struck with this idea while standing in an antique shop (which was taking my money for my very first, and probably last, vinyl purchase).

I’m beginning this series with King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man” because I honestly believe this song is what started the genre. Feel free to let me know in the comments what songs you think I should talk about in the future. I’ve got ideas ranging from Dream Theater to Yes to Jethro Tull and everything in between, and your ideas will be helpful in rounding out my ideas.

Without further ado…

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Burnt City’s Aydin Zahedi Talks About “Resurgence” EP

On By NickIn progressive rockLeave a comment

Aydin Zahedi

“Resurgence” is a debut EP by Australian Prog-Power Metal project Burnt City, a brainchild of guitarist Aydin Zahedi, who worked with singer Gus Monsanto, keyboardist Bob Katsionis, bassist Mike Lepond of Symphony X fame, and drummer extraordinaire George Kollias. With such line-up on board you can definitely expect some high-class musicianship and performance.

Hey Aydin. How are you doing?

Hi, thanks for asking, I am good, thank you for having me.

You released “Resurgence” on the January 1st. How do you feel about the release?

I am very happy and excited, I had a really good feedbacks which makes me wanna continue, because it took a lot of effort for me to finish it and I gave up once, when it came out I said to myself; “yes, I finally did it” so I feel extremely good.

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“Wires” Video from NAO

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

I’m rather embarrassed to admit I missed this video when it came out.  Better late than never.  NAO is as good as it gets when it comes to prog-pop.  Extraordinary video and music.

Progstock 2017

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

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Even before two lectures delivered on the cultural changes that accompanied America’s Great Depression, I had the great privilege of talking with Tom Palmieri, manager of Circuline and fountainhead behind Progstock 2017.

Though we only had about 30 minutes to talk, I found Tom quite engaging and incredibly entrepreneurial.

Progstock 2017–hopefully the first of many more to come–will be held October 13-15, this year, in Rahway, New Jersey, a part of larger New York City, just to the west of Staten Island.

The lineup is simply astounding, featuring Glass Hammer, Echolyn, The Tangent, Karmakanic, 3RDegree, Simon Godfrey, and even our own Jason Rubenstein.

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Memories on Record Store Day

On By Time LordIn progressive rock2 Comments

Good times remembering Rush and Cygnus X-1 with Jeff Elbel on Record Store Day:

Personal interlude: On long car trips, my father was somewhat loathe to relinquish control of the cassette deck. He knew that what he heard in the house emanating from my room didn’t sound anything like Marty Robbins or David Frizzell. I have a vivid memory of one of the rare events that I was given permission to supply the soundtrack, while riding in his beloved 1970 Pontiac GTO along the Rock River on State Route 2 near Oregon, Illinois. I seized upon the opportunity to share my recent discovery of “Cygnus X-1, Book I: The Voyage.” To his credit, Dad made it almost five minutes before punching the eject button, fixing me with his gaze and asking, “Were they almost done warming up?” Geddy Lee had yet to sing his first note. I felt every bit like the hapless protagonist of 2112 during “Presentation,” thwarted upon making an offering of musical beauty to the Priests of Syrinx. …

Due credit: In 1986, my father took me to see the Power Windows tour at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago. Thanks, Dad!

The Fierce and the Dead: Last Day for Signed Copies

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

From Mighty Matt:

cropped-tfatd-field-recordings.jpg

Hiya

This is the final reminder about the Fierce And The Dead’s new live record, thank you to all of you ordering, the response has been incredible. We’re 50 orders off our biggest ever pre-order sale and funding our DVD recording. Amazing.

If you want the limited edition signed postcard version of our new live album this is the last week to order it. The link it here:

tfatd.bandcamp.com/album/field-recordings-live

Tape cassettes are almost gone too.

All of the band really appreciate the support and it would be brilliant if we can do the final 50.

Thanks loads

Matt

soundstreamsunday: “Ooh La La” by the Faces

On By Craig BreadenIn Rock and RollLeave a comment

facesIn the early 1970s in England there were a few rock bands that mattered and one that really mattered, and that was the Faces.  I mean Rock band.  Rock and roll.  They were a supergroup, a bridge between genres, a match in a haystack.  They had big hits and the best hair.

For English kids the Faces must have represented a lot of things, glam without the spacesuits, the Stones but more fun, a way to get back to the basics in the wake of the Beatles’ passing.  So they could springboard Rod Stewart to pop stardom, sure, but also be an inspiration, both in attitude and rock power, to punk bands from the New York Dolls to the Sex Pistols.  The Faces were about energy and, when they put their mind to it, peerless songwriting, thanks in good part to Ronnie Lane, the core of a band who counted among its cadre once or future members of the Jeff Beck Group, the Small Faces, the Rolling Stones, and the Who.  Across their four albums you get the strong sense the rest of them were there because of Lane — playing a cheery bass and occasionally singing, in his homespun warble, songs with a a bit of a wink and a whole lot of heart.

“Ooh La La,” a rock and roll music hall chanty of the type Lane virtually invented in the Small Faces, was the last song on the Faces’ last record.  It’s perfect.  It’s a smiling shake of the head, a “poor old granddad” and “poor young grandson” dialogue of women and love and sex.  There was genius in the decision to have Ronnie Wood sing Lane’s lyric — ragged but right, he brings to it the feeling of an old man, twinkle in his eye, holding forth in the corner of a bar.  Such places are after all where the Faces lived, and where you can still find them.

soundstreamsunday presents one song or live set by an artist each week, and in theory wants to be an infinite linear mix tape where the songs relate and progress as a whole. For the complete playlist, go here: soundstreamsunday archive and playlist, or check related articles by clicking on”soundstreamsunday” in the tags section above.

Cygnus Visits Local Record Store

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock2 Comments

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It’s April 22. A huge day, as you all well know. It’s, after all, the Feast Day of St. Arwald of the Isle of Wight.

Oh, wait. Maybe that’s not what you’re thinking.

April 22???  Something, something. . .

Oh yes! Eart. . .

No, Record Store Day. That’s it. Record Store Day! No offense to St. Arwald. He was pretty cool.

checker record
Checker Records, Hillsdale.  Photo courtesy of the Hillsdale Collegian.

But, Record Store Day is the day we celebrate the local record stores, owned by families, groups of friends, and entrepreneurs who struggle against the collosal entities of the box stores and the cyber corporations. If you do nothing else today, please buy something from your local record store. My local record store is Checker Records–run by wonderful people and serving excellent coffee as well as good conversation and good humor.

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Big Big Train News

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

Featured Image -- 32441This just in from the band:

Hi everyone,
The new Big Big Train album is called Grimspound and will be released on April 28th 2017.

Here is a new promotional film made by Peter Callow for Experimental Gentlemen (Part Two). The full-length version of this song will feature on the Grimspound album:

https://youtu.be/lqlOm97Yh7U

And here is a promotional film made by Johan Reitsma for a song from the album called As the Crow Flies:

https://vimeo.com/212443344

Pre-orders of the Grimspound album are now available at our official stores:

Burning Shed (for vinyl and CDs):
https://www.burningshed.com/store/bigbigtrain/

The Merch Desk (for merchandise and CDs):
http://themerchdesk.com/merchdesk/index.php?route=product/category&path=87_115

Bandcamp (for hi-resolution 24/96 downloads):
https://bigbigtrain.bandcamp.com

There are two vinyl versions of the album. There is a limited edition frosted clear vinyl version alongside the standard black vinyl version. Both vinyl versions are gatefold releases featuring double heavy weight 180g vinyl and a 4 page booklet insert including the lyrics and the stories behind the songs. A complimentary code for a high-resolution download version of the album is provided with each vinyl order. Orders of the limited edition frosted clear vinyl will also include a postcard signed by all band members. A limited edition blue vinyl version of 2016’s Folklore album is also available at Burning Shed and includes a complimentary hi-resolution download code.

The CD edition of Grimspound is presented in a gloss laminated softpack and features a 24 page booklet with the lyrics and the stories behind the songs.

The hi-res download version available at Bandcamp includes a PDF of the CD booklet.

Grimspound is also available to pre-order on MP3 on Amazon and will be available on the iTunes store on the day of release. Spotify and other streaming and download sites will also feature the album from the 28th April.

A full range of new merchandise is available at http://themerchdesk.com/merchdesk/index.php?route=product/category&path=87_115

For the latest news on Big Big Train, please like our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/bigbigtrain/

And for discussion about Big Big Train, progressive rock and other matters of interest, please join our forum at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bigbigtrain/

Best wishes,
Andy, Danny, Dave, David, Greg, Nick, Rachel & Rikard