Viva Prog Rock

[baptizum]

For example, Pink Floyd is not a progrock band.

well, they definitely have prog rock albums.

have you heard animals? about as traditional proggy as it gets

and bands like amt def still adhere to prog principals. long indulgent ever changing songs, concept albums.

Of course I've heard Animals. I heard them play it at Madison Sq. Garden in '77. PF isn't - for me - complex enough to be a progrock band.

maybe its just me, but i dont think prog demands a certain level of proficiency, but rather describes a style and approach

[7/4]

Prog demands a certain level of energy too. PF isn't much of an energetic band. There is also not much of a fusion of styles happening in PF.

[AndrewHill]

Prog demands a certain level of energy too. PF isn't much of an energetic band. There is also not much of a fusion of styles happening in PF.

I can testify to how sluggish Pink Floyd are when I saw them on the Momentary Lapse of Reason tour (insert yawn)

[baptizum]

dont get me wrong. pink floyd kinda suck. i just always considered them prog. never been a fan of traditional prog anyway though

[Aggie87]

From an interview here:

Music Street Journal: What's going on with King Crimson these days?

Pat Mastelotto: Robert has made the call to start up again and, while nothing is fixed we are planning to begin rehearsals next year - a few weeks at a time and lead up to some residence gigs, no long tours, and at this point Robert doesn't want to play outside the USA. We will be a 5 piece and i think you know 4 of us. In fact I'm sure you know the 5th man too (an incredible drummer that i will be delighted to work with). I think you'll have to tune in to Robert's diary over at the DGM site and await the official announcement.

The 4 would be Fripp, Belew, Levin, and Mastelotto. There's some speculation in some Porcupine Tree circles that the fifth member may be Gavin Harrison, PT's drummer. Fripp did some work with Harrison earlier this year, back in May.

From DGM:

Ending weeks of speculation in various online communities, Robert Fripp has revealed in his latest online diary that drummer Gavin Harrison (of Porcupine Tree) will be joining King Crimson.

The band will be playing a series of live dates in Chicago’s Park West – most recently the venue to RF and the LoCG appearance in the windy city. Fripp notes “Park West is a fave venue, and one I have been working for 27 years. The LCG were here in 1989 & 1990…This is also the venue where, according to our current plans for King Crimson’s return to active-service in 2008, preparatory to the 40th. Anniversary Celebration of 2009, The Beast Of Crim will be playing a 4-night residency in August 2008 with KC’s third double-drumming formation.

The first formation: Jamie Muir & Bill Bruford (1972-73);

the second formation: Pat Mastelotto & Bill Bruford (1994-97);

the third formation: Pat Mastelotto & Gavin Harrison.

A fourth double-drumming formation, of 1981-84 (Adrian & Billy B), doesn’t quite count as Adrian’s primary focus was in the front line.”

Harrison is one of the most respected drummers of his generation, adding a prodigious technique to the work of Porcupine Tree as well collaborating with Jakko Jakszyk on The Bruised Romantic Glee Club, and most recently, Drop – an album with bassist and singer, 05Ric and also featuring contributions from Fripp. Some may recall Drop was featured as a DGMLive giveaway (see my review on the blog), perhaps hinting at Harrison's proposed involvement. Only DGMLive regular, Chocolatefireguard, spotted the listing on King Crimson's myspace site: the top four musicians have been there for a couple of months now.

More details will be announced regarding rehearsal schedules and ticket availability as soon as we get them.

[BFrank]

... Robert Fripp has revealed in his latest online diary that drummer Gavin Harrison (of Porcupine Tree) will be joining King Crimson.

This makes total sense as PT certainly has some serious KC influences.

[WD45]

I see they have reissued King Crimson's The Great Deceiver boxed set as two double-disc sets. Wooo! I traded that for some unknown reason some time ago. Can't wait to have it back!

[7/4]

The post Y2K return of UK.

Wow, with Trey Gunn! Could be very interesting!

I pretty much expect to be disappointed.

...and now they give me a chance not to be disappointed. From the UKZ web site:

"With the escalating union strikes, Los Angeles is a precarious place to stage a major event right now. There is a ripple effect that impacts the whole community. Furthermore, the album is still a few months away from release and we decided it would be better if more people knew our music ahead of time. Both issues have factored into the decision."

[Stefan Wood]

This is a fantastic prog album, released late in 1978:

Edited November 22, 2007 by Stefan Wood

[Aggie87]

Now here's something that would be interesting:

"Our friends in the US should make a note in their diaries, so that they don't miss the very popular NBC TV programme, Saturday Night Live. Scheduled to appear on the February 2nd show is Roger Waters, due to perform - certainly with Snowy White, possibly with his full band. Exact details of what they are to perform haven't been confirmed yet. However, current rumours are that with the current writers' strike in the US, Roger will be performing the whole of Dark Side Of The Moon!

The show airs at 11:30pm EST/10:30pm Central, but check local listings for when it airs in your area. Our thanks to Renate from the Snowy White fan club for the initial info. "

The WHOLE of Dark Side!!!

Somehow that's hard to believe though.

[7/4]

Now here's something that would be interesting:

"Our friends in the US should make a note in their diaries, so that they don't miss the very popular NBC TV programme, Saturday Night Live. Scheduled to appear on the February 2nd show is Roger Waters, due to perform - certainly with Snowy White, possibly with his full band. Exact details of what they are to perform haven't been confirmed yet. However, current rumours are that with the current writers' strike in the US, Roger will be performing the whole of Dark Side Of The Moon!

The show airs at 11:30pm EST/10:30pm Central, but check local listings for when it airs in your area. Our thanks to Renate from the Snowy White fan club for the initial info. "

The WHOLE of Dark Side!!!

Somehow that's hard to believe though.

I heard about this a few hours ago. I wonder who would be in the band...

This could be interesting!

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

YEAH

RIGHT

roger waters is gonna play all of dark side of the moon on SNL- in your dreams

[Shawn]

This is one of those "don't take on face value bands". Yes, they play metal, but this is not your garden variety stuff. This is technically brilliant music that still retains it's balls. These cats have listened to their share of progressive rock over the years, you can hear everything from Yes or King Crimson influences to Iron Maiden & VoiVod re imaginings. 30 second samples won't do this justice but it's worth investigating for prog fans that don't mind a little aggression mixed in....

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

you said FACE VALUE

So you finally came right out and said it girl

What took you so long

It was in your eyes, that look's been there for too long

I'm waiting in line

Would you say if I was wasting my time

Or did I miss again

I think I missed again oh

I think about it from time to time

When I'm lonely and on my own

I try to forget and yet, still rush to the telephone

I'm waiting in line

Would you say if I was wasting my time

Or did I miss again

I think I missed again oh

Or did I miss again

I think I missed again oh

Well it feels like something you want so bad

Then you think you've got it, but it's something you already had

You can feel it all around you, but it's something you just can't touch

And I feel it coming at me

I can feel it coming at me

Or did I miss again

I think I missed again oh

Or did I miss again

I think I missed again

I'm waiting in line, but would you say if I was wasting my time

Or did I miss again...

[7/4]

Anyway, I tried getting into Yes, but never found them as interesting as the Gabriel-era Genesis. I did like Gentle Giant though. It just seemed to me at the time that every other prog band I listened to were "doing it just to do it" if you know what I mean. Genesis always seemed to be doing it because that's the music they HAD to create together. The records just sound natural, like they were meant to be that way instead of forced.

It's weird, I know.

What about Close To The Edge? I'd rate it their best album or at least this year I would.

Remember this always.

[7/4]

Now here's something that would be interesting:

"Our friends in the US should make a note in their diaries, so that they don't miss the very popular NBC TV programme, Saturday Night Live. Scheduled to appear on the February 2nd show is Roger Waters, due to perform - certainly with Snowy White, possibly with his full band. Exact details of what they are to perform haven't been confirmed yet. However, current rumours are that with the current writers' strike in the US, Roger will be performing the whole of Dark Side Of The Moon!

The show airs at 11:30pm EST/10:30pm Central, but check local listings for when it airs in your area. Our thanks to Renate from the Snowy White fan club for the initial info. "

The WHOLE of Dark Side!!!

Somehow that's hard to believe though.

Didn't happen. It was a nice thought....

[7/4]

[WD45]

The new album from neo-prog The Mars Volta is pretty interesting & intense...

[Aggie87]

King Crimson tour dates, from DGM:

Wednesday 6th August, Park West, Chicago

Thursday 7th August, Park West, Chicago

Friday 8th August Park West, Chicago

Monday 11th August, Keswick Theater, Philadelphia

Tuesday 12th August, Keswick Theater, Philadelphia

Thursday 14th August, Nokia Theater, New York

Friday 15th August, Nokia Theater, New York

Saturday 16th August, Nokia Theater, New York

I'm hoping they'll add some additional dates!

[Aggie87]

This looks like it might be interesting. From DGM Live -

"The new album by Travis & Fripp entitled "Thread" has been mixed and mastered though no release date has been finalised yet.

The track listing is as follows:

1. Land beyond the forest (4.23)

2. The apparent chaos of blue (8.50)

3. As snow falls (14.00)

4. Before then (6.22)

5. One whirl (2.39)

6. The silence beneath (8.36)

7. Curious liquids (3.14)

8. The unspoken (5.22)

9. Pastorale (10.40)

Theo travis – alto flute, soprano sax

Robert fripp – guitar

All tracks composed and arranged by Theo Travis & Robert Fripp

Recorded by David Singleton at DGM Soundworld, Wiltshire on 5 January 2007. Editing, treatments and mix by Steven Wilson at no mans land on 6 September 2007 and 22 January 2008. Mastered by steven wilson at no mans land"

I'm guessing this will be soundscape-y.

[7/4]

I guess this is the man: http://www.theotravis.com/

[edski]

WD45, I recently discovered The Mars Volta and am enjoying the new one "Bedlam in Goliath" (actually I picked it up after seeing the album art and listening to a few samples) as well as "Frances the Mute" - I just ordered the remaining studio albums (from yourmusic) and d/l the "tremulant" ep from emusic.

The music is very interesting and the lyrics (like any good prog rock) are indecipherable. I know they have their detractors, but I find them very intriguing.

[A Lark Ascending]

I guess this is the man: http://www.theotravis.com/

Came out late last year with Fripp on some tracks. I think this new release is a development of those sessions.

A really nice proggy/jazz-rock album - the guitarist in the band, Mike Outram, is especially good. Although Travis has mainly played in a jazz context, he wears his prog influences on his sleeve. He's worked with Gong quite a bit and has replaced Elton Dean in the Soft Machine Legacy band (not sure how permanently).

[7/4]

Yes Reveals 'Very Different' New Material

May 01, 2008, 1:35 PM ET

Gary Graff, Detroit

Billboard

Even as it prepares for its 40th anniversary tour this summer, Yes is working on new material, frontman Jon Anderson has revealed to Billboard.com.

Anderson says the progressive rock heroes are preparing four new songs of the "opus" variety -- lengthy, multi-movement compositions along the lines of "Close to the Edge" and "Tales From Topographic Oceans."

"They're very, very different," Anderson says. "It'll be interesting when we perform them, because we know that we want to try and perform them in a unique fashion."

But Anderson adds that he's not sure those songs will wind up comprising Yes' first set of new material since 2001's "Magnification."

"Putting together an album really isn't logical anymore," he notes. "Putting together a large piece of music or something that is really a jump in a musical direction takes a lot of commitment from everybody.... But maybe during the tour we will discuss making some new music."

Anderson says he'd also be amenable to some sort of reunion of the Yes lineup that made the group's triple-platinum 1983 smash "90125" as well as 1987's "Big Generator" and 1994's "Talk."

He and Trevor Rabin, the guitarist and co-producer in that incarnation of the band, have been in discussions about "maybe touring some of that '80s-period music, because it was very special."

But Anderson says he and Rabin aren't necessarily thinking about resurrecting that version of Yes as a recording entity.

"I wouldn't do it, like, Yes," Anderson explains. "I'd do it like me and Trevor aspiring to be the two of us making music and see what we come up with.

The Yes anniversary tour kicks off July 12 at the Festival d'ete de Quebec in Quebec City.

[7/4]

June 4, 2008

Yes Says No Tour as Singer Stricken

By REUTERS

Filed at 5:31 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British progressive-rock band Yes said on Wednesday it canceled its upcoming 40th anniversary tour of North America because singer Jon Anderson has been diagnosed with acute respiratory failure.

Anderson, 63, was hospitalized last month after a severe asthma attack, and doctors have told him that he will jeopardize his health unless he rests for at least six months, according to a statement.

"I'd like everyone know how deeply disappointed I am by this turn of events," Anderson said. "I was looking forward to celebrating our music with the amazing family of Yes fans once again; but as we all know, health must come before anything else."

The tour, the band's first trek through North America since 2004, was scheduled to begin on July 12 in Quebec City, and run through August 22 in Los Angeles.

Anderson, the band's main lyricist, and bass player Chris Squire are the only original members of the group, which has undergone numerous personnel shifts since it launched to immediate critical acclaim in 1968. Its hit songs included "Roundabout," "I've Seen All Good People" and the 1983 U.S. chart-topper "Owner of a Lonely Heart."