Meshuggah drummer Tomas Haake shared an update on the band’s new album and future plans in general, telling Hayley Leggs during a recent interview: “We’ll do a few more shows now in the summer, and then we’ll do probably South America in the fall. And apart from that, we don’t really know at this point. “We’re…
via Next MESHUGGAH Album Won’t Come Before 2020 — Prog Sphere
Planning to travel is an emotional, physical and financial commitment to drop your life and go out to these healing ceremonies aka Tears for Fears concerts for long stretches at a time. The comforting twist in this year’s plans were the postponed shows were already re-booked and online with lightening speed while many pondered and […]
via Fan Life – Reflections by Cindy P. — Tears and Kooks International (Tears for Fears Travel Fans)
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Mini Moogs: Micro Reviews, Part I
Some rather extraordinary physical CDs have arrived at progarchy HQ recently. Here’s a run-down of each, listed in no particular order—except how they’re stacked on my desk.
The top of the stack is from Estonia, Põhja Konn (meaning, in English, “The Dragon (or, strangely, enough “frog”) of the North”). This is pretty amazing prog, though I have no clue what the lyrics or the CD-booklet state. Embarrassingly enough, I thought the language was Finnish at first, only to realize—after some searching—that it’s Estonian. I must admit, I love the art of the packaging—a cross between an Phish’s JUNTA and Big Big Train’s THE UNDERFALL YARD. The music itself is unapologetically 1970s prog—with Squire-like bass, Howe-like guitar, and Banks-like keyboards. That I don’t understand the lyrics actually makes this release even more interesting, as it adds more than an element of mystery to this whole thing. Highly recommended.
On the 50th anniversary of The Doors’ classic Hello, I Love You, comes a 7” vinyl version of the single with its b-side Love Street.
This edition includes the mono radio mixes of the songs that were given exclusively to radio stations in 1968.
Pre-order for 3rd August release.
Yes at 20 Monroe Live, Grand Rapids Michigan, June 29, 2018
Before this past Friday, I’d seen Yes live three times: back in 1984 on the second leg of the 90125 tour; twenty years later on their 35th anniversary tour, which featured Rick Wakeman on keyboards and culminated with the recording of the Songs from Tsongas video; and at a 2011 club show with Benoit David singing that started rough, then picked up steam to become a genuinely thrilling night.
It was great to join fellow Progarchist Bryan Morey at Grand Rapids’ hot new club, where I’ve recently heard Marillion and Utopia, to catch Yes barnstorming through “Mitchigan” (Steve Howe’s onstage pronunciation) on their 50th anniversary tour. As Bryan mentioned in his review, they brought an excellent show to town — well structured and paced, showing off each band member to best advantage, wowing listeners with great ensemble playing and building to an encore that was tons of fun. My personal impressions follow:
Ayreon Universe: The Best of Ayreon Live (Mascot, 2018). In various forms-including CD, DVD, and/or Blu-Ray. Whichever version you purchase, you’ll get 30 tracks.
The stage is massive. The number of musicians is massive. The visuals are massive. The sound is massive. Some might even state—without exaggeration—that this whole thing is over the top. But, then, what do you expect? It’s part opera, which is always over the top. It’s part prog, which is always over the top. How could prog opera not be doubly over the top?
Then, of course, it’s all written by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, who is always over the top. Now, it must be at least triply over the top, right?
No, you’d be wrong.
Continue reading “Ayreon, Opera, Prog: Totally and Utterly Over the Top.”
Yes, Live at 20 Monroe Live, Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 29, 2018
Setlist:
Set 1
Intro: The Firebird Suite
Close To The Edge
Nine Voices (Longwalker)
Parallels
Mood For A Day
Leaves Of Green
Fly From Here, Part 1: We Can Fly
Sweet Dreams
Heart Of The Sunrise
Set 2
Perpetual Change
Does It Really Happen?
Soon
Awaken (featuring Alan White)
Encore (featuring Alan White and Tony Kaye)
Yours Is No Disgrace
Roundabout
Starship Trooper
Players: Steve Howe (guitars), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals, assorted instruments), Billy Sherwood (bass, backing vocals), Alan White (drums), Jay Schellen (drums), and special guest, Tony Kaye (keyboards)
Last night was my first time seeing Yes, and I got to see them with fellow Progarchist Rick Krueger and a couple of his friends. In the grand scheme of things, I’m a newcomer to Yes’ outstanding music, having started listening to them about five or six years ago. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to see Chris Squire live. Steve Howe was near the top of my list of people I wanted to see live, and I’m happy I had that opportunity last night. The show was amazing. The band was tight, and it was difficult to tell the difference between their live performance and the albums. The biggest difference was the bass actually boomed, unlike on the original recordings. Just looking at the setlist, you can tell this was a very long show. It started at 7:30pm and ended a few minutes shy of 10:30pm, with a 20 minute intermission. We got our money’s worth, to say the least.
Continue reading “Yes at 50 – Live at 20 Monroe Live, Grand Rapids, MI – 6/29/18”
It would be hard to find a more appropriate word to describe the outstanding music of Jason Rubenstein than “focus.” Focused, he most certainly is. And, we’re all the better for it.
This past week, Rubenstein released an EP, FOUR POINTS OF FOCUS, roughly eighteen minutes of deeply intelligent and cinematic instrumental music, all centered around piano.
The Elf King, Tom Timely, has finally released his new (old?) single on Youtube. Previously, I’d only found it on Facebook. Glad to see it more accessible.
Here’s what he wrote about it:
I’ve been a prog fan, perhaps the ULTIMATE prog fan for many years. In the 80’s I had a band called “The Elf King” but we never made it to the studio. Decades later I’ve finally recorded my first track, The Elf King which will hopefully later become the title track for my first album, The Elf King. It is my belief that music can literally transport you back in time, and that is what I am attempting with this recording. Remind yourself of an earlier time over and over…until it becomes your reality. Think of the things you could do if you had the key to unlock the past….You could change things! Some call it nostalgia, I call it the key. Check out my song and see if it takes you back.
Progarchy 