Tag: Prog magazine

We love you, Teamrock and Jerry Ewing!!!!

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock4 Comments

prog-share-logoOnly moments ago, I learned that Teamrock (parent company of PROG and CLASSIC ROCK magazines) has gone under.  Lots of really talented folks are out of work as of today.  For what it’s worth, I am so terribly sorry to know this.  Jerry has been a solid and kind friend to us, and he and his team have brought me (and I’m sorry all of us) hours and hours of entertainment and news.  I was always struck by how professional the layout, the writing, and the art at PROG was.  Perfectionists, all.  They deserve better than this.

Here are a few news stories on the web.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-38370464

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/business/business-news/73-jobs-lost-publisher-team-9486316

For what it’s worth, Teamrock, we love you and thank you for everything you’ve done for us, and we wish you nothing but the absolute best.

Susie Bogdanowicz: Best Female Vocalist, 2016

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment
susie
Susie Bogdanowicz

Dear Progarchists,

Prog Magazine, led by the ever-amazing Jerry Ewing, has asked for a vote of the best of 2016 in a variety of categories.  The Prog Readers Poll, as Ewing describes it:

Here’s your chance to vote in the Prog 2016 Readers’ Poll.  2016 might not be year many of us will remember too findlay, for a variety of reasons. But music is the great leveller, and in music we all seek the great escape. Having just compiled our Critics’ Choice album of the year list, and casting an eye back over the past 12 months, then maybe 2016 did have something going for it… There were great new albums from Marillion, Opeth,Big Big Train, iamthemorning, Radiohead and more. Vibrant gigs from Haken, Public Service Broadcasting, Dream Theater and others. And new arrivals on the scene like Kylver, The Anchoress, Teramaze. Oh, and some blokes called Anderson Rabin Wakeman… Maybe 2016 wasn’t too bad after all… So who made your 2016 a real prog rocker? Let us know – you can fill in the form on Page 25 of the current issue of Prog. or you can e-mail us your picks for the following categories. Use the subject Line ‘Readers’ Poll 2016′, and e-mail your choices to progpoll@teamrock.com.

We’ve never (and I’ve never) done anything like this before, but I ask that you consider voting for Susie Bogdanowicz of Glass Hammer as BEST FEMALE VOCALIST.  I’ve been praising her vocals for well over a decade now, and I find that she simply gets better and better, though I did not think this possible when I first heard her voice.  Her lead vocals on this year’s VALKYRIE by Glass Hammer are nothing less than astounding.  Indeed, I consider her the single best voice in all of rock (in every form) today.

In case you’re in doubt, however, I’ll let you decide for yourself.  Here she is, singing a prog classic.

Dare I note, she’s even better than the original vocalist!  Heresy, I know.  Still, proof as well that Bogdanowicz deserves best female prog vocalist of 2016.

Thanks!  Yours, Brad

Neal Morse Band Announce Epic Concept Album: “The Similitude of a Dream”

On By Bryan MoreyIn progressive rockLeave a comment

a072010e-c952-475b-955f-0d3386f1fcc7Courtesy of the folks over at Prog, the Neal Morse Band officially announced their upcoming double concept album, The Similitude of a Dream. According to Morse, the concept is loosely based upon the beginning of John Bunyan’s classic story, Pilgrim’s Progress. The first song released, “Long Day/Overture,” features both the quiet and proggy sides of Neal Morse’s career. From the get-go, this song captures your attention and leaves you wanting more. It is definitely one of the proggiest new songs I’ve heard this year.

The Neal Morse Band is made up of, obviously, Neal Morse, as well as Mike Portnoy, Randy George (bass), Bill Hubauer (keyboards), and Eric Gillette, who is quickly proving himself to be one of the best guitarists in the prog world.

Mike Portnoy has said that this is the greatest album of his entire career, even surpassing Dream Theater’s classic Scenes From a Memory. He has gone so far as to compare The Similitude of a Dream to The Who’s Tommy, Genesis’ The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, and Pink Floyd’s The Wall. Those are bold words, and time will certainly judge whether or not those statements are true. If the first song is any indication, though, this album may very well be the best yet by Neal Morse.

The album is set for release on November 11, but you can pre-order the album from Radiant Records now: http://www.radiantrecords.com/products/634-the-neal-morse-band-the-similitude-of-a-dream.aspx.

The band embarks on a four month tour across the US, Canada, and Europe (and a show in Israel) in the beginning of 2017.

 

Time to PROG the Vote

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

It’s that time of year again–the time to vote for the best in progressive rock music over at the majestic Jerry Ewing’s PROG.

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http://2016.prog.awards.teamrock.com

Stephen Humphries: Clerk of the Gods

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock musicLeave a comment
The Art of Rush. Text by Stephen Humphries.
The Art of Rush. Text by Stephen Humphries.

This morning I had the chance to read through Stephen Humphries website: http://stephenhumphries.blogspot.com

What a treat.  Yet another reason to love the weekend.

If you don’t follow him, you should.  Humphries is not only a great writer, but he’s also a great thinker.  Not surprisingly, Rush turned to him recently to write the text for the new Hugh Syme book, The Art of Rush.

Humphries seemingly has connections to every one in the prog world.  Anyway, check out his website.  His interviews are especially good.

The Gentle Storm at PROG Magazine

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock musicLeave a comment

Don’t miss the preview of The Gentle Storm’s first song released from the new album.

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As PROG writes:

Exclusive: View lyric video from Arjen Lucassen and Anneke van Giersbergen collaboration

Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen and former The Gathering singer Anneke van Giersbergen and have premiered Endless Sea, the first track from their Gentle Storm project, with Prog and TeamRock.

It’s taken from their album The Diary, set for release on March 23 via InsideOut.

The launch will be supported with a European tour including three UK dates,although Lucassen won’t hit the road with van Giersbergen, backing vocalist Marcela Bovoi, guitarist Merel Bechtold, guitarist Ferry Duijsens, keyboardist Joost van der Broek, bassist Johan van Stratum and drummer Ed Warby.

The Diary is set in the 17th century and tells the story of a Dutch sailor and his wife, separated by his two-year voyage, and the letters they write to each other.

The leading duo say of Endless Sea: “The album opener serves as an introduction to our story-based album. Susanne, the main character, sings about her husband Joseph, who has just sailed out on another long voyage to the Far East. We are very excited to offer everybody a first taste – this is such a special album to the both of us.”

Lucassen guests with van Giersbergen on a run of acoustic shows next month, and takes part in the “unintentional supergroup’s” first show in the Netherlands on March 26.

THE GENTLE STORM UK DATES

Apr 23: London Garage

Apr 24: Leicester Musician

Apr 25: Manchester Roadhouse

To see the video, go here and scroll to the bottom of the page.  Enjoy!   http://prog.teamrock.com/news/2015-01-20/gentle-storm-lucassen-giersbergen-endless-sea-diary

Happily PROG-ed.

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock music2 Comments

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August 11, 2014

Well, I admit it. Freely admit it. I was more than wrong.

Last week, I was pretty much banging my head on the wall trying to get the new PROG iPad app to work. Despite following the instructions, I just couldn’t get the thing to work. By the way, for those of you who know me personally, you won’t be surprised that 1) I couldn’t get it to work; and 2) I was frustrated.

Strangely enough, some technology comes to me immediately, and I can flow gracefully through, with, and around it. Other technology confounds me and makes me feel like a total idiot. Generally, I get along well with computers, but, equally, I can’t figure out cell phones worth a . . . well, you get the idea.

Part of my frustration came from the obvious fact that PROG is my favorite magazine, and I love basically everything that Jerry Ewing does.   So, I wanted my PROG!

After some very kind help from Ally at TeamRock this mornin, I was able to get my first new, improved, and enhanced issue of PROG.

And, holy schnikees, was it worth the wait. Using the same format as CLASSIC ROCK, the new PROG app allows for deep reading, support for hunting through the maze of web information surrounding a band or album, and, graphically, jumps off the page of the iPad. In other words, TeamRock has figured out what most traditional publishers still don’t understand—how to explore and utilize the possibilities of the iPad to their very limits. Good for them. And, great for us.

So, I didn’t get immediate gratification last week. I am now more than satiated. Thank you, Jerry and Ally. Thank you very, very much.

My faith is restored. Yours, Brad

Jerry Ewing: Prog the Vote!

On By bradbirzerIn Jerry EwingLeave a comment

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To vote, go here.