We’ve reached our 999th post just four months shy of our second anniversary. Our progarchist (also a novelist, DPRP.net reviewer, as well as an all-around incredible guy) Eric Perry prompted me to write something for this auspicious occasion.
And, really, I would be a fool not to follow Eric’s advice on this or any thing else.
First, a huge thanks to all of the progarchists. Not a single one of us gets paid for any of this, but, as you can see, each and every member of the progarchy writing team gives her or his heart and soul to the endeavor. So much time, devotion, and dedication.
Progarchists might be faulted for being more enthusiastic than critical, but no one could fault us for not caring or for not putting forth our best. I am honored to write with such friends and allies in this world. Indeed, I’m more than a bit humbled to think that whatever powers that exist decided I’d get to share an existence with these fine folks.
Second, I want to thank the bands and individuals of the music community for being so open to us. We realize that every time you send us something, you do so as an act of faith. Not only do you spend an immense amount of your own money and your time to share your art with us, but you also extend to us your most sacred thoughts and ideas, your very creations from the very depths of your being.
Not only have we tried to treat your art with all the respect it demands, but we have done so by pledging that we will attempt to write as well as you construct, perform, and record your music.
Third, an equally immense thanks to all of our readers. Of course, you’re a most diverse group, and you come from every single part of the world, though the vast majority of readers come, understandably, from the U.K., the U.S., and other English speaking countries. We’re happy to have every one of you, and we thank you profoundly for allowing us to be a part of your lives. As of this writing, every single post goes via email to 1,951 of you. Another 200-1,500 readers visit us each day, depending on topic, day of the week, etc.
Though we founded progarchy—in large part—as a way to promote Big Big Train and The Tangent—we have, I think, added to this list while not neglecting our original desire to advance the art of Spawton, Tillison, and compatriots.
A final thanks to the labels, the promoters, and the PR women and men who have helped us in innumerable ways. Right off, I can think of Karisma, Glass Onyon, Fresno, Kscope, Cherry Red, Bad Elephant, Sally Collier, Chris Thompson (now retired), Billy James, Brian Rocha, Cleopatra, English Electric, and many others.
Our first post hit the web on October 11, 2012. So, we’re not quite two years old. Yet, so much has happened in the prog rock world since then. Already, the market was being saturated with prog releases and prog-related releases. Progarchists joked that we were drinking from the fire hose.
As of June 2014, this hasn’t subsided. But, the quality and expectations have risen dramatically. There really can no longer be any such thing as just “another release.” For an album to qualify as excellent or even very good, it has to reach a VERY different standard than it did only three years ago. Releases from Big Big Train, The Tangent, Cosmograf, and Glass Hammer especially have almost completely remade the genre. Not only are these bands and others releasing albums of the highest calibre, they have taken the genre to levels unimagined even during the first wave of Genesis, King Crimson, Yes, etc. Truly, there is progress.
We are, as mentioned earlier, absolutely thrilled to play any role—no matter how large or small—during this great moment of art, music, and history.
was one of the biggest literary hits of the year when it came out in 2011. First-time novelist 
Progarchy 