I came across this wonderful review of what attending a Marillion Weekend is like, when the band plays 3 nights in a row, each with a different setlist and theme. It perfectly captures what it means to be a fan, and what a privilege it is to be at a Marillion live show (or three, if you’re lucky). I wish I had written it myself.
“We Come Together”: Marillion Weekend in Łódż a Complete Triumph
Some of you might know that our great friend and prog ally, Tim Hall (aka Kaylr), is experiencing some serious health issues. I’m sure he would very much appreciate our good thoughts and prayers.
On facebook, Jane Armstrong wrote that he is in Lister Ward at Royal Berks Hospital, Reading.
Our absolute best to you, Tim!
For those of you interested, please be sure to check out Tim’s website: http://www.kalyr.com/weblog/
Mark Naida of Hillsdale College has written a beautiful review of Birzer Bandana’s first album, BECOMING ONE. Thank you, Mark!
Theology, intellectual rock, and the liberal arts — these are three main elements of the debut album by Birzer Bandana, a collaboration between progressive rock musician Dave Smith and Hillsdale College Professor of History Bradley Birzer.
Birzer provided the concept and lyrics, and Smith wrote the music for the seven-song progressive rock album “Becoming One,” which was released on Spotify, Bandcamp, and iTunes March 18.
Progressive rock seeks to combine the formal elements of classical music while also embracing the eclectic side of rock and roll music, according to music critic Lucas Biela of progarchives.com.
“Rock bands like the Rolling Stones wanted to show pure emotion in their music. Prog is a more intellectual genre that shares ideas,” Birzer said.
To read the full review, please go here: http://hillsdalecollegian.com/2017/04/birzer-bandana-ties-together-science-fiction-apocalyptic-poetry-british-prog-rock/
Bad Elephant Music are picking up where they left off last year, releasing amazing music from a diverse range of artists, and with new releases coming from bands like Syncage, The Fierce and the Dead and Schnauser their schedule looks really exciting for the rest of the year. Here I have a look at two wonderfully off beat and eclectic albums that recently arrived from Elephant HQ
Topes Sphere 2 by Orange Clocks
Bad Elephant Music BEM039
https://orangeclocks.bandcamp.com/
running time 30:33
Is Rushdenbeat now a thing?
I had no idea (until a few moments ago) that Airbag’s Bjorn Riis had a forthcoming solo album. The teaser sounds gorgeous.
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To order, click here.
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Or, perhaps, I meant logo!
Big Big Train, GRIMSPOUND (Giant Electric Pea, 2017). Tracks: Brave Captain; On the Racing Line; Experimental Gentleman; Meadowland; Grimspound; The Ivy Gate; A Mead Hall in Winter; and As the Crow Flies.
The band: Greg Spawton; Andy Poole; David Longdon; Nick D’Virgilio; Rachel Hall; Danny Manners; Dave Gregory; and Rikard Sjöblom.
The Rating: Perfect. Beyond prog.
Go, go, go said the bird: human kind
Cannot bear very much reality.
Time past and time future
What might have been and what has been
Point to one end, which is always present.
–T.S. Eliot, “Burnt Norton.”
There can be no doubt that Big Big Train is not just one of the best bands of third-wave prog, but also one of the best bands of the rock era. I suspected this when I first heard THE UNDERFALL YARD back in 2009 and was moved at every good level of my being. Subsequent releases from the band have only confirmed this for me. Every note, every lyric, and every brushstroke matter for the band. They take their music seriously, and they take us—their followers—seriously. Aside from the music (if there is, in any reality, such an “aside”), it’s clear that the two founders and mainstays of the band, Greg Spawton and Andy Poole, know how to form and leaven communities.
One of my top albums of 2015 was John Mitchell’s Lonely Robot: Please Come Home. In addition to my rave review, several other Progarchists recognized that album’s greatness, putting it on their Best-Of lists for 2015.
It’s two years later, and Mitchell has returned with the second installment of the Lonely Robot saga: The Big Dream. I always approach sophomore efforts with some trepidation, because an artist often uses up all of his or her best ideas in the début. No worries on that front this time! Fresh off of his work with Jem Godfrey in Frost*, Mitchell has crafted a near-perfect pop/prog collection of songs that hearken back to the glory days of Peter Gabriel’s solo work, Porcupine Tree, and others.
According to Mitchell, The Big Dream continues the saga of the astronaut in Please Come Home. He has awakened from a cryogenic sleep, and finds himself in a woodland inhabited by human/animal hybrids. The concept is a bit hazy, while the music itself is tight as a nut. I am hard pressed to think of any songs that pack a bigger 1-2-3 punch than “Awakenings”, “Sigma”, and “In Floral Green”. I had to put those three on Repeat for several listens before I even heard the rest of the album.
If you thought, like me, that Please Come Home was terrific, The Big Dream actually tops it in every way. Big melodies that grab your ears and won’t let go, great vocals, John’s always outstanding guitar – all combine to deliver an album that will definitely be on many Top Ten of 2017 lists.
Rather than taking my word for it, just check out the first single, “Everglow”:
The Big Dream is slated for release April 28.
Three days after Yes gets inducted into the hall of fame, Anderson Rabin and Wakeman, announce a 2017 North American tour and that they are now “Yes featuring Anderson Rabin and Wakeman”.
On yesworld.com, the official website for Yes, Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, and Billy Sherwood thank their fans for their support and talk about the upcoming Yestival tour:
“To all our incredible fans,
Last night was truly a special evening for us. We can’t thank you enough for all the continued support you’ve shown us throughout the decades and for helping to get YES into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Thank you, as well, to Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee from RUSH for the wonderful induction, and to Geddy for the amazing bass playing on “Roundabout”. What a tribute to Chris!
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone this summer on the YESTIVAL tour. And contrary to what you may have heard, YES has no plans to tour with the guys from ARW next year.
We do, however, have our own exciting plans to celebrate YES’s 50th Anniversary in 2018, which we will announce this summer during our 2017 YESTIVAL Tour.”
The North American YESTIVAL Tour will feature YES, Todd Rundgren and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy. Presales & Onsales begin April 13th & 14th. The dates are listed at Yesworld.com
Progarchy 