Tag: Roie Avin

Tom Woods, Roie Avin, Prog. People. . . what more do you want!!!

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

tom logo

This week, I had the great and grand pleasure of speaking with Tom Woods and Roie Avin about the state of progressive rock music.  As you all should know, Tom Woods is an absolute genius–especially on all matters political, cultural, and economic.  That’s his razor-sharp logic side.  But, he’s also a romantic and a huge prog fan.

avin book
A must own.  It belongs on the shelf of every progger.

Roie Avin, as you all should know as well, is the founder of one of the best prog sites on the web, Prog Report, and the author of one of the best books ever written about rock or prog, Essential Modern Progressive Rock.  

If you don’t own it, you must.

Ok, so a bit of bias here.  Tom is one of my three or four closest friends, and, though, Roie and I have never met, I have been following him rather closely for the past five years.  The three of us, I think, had a blast.  So, here’s hoping you do as well.

https://tomwoods.com/bonus-ep-1204-without-this-music-your-life-is-worse/

 

Insideout News

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock2 Comments

New Releases from Haken, Fates Warning, The Sea Within and Devin Townsend Project!
This summer marks the release of exciting new albums from InsideOut Music, including live albums from Devin Townsend Project, Fates Warning and Haken, plus the debut album from the newly-formed The Sea Within.
Each band is available for interviews, so please let me know if you are interested in setting up a call or if you need the music for any reviews.
If you have missed any of the news on these releases, here is a recap.

Haken – L-1VE, June 22nd – ‘L-1VE’ is the band’s first ever live album. Following the release of the bands much-acclaimed fourth studio album ‘Affinity’, they embarked upon their 10th anniversary tour across Europe & North America. Recorded and filmed on April 13th, 2017, at the legendary Melkweg venue on the Amsterdam stop of that tour, this represents the band’s first ever live document with tracks from across their discography.

Check out the video for “in Memoriam” (Live): https://youtu.be/fRiFrVaoEGM

The Sea Within – self-titled, June 22nd – The Sea Within is the new art-rock collective comprised of Roine Stolt(Transatlantic, The Flower Kings), Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain of Salvation), Jonas Reingold (Steve Hackett, The Flower Kings, Karmakanic, The Tangent), Tom Brislin (Yes Symphonic, Renaissance, Spiraling, Deborah Harry) & Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Steven Wilson, UK, Joe Satriani) along with vocalist Casey McPherson with guests such as Jordan Rudess and Jon Anderson making appearances.

Watch the video for “Ashes of Dawn” here: https://youtu.be/nIAQZiSPAHM

Fates Warning – Live Over Europe – June 29th – Culled from the group’s most recent European headlining run for FATES WARNING’s much acclaimed latest studio album “Theories Of Flight” in January 2018, “Live Over Europe” includes recordings from 8 different cities (Aschaffenburg / Germany, Belgrade / Serbia, Thessaloniki and Athens / Greece, Rome and Milan / Italy, Budapest / Hungary as well as Ljubljana / Slovenia) and a total of 23 songs in over 138 minutes of playing time, spanning 30 years of the group’s seminal career.

Check out “The Light and Shade of Things” here: https://youtu.be/rvT6GyrrhG4

Devin Townsend Project – Ocean Machine:Live at the Ancient Roman Theatre Plovdiv’ – July 6th – The concert film from the special show at the Ancient Roman Theatre in Plovdiv, Bulgaria on September 22nd, 2017,, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the landmark Ocean Machine album in full, as well as a set of fan-requested tracks alongside the Orchestra of Plovdiv State Opera.

Watch DTP perform the track ‘Truth’ here: https://youtu.be/jhHxvAgjvEo

All albums are available at: www.insideoutmusicshop.com

Roie Avin, ESSENTIAL PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUMS (Book Review)

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock2 Comments
avin book
Avin’s latest, ESSENTIAL MODERN PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUMS.

Yes, I want to break into song.  I just recently rewatched THE SOUND OF MUSIC with my two oldest daughters.  I’d forgotten what a great joy the whole movie is, and how satisfying it is that the family outwitted the Nazis.  As their followers, the alt-nuts grow in audacity in America, I hope the descendants of Captain Von Trapp continue to thwart their efforts.

What does any of this have to do with Roie Avin’s latest book, Essential Modern Progressive Rock Albums: Images and Words Behind Prog’s Most Celebrated Albums, 1990-2016 (phew—what a title!!!) you ask?  Ok, a legitimate question.

However, I can answer it simply, if not somewhat goofily.

Books and prog?  Well, these are a few of my favorite things!  Imagine how great it is when there are books written about prog albums and prog albums written about books!  Heaven.  Pure, heaven.  Almost as good as dancing across the Alps with the family Von Trapp!

Continue reading “Roie Avin, ESSENTIAL PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUMS (Book Review)” →

Best Prog of 2016, Part IV (and Final)

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment
kc-beat
One of the many Steven Wilson remixed albums.  And, one of the best.  Beat.

Well, I must admit, I am a bit sorry to have taken so long to get all my “best of 2016” out.  Four parts is outrageous, even by prog standards.  Too much music, too little time, too many keys on my keyboard!

So, the final part of 2016 list is nothing less than a bit of cleanup, an attempt to give coherence to a number of disparate things.

First, I want to offer a huge thanks to all of you for reading Progarchy and also to all of our writers.  Obviously, we do what we do for love, not profit.  But, it’s truly a community effort.  Again, a profound thank you–to all members of the progarchy community.

Second, I’d like to single out three companies for making reviewing so much easier than it might otherwise be.  An amazing slap on the back to Roie Avin and Jeff Wagner at Insideout!  Incredible guys, incredible company.  Another loud and hearty shout out to Brian Rocha of Fresno Media not only for his wit and friendship, but also for all of his excellent support.  And, again to Steve Babb of Sound Resources (Glass Hammer).

Third, there are a few musical releases from 2016 that don’t fit easily into the lists I’ve offered thus far.

One album I’ve thoroughly enjoyed but have not had long enough to offer it a place within my lists is The Gift’s latest album, WHY THE SEA IS SALT.  It’s extraordinary, and I very much look forward to spending more time with it.

I must also recognize Steven Wilson’s ep, 4.5, and The Tangent’s single, “A Few Steps Down the Wrong Road.”  Each is simply outstanding.

Finally, this year’s progarchy audiophile award goes to Steven Wilson for his work remixing so many classic albums.  Indeed, Wilson has remixed so many, it’s becoming hard to keep track of them all.  But, I’d like to single out the ones that meant so much to me this year: Jethro Tull’s STAND UP and AQUALUNG; XTC’s SKYLARKING; King Crimson’s BEAT; and Yes’s TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS.

John Wesley–A Week from Today

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment
InsideOut Music Header
John Wesley launches new track ‘to outrun the light’

 
Renowned singer / songwriter & guitarist John Wesley is set to release his forthcoming 8th studio album ‘a way you’ll never be’ on October 7th, 2016 on InsideOut Music. Following the recent launch of the track ‘by the light of a sun’, he is now pleased to reveal the next new track, the atmospheric seven minutes long ‘to outrun the light’. 
You can watch the lyric video for it here: 


John had this say: “The lyrics in this song try and touch upon that moment when you know your life is going to change forever and there is nothing you can do about it. You begin to question your own identity. You look back on all the years invested and fear that everything you thought you knew, was wrong to begin with. You wonder if perhaps, you have, “outrun the light”.”
 
Pre-order the album digitally from iTunes or AmazonMP3, and receive both ‘to outrun the light’ and ‘by the light of a sun’ immediately:
 
 
Listen to ‘by the light of a sun’ now here: 
 
‘a way you’ll never be’ was produced by Jim Morris at the legendary Morrisound Studios and you can find the full track-listing below:
 
1. by the light of a sun (5:32) 
2. a way you’ll never be (7:18) 
3. to outrun the light (7:07) 
4. the revolutionist (5:57) 
5. nada (5:41) 
6. the silence in coffee (5:09) 
7. unsafe space (4:17) 
8. sun.a.rose (6:44) 
9. epic (4:51) 
10. pointless endeavors (03:38)
 
The album will be available in Digipak CD, Digital Download.
  
 
John Wesley has built a long and varied career as a songwriter, guitarist, and recording artist. His music has been called lyrically sensitive and musically dynamic. His song-writing style incorporates emotionally-charged vocals that evoke the honesty and intimacy of Roger Waters and Patty Griffin coupled with a melodic yet intricate guitar style reminiscent of David Gilmour, Alex Lifeson, and Jeff Beck. John Wesley has performed as guitarist/vocalist for critically acclaimed UK based recording act Porcupine Tree, during the “In Absentia”, “Deadwing”, “Fear of a Blank Planet”, and “The Incident” world tours with whom he played with for nine years, culminating in 2010 with sold out performances at Radio City Music Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. 
 
In support of the album, John will head out as support to Marillion & Steven Wilson in the US & Canada and you can find the full list of dates below:
 
With Marillion
Friday 21 October 2016 – The Regency Ballroom San Francisco, CA, USA
 Saturday 22 October 2016 – Saban Theater Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, CA, USA
Tuesday 25 October 2016 – Paramount Theatre Denver, CO, USA
Thursday 27 October 2016 – Vic Theatre Chicago, IL, USA
Friday 28 October 2016 – Vic Theatre Chicago, IL, USA
Saturday 29 October 2016 – Hard Rock Live Northfield, OH, USA
Monday 31 October 2016 – Danforth Music Hall Toronto, ON, Canada
Tuesday 1 November 2016 – Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre Montreal, QC, Canada
Wednesday 2 November 2016 – L’Impérial Bell Québec, QC, Canada
Friday 4 November 2016 – Royale Boston Boston, MA, USA
Saturday 5 November 2016 – 9:30 Club Washington, DC, USA
 Sunday 6 November 2016 – Keswick Theatre Philadelphia, PA, USA
 Tuesday 8 November 2016 – Playstation Theater New York, NY, USA
 
With Steven Wilson
Thursday 17 November 2016 – Center Stage Atlanta, GA, USA
Friday 18 November 2016 – The Plaza Live Orlando, FL, USA
Saturday 19 November – State Theatre Tampa, FL, USA
Sunday 20 November – Culture Room Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
 
 
Look out for more information on the album in the coming weeks.
 
Discography:
1994 – Under the Red and White Sky
1995 – The Closing of the Pale Blue Eyes
1998 – The Emperor Falls
2002 – Chasing Monsters
2005 – Shiver
2011 – The Lilypad Suite
2014 – Disconnect
2016 – a way you’ll never be
 

Neal Morse Band: aLIVE again

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment
ALIVE-AGAIN-COVER-LOW+REZ
Forthcoming, August 2016

The amazing new Neal Morse Band “Alive Again” DVD/2CD Set and Blu-ray will now be released worldwide August 5th.  Pre-orders will begin 9:00 a.m. CDT June 21st.

Radiant’s Special Offer! The first 100 pre-orders of either version will receive a tour setlist signed by the whole band. This rare exclusive collectors item is only available through RadiantRecords.com

 

Track Listing

CD 1

1    Alive Again Intro
2    The Call
3    Leviathan
4    The Grand Experiment
5    Harm’s Way
6    Bill’s Keyboard Solo
7    The Creation
8    There Is Nothing That God Can’t Change

Total Time  65:22

CD 2

1    Waterfall
2    Eric’s Gtr Solo
3    In The Fire
4    Alive Again
5    Rejoice
6    Oh Lord, My God
7    Reunion
8    King Jesus

Total Time   73:50

Riding on the tremendous success of their breakthrough album, The Grand Experiment, The Neal Morse Band set out on a tremendously successful world tour in the spring of 2015. Neal Morse and Mike Portnoy have teamed up with Randy George, Eric Gillette, and Bill Hubauer to create one of the greatest progressive rock bands of all time. Full stop. The Alive Again package shows them at the top of their form performing for a rousing audience in Holland March 6, 2015.

Audio mixed by Rich Mouser

 “The Neal Morse Band is a force of nature. They have evolved into a great live band, one that is as good as there is in music and they really shine on this live set. The performances here are jaw-dropping and might have you giving a standing ovation from your couch.” – Roie Avin, The Prog Report

[N.B. progarchy loves the views of Roie Avin!]

[N.B.II, my only complaint is that this does not include a live version of “New Jerusalem,” the single greatest song Morse has written!]

 

A Few Changes to PROGARCHY

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock music2 Comments

bbt (1)Dear Readers,

First, as always, thank you!  As we’re only about a week and a half from our 3rd birthday, it’s nice to remember how much you’ve supported us and allowed us to grow.  The growth has been steady, in terms of readership, and I think our writing just gets better and better.  And, we’re getting to a point at which we’re having trouble getting everything reviewed.  Not a bad problem to have.

Regardless, thank you so much for the kind support you’ve shown.

Second, you’ve probably noticed the layout of the site is different.  This is most likely a temporary layout, and we’ll keep shifting things around until we’re satisfied.  I (Brad) have almost no training in design, and I have even less training in website creation.  We’ve been using WordPress templates thus far, but we’ve found these too limiting as we’ve grown.  As of today, we’ll be working with a third-party web provider, one that specializes in WordPress sites.  I’m not exactly sure how this transition will work, but I have faith in the provider.  Already, they’ve proven quite excellent in customer relations.  If there’s a problem, it’s that my 48-year old brain can’t quite get the terminology down.  But, it will come.  Much like the graying of my hair.

Third, you’re seeing our first ad appearing at the top of the page.  Don’t worry, we won’t sell Chia pets or anything “As Seen on TV.”  Promise.  We’ll only accept ads for and from companies that believe in art, integrity, and, of course, understandably, profit.  We’re not anti-market.  Quite the opposite, actually, but we want the market to produce the best.  The best for the artist and the best for the listener.

Consequently, we’re extremely proud to work with InsideOut.  This is a real company, this is a real label.  One that has promoted some of the very best of Third-Wave Prog.  Already, relations with Jeff Wagner and Roie Avin have been nothing short of outstanding.  I’m rather excited to get to know each of them better and to promote the truly artistic and quality work each embodies and represents.  Please join us in supporting InsideOut whenever and wherever possible.

I’m very much looking forward to all that is coming in our fourth year.

Thanks for enjoying the ride with us!

Yours, Brad (ed.)