Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Talk Talk - New Grass (and maybe more to be Edited-In?)

Okay, I checked this piece out among a bunch of other Talk Talk tracks the last few days and I can claim this may be the 1st piece I am kind of "getting" from them.

It's not mind blowing or life-changing that I can tell to me, unlike many fans feeling about especially those last 3 Talk Talk albums; but it flows and it has enough of a nice Jazzy atmosphere that I follow the appeal without it dragging or seeming pretty boring (compared to many other pieces from Spirit of Eden and The Colour of Spring I have listened to).

Maybe Laughing Stock is the record that will work for me?

I dunno. I can see some of the better Sigur Ros work drawing from this.

I mean I don't expect to be grabbed by them suddenly like XTC did at 1 point for me, but I probably think giving more of their music more time could be worth it. Maybe even The Party's Over and It's My Life given they are more New Wave/80's Pop stylistically I guess.


Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Foals - Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost: Part 1 and Part 2 (2018-2019)

2/26/19

New tune "Sunday" is really fucking dreameeeeee! Some of it reminds me of TLF, mainly the section 2/3-in.





Also they posted this last week about Everything Everything bassist Jeremy Pritchard filling-in live. Pretty cool I'll get to see him at the show here in April.


1/22/19

Foals homepage


Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost- Part 1.jpg
Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 1
1. Moonlight
2. Exits
3. White Onions
4. In Degrees
5. Syrups
6. On The Luna
7. Cafe D'Athens
8. Surf Pt.1
9. Sunday
10. I'm Done With The World (and It’s Done With Me)


1/21/19

"Exits" single/video..very nice. Cinematic, surreal..vocals are a bit different sounding though.

Tour Dates link (a copy+paste maybe later).

MAR 16 VIVE LATINO 2019
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

MAR 18 VANCOUVER, BC @ ORPHEUM THEATRE

VANCOUVER, CANADA

MAR 19 PORTLAND, OR @ ROSELAND THEATER

PORTLAND, UNITED STATES

MAR 20 SEATTLE, WA @ PARAMOUNT THEATRE

SEATTLE, UNITED STATES

MAR 22 OAKLAND, CA @ FOX THEATER

OAKLAND, UNITED STATES

MAR 23 SAN DIEGO, CA @ N. PARK OBSERVATORY

SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES

MAR 24 LOS ANGELES, CA @ SHRINE

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES

MAR 27 LAS VEGAS, NV @ BROOKLYN BOWL

LAS VEGAS, UNITED STATES

MAR 30 LOLLAPALOOZA 2019

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

MAR 31 LOLLAPALOOZA 2019

SANTIAGO, CHILE

APR 2 LOLLAPALOOZA SIDESHOW @ TEATRO LA CÚPULA

SANTIAGO, CHILE

APR 5 LOLLAPALOOZA 2019

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

APR 13 BROOKLYN, NY @ BROOKLYN STEEL

BROOKLYN, UNITED STATES

APR 16 WASHINGTON, DC @ 9:30 CLUB

WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES

APR 19 BOSTON, MA @ HOUSE OF BLUES

BOSTON, UNITED STATES

APR 20 PHILADELPHIA, PA @ THE FILLMORE

PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES

APR 22 TORONTO, ON @ REBEL

TORONTO, CANADA

APR 24 ST. LOUIS, MO @ THE PAGEANT

ST. LOUIS, UNITED STATES

APR 26 DETROIT, MI @ SAINT ANDREW'S HALL

DETROIT, UNITED STATES

APR 27 CHICAGO, IL @ RIVIERA THEATRE

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES

APR 28 MILWAUKEE, WI @ THE RAVE

MILWAUKEE, UNITED STATES

APR 30 MINNEAPOLIS, MN @ FIRST AVENUE
MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES

MAY 3 - MAY 5 SHAKY KNEES FESTIVAL 2019
ATLANTA, GEORGIA

MAY 12 BRUSSELS, BEL @ ANCIENNE BELGIQUE

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

MAY 13 PARIS, FRA @ BATACLAN

PARIS, FRANCE

MAY 15 LAUSANNE, SWI @ LES DOCKS

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND

MAY 16 MILAN, ITA @ FABRIQUE

MILAN, ITALY

MAY 17 LUXEMBOURG, LUX @ DEN ATELIER

LUXEMBOURG, LUXEMBOURG

MAY 19 AMSTERDAM, NLD @ PARADISO

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

MAY 20 BERLIN, GER @ HUXLEYS

BERLIN, GERMANY

MAY 24 THIS IS TOMORROW 2019

NEWCASTLE, UNITED KINGDOM

JUNE 5 HAMBURG, GER @ GROSSE FREIHEIT

HAMBURG, GERMANY

JUN 6 NORTHSIDE FESTIVAL

AAARHUS, DENMARK

JUN 7 - JUN 9 ROCK IM PARK 2019

NUREMBERG, GERMANY

JUN 7 - JUN 9 ROCK AM RING 2019

NÜRBURG, GERMANY

JUNE 11 MANCHESTER, UK @ O2 VICTORIA WAREHOUSE

MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM

JUNE 14 TUNBRIDGE WELLS, UK @ BEDGEBURY PINETUM

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, UNITED KINGDOM

JUNE 15 BIRMINGHAM, UK @ DIGBETH ARENA

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM

JUNE 18 GLASGOW, UK @ SWG3 GALVANIZERS YARD

GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM

JUNE 20 THETFORD, UK @ THETFORD, FOREST

THETFORD, UNITED KINGDOM

JUNE 21 LONDON, UK @ ALEXANDRA PALACE

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

JUN 24 - JUN 26 INMUSIC FESTIVAL

ZAGREB, CROATIA

JUNE 26 BOURNEMOUTH, UK @ INTERNATIONAL CENTRE

BOURNEMOUTH, UNITED KINGDOM

JULY 2 DUBLIN, IRE @ TRINITY COLLEGE

DUBLIN, IRELAND

JUL 5- JUL 7 DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

EWIJK, NETHERLANDS

JUL 5 FESTIVAL CRUÏLLA 2019

BARCELONA, SPAIN

JUL 26 - JUL 28 LOW FESTIVAL 2019

BENIDORM, SPAIN

AUG 1 - AUG 3 SZENE OPEN AIR

LUSTENAU, AUSTRIA

April 30th, 2019 at First Avenue. 

1/15/19
Instagram includes more Teasers
Part 1 released on March 8th
Part 2 Autumn 2019

1/9/19
Yeah. Looks dark and melancholy which wouldn't be new territory for Foals.

Also CINEMATIC? given this is a "Trailer" although it might just be for the lead video (single).

And 2 parts? ala Between the Buried and Me or maybe more like Ours?

Regardless, one to anticipate as I love Foals and What Went Down their last album from 2015 was among their best and one of my favorite records that year.

Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost (ENSWBL).

Rest in Peace Mark Hollis of TALK TALK

2/26/19
edit:

this is really good, but it is from The Tea Party so go figure.




 2/25/19
Article

Rest in Peace Mark Hollis.

A few things to say:

a) I know many people who are Talk Talk fans who may find this blog
b) I don't hate his voice, but I struggled to like it
c) Talk Talk had a large influence on many bands I enjoy including Oceansize, Doves, Broken Social Scene, The Tea Party, and Mansun among others

That being said, people who were fans of Talk Talk but didn't find Steve Hogarth all that great used to accuse H of trying to be (or ripping off) Mark Hollis.

This was many years ago on some of the forums. Maybe 2004? possibly earlier.

At that point I checked out Talk Talk and while there were some similarities and later found H was a fan of Hollis and Talk Talk; I honestly don't hear THAT much of a similarity. I hear more differences anyway (almost like a recent comparison on FB I saw with a song from The Family Crest and a System of a Down tune).

That all being said, I checked out 1 or 2 of Talk Talk's records. Spirit of Eden and The Colour of Spring.

Neither really impressed me all that much. And many call SoE the 1st "Post Rock" album, which some may feel that it is, but honestly, POST ROCK's origins as I've said for many years, really draws from SOUNDTRACKS and NEW AGE music, so in my mind, the 1st "Post Rock" album really goes much further back than that record.

And that record resembling "Post Rock" is vague and highly subjective.

But I may need to revisit, or re-revisit some of their records again as sometimes, time helps as it was many years ago I listened to some of those albums. I recall a couple of years back, buying 1 of their albums on tape and listening in my old car's tape deck. It was very earthy and had a lot of percussion, but the songs and vocals I recall were not highly memorable.

But again, maybe now they would do more for me?

anyway, Rest in Peace to someone who was a great, admired musician to many.

Monday, February 25, 2019

COMING SOON: Monkees Album Release Dates (comparing them with The Beatles, Beach Boys...)

It likely won't take days or all that many hours, but after seeing the common quote from media interviewing some of The Monkees, talking about how they outsold The Beatles and BB's (or The Rolling Stones?) combined.

It makes me want to look back at release dates of The Monkees albums and when certain Beatles, Beach Boys, Rolling Stones..maybe Hendrix and The Who (and Pink Floyd and Zeppelin perhaps)

Also some of the British Invasion and West Coast Psych/Jam bands. CSNY for example per Peter Tork's friendship with Stephen Stills.

I know the Monkees guys went over to England when The Beatles were making Sgt.Peppers, so the thought might be, what was the latest Monkees album out at that time?

I also may try and look at TV Air Dates with the likes of Star Trek (TOS) and maybe Batman as those are 2 shows The Monkees show sort of get associated with. I think some of the scenes were shot at the  same studio, and the same production company? etc.

I may even check out the ole tviv.org with TV Lineups when the show aired.

Curiosity and recreational research I guess.

hopefully sooner than later (maybe before the Mike and Micky show on 3/14?)

Sunday, February 24, 2019

VIDEO: King's X and The Dear Hunter BOOKS



This video is mostly myself just showing my copies. I did read through the Act II Graphic Novel after this. They probably will make at least 2 or 3 more parts to it as it just shows the early part of the story/album.

And the KX book I will spend more time with, as it has a lot of great quotes and should read pretty easily/quickly.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Meaningful Songs: The Monkees - A Better World (PETER TORK)

The Monkees - A Better World

Ever since learning of Peter Tork's death the other day I and maybe even moreso my wife thought of him and THIS SONG.

See, my Monkees-lifer wife felt that THIS song "A Better World" was actually the best or her favorite track from the much praised Good Times! from 2016.

And it seems to receive very little to no love or attention!

It's really wonderful. The string arrangement, the sort of sad, cynical and in some way optimistic way it sounds and the lyrics specifically.

And so in thinking about Peter, this tune does not seem to leave my head. 


IT WASN'T EVEN ON THE STANDARD GOOD TIMES! BUT ONLY A BLEEPING BONUS TRACK!

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I dunno, I love a lot of Good Times!

Birth of an Accidental Hipster, You Bring the Summer, She Makes Me Laugh, Me and Magdalena and some others...

but I may be siding with my wife now.

This is such a haunting, sad, beautiful tune.

And Peter never performed it live, I don't think. Not with The Monkees anyway, maybe at 1 of those solo shows he did in 2016 or 2017? I'd have to look it up.

It is kind of haunting me now..like his or his brother Nick's feeling about food and Global Food supplies. Why are people starving when there's more than enough food to go around.

It reminds me of "Earth Song" from Michael Jackson or a conversation I had with Johan Hallgren of Pain of Salvation in 2002 or 2004 at ProgPower USA.

In this song, it seems we are in a "Better World" and like Star Trek alludes to, starvation and famine are gone. A thing of the distant past, etc.

"Joytown" from Kevin Gilbert also comes to mind. Sort of a dream/fantasy utopia in some ways.

Rest in Peace Peter. Hopefully this song will reach even just more Monkees fans now posthumously.
I'm sure now you are living in this "Better World."

Maybe your brother Nick will at least be around to see that.


Bonus track from The Monkees' 2016 album GOOD TIMES
Credits Written by Nick Thorkelson
Peter Tork – Vocals, Guitars and Percussion
Micky Dolenz and Coco Dolenz – Backing Vocals
Joe Boyle – Lead Guitar, Bass and Backing Vocals
Sturgis Cunningham – Drums, Percussion and Backing Vocals
Katlin Wolfberg, Corinne Olsen, Emily Elkins and Eliza James – String Quartet


A Better World"

A better world is needed
I believe anyone can see it
A better world is coming
If we live as we believe
A better world is started
No need to be broken-hearted
No need for longing
We can have all we need

There’s more than enough
To feed all the hungry
To mend every broken heart
We can bring this about
If we mean it
It’s not gonna be easy
So start, so start, so start

The way we live is funny
Anyone can see it’s gonna
Take more than money
It’s gonna take all we got
The way we live is tragic
Anyone can tell it’s gonna
Take more than magic
But believe it or not

There’s more than enough
To feed all the hungry
With enough heart and soul
And if we don’t tire
We can bring this about
It’s not just my imagination
It’s not just you and me
And it’s not just two or three
It’s the whole wide world
On fire

You’ll get your money back
Your heart’s desire

A better world is needed
I believe anyone can see it
A better world is coming
If we live as we believe
A better world is started
No need to be broken hearted
No need for longing
We can have all we need

There’s more than enough (There’s more than enough)
To feed all the hungry
To mend every broken heart
We can bring this about
If we mean it
It’s not gonna be easy
So start, so start

Whole wide world
On fire
Whole wide world
On fire




Thursday, February 21, 2019

Rest in Peace PETER TORK

article

WikiTork.jpg

Rest in Peace Peter Tork aka Peter Thorkelson from The Monkees.

He had a form of Throat Cancer I guess, for many years.

2009 per Wikipedia anyway.

So my wife is a LIFER Monkees fan (and Michael Nesmith), and ever since meeting her in 2011, I have been brought-in to the world of The Monkees beyond the casual knowledge and experience I had had previously.

And when Davy Jones passed away in 2012, while Davy was her least favorite of the band, she still took it hard. Still to this day it seems they have been missing Davy a lot, even if the full Monkees lineup with Nesmith only happened once on tour in 1996 in Europe.  The American leg Mike left and so for those looking to finally see Nez with The Monkees in the States, it didn't happen, etc.

And Mike was planning on returning as he did in 2012.

Anyway, Peter while hardly a favorite of her and I suppose myself now, was always someone to like. My favorites from him are Can You Dig It! Shades of Gray and For Pete's Sake off the top of my head.

Peter was like Mike, one of the experienced/trained musicians in the band. And I always get that sense about him with the music. The music and songwriting was important, especially after they wrote the majority of their tunes.

Also the fact he attended college at Carleton gives Peter Tork(elson) a local connection.

I guess I am very saddened to hear about this, but at least he's at peace now. I can only imagine how difficult it got at times, living with that condition for a decade.

I wonder if on the upcoming Mike and Micky shows (including March 14th at Mystic Lake in Prior Lake, MN) if they will pay homage/tribute to Peter. Maybe play some of HIS songs live. Even perhaps a video montage.

He's up there in heaven jamming with Davy now.

Rest in Peace Peter!

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Bohemian Rhapsody the Movie and FREDDIE MERCURY

So there's a long hyperbolic entry here coming, given I finally did see the long awaited Freddie Mercury/Queen Biopic that came out initially in November.

Won the Golden Globe and Rami Malek won for best actor.

Okay, a year ago, 3 years ago, even 10 or more years ago, I was not too excited about this given I felt Sascha Baron Cohen would not be a good choice to play Freddie.

And then a few years ago with the news about the dude from Mr.Robot playing him, I was still very skeptical.

And then the information and eventual reviews talking about how inaccurate the timelines were about events and when music was written. When Freddie was diagnosed with AIDS, etc.

I still had low expectations, even after initially being impressed by the Trailers.

So I saw it on Saturday/Sunday per Redbox, and while knowing those things would factor in, I actually really liked it.

Rami, while his performance and way of speaking/tone/personality at times was a little subdued and subtle, I think it worked really well.

I now have no problem with it winning Best Picture at the Globes and Rami getting Best Actor.

And the Academy Awards nominations and if it wins, also I will have no problem with.

I was actually in tears, really fighting them back after watching the end of it on Sunday morning, especially seeing the Live AID Wembley recreation.

So I should also add something about Freddie Mercury.

I have felt, and seeing this film and then habitually watching interviews on YouTube about the guy, I am magnetically drawn to him for some almost unexplainable reason.

There is something intrinsically unique about his personality, his way of speaking.

His humor
His god-given voice and songwriting
His imagination
His warmth


I think it even goes beyond his ability as a musician.

He's like Michael J Fox as among others, Alex P Keaton or Marty McFly. He's inherently LIKE-ABLE and enjoyable to hear speak.

And it's impossible to not get wrapped-up in loving him and appreciating his story.

His struggle is very sympathetic.

He's like a puppy dog I can't avoid being drawn to.

So naturally seeing this movie and Rami's performance brings tears out.

And it may already kind of have changed my feeling about Malek as well, maybe in sort of a Nicholas Cage or Renee Zelwegger kind of way. I may have to start watching Mr.Robot now, or at least look for movies he does in the future. At this point, I am cheering for him this weekend at the Oscars.

oh, 1 other point I suppose is with Queen. My NOSTALGIA with them is in the early 90's and Wayne's World their Greatest Hits cds did. I of course didn't know much classic rock other than The Beatles a few other groups until I was 14. But Bohemian Rhapsody the song and KQRS kind of got me into that.

And then really about 2000, 2001, 2002 I dove into their albums, although I don't know them religiously, I might want to revisit and visit for the 1st time some of them, especially after seeing this, I kind of have a renewed/new sense of love for them and Freddie.

Maybe I'll do a Top 10+ Queen songs too before/during or after that reviewing of their albums (the 80's and 90's especially).

I'm not sure I get the sense about him with many others just from seeing footage.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

First Avenue's 50th Anniversary Exhibit (MN History Center + First Avenue?)

I'm sharing this little trailer (at the bottom) for this upcoming exhibit at the Minnesota History Center in St.Paul about First Avenue's 50th Anniversary.

-I'm learning about this per my wife who works at MHC, and is going to be WORKING ON this project soon, per she mentioned about it to me, and shared the below trailer on Facebook.

-First Avenue launched in 1970 (I believe it was Joe Cocker who played the 1st concert per there's a photo on the wall at The Depot restaurant that shows/notes this). So the 50th Anniversary is actually in 2020, but I guess technically 2019 is the 50th Year. Although if you include the period of time they were closed in the 2000's. not quite.

May 4th it opens, which beyond being Star Wars day, is also my wife's Birthday (and she hates Star Wars by the way, and was born before Star Wars existed).

The Exhibit will be at The Minnesota History Center, but I'm not sure if there also will be something else held at First Avenue itself (or it may just be advertised there, and there may be something else actually there for the 50th Anniversary).

First Avenue, a venue I have very mixed feelings about at best, but will admit in the last decade, I do prefer sometimes over other venues.

The History?

well my personal History is, I've probably attended 100 or more concerts there, maybe more like 200+ if you include The Entry.

I'm pretty sure The 1st time I did attend a concert there was seeing Dream Theater with Big Wreck in 1997. My 1st Dream Theater concert actually, which made it a rather big deal.

But before that, I was highly repulsed by the vibe, social, clique-ish/dance-night nature of First Avenue. Maybe that was a little premature, but why I have and probably always will have mixed feelings about this place.

But I can't argue with First Avenue being Minnesota's most well known and history music venue at least at the Club level and beyond maybe Paisley Park and maybe some Bob Dylan thing is the most iconic place to celebrate the history of  Rock and Pop Music in Minnesota (Purple Rain  the film and Prince probably have a lot to do with that).

So my wife is going to get to see a ton of the stuff that will go into this exhibit before it opens in May. It made me think or at least wonder what were my favorite shows ever there and what shows happened there that I did not get to see?

Of course my choices will be Prog shows mostly and First Avenue and its hipster approach and part of why I have had issues with First Avenue beyond their recently monopolizing the ownership/promotion and buying out other venues in this town, is their lack of respect for Prog and Metal; per bands like dredg, Porcupine Tree (+ Steven Wilson) and Fair to Midland never played The Main Room when they could and should have.

But that being said, here's my lists of favorites and missed.

Favorite 22 Concerts at First Avenue/7th Street Entry(that I can think of/find right now)

-Mutemath (3) 10/17/09, 2/18/12 (with As Tall as Lions), 4/3/16
-Foals  5/20/13
-Local Natives (2) 10/1/10, 3/23/13
-Victor Wooten Band 8/26/02
-School of Seven Bells (3) 7th Street Entry 10/13/09, 9/19/10, 1/24/11
-Cloud Cult 11/18/2010
-The Dear Hunter (3) First Ave/7th Street Entry 4/23/07, 4/14/13, 3/03/18 (with Coheed and Cambria)
-Mayer Hawthorne (2) 5/18/12, 2/13/14
-The Family Crest (2) 7th Street Entry 6/6/14 (with Mother Falcon) ,7/6/15
-Godspeed You Black Emperor 2/11/16
-Dream Theater 11/2/97 (with Big Wreck)
-King's X 11/05/01
-St. Vincent  7th Street Entry 7/24/07

Top 5 Concerts that happened that I didn't get to attend

-Marillion September 26, 1987 (the last time they played in Minnesota)
-Jellyfish July 6, 1993
-Oceansize June 13, 2004 (7th Street Entry)
-Spock's Beard May 23,1999
-Silverchair August 5, 2007

U2 among others also could be considered.



http://www.mnhs.org/historycenter/activities/museum/first-avenue... First Avenue: Stories of Minnesota's Mainroom is an exhibit that opens at the Minnesota History Center on May 4, 2019.  Since 1970, First Avenue and 7th Street Entry have been at the heart of the Minnesota music scene. The First Avenue Exhibit takes you inside the scenes, sounds, and stories of a landmark club that put Minneapolis music on the map. Through the lens of music, discover how First Avenue, its staff, and the Minneapolis music scene have changed over five decades. First Avenue venue video used in this trailer by Minnesota Public Radio.  © 2019 Minnesota Public Radio®.  Used with permission.   All rights reserved.

Rapper Travi$ Scott RUSH T-Shirt: Article "Rush Isn't Cool"

Travis Scott Rush shirt.jpg

Travi$ Scott wore this t-shirt the other night at the Grammy's

Message to Kids: Rush Isn’t Cool

I'm not sure whether to facepalm or just laugh at this pretentious (insincere) article seeming to draw click-bait. I suspect Scott nor his girlfriend Kylie Jenner even know much if anything about Rush (especially something more obscure like Counterparts which the tour of the t-shirt is from. A shirt I actually own and bought when seeing that tour in 1994).


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At least maybe some kids will discover Rush from Scott wearing the shirt?

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Cruise to the Edge 2019 (almost 9 Hour Video)

So I'm passing this along per maybe not everyone may find it, even by searching YouTube.

I skimmed it and it's kind of cool, and to hear some prog classics, covers, and a long list of bands.

Just from skimming, it seems some of them are cutoff unfortunately.

UniKue? I think it's the band who plays a cool rendition of The Cinema Show (Genesis) on Ukeles.




Anyway, I have likely given my take on this Cruise and Prog Cruises before (and festivals).

-Cost? it'll be well over $2000 to 1 of them, which I don't know if I'll ever be able to justify, even if I wasn't saving for a house among many other financial obligations. Maybe the Powerball/Megamillions is my ticket?
-The Wife would guilt-trip me if I did (and she has no interest of course to go).
-I would likely attend a Marillion weekend at this point instead

That being said, the ole starting your own Cruise or Festival crosses my mind as a fantasy/hypothetical.

I would likely think of a 2-day Festival that only had 6 Artists/Bands. And it would be pretty much all PCR type acts. And I would only intend to hold 5 times and maybe even every-other year (instead of every year).

Because there aren't any centered events like the Prog festivals for PCR artists. Artists like The Mars Volta or even say Coheed or Between the Buried and Me might be able to drive something like that for PCR, but the odds pretty unlikely.

Even say The Dear Hunter.

But just to play Hypothetical, if I chose a roster of 6 artists for the initial 2-day event, I might go with:

The Dear Hunter
dredg
Kindo
Vennart
Mew
Bend Sinister

Each artist would get an equal amount of time (like 75 minutes), and it would just be 3 acts each evening to not bog down too many bands to see and make it such a LONG day as I know about at these things.

And just hypothetically, the list of artists to hope-for, for me would be extensive (especially considering reunions or rare live performances)

But it has and probably always will be a pipe dream; but it's kind of fun to think about.

Monday, February 11, 2019

New Jimmy Gnecco interview

https://crypticrock.com/interview-jimmy-gnecco-of-ours/

Holy crap Spectacular Sight may have 20 songs?

epic, stadium-like?

and the proper tour for it will not be in Clubs, but bigger venues?

the Remix of Ballet the Boxer 1 sounds maybe more different than how The Heart: X Edition came out.

If I get the chance to speak with Jimmy at the show next month in Minneapolis, I may have to ask about some of this stuff.

Saturday, February 9, 2019

Approach to being a Fan (Competition and largely, but not JUST Music)

I have likely wrote about this mentality and approach maybe dozens of times to varying degrees in here. But it is something unavoidable for me to think about literally every day.

My and other approaches to being a Music fan, and it also applies to really anything entertainment-related (Movies, Television, Sports, Books perhaps..food, etc etc).

So I know and come across hundreds if not thousands of Music fans, who are HUGE, passionate, addictive, die-hard, hardcore, lifer, etc , etc pick your adjective, etc fans of 1 BAND or Artist.

And it can often become sadly about competition. Who is the BIGGEST fan. Who has seen them live in concert the most. Who has been a fan the longest. Who has the most items in their collection. Yada yada yada....

1 example is my wife. Her favorite band The Monkees, she naturally claims to have seniority on some fans, and a contemporary fan her same age who caught on when they were being run on MTV and/or Nick at Nite in the 80's she has remained friends with but also keeps tabs on his collection, who he has met, has what signed, etc.

It's not ever become bad or dark as they are friends, but they also do like to talk up their Monkees fandom accomplishments to eachother. It is for the most part, all in good fun still.

And the same for myself I guess ultimately, when I know other fans of my favorites: Marillion, Kevin Gilbert, The Dear Hunter.

But I guess I don't try to make it about being competitive, and even ENVY. I do or am Envious, but not in a negative way. Just like others might feel envious of me seeing Spock's Beard with Neal Morse live, or Fair to Midland as many times as I have, etc.

Or being a Lifetime Member fan of The Dear Hunter, etc.

But really, MY APPROACH has been for quite awhile, maybe even since I was a music fan to seeing music and entertainment largely as A LARGE BUFFET.

I want to take-in as much as I can and focus on the stuff I love most.

My goal isn't to be the #1 fan in the world of a band or artist. I would rather be a fan, or even a very knowledgeable fan who continues to love not only new artists I come across, but artists I have enjoyed for many years if not decades.

But it does get frustrating when I find people show their collections, or see X number of shows that I have not or don't own, and sort of feel like I should.

I guess I tell myself to be as much of a REALIST while still maintaining that PASSION.

.....................................


So the other large part that almost daily feels like it can hit me in the gut, maybe due to me just letting it get to me a lot more than it should is this shit here in this blog and on YouTube and Social Media. Also relating to my contemporaries from High School, local Radio or just my age, SEEING THEIR SUCCESS WHILE I DON'T SEE ANY OF IT.

AND IT OFTEN FEELS UNFAIR, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF TIME I HAVE PUT INTO IT.

I am still a realist. I don't foresee/never would foresee making a 6-figure salary doing this. I wouldn't expect to become FAMOUS at least largely famous.

But you see others who sort of have, and many of them I like and support in the ways I do, but it goes back to what I said to myself about 10 years ago at my job. If they are, why can't I?

But I'm not going to come across as delusional as the way I do things in here and even on YouTube, it ain't gonna happen. It hasn't happened, and my current and maybe always my approach won't allow it really.

It is fair? maybe not totally.
Is it me? most definitely

So, what I do have I guess is I can attest, a quite small, mini following of people who are NICHE fans. Many of them musicians who I suppose can relate to that with the (lack of) following for their music (that it deserves). And I am grateful for those who do follow me and this blog and possibly on YouTube. Even if they don't read half of what I throw up in this space, they at least do pay attention once-in-a-blue-moon and knowing that at least it brings a smile to my face.

But coming to grips with this level of small/tiny following is all this blog may ever have is something I need to be okay and live with, and not worrying about others success. Good for them!, it's the way this world works (maybe in another parallel universe, this blog and my efforts are blown up a lot more. I at least like to believe that).

I guess though I would love to discover others who literally find a very similar approach to fandom:

They are not trying to be the biggest Rush or Dream Theater fan. But they are a fan of 100's of artists/bands who they know and own most if not their whole catalog.

Depth of musical knowledge (modern music, say from 1955 or 1965 on, and I'm guilty and still probably someday should try and become more versed in Pre-1965 Jazz and more Classical music especially).

I guess I hold on to feeling like I am 1 of the biggest fans though of the following obscure artists:
-Soundscape
-Apes and Androids/Call Florence Pow
-Fjokra
-The River Empires
-Brice Plays Drums

And of course among my all-time favorites:
-Kevin Gilbert/Toy Matinee/Giraffe/NRG/Kaviar
-Marillion
-Fates Warning/John Arch
-The Dear Hunter
-Ours
-dredg
-Bend Sinister

among many others I'm not remembering right now. But I don't know if I ever will see myself as their #1 Fan. That can be given to someone else.  But maybe I'm more of a Niche Gateway Music Fan for often obscure, independent progressive rock.

If you like this band, you might like this other band, etc.

But even at that, I wouldn't claim to be the #1 person for that, just a good source with a depth of knowledge for it (that consumes a boat-load of my free time). But I can't deny there are others out there that do know and do the same kind of thing.

But maybe not as largely focused on PCR (progressive college rock).

I would also say the same applies to movies and television. I'm a flag-waiver for niche shows and independent film (and even among that scene. I'm not the biggest Ghost World fan on the planet, but I can claim to love that movie more any other movie I've seen, sans for The Wizard of Oz).

But PCR, there is no focused Facebook Group or YouTube Channel for it (The Prog Report and maybe Notes Reviews may be the closest, but there's a ton of stuff on his channel that not, along with many PCR artists/albums that he doesn't cover still). This blog and those Social Media sites are them along with a few others like my friend Lorenzo at Altprogcore and Neesh who do talk about it very often. Or Jordan Blum who doesn't focus highly on it as he does cover a plethora of music within progressive rock and rock music in general, but he writes and promotes and does reviews for enough of it that he seems to be doing enough to have a good percentage of focus on it. I.e. if a new Coheed or The Dear Hunter album comes out, there's no question he'll write about it.

Dream Theater - Distance Over Time (2018-2019)

2/9/19

"Paralyzed" video below.

only heard/watched it once. I don't like it as much as Fall Into the Light, but it's still not bad. It's short, concise, gets-to-the-point, etc.

The video reminds me of among other Man vs Machine movies/tv, the INTRO TO HBO's WESTWORLD. That and maybe a little bit of the style of I, Robot along with Ex Machina.


1/11/19

New track "Fall Into the Light"

Pretty good. Relatively tight, concise, but still virtuosoic.

I'm not falling for the whole "they're back!" really but it is refreshing to enjoy a new tune from the guys again. We'll see how the rest of the record compares, but I suppose potentially this could be an album I could enjoy as much as A Dramatic Turn of Events at least.

The piano section made me think of Six Degrees, but also I do hear a bit of Octavarium in this track as well.


12/7/18
yeah, haven't heard it the 1st single below "Untethered Angel". Comments support again how a producer could do them world's of good.

Or the idea, make 2 versions of the album

1) the album with JP producing
2) a version of the album with a producer. hell, at this point, I would take them writing and/or at least RECORDING a song with a producer.

Not happening..probably a much better chance the next Opeth album is purely death metal.

but, art is justifiably selfish, if they are happy making albums this way since SFAM (or even say Octavarium), than I am glad they are.

But I can only say  per the track list below, I will listen to this album more times than The Astonishing (which I listend to about 1/3-of once, lol), but I might predict this album will end where the new Janelle Monae album did this past year, on my list next November.

I do want to see them in March at The Ordway play SFAM again.



1 Untethered Angel 6:14
2 Paralyzed 4:17
3 Fall into the Light 7:04
4 Barstool Warrior 6:43
5 Room 137 4:23
6 S2n 6:21
7 At Wit's End 9:20
8 Out of Reach 4:04
9 Pale Blue Dot 8:25


11/8/18

Release date is February 22nd.

St.Paul, MN concert is at of all places, The Ordway, lol.

New album Distance Over Time coming in February 2019.


11/2/18
Tour dates below including St.Paul, MN on March 28th. The tour is the complete Scenes from a Memory I imagine. And the album cover is the same as the image below with the tour dates.

The clip below? ..doesn't bad, but also sounds like about 20 or 30 other songs from them in the past.

The whole game thing I honestly probably couldn't care less for at this point, but I know many fans will probably get into it.

I guess I just hope it is more back to their roots in some ways. But did they demo or have an outside producer come in? very unlikely, which based on that alone, I don't expect a ton from this album, but maybe they'll surprise me. At least they did SPEND MORE TIME MAKING THIS ONE, which was probably over a year, which may mean they may have demo-ed or refined, edited, re-recorded some stuff.








For Immediate Release

Dream Theater's upcoming release, "Distance Over Time", comes out in February, 2019. To announce the details of the band's most recent offering, Dream Theater has enlisted the help of fans to spread the word about the release and even to break the news of the record release date, cover artwork, and to share the first taste of never before heard music. With this album, a return to the band's roots, Dream Theater hoped to create a fan engagement experience unlike any previously undertaken.

To lead into the initial release of material, an Alternate Reality Game was launched. This game encompassed a "treasure hunt" whereby fans were able to search for clues hidden in various photos, video, social media posts, and more. Cooperation to host the Alternate Reality Game focused on various fan communities. The band's fan club, forum members and Reddit each brought in technical expertise to create puzzles for the participants. Each and every week, a new puzzle would be released, often in the form of a candid photo or video from the studio where Dream Theater recorded their latest album. This would contain a piece of the puzzle - a clue to be used in the process of solving that week's mystery. The puzzles were usually based on some encryption scheme or hiding information in the files, such as hiding a zipped file with text in an image file, or hiding text within the spectrogram of an audio file. One puzzle had the fans decoding Morse Code on a light diode of recording equipment, while another had the fans decoding a touch tone number from a phone call. Fans had to solve a sonogram, Sudoku puzzle, reverse engineer an encryption scheme to find a key that would decrypt a specific text. They had to solve crosswords and trivia games. Fans were eager to participate, and often worked together to collectively solve the puzzles within hours of their release.

Ultimately, there would be one person - one fan who would be the first to solve the final clue. As their prize, this fan would be the first person to possess previously unreleased Dream Theater content. The very first person outside the band to have possession of any new music, new artwork, new album title. It would be the fans who would solve the puzzle, complete the game and break the news of the release, disseminating this brand new Dream Theater news to the world from their personal online presence.

It is the hope of Dream Theater to have created a fun and engaging fan experience. A unique manner to amp up the excitement for the new release, and to involve the band's fanbase in a new and interesting way. On behalf of Dream Theater - congratulations to the winner, and thank you to everyone who participated. 

Freddy Jacobi was: James LaBrie, Jordan Rudess, John Petrucci, John Myung, Mike Mangini, Maddi Schieferstein, James T. Meslin, Jake Solomon, Kim Arthur Sakariassen, Victoria Montenegro Martinez, Jessica Lausen, Sean Arnold, Freddy Palmer, Roie Avin, mods of r/dreamtheater, dreamtheaterforums.org and Dream Theater World



Thursday, February 7, 2019

Meaningful Songs: Spock's Beard - Solitary Soul

Spock's Beard - Solitary Soul

I enjoy a lot of the Neal Morse led Spock's Beard, and there are probably 5 or maybe 10 other songs by them I would rank higher than this. Actually thinking about it, probably more than that.

But I heard this on 1 of The Prog Report's podcasts last week and cannot get it out of my fucking head.

It's so SAD and MELANCHOLY.

I suppose part of the reason also has to do with dealing with difficult emotional situations of late.

-My wife's dog Coco is not doing well, really hasn't been since her Pyometra surgery last March. But we had to take her in to be tested for Cushings and she pretty much has it and now we have to decide on medication and thinking about the end of her life. If she responds to the medication, her symptoms will improve, but she has 30 months to live tops. She is almost 13 though (12 years, 10 months), so to expect her to live 2 ore more years would be optimistic.

-My dad has been in the hospital since Saturday morning. He thankfully had a successful surgery yesterday and is doing much better, but my thoughts have been with him and this song only added to that. I mean he couldn't eat or drink anything for almost 5 days.

-Trying to find a house and the reality of moving, living in a new place, since my wife and I have spent most of our at-home life together in our current residence the last 8 years. It naturally is a sad/nostalgic mentality just thinking about it.

-And the weather has been pretty depressing with Frozen Vortex-like temps last week, and this week ice-roads and not 1, but 2 long-sustained Snow systems, during RUSH HOUR (took me over 1 hour to get home on Tuesday). I mean it's not a Blizzard, but they've seemed darn close to the same impact.

That being said, musically this is really powerful. The strings, synths/mellotron, the vocal parts, including the harmonies and especially Falsetto Neal sings.

Love Beyond Words....

Jon Anderson - 1000 Hands (2018-2019)

Release date is March 31st. Some 30 years in the making.

Time permitting, maybe I'll try and transcribe the Guest List which is basically a whose-who of progressive, classic rock and jazz-fusion artists.

There's some clips there, although I only checked out about half of them so far.

https://jonanderson1000hands.com/

PREORDER

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/jon-anderson-1000-hands-album-tour/

Jon Anderson - 1000 Hands cover.jpg
Now
Ramalama
First Born Leaders
Activate
Makes Me Happy
Now Variations
I Found Myself
Twice in a Lifetime
WDMCF
Come Up