Greg Herriges and Sam Breckenridge - EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD

Greg and StellaRoma played this tune and interpretation the other night in St.Paul and I mentioned to Greg it would be great if there was a recording of it. So this recording is from a couple of years ago with Sam Breckenridge at The Icehouse, but most importantly, the arrangement is similar, namely just hearing much of the melody on Bouzouki.

Christmas Songs (or w/ Titles/Lyrics) I dig

With it being near X-Mas
(a holiday I don't fully celebrate per I'm Jewish, but still do/have done in some capacity. My Family does have a Channukah Party every year though)

And of course seeing so many Christmas songs played, sang, talked about, etc. I guess it would be worth sharing some of my favorites. Prog-related, and some may not even be about X-Mas, but the title/lyrics etc at least use the word.

Mew - She Came Home for Christmas



Soundscape - A Christmas Carol (Parts 1 and 3)

Part 2 isn't on YouTube or online anywhere I know.





Shadow Gallery - Christmas Day..
maybe my favorite SG song actually.



Marillion - Carol of the Bells.

Of course Savatage/Trans Siberian Orchestra made this song famous in modern years, but this version I find is much cooler (although I don't hate the 'Tage version, it's just this one so good).



Greg Herriges / Stella Roma - Shchedryk
recently released a CD of Holiday music and this is on it. This is the original title "Shchedryk" to what became known as "Carol of the Bells."

Now between this and the Marillion version? it's almost a push. Both beat the Savatage version though.



Jonatha Brooke w/ Kevin Gilbert - O Come Emmanuel. This is largely per it includes Kevin Gilbert of course.

Vinyl Update Video 2/2/16 (18 minutes)

The 1st of some new videos. I'm battling a cold as I included in the description. Why did I make this then? time I suppose as I had the time being laid up at home.



The Making of the True Book (Kevin Gilbert)
Neverending White Lights - The Grace
Us - Us (Greg Herriges and John Wright, 1989)
Jack Lancaster and Robin Lumley - Marscape (Brand X members, incl. Phil Collins)
Rush - Presto
Black Mountain - Into the Future
The Police - Wrapped Around Your Finger 12'
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Jeff Buckley / Sly and the Family Stone - Everyday People 7'

Favorites: Progressive Rock Albums from MINNESOTA

Progressive Rock in Minnesota or from Minnesota. At one point it became a completely false statement, or at least for a younger/newer fan of progressive rock and metal in the 90's and early 2000's it was incredibly rare to find, and notice interest outside of Minnesota and the "prog scene" aka at prog festivals, on message boards/forums and in some of the magazines.

And maybe even worse than that, the local music media rarely talked about much of it, if at all. Or especially never used the "p" word when they did.

And I suppose the fact is, there was some of it many years ago that I knew about, or meant to check out but never got to. Or bands/artists who played live and never managed to record anything I can find on record.

Gypsy I recall, is a band from the 1970's I have heard of and seen their early 70's Vinyl records for pretty high prices in the last 5 years, but I honestly have yet to hear much from. Given my interest in bands like Renaissance and even Fairport Convention somewhat, I probably could dig them.

Or Sussman Lawrence I guess has some prog roots, as I was told a story about their bassist Al Wolovitch,, once spent a whole summer locked in a cabin learning Yes's Fragile album. And another story of him playing Al Di Meola's Land of the Midnight Sun on a guitar with 1-string, lol.

Peter Himmelman went on to much greater success with his solo career which wasn't really prog though.

Dan Wilson of Trip Shakespeare and Semisonic as well as a solo artist, has mentioned more than once to being a big Yes fan, although I'm not sure if much if any of his music really dove into prog regardless. But maybe I haven't heard the right music?

Prince isn't prog, although it could be argued he's progressive, so in a way, one of the biggest musical acts in general from Minnesota, could fit in here, but at the same time, I really only know his hits well and some of the 80's records.

With a lot of that being brought up, it seems over the last decade or even 15 years, many underground bands have made prog or related records that have reached my radar. And I'd say especially in the last 7 or 8 years, many of the best progressive rock albums from Minnesota have been made and released, And in some cases, just albums overall as from the list I made a few weeks ago about favorite albums from 2010-2014, 3 or 4 of them were included being among the best albums I've heard in this current decade overall.


Brice Plays Drums


Lehto and Wright

RisingSide


The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra


Words for Penga


Greg Herriges

So in a way, I've found a lot of it of late, which might be safe to say prog in Minnesota is flourishing in some ways. And with active bands. Namely groups like Brice Plays Drums, The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra, RisingSide, Words for Penga, Hardcore Crayons, Lehto and Wright and Cloud Cult of course.



And with Cloud Cult, while to me they are progressive, to others, they are I suppose a chamber/barqoue rock band really who literally and figuratively uses "Art" as a large part of their direction and message. Along with the environment and science I guess. I mean maybe they aren't big Yes or Genesis fans, but they also don't seem to follow any pop-standard rules aka they break or make their own rules and among their lengthly catalog, have experimented with many sounds, textures, themes, etc..using samples, and a lot of other stuff.

So I concluded when I finally got into them a few years ago, despite them being a band who some of the music media have championed and force-fed at times via Radio K, Citypages, or The Current,  etc their music still falls in line with what I consider progressive as much as just "Art Rock."

So, with all that being said, and I'm sure there's a lot more I could and very well may add about my seemingly neverending agenda to have prog in Minnesota be a real thing that more people and even the music media both in Minnesota and around the Globe could and should know about.

Here's a list of many of my favorite progressive records from Minnesota mostly from the last 10 years or so. Perhaps in due time, I may discover the Gypsy and Sussman Lawrence records among others I'm not thinking or unaware of.

A List about my favorite Minnesota Artists on Rateyourmusic.com I made


Bubblemath - Such Fine Particles of the Universe (2002)
This was probably the 1st "prog" band I ever discovered  from Minnesota that the progressive rock scene knew. I just recall my friend Creighton talking about them on one of the radio shows we did on KFAI and then I checked them out and enjoyed them.

Kind of Gentle Giant meets Devo in some ways. Their 2nd album in some ways has become like the Chinese Democracy of the undeground prog world.

At least in 2014 they released their 1st track since this debut record of theirs.

Notable Tracks: Be Together. Dollhammer


The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - Lookin' For a Little Strange (2009)

1 of a few groups John Wright is involved with on this list. TGCO debut record. I probably could have chose any of their 3 records, but I guess given it includes my favorite track of theirs overall "Dark Matter" this is still probably my go-to.

Jazz-Rock with bluegrass elements.



Greg Herriges- Telluric Currents (2009)

Progressive Acoustic Ethnic Folk? Some wonderful compositions on this album, and quite a unique or original blending of styles.



Media Addicts - Autonomy
Jaw-dropping heavy jazz-rock. Top-notch musicianship. Many of the tracks have multiple sections I look forward to each time through.


Mike Linden - Bubble and Squeak
Very impressive Jazz-Rock very much in the tradition of Return to Forever and Pat Metheny.


Brice Plays Drums - Man the Animal Cannon (2012)
3 epic tracks all composed to perfection. Less is more.


Cloud Cult - Light Chasers (2010)
My favorite Cloud Cult record. A concept album, that is a journey album of sorts. The segues are incredible, and the lyrics and melodies are very inspiring. "We've all got energy in us."


Lehto and Wright - Children's Songs (2010)
4 tracks, 2 lengthly, 2 shorter. The title track suite runs the gamut of references and style. From Bartok, to Led Zeppelin. This is about as good as folk music and progressive rock can get to me.


The Book of Right On - All These Songs About Music (2010)
This band was amazing and this is their only released full-length album.

I guess they reminded me of a few groups, but I suppose the King Crimson style of instrumentation and the Primus quirky-ness including the lead vocals, stood out.

At the same time, the talent-level seems through the roof with this band. And it showed well on this debut album of theirs.


Dean Magraw's Red Planet-  Space Dust (2009)

This is quite an amazing live record that I find may be the greatest recording capturing much of Dean Magraw's vast talents. His group interprets music from the likes of John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix and even Solom Linda's "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

Pure magic and a trip. I just wish the countless concerts I've seen Dean perform (with Red Planet along with many others like Eight-Head, Boiled in Lead, or Davu Seru) could be experienced in greater quantities by others. But at least this is a great way to go revisit it,



The Royal Veil -  King of the Ocean (2013)
Doomy prog metal. "Into the Sun" maybe being my favorite track on this album. Their sound I often like to describe as The Mars Volta meets Tool, but I actually hear a lot of other influences as well. And Doomy/Sludge Metal I have become less into over recent years, but this album probably still being an exception.


Nomia -  Iron and Rust (2014)
Long awaited debut full-length from one of my favorite "Post" bands working today. I guess I find their style of heavy Post Rock almost like how I wish Russian Circles sounded now.

Great record start to finish aka greater than the sum of its parts.


RisingSide - Arrow: The Onus Key (2013)

My favorite new Minnesota band discovery in 2014. They do a heavy brand of prog that is certainly influenced by Coheed and Cambria and Tool. But with Katie Lundberg's vocals certainly give them some distinction. Overall though, good songwriting. And even though their current amazing guitarist Juan Carlos did not play on this debut album of theirs, the lead guitar work is still a great part of Arrow's sound.

A Spell and Seeking Avalon are among my favorite tracks.


Words for Penga -  Prose (2015)

Very impressive debut record that just was released in the last month or so. Definitely thus far, my favorite newly discovered band from Minnesota. They remind me of East of the Wall in a lot of ways, with their dynamics and mix of clean and screaming vocals. Their singer almost does sound like Daron from System of a Down, but in a good way.

Also I very much appreciate their use of saxophone.

An album I would not be surprised to finish rather high at the end of this season/year.

some other records I enjoy (that maybe I'll do a Part 2 and try and write up as well):

Hardcore Crayons - Zozzled (2015)
Brice Plays Drums - ProgTagonist (2014)
Put Down the Muffin - Charged Particles (2014)
The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - Zombie Mouth (2014)
The Royal Veil - The Royal Veil [EP] (2012)
Brice Plays Drums - I Laugh at Your Greener Pastures (2011)
The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - All Out of Peaches (2011)
City of Sound - L'implosion (2009)
Media Addicts - Elsewhere (2008)
Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) (2008)
Nomia - Nomia EP (2008)
The Bad Plus - Prog (2007)
Cloud Cult - The Meaning of 8 (2007)
Empires - Through Trial and Tribulation Comes Triumph (2007)
Between Two Skies - A Thousand Conscious Moments [EP] (2007)...This EP I do enjoy a lot, and whenever they release a full-length I likely could find it among my favorites given for a good while they were my favorite band from Minnesota. The new music they wrote for it is amazing having seen them play many of the songs over a few years/many shows.

A Whisper in the Noise - As the Bluebird Sings (2006)
Greg Herriges - It Plays Me (2005)
Lehto and Wright - The Thrashing Machine and Other Stories (2005)
Cloud Cult - Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus (2004)
Lehto and Wright - A Game of Chess (2003)
A Series of Clicks and Beeps - Demo?
Best Friends Forever - Best Friends Forever (?)
Lehto and Wright - The Further Adventures of Darling Cory (2002)
Gracepoint - Science of Discontent (2000)
Lehto and Wright - Ye Mariners All (2000)
Conditioned Response - In Flagranté Delecto (1999)
Lord of All Desires - The Scent of Malevolence (1997)
Magellanmusic - A Strange Traffic of Dreams (1997)
Conditioned Response - Pavlov's Dogs (1997)

Own/Wishlisted but haven't gotten into or around to listening to the studio recordings:
Other Country Ensemble - no studio albums at this point, but there could be soon.
Blue Canoe - Blue Canoe
Run at the Dog - Scutigera, Yeah!
Iced Ink - There's A Bee In Here
Gotterdammerung
Lost Mind Found
Sussman Lawrence
Greg Herriges + John Wright's very Crimson-esque band from the 1990's and Produkt.
Maeth
Stellar Vector
Gypsy

Greg Herriges - Artifacts (2014)

9/30/14 12:40PM


Not a lot to add per time limitations. But I have been hoping for Greg to put out something soon as it's been over 5 years since his tremendous record Telluric Currents, in 2009.

This sounds like it may be more instrumental and focused even more in the different styles of ethnic music. I guess we'll see. I likely will be catching that show in October and pickup a copy of Artifacts to know.

More to add at some point with a track lists and such (it appears there may be a rather extensive one per a photo Greg posted on Facebook).

Facebook Post
link




Artifacts is soon available from New Folk/Loud Folk Records (www.newfolkrecords.com). The CD will be launched at a special double concert with Pooja Goswami Pavan at theParkway Theater in Minneapolis on Friday, October 10. I look forward to an all-too-rare performance with Pooja and A. Pavan (tabla), and resurrecting my classical guitar! I hope to see you if you're in the area. Details...

New Folk Records Proudly Presents
An Evening of World Music at the Parkway Theater
by
Dr. Pooja Goswami Pavan & Greg Herriges
with
Neha Damle (Keys), Dr. A. Pavan (Tabla), and other guest artists (TBA)
 

Celebrating the release of Greg’s CD Artifacts
and presenting music from Pooja’s CD
Piya Basey Kaun Des/In What Land Is My Beloved?
(Songs of The Sufis)

Doors open at 7pm. Concert starts at 7:30pm.

Purchase tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/867110

See the Event on Facebook
Visit the Parkway Theater

Marillion - The Carol of the Bells (Single)

7 minutes, 35 seconds (or 6 minutes and 15 seconds depending how you consider the ending) Not exactly like Savatage/Trans Siberian Orchestra's "Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24," nor the yet released but awesome arrangement Greg Herriges has put together with this tune (live, as I've heard him play it a few times).

This is more like a Queen thing in some ways, with Marillion's own stamp. The Steve Rothery guitar solo included.

Mysterious video in some ways, including the footage of the band I'm presuming, in costumes, 1 walking while playing a flute. The message "Marillion will return in 2014" has I'm sure most fans curious. A new album? I would love it, but suspect it may be a bit early for them, unless they had some material that didn't make it on to Sounds That Can't Be Made.

However, there's an 2013 interview in 3 or 4 parts linked on other videos from their official account, that I don't recall watching, which may add some answers to the curiosity.

edit: actually I think I did watch it, as it was back in June. O well, it still may answer a question or two I don't remember at this point.

89.3's "The Local Show: Critics Edition"

12/18/12 2:30AM

Edit: Here's the stream of it.



And for those not wanting to listen to all 2 hours, here is a transcript of this show.

Of course, I was right, as they didn't say a word about anything I submitted below. Not that I would expect them to, but it just goes to show, it's a numbers game, and perhaps the people who ran this thing on 89.3, may (likely do) not give two shits about anything I write about here in this blog.

I will say, it was kind of clear who I would side with among those critics. Raihala and even Reed Fischer I seemed to agree with more than the others. I actually always liked Ross Raihala when I used to listen to the Pioneer Press podcast he was on a few years back, and frankly, I've never gotten as much of a snobbish impression from him compared to some of the other music media in this town. Now, that doesn't mean he's not guilty of what many of the others are, but just from hearing his responses on this show, and remembering those podcasts back in the day, I definitely find his approach to be more inviting.


12/15/12 12:48PM
I was going to wait until after this special show tomorrow on 89.3 to actually publish this, but I'm deciding to do it now given I don't expect them to include anything from it anyway. And even if they do, I won't be able to hear it live since my family's annual Channukah party/dinner will be taking place during the time it will air (6-8PM). Perhaps they will put it on their website to stream, which will help. If that happens, I'll have to listen to it and link it up.

http://blog.thecurrent.org/post/2012/11/local-show-critics-edition

Every year on The Local Show, we do our critics edition to talk favorite local releases of 2012 as well as trends and predictions. This year, we're welcoming back Reed Fischer of City Pages, Chris Riemenschneider of The Star Tribune, Ross Raihala of The Pioneer Press and our very own Andrea Swensson to give us their takes on Minnesota music.

But we also need your opinions on the matter! Below, you'll find questions that the critics have been asked to answer, and David Campbell wants some additional ammo to bounce off the crew in the studios. We'll also choose one listener-submitted question for the critics to tackle.

Submit your responses by end-of-day Monday, December 3, and tune in Sunday, December 16 from 6-8 p.m. on The Local Show to hear the discussion play out.



Did the "super secret fraternity of local tastemakers/gatekeepers" get it right in 2012? If not, who was overlooked? I'm not sure who all is part of this "super secret fraternity" but I might infer whoever they are, they may be in to be put on "[double]/super secret probation" ;)

But if the question refers to the most known local music media:
-89.3's Local Show
-Citypages (both print and web)
-The music columnists from both major newspapers
 -Radio K's "Off the Record"
-Vita.mn
-MPLS.tv
-mplsmusic.com
-some of the minnesota music blogs/sites

I'd say overall, no, they did not get it right. Why I say that is some of my favorite music that came out in 2012, was from Minnesota, and more or less none of these sources talked about them. These artists, that I'd say got overlooked would include the likes of Brice Plays Drums, Media Addicts, Mike Linden, Lehto & Wright and The Royal Veil.


Which artists or stories were overhyped in 2012? Who didn't live up to the hype they got, or was mentioned far more than was deserved?
-Owl City definitely. Awful mall-pop. This should in no way represent the kind of music Minnesota can produce. I really wish the local and national music media would stop talking about this project, as it's a huge waste of time to mine and many other music fans I know.
-The Velvet Teens: If for no other reason, but the fact there is a terrific band named The Velvet Teen, and this new local band of nearly the same name, makes music that doesn't even come close to comparing, or even being any good.
-4 on the Floor
-P.O.S. (if only this guy lived up to the initial P O and S like PAIN OF SALVATION, but he does not in much if any way) like a lot of local artists who somehow get big nationally, I find nothing about his music that is interesting. There are other, better local Hip-Hop artists (No Bird Sing, Lazerbeak, Guante) who deserve more attention than him and people like Brother Ali.

EDIT: these I forgot to include, but I find it worth adding here and now at least. I'm sure there are others I am not remembering, and if/when that happens I may also add them.
-Hayley Bonar She is a dime-a-dozen and yet the music media makes her out to be the next big thing in female singer/songwriter types. I hear absolutely nothing unique about her or her voice. Give me Alicia Wiley or Jenny Dalton among many others instead.
-Polica so their singer likes to use a vocoder? yeah, but that's hardly is new, nor means the vocal lines and songwriting is anything amazing.
-Trampled By Turtles: Boiled in Lead are SO MUCH better than this band, and not to forget, have been around MUCH LONGER. Why the music media and hipsters keep praising them to no end is kind of baffling. Boiled In Lead should be receiving the same amount (if not VASTLY more) of attention. But are they? of course not.

What were the most impressive live events that took place in 2012? What made these events great?
-Brice Plays Drums and The Super Pilots @ 400 Bar. This was a tremendous show, and probably the best local concert I attended in 2012. Maybe a lot to do with the fact The Super Pilots were a band I had never seen before, and they totally blew me away. They have this outstanding approach to Jazz-fusion that I can't help but be romanticized by in my love of groups like Return to Forever and Weather Report. And Brice Plays Drums, simply put, are my favorite local band right now. They put out my favorite local album each of the last 2 years, and they also deliver the goods live. I think there's far too many people who have no idea what they are missing by never hearing them. They are as talented a young band to come along in a few years, and have this incredible knack for composing epic songs with multiple-sections that segue unbelievably well. In other words, they are like a Minnesota answer to both Yes and The Mars Volta. And if even a fraction of the people became aware of them, that could and should, they'd have a chance to continue making a lot more music and play concerts like this down the road.

-Mutemath @ First Ave. What made it great was more or less what makes every Mutemath concert great. They bring tons of energy, it's never boring, they get the crowd involved, and they do these infectious group drum jams. And having seen them 4 or 5 times before, they somehow keep on matching if not topping each performance.
-Mayer Hawthorne @ First Ave. This show was great because he has this great vibe about him, playing to the crowd constantly. And his band is super tight. And like Mute Math, his music just has an added flavor to it live. The Stepkids were a fun opener, and Mayer even covered a Hall & Oates tune!
-Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra @ First Ave. Despite the lack of Soundproofed walls at First Ave, this show was highly memorable and engaging. Amanda's got a great band, plus the local musicians who came on and played with both her band and the opening/side musicians. She played most of her excellent new record "Theatre is Evil" and even did some incredible covers like George Michael's "Careless Whisper."
-Kimbra @ The Varsity Theater. Kimbra has a freakish amount of energy, her songs seem to almost take on a life of their own live. She played most of "Vows" including "Withdraw" which I was not expecting, but thrilled to see and hear live. But most of the songs she played, had these great new arrangements live, it was in some ways, like hearing them for the 1st time again.
-The Monkees @ The State Theatre. This was an incredibly unexpected EVENT concert for many including my girlfriend whose longed to see Michael Nesmith play live for over 26 years. And to have it finally happen, was historic. Their performance, including Mike's, was more or less flawless. They played much of both their "Headquarters" and "Head" records along with a number of other standards, and more obscure tracks. What  also added to it was the way they used Videos in the background throughout the entire show, including a couple of moments to spotlight the late Davy Jones. This show came on, and seemed to be over almost too fast, given the band didn't take a set break. It was maybe the shortest yet fulfilling 2+ hours of my and my girlfriend's concert going life.
-The Who @ Target Center. I just attended this concert last week, and I think it was almost unexpected how good and epic a show it was. The band performed their entire Quadrophenia record, in an entirely new way. They used video/audio clips and performances from both the late John Entwistle and Keith Moon, almost like they were in the building. The arrangements using a horn section really added new things to many of the tunes on that great record.

edit: this does not include the highly memorable 2-night event seeing Marillion for the 3rd and 4th times in Chicago. But that was not in Minnesota afterall.

Predictions for 2013: who's currently operating under the radar that's poised for a breakout year in 2013?
-The Royal Veil. They released a promising self-titled debut EP that fused different styles of psychedelic and progressive hard rock. And their debut full-length "King of the Ocean" is coming out early in 2013, and it is without question one-of, if not my most anticipated local album right now for 2013.
-The Book of Right On will release "How Many Ways Can You Say That You're Speaking" the album they were looking to put out in 2012, but due to the unforeseen setback of one of their drummers leaving, it didn't get released. But they as interesting a band doing progressive rock, that I've heard in many years. And having heard some their newest music live, I am totally excited to finally hear it on record. Hopefully some news about their drummer situation and this 2nd album of theirs will be announced soon.
-Greg Herriges and Telluric Currents: It's been nearly 4 long years since the release of 'Telluric Currents" an amazing record that fuses acoustic rock, folk, ethnic (East Indian, Greek, Japanese and others), and progressive music, molded into tremendous songwriting and moodiness. As a big fan of his, I am hoping 2013 will finally be the year he and his group (known as "Telluric Currents" now) follows up that tremendous album from 2009.
-Cloud Cult: Minnesota's most visible band doing progressive rock of late, and their last 2 albums especially have been among the best of their career. With that recent history, I can't see any reason not to be excited about their next album.
-Bubblemath. Will their long awaited 2nd album finally come out? a good friend of the band said it may finally.
-Between Two Skies: The same question desires to be raised to them as was Bubblemath.
-Elgin Foster: From talking to him, he has an amazing group of guest musicians like John Wright, Dean Magraw and others, on 1 or more records coming in 2013. I'm intrigued certainly.
-The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra: I guess they are working on their 3rd full-length record. Their 1st 2 are both really great records that combine elements of bluegrass, jazz and progressive rock. I'm definitely up for checking out what they have in store next.

Ask your own question to the critics. If chosen, they'll discuss it on the show.
Why is there so little coverage of progressive rock both on radio stations like The Current and Radio K, and in print?
For example, a few years ago, one of my favorite bands, The Dear Hunter, headlined a concert at The Triplerock Social Club. And other than one staff writer from vita.mn, Jay Boller, I saw and heard absolutely nothing about it in both print and electronic sources. The Dear Hunter had actually even just made an appearance on National Television in fact, on G4's "Attack of the Show." So it's not exactly if they were a band who are totally unknown.

Why do you think some venues and artists never end up playing shows here? Specifically, why do you think a venue like First Ave doesn't book certain artists that may not be as "hip" to the Pitchfork audience? I'm referring to a few of the modern college-progressive rock bands such as Porcupine Tree, dredg, Fair to Midland and some others. These bands all have fan-bases that are large enough to show up at First Ave, and in some cases, have played other venues many times to sellout crowds, yet the promoters and the people who run First Ave specifically, don't seem to know about this, or care to book them. And I am awfully puzzled why. Porcupine Tree specifically toured the US I counted 7 straight tours where they skipped our town. And for some reason, had First Ave wanted to book them, they likely would have come here. But it never happened.

The Crooked Fiddle Band - Overgrown Tales (2011)

1. Countess Bathory's Finishing School for Girls 03:10
2. The Ruination of Junkyard Joe 4:11
3. Clockwork Bride 4:01
4. All These Pitchforks Make Me Nervous 4:07
5. The Mountain Hag's Advice 3:38
6. Beneath Ash and Ocean 2:55
7. Over Hill and Under Hill 6:57
8. What the Thunder Said 14:15
The Crooked Fiddle Band on bandcamp

I was searching for info about Ne Obliviscaris, and stumbled upon a blog here that mentioned a FROG Fest, which refers to bands combining Folk + Prog. A combination I do enjoy at times. This band caught my attention. This video I posted above namely.

Their sound though overall maybe is more rooted in Folk than even some groups like Lehto &; Wright or Greg Herriges. But there's enough musicianship involved, I'm going to check this band and their debut album out.

 They almost sound like Gogol Bordello in some ways, but without the vocal style. They also seem to have a bit of a soundtrack-element, and even one of their songs "The Milkman" ended up on a soundtrack for a movie titled Underbelly Razor.

11/25/11 Rush Heads with Quadrant 4 (@ The Red Parrot Eau Claire, WI)

This show started at 9PM I guess, but I probably didn't arrive until around 9:30. I intended to leave early (like 5pm or even earlier), but with my habits involving procrastinating, I didn't. I wish I had even more so now looking back on it due to the fact the 70+ mile stretch from St.Paul to Eau Claire I was reminded now after the fact, includes many stretches in absolute blackness. In other words, driving 65-70 mph or more, with no road lighting isn't as desirable as with it or of course with DAYLIGHT.

I did manage to arrive at the Eau Claire exit early enough, despite lack of lighting, and getting thrown off by the "Alternate 94" sign. I believe I have now learned, to never take the split/merge near Menomonie with the "Interstate 94" sign because it does actually say "Alternate 94" in fact. I ended up doing that and going a mile or two out of the way and having to turn around.

The unexpected/unforecasted rain of course didn't help either.

But my Google maps directions of course didn't lead me to 1700 Hastings, but going what seemed to be in circles in and out of downtown Eau Claire. I finally stopped at a gas station and got directions to find Hastings and where The Red Parrot was.

When I arrived, Quadrant 4 was already 20-30 minutes into their set. They are it appears, a mostly covers band who plays instrumental versions of a lot of progressive rock, fusion and classic rock. From memory, I recall they played a rendition of "Carol of the Bells" (much like Trans-Siberian Orchestra's), their namesake track which is from Billy Cobham's Spectrum record. Something by Joe Satriani ("Summer Song"?), and War's "Low Rider."

Overall, a cool opening act before the Rush Heads.

As far as the Rush Heads here's a scan of their set list:



Although that's not entirely complete, at least in detail. Steve Stabenow sang/played more than just "Discovery/Soliquy" (off 2112) in that acoustic section. I want to say he did "Lessons" and "The Sphere: Kind of Dream" (from Hemispheres) and perhaps 1 or 2 others.

But overall, the perfomance was good, despite a hiccup or 2 on a few parts of songs. Especially given they only practiced together 7 times. To see Greg Herriges and Troy Berg in this setting was certainly different for me, given I'm used to seeing them in cafe's and libraries doing acoustic music. But overall, the energy and chemistry they have from Greg's solo shows, was not absent here. And Dave Schoenrock added another element, especially in the Rush/Prog fanboy. He clearly knows his Rush like a lot of us.

The different singers were an interesting mix, with Sarah Spindle pulling off quite-well a lot of the Geddy Lee-isms on tunes like "Red Barchetta, "Working Man," "Fly By Night" "The Spirit of Radio," and "Closer to the Heart." Stabenow did a lot of the more falsetto-laden tunes including "Freewill" and "Temples of Syrinx."

The opening R30 medley was maybe my favorite thing of the evening, which was sections of "Finding My Way" into "Anthem" into "Bastille Day" into "A Passage to Bangkok" and finally into "The Voyage Book II: Hemispheres."

I got the chance to chat with the Rush Heads and it sounds like they have some offers to do more shows. In the Twin Cities, and Eau Claire again. I'm not sure what the status of the recently-formed Minnesota Rush tribute band Exit Stage Right is currently.

edit: from their facebook, it appears they have been doing some gigs off and on this year at casinos, but perhaps not as often as they were in 2009 and 2010. So if Rush Heads were to end up gigging a bit in town, especially for benefits like the "Warm the Children" I'd imagine some of the people who I know would be interested in seeing them.

Announcements + blah blah

I guess it probably makes sense to post now, as it's as good a time as any, for those who stumble-upon or are force-fed this blog's url by myself or it's best-friend google/blogger.

This blog is going to be done soon.

Er, well, okay no. It could be, should, yadada.

No, I'm not trying to be all the-boy-who-cried-wolf here.

No, nothing of that sort actually. But announcements that shall be for what happens are the following.

1) As I've thought about for close to a year now, mostly due to how much content is in this blog that is based on music-alone, adding things that are not about music, does not exactly cross to the same readership. In other words, entries about Kimbra, maudlin of the Well, Marillion and Vektor, is probably not the Diablo Cody or The Big Bang Theory audience exactly. And maybe most importantly, there's SO MUCH content about music, the television and movie content namely, gets drowned out.

So, as I thought to do so a few months back, I plan to set-up a very similarly-named blog for all things that are not about music. And at the beginning of 2012, likely. That time will mark the 5-year point for when this blog was setup. 5 years, lol. Before I know it, it'll be 10 or 15 years and I'm going to look at this thing as a great way I wasted my life away, lol.

Also the fact around the beginning of the year, 2 big things happen for movies and television. The Awards season, and many shows get canceled and are brought in as replacements. So, starting in 2012, the brand new non-music part of allmediareviews should be given a good amount of content. That is, given I actually do have the hours to include even a fraction of it. I guess I'll see, but for now, that is the plan.

allmediareviews.blogspot.com will then be designated to be pretty much 100% about music. Which already it is pretty close-to, right now.

The url/title I don't anticipate changing either, although not due to reason for it, but mainly just due to why the name "allmediareviews" is still the title. It's just easier to keep it titled what it is, rather than change it and require people to have to look for/remember a brand new title that is associated with the old one.

The twitter and facebook, will be sort of be the common ground for both at this point.

2) Okay, well this new local Minnesota music site mplsmusic.com posted something about looking for writers/bloggers etc this past week. And thanks to Kevin from the band Between Two Skies, I got word of it. So I submitted an application of sorts on their site, and they got back to me today, apparently interested in my services.

So, how exactly I will be posting content on their site is unclear, but I'm definitely intrigued by doing it. What I'm not sure about is, the content exactly. Mplsmusic.com is a Minnesota Music website, at least first and foremost. Allmediareviews is a blog that talks about a wealth of music, but a large percent of which is not music from artists native to Minnesota.. However, this blog (and twitter/facebook) does still include a lot about music from Minnesota. And in fact I have a decent list on my rateyourmusic.com page Here titled "Music From Minnesota.

But its not hard to notice how a lot of the music I love, it just so happens, is not from here. Cloud Cult I suppose has become the biggest token band for me in the "College Prog" I happen to be obsessed with. But at the same time, there are a lot of artists here I enjoy and write about that I dig. Lehto & Wright and Greg Herriges for example released albums the past couple of years, that ended up pretty high on my year-end indexs (Lehto & Wright's Children's Songs was #2 in fact in 2010).

But sadly, most of those artists I dig here, are only known in Minnesota or in this part of the country.

I think along with wanting to talk about said Minnesota-based artists, I think at least including stuff like bands coming to play in Minnesota, especially if some local Minnesota acts end up on the bill as openers, would make sense to provide on their site.

But, another aspect to it could be not only Minnesota Music and Events in Minnesota, but, just the fact I am from and live in Minnesota and have a large interest in music, specifically progressive rock, might also be something to include. In other words, getting articles about what music is all the buzz from a Minnesotan, might be enough. I dunno, I suppose I'll see.

I also suspect said articles I'll be posting on their site, will be also included here. Sort of a cross-posting of sorts. I'm not sure, it may be an exact copy+paste with a link, or at times, just a link. But the point being, I'm not going to write about something significant enough, that is music-based there, that I wouldn't want here. Now, the flip-side, who knows. I guess it'll only be known. I suspect a lot of the stuff posted in here that isn't from Minnesota, initially won't be included there. And even the percentage. I guess that leads me to the next point.

Time of course. Given I'm in a relationship, started a new job this year, etc. I haven't been able to blog in here nearly as much as I'd like. Mainly the actual writing. The announcements, sure, that I've managed to do. Hopefully I will find a little more time soon, to include more actual writing. But that again is just a hope. I'm only 1 person, that needs to try and live. Call it a blessing and curse of my taste and interest to share endless amounts of stuff about music and entertainment on my brain. I suppose I may have a good chance of fulfilling that, assuming I'm not dead or acquire some disease, at the point I'm retired from working in x number of decades.

Or of course, somehow, I made a living off this. Which I don't expect to ever happen. Frankly, make much of any income at it. But the key is little to no expectations; then I pretty much have
no way to get disappointed. Besides, having this become a labor-ful "job" and finding myself writing about music I never would write or think about, could potentially be a trap. Also, I do like my job and also like to pay my bills. I suppose if I won the Powerball or something and money wasn't any factor, going back to college and likely having enough TIME to contribute to this blog as I might ever want, would be something I could do. But, the odds of that ever coming to happen, are pretty close-to, if not never.

3) The last announcement of sorts is just a hope to post the ole 2011 Albums Index as early as possible. Why that is, is for a few reasons. But 1st and foremost, the time and stress it seems to require of me around the end of the year, is really desired to be limited. Or at least aiming to get it done as early as possible, gives more of a window of time. The Sound Opinions Message Board poll is one thing, but ideally, I'd like to be able to post my list (with hyperlinks) on the 1st day they are available to submit. Being that, by that time, I'm already done with it, etc.

I guess a goal of mine would be have most if not the whole thing done by December 1st. Any changes/modifications etc, will be posted later. And it probably could allow me to write a bit more with the Turkey entry, which kind of was truncated last year, and received more or less nothing in terms of why said albums were disappointing, etc.

And of course some of the diarrhea-of-the-mouths could and hopefully will happen. Those along with a recording or 2 with my co-host of Epic Rock Talk soon.

The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - All Out of Peaches (2011). (1.0)

TGCO music store



1 All Out of Peaches 3:45
2 Ruby 1:21
3 Paparazzi 5:13
4 Memo 9 7:22
5 Cajun in Spurs 3:00
6 Straight to the Top 4:25
7 Five up Front 3:30
8 Minion 7:13
9 The Blaze 2:41
10 Ragabilly 4:23
11 At Cross Purposes 6:04


Here's an early 1x's hearing review I just posted on my rateyourmusic page.

Impressive follow-up to 2009's debut record Lookin' For a Little Strange. I just saw them live this past weekend (3/19/11), and I'm starting to warm up to the songs on this album as well. Among them, "The Blaze" "Minion," "Memo 9," "All Out of Peaches" "At Cross Purposes" and "Five up Front" were the band at their most technical and progressive I suppose. Or "New Grass Art Rock" as they (and/or others) are dubbing their sound.

I suppose depending how much time I give this album, it could get rated a little higher, but for now, it's an album that maybe is start-to-finish a little better than Lookin' For a Little Strange, but I'm not sure it has any tracks quite as memorable as "Dark Matter" or "Odd Men Out."

If you like Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, Dixie Dregs, Mahavishnu Orchestra or certainly John Wright's other main project Lehto & Wright; or even if you're a Rush fan (the band have covered YYZ, and namely Lisi Wright, TGCO's fiddle player, is a huge fan-of/is influenced by them), this band and album should be well worth your while to check out. And they're actually touring soon out East in the next few weeks (Philadelphia, North Carolina, New York City, maybe Boston even?).

edit: TGCO Calendar from their homepage
3/21 Rochester, MN
3/25 Geneva, NY
3/26 Hamilton, NY
3/27 Binghampton, NY
3/28 Scanton, PA
3/29 Philadelphia, PA
4/1 Winston-Salem, NC
4/2 Raleigh, NC
4/5 Atlanta, GA
4/7 IndianaSpolis, IN
4/8 South Bend, IN


But given recent history of incredible progressive albums from Lehto & Wright, Greg Herriges, Dean Magraw among others, I'm basically assuming this will be another terrific record that nobody outside of Minnesota and in this case, the Bluegrass and niche-jazz scenes will hear about. Why? I don't know, other than if people can't download it for free, they'll never check it out.

It's again, THEIR LOSS. Maybe years or decades from now, they'll be regretting it

I'll add more soon including just a link or 2.