I've been really quiet of late (loads of stuff happening IRL), the end result of which is that I have been pulled increasingly from posting here.
Without making excuses or getting into any of the reasons, here's some stuff for y'all:
My interview with Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings has now been posted and can be read HERE. A brief excerpt:
BK: Good. You guys are gonna be playing the inaugural Three Rivers Prog Fest, out in Pittsburgh. And I know Pittsburgh is where Inside/Out USA used to be based out of. Is there something special about that festival, you know, the idea that you're gonna be playing at the first one, or is it the fact that you're gonna be able to sort of route shows around it that makes it attractive?
RS: Well, in fact, we were asked to, because obviously we know a couple of people in Pittsburgh, because we had our record company there and we had people that we'd been working with in Pittsburgh for quite a while. So, we were asked to play this festival maybe some...4, 5, 6 months ago, I think.
BK: Long before it was actually announced.
RS: Oh, yes. Oh, yes. And I waited, and one of the reasons was of course that we had to cancel ROSfest. I didn't want that to happen again, you know what I mean. I wanted to be really, really, positively sure that we were gonna play the festival before I said OK. Anyway, so we were asked to do this, and I didn't know what other bands were gonna play, and then they came back to me a couple of weeks ago, and said "this is what the festival is gonna be, these are the other acts," and some of them are not announced yet. But they're really good acts, definitely. So, just looking at the lineup, I said "this looks interesting," and I think we can even attract some of the non-prog audience for this festival. So, that was one of the motivations for playing.
Secondly, my interview with Andy Tillison of The Tangent has also been posted, and you can read it HERE. Again, a brief excerpt:
BK: Is the European scene that much more vital for live progressive music, that a tour like this can happen over there? Here in the States it seems the entire progressive music scene is almost subsidized and supported by three or four festivals over the course of the year. Bands will come over and play one or two shows around the festivals and that's the only chance you get to see them.
AT: Yeah. Well...that's right. It has to be remembered that although the festivals are very impressive in America...we loved when we played ROSfest...it also has to be remembered that America actually has one of the smallest progressive rock markets, so that...you know...I think that for example there are more people into progressive rock in South America than there are in the United States. And there are certainly more people who are into it in Europe than there are who are into it in America. So the problem is the American vastness, it means that we can come over...we can play one of the festivals, but then we have to transport ourselves miles away to the next show to keep from interfering with that festivals bookings and play a gig on the other coast. The problem is...we've already discussed this with other bands who have done the same thing and they find nobody goes to the next gig because they've already gone to the festival! So these big festivals in America are sort of like, everybody goes and you see the same people or core at all festivals. So it is a bit difficult, of course, and the American market is...it's difficult to get over there to start with, and all the instrument hire, and...
So yeah...we can do the festivals, but unfortunately putting a tour together over there is almost impossible. We're not big enough yet...we haven't got enough people who could make a tour pay, and, you know...it is terrible that you have to think of money like this, but...unfortunately we do. We can't come home having to pay for our own performance.
Finally, those of you on the Frank Zappa merch mailing list know that there is a new Zappa DVD being released from the vaults, titled The Torture Never Stops. This is an apt title for a lot of long-suffering Zappaphiles who have been waiting patiently for the ZFT to finally released the long coveted Roxy DVD, which has been announced and promised for many years now (a trailer for this appears on the Baby Snakes DVD).
I am not going to get into the politics of the way releases are being made from the archives...there have been some strange choices, to be sure, but at the same time, several things have come out that are genuinely very interesting (Wazoo, the live Grand Wazoo release...the MOFO project (which has its own share of controversy)...Imaginary Diseases from the Petit Wazoo tour, et cetera).
But...
The Roxy era band has been considered by many to be the peak of the early post-MOI Zappa groups...I mean, how can you complain about this as a band to play with:
Napoleon Murphy Brock – flute, saxophone, tenor saxophone, vocals
George Duke – synthesizer, keyboards, vocals
Bruce Fowler – trombone, dancer
Tom Fowler – bass guitar
Walt Fowler – trumpet, bass trumpet
Don Preston – synthesizer
Jeff Simmons – rhythm guitar, vocals
Chester Thompson – drums
Ruth Underwood – percussion
And yes, we have Baby Snakes on DVD, and The Dub Room Special, and Does Humour Belong in Music?, and now TTNS...but no Roxy.
And we wait.
Just like we've been waiting for...
Dance Me This
The Rage & The Fury
200 Motels (on DVD and/or CD)
A release of Uncle Meat without the 'penalty tracks'
I've long since given up trying to understand how releases get decided upon and scheduled. I'd just like to see Roxy before I die...
30 May 2008
28 May 2008
Kansas: Two for the Show reissue/expanded edition info
Thirty years later, TWO FOR THE SHOW: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION will arrive in stores July 1st on Kirshner/Epic/Legacy, a division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. The double-CD package will be housed in a beautifully designed, environmentally friendly, plastic-free soft pack, containing a 24-page full-color booklet with many unseen photographs, and a new liner notes essay written by Jeb Wright.
"Looking back," Wright reflects, "it is hard to believe that these six long-haired, rough and tumble Midwesterners took only a few years to go from playing local bars to selling out Madison Square Garden...but that is exactly what happened." Wright, a native of Topeka, Kansas - the band's hometown - is the owner/editor of Classic Rock Revisited online music magazine, which can be found at www.classicrockrevisited.com.
Wright also points out the story behind the album cover graphic - the familiar rendering of the two cleaning ladies seated in the empty red velvet orchestra seats after a show, their mops in view, perusing the Kansas playbill. It was based on a Norman Rockwell painting titled "The Charwomen" that originally appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post of April 6, 1946. The 1978 version went on to win an award from the Norman Rockwell Foundation. Today it serves as the homepage of the band's website, with the red curtained stage serving as the backdrop for the site views.
After five RIAA gold, platinum and multi-platinum LPs, the original release of Two For the Show was welcomed in November 1978 by fans of Kansas, a band whose career has always been based on their reputation as live performers. The double-album chronicled their mammoth tours of 1977-78, which built on the breakthrough success of their consecutive Top 5 LPs Leftoverture (1976, with "Carry On Wayward Son") and Point Of Know Return (1977, with "Point Of Know Return" and "Dust In the Wind").
To the delight of Kansas completists around the world, TWO FOR THE SHOW will finally restore the live version of "Closet Chronicles" to the playlist (on disc two). This rarity was first heard on the Point Of Know Return album, and as the B-side of the "Point Of Know Return" single. When the first-generation CD of Two For the Show was issued in 1989, "Closet Chronicles" (which preceded "Magnum Opus" as the next-to-last track on the double-LP) was cut for length reasons.
The live version of "Closet Chronicles" anchors CD two on the new package, whose 10 other live tracks gathered from the 1977-78 tours are previously unreleased. Among them is the closing track, the cover of J.J. Cale's "Bring It Back," which Kansas picked up from Cale's debut LP of 1971, Naturally. The band recorded it (as "Bringing It Back") on their own self-titled debut album of 1974, Kansas, on the Kirshner label, distributed by Epic Associated Labels. It remained their only non-Kansas composition recorded during their entire first decade 1974-83, and their nine studio LPs on Kirshner (before moving to MCA in 1986, when they began to record 'outside' material).
The album, Wright concludes, "is a testament to a great band at the top of their game. A large majority of the track listing is still found in the band's set list today, proving their music remains both majestic and timeless.This album is a true testament to their abilities. So, the time has come for me to Welcome you to Kansas and invite you to sit back, crank up the volume, and enjoy TWO FOR THE SHOW."
TWO FOR THE SHOW: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Kirshner/Epic/ Legacy 88697 30836 2, originally issued November 1978, as Kirshner 35660)
Disc One - Selections:
1. Song For America (B)
2. Point Of Know Return (E)
3. Paradox (E)
4. Icarus - Borne On Wings Of Steel (C)
5. Portrait (He Knew) (E)
6. Carry On Wayward Son (D)
7. Journey From Mariabronn (A)
8. Dust In the Wind - acoustic guitar solo (E)
9. Lonely Wind - piano solo (A)
10. Mysteries And Mayhem (C)
11. Excerpt From Lamplight Symphony (B)
12. The Wall (D)
13. Magnum Opus (D).
Disc Two - Selections:
1. Hopelessly Human (E)
2. Child Of Innocence (C)
3. Belexes (A)
4. Cheyenne Anthem (D)
5. Lonely Street (B)
6. Miracles Out Of Nowhere (D)
7. The Spider - drum solo (E)
8. Closet Chronicles (E)
9. Down The Road (B)
10. Sparks Of The Tempest (E)
11. Bringing It Back (A).
(All live tracks previously unreleased except number 10.)
Song originally from studio album:
(A) - Kansas (1974)
(B) - Song For America (1974)
(C) - Masque (1975)
(D) - Leftoverture (1976)
(E) - Point Of Know Return (1977)
"Looking back," Wright reflects, "it is hard to believe that these six long-haired, rough and tumble Midwesterners took only a few years to go from playing local bars to selling out Madison Square Garden...but that is exactly what happened." Wright, a native of Topeka, Kansas - the band's hometown - is the owner/editor of Classic Rock Revisited online music magazine, which can be found at www.classicrockrevisited.com.
Wright also points out the story behind the album cover graphic - the familiar rendering of the two cleaning ladies seated in the empty red velvet orchestra seats after a show, their mops in view, perusing the Kansas playbill. It was based on a Norman Rockwell painting titled "The Charwomen" that originally appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post of April 6, 1946. The 1978 version went on to win an award from the Norman Rockwell Foundation. Today it serves as the homepage of the band's website, with the red curtained stage serving as the backdrop for the site views.
After five RIAA gold, platinum and multi-platinum LPs, the original release of Two For the Show was welcomed in November 1978 by fans of Kansas, a band whose career has always been based on their reputation as live performers. The double-album chronicled their mammoth tours of 1977-78, which built on the breakthrough success of their consecutive Top 5 LPs Leftoverture (1976, with "Carry On Wayward Son") and Point Of Know Return (1977, with "Point Of Know Return" and "Dust In the Wind").
To the delight of Kansas completists around the world, TWO FOR THE SHOW will finally restore the live version of "Closet Chronicles" to the playlist (on disc two). This rarity was first heard on the Point Of Know Return album, and as the B-side of the "Point Of Know Return" single. When the first-generation CD of Two For the Show was issued in 1989, "Closet Chronicles" (which preceded "Magnum Opus" as the next-to-last track on the double-LP) was cut for length reasons.
The live version of "Closet Chronicles" anchors CD two on the new package, whose 10 other live tracks gathered from the 1977-78 tours are previously unreleased. Among them is the closing track, the cover of J.J. Cale's "Bring It Back," which Kansas picked up from Cale's debut LP of 1971, Naturally. The band recorded it (as "Bringing It Back") on their own self-titled debut album of 1974, Kansas, on the Kirshner label, distributed by Epic Associated Labels. It remained their only non-Kansas composition recorded during their entire first decade 1974-83, and their nine studio LPs on Kirshner (before moving to MCA in 1986, when they began to record 'outside' material).
The album, Wright concludes, "is a testament to a great band at the top of their game. A large majority of the track listing is still found in the band's set list today, proving their music remains both majestic and timeless.This album is a true testament to their abilities. So, the time has come for me to Welcome you to Kansas and invite you to sit back, crank up the volume, and enjoy TWO FOR THE SHOW."
TWO FOR THE SHOW: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Kirshner/Epic/ Legacy 88697 30836 2, originally issued November 1978, as Kirshner 35660)
Disc One - Selections:
1. Song For America (B)
2. Point Of Know Return (E)
3. Paradox (E)
4. Icarus - Borne On Wings Of Steel (C)
5. Portrait (He Knew) (E)
6. Carry On Wayward Son (D)
7. Journey From Mariabronn (A)
8. Dust In the Wind - acoustic guitar solo (E)
9. Lonely Wind - piano solo (A)
10. Mysteries And Mayhem (C)
11. Excerpt From Lamplight Symphony (B)
12. The Wall (D)
13. Magnum Opus (D).
Disc Two - Selections:
1. Hopelessly Human (E)
2. Child Of Innocence (C)
3. Belexes (A)
4. Cheyenne Anthem (D)
5. Lonely Street (B)
6. Miracles Out Of Nowhere (D)
7. The Spider - drum solo (E)
8. Closet Chronicles (E)
9. Down The Road (B)
10. Sparks Of The Tempest (E)
11. Bringing It Back (A).
(All live tracks previously unreleased except number 10.)
Song originally from studio album:
(A) - Kansas (1974)
(B) - Song For America (1974)
(C) - Masque (1975)
(D) - Leftoverture (1976)
(E) - Point Of Know Return (1977)
27 May 2008
End of May 2008 gnosis2000 top 20
Been a while since I posted this, but...here's the current top 20 rated albums from the gnosis2000 rating site (covering prog/art rock/fusion/jazz/et cetera):
1) Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Darwin! Ita
2) King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King Eng
3) King Crimson Larks Tongues In Aspic Eng
4) Genesis Selling England By The Pound Eng
5) Premiata Forneria Marconi Per Un Amico Ita
6) Änglagård Hybris Swe
7) Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Io Sono Nato Libero Ita
8) Hatfield and The North Rotter's Club Eng
9) Genesis Foxtrot Eng
10) National Health Of Queues And Cures Eng
11) Yes Close to the Edge Eng
12) Hatfield and The North Hatfield and The North Eng
13) Coltrane, John The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings (box) USA
14) Van der Graaf Generator Pawn Hearts Eng
15) Gentle Giant In A Glass House Eng
16) Premiata Forneria Marconi Storia Di Un Minuto Ita
17) Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Ita
18) Jethro Tull Thick as a Brick Eng
19) Davis, Miles Kind of Blue USA
20) Magma Hhai/Live Fra
When I last posted (February 2008), the following were the top 10:
1) King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King Eng 1969
2) Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Darwin! Ita 1972
3) King Crimson Larks Tongues In Aspic Eng 1973
4) Änglagård Hybris Swe 1992
5) Genesis Selling England By The Pound Eng 1973
6) Hatfield and The North Rotter's Club Eng 1975
7) Premiata Forneria Marconi Per Un Amico Ita 1972
8) Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Io Sono Nato Libero Ita 1973
9) Genesis Foxtrot Eng 1972
10) National Health Of Queues And Cures Eng 1978
So, outside of a reshuffling of titles, the top ten remains consistent.
1) Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Darwin! Ita
2) King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King Eng
3) King Crimson Larks Tongues In Aspic Eng
4) Genesis Selling England By The Pound Eng
5) Premiata Forneria Marconi Per Un Amico Ita
6) Änglagård Hybris Swe
7) Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Io Sono Nato Libero Ita
8) Hatfield and The North Rotter's Club Eng
9) Genesis Foxtrot Eng
10) National Health Of Queues And Cures Eng
11) Yes Close to the Edge Eng
12) Hatfield and The North Hatfield and The North Eng
13) Coltrane, John The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings (box) USA
14) Van der Graaf Generator Pawn Hearts Eng
15) Gentle Giant In A Glass House Eng
16) Premiata Forneria Marconi Storia Di Un Minuto Ita
17) Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Ita
18) Jethro Tull Thick as a Brick Eng
19) Davis, Miles Kind of Blue USA
20) Magma Hhai/Live Fra
When I last posted (February 2008), the following were the top 10:
1) King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King Eng 1969
2) Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Darwin! Ita 1972
3) King Crimson Larks Tongues In Aspic Eng 1973
4) Änglagård Hybris Swe 1992
5) Genesis Selling England By The Pound Eng 1973
6) Hatfield and The North Rotter's Club Eng 1975
7) Premiata Forneria Marconi Per Un Amico Ita 1972
8) Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Io Sono Nato Libero Ita 1973
9) Genesis Foxtrot Eng 1972
10) National Health Of Queues And Cures Eng 1978
So, outside of a reshuffling of titles, the top ten remains consistent.
NEARfest after-show entertainment details
Here is the official rundown on the after-show entertainment at NEARfest X. All happenings will held at the Comfort Suites hotel bar on 3rd Street in Bethlehem and completely open to anyone. First off, Tom Gagliardi and the world-famous Gagliarchives Radio Show will broadcast live from the hotel bar on both Friday and Saturday nights.
Each night will be streamed online at Aural Moon (www.gagliarchives.com, www.auralmoon.com) beginning at 9:00pm ET.
The NJ ProgHouse After Parties will then kick off at 12:00 am. NEARfest attendees have plenty of time to hit the meet-and-greets after the headliners and not miss the performances. The schedule is as follows:
Friday: Laura Meade featuring John Galgano (IZZ)
(www.myspace.com/laurammeade)
Saturday: Might Could (www.mightcould.net)
Sunday: Mr. A's Happy Fun Sing-Along and 10th Anniversary Drink-a-Thon
Hope you can join us!
Each night will be streamed online at Aural Moon (www.gagliarchives.com, www.auralmoon.com) beginning at 9:00pm ET.
The NJ ProgHouse After Parties will then kick off at 12:00 am. NEARfest attendees have plenty of time to hit the meet-and-greets after the headliners and not miss the performances. The schedule is as follows:
Friday: Laura Meade featuring John Galgano (IZZ)
(www.myspace.com/laurammeade)
Saturday: Might Could (www.mightcould.net)
Sunday: Mr. A's Happy Fun Sing-Along and 10th Anniversary Drink-a-Thon
Hope you can join us!
22 May 2008
Mastermind Updates
This is from the band's latest newsletter:
Hello! Hola! Bonjour! Konnichiwa! Ciao! Hallo! Goddag! Ahoj! Hej! Shalom! Geia! Privet! Salut!
Hello everybody! After some time of inactivity Mastermind is rumbling to life again. If you've been by the web site and read the blog you have an idea of what is going on. We'll shed more light on why we took a break in the coming weeks, but it feels like the time is right to get going again. So what's up you ask?
First off, we will be on The Gagliarchives progressive rock radio show this Saturday, May 24, 10pm EDT [*] discussing the past, present & future of Mastermind and spinning some new material for your listening pleasure! The show is broadcast in southern NJ on 88.9FM and is available streaming off the web at www.gagliarchives.com/
We have a new unreleased album that *will* be available later this year one way or another! We're creating new music again and plan to record brand new music over the coming months. No, we don't have a bass player currently, so no live shows in the foreseeable future. However, if a great opportunity comes up there are people we can call on if need be.
We've made our entire catalog available for digital download on "mindawn.com". Mindawn is the only music service that offers FLAC audio for full CD quality downloads, and we want you to have full quality! To entice you to visit Mindawn, we've released two live archive recordings in digital format only...
"MASTERMIND LIVE 1995" which is quite a good recording of the original trio line up and what should have been our official live album of the period that has sat on the shelf for over ten years. This includes the only live recording of Tragic Symphony that we're aware of.
"Another Cold & Rainy Night" (Conduit Club Live 2002) features the quartet line up with Tracy McShane performing classic Mastermind material at full throttle. Visit the website for a track listings and visit mindawn.com to hear both albums. Cover artwork for both albums is also available to download.
We have tons of stuff in the archives from live shows, demos, alternate recordings, unreleased material and video which we plan to offer in the coming weeks & months. It's a mind boggling amount of stuff to sift through, but we're hoping this will rekindle interest in the band and set the stage for a NEW album release, so please help spread the word. Over the years we've developed quite a loyal fanbase, we just need to remind some of you we are still here! We appreciate the great support we've received over the years from the prog rock community and hope to please you again in the near future.
Also as some may know, the brothers Berends have been performing locally as "The Berends Bros Band" revisiting our roots and keeping our chops sharp. We have some material written and recorded for this band and hope to get to that in the near future. For people in the Philly / New York area we have a few live dates coming up over the summer. Check our live shows page for details.
mastermindband.com
OK that's enough for now. Thanks for your interest in Mastermind!
Hello! Hola! Bonjour! Konnichiwa! Ciao! Hallo! Goddag! Ahoj! Hej! Shalom! Geia! Privet! Salut!
Hello everybody! After some time of inactivity Mastermind is rumbling to life again. If you've been by the web site and read the blog you have an idea of what is going on. We'll shed more light on why we took a break in the coming weeks, but it feels like the time is right to get going again. So what's up you ask?
First off, we will be on The Gagliarchives progressive rock radio show this Saturday, May 24, 10pm EDT [*] discussing the past, present & future of Mastermind and spinning some new material for your listening pleasure! The show is broadcast in southern NJ on 88.9FM and is available streaming off the web at www.gagliarchives.com/
We have a new unreleased album that *will* be available later this year one way or another! We're creating new music again and plan to record brand new music over the coming months. No, we don't have a bass player currently, so no live shows in the foreseeable future. However, if a great opportunity comes up there are people we can call on if need be.
We've made our entire catalog available for digital download on "mindawn.com". Mindawn is the only music service that offers FLAC audio for full CD quality downloads, and we want you to have full quality! To entice you to visit Mindawn, we've released two live archive recordings in digital format only...
"MASTERMIND LIVE 1995" which is quite a good recording of the original trio line up and what should have been our official live album of the period that has sat on the shelf for over ten years. This includes the only live recording of Tragic Symphony that we're aware of.
"Another Cold & Rainy Night" (Conduit Club Live 2002) features the quartet line up with Tracy McShane performing classic Mastermind material at full throttle. Visit the website for a track listings and visit mindawn.com to hear both albums. Cover artwork for both albums is also available to download.
We have tons of stuff in the archives from live shows, demos, alternate recordings, unreleased material and video which we plan to offer in the coming weeks & months. It's a mind boggling amount of stuff to sift through, but we're hoping this will rekindle interest in the band and set the stage for a NEW album release, so please help spread the word. Over the years we've developed quite a loyal fanbase, we just need to remind some of you we are still here! We appreciate the great support we've received over the years from the prog rock community and hope to please you again in the near future.
Also as some may know, the brothers Berends have been performing locally as "The Berends Bros Band" revisiting our roots and keeping our chops sharp. We have some material written and recorded for this band and hope to get to that in the near future. For people in the Philly / New York area we have a few live dates coming up over the summer. Check our live shows page for details.
mastermindband.com
OK that's enough for now. Thanks for your interest in Mastermind!
21 May 2008
Pure Reason Revolution: Live at NEARfest release announced
It is with great excitement that we announce the release of Pure Reason Revolution: Live at NEARfest 2007. The British upstart quartet took the NEARfest stage by storm with their unique combination of hard-driving riffs, Pink Floyd-esque soundscapes and fabulous vocal harmonies. Already known for their powerful live show, Pure Reason Revolution took it to yet another level with this energetic and raw performance. The band was in top form at NEARfest and is captured live for the first time on Live at NEARfest 2007. The album will be release on June 20, 2008, the first day of NEARfest X.
Tracklisting:
1. Intro/In Aurélia
2. The Borgen's Vor
3. Deus Ex Machina
4. The Bright Ambassadors of Morning
5. Victorious Cupid
6. Voices in Winter
7. The Twyncyn/Trembling Willows
8. Golden Disco
9. Aeropause
10. Apprentice of the Universe
11. Nimos & Tambos
12. Arrival/The Intention Craft
Personnel:
Jon Courtney - Vocals, guitar, keyboards
Chloë Alper - Bass, vocals, keyboards
Jamie Willcox - Guitar, vocals, keyboards
Paul Glover - Drums
Mixed by Adam Whitaker
Recorded and Mastered by Brett Kull
Download MP3 a rough mix of "Deus Ex Machina" at http://www.nearfestrecords.com/releases.asp?ID=18
Catlog Number: NFR0010
NEARfest Records
http://www.nearfestrecords.com
Tracklisting:
1. Intro/In Aurélia
2. The Borgen's Vor
3. Deus Ex Machina
4. The Bright Ambassadors of Morning
5. Victorious Cupid
6. Voices in Winter
7. The Twyncyn/Trembling Willows
8. Golden Disco
9. Aeropause
10. Apprentice of the Universe
11. Nimos & Tambos
12. Arrival/The Intention Craft
Personnel:
Jon Courtney - Vocals, guitar, keyboards
Chloë Alper - Bass, vocals, keyboards
Jamie Willcox - Guitar, vocals, keyboards
Paul Glover - Drums
Mixed by Adam Whitaker
Recorded and Mastered by Brett Kull
Download MP3 a rough mix of "Deus Ex Machina" at http://www.nearfestrecords.com
Catlog Number: NFR0010
NEARfest Records
http://www.nearfestrecords.com
17 May 2008
FestivAlterNativo 2008 announcement
From their press release:
Thanks to the invaluable support of the Instituto Queretano para la Cultura y las Artes (Culture and Arts Institute of Queretaro), the Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro "through the faculties of Political Sciences and Psychology- the municipality of Queretaro, The Municipality of San Juan del Rio, Luna Negra, S.C. and other private institutions, we have set the 2005, 2006 and 2007 editions of the cultural event FestivAlterNativo.
This event has been the stage for nine bands, national and international, representing a diversity of musical styles which have found a niche in the new music/ alternative scene: MARIONETA (Queretaro), MUSTANG (Queretaro), MANTIS ATEA (Morelia-Mexicali-Queretaro), SAENA featuring Jose Luis Fernandez Ledesma & Margarita Botello-(Mexico City), CABEZAS DE CERA (Mexico City), BANDA ELASTICA (Mexico City), COLECTIVO KAOSS (Queretaro), AMAROK (Barcelona) and JORGE CAMPOS KUARTETO (Santiago de Chile- Toronto).
With a firm intention of continuing supporting the contemporary musical scene, both local and international, Luna Negra, S.C. have thought of the Fourth Edition of the FestivAlterNativo, scheduled for June 14th and 15th, 2008.
This year we will have to opportunity to enjoy the following roster of bands:
Saturday, June 14th:
SANTOSOTELOS Stick Duo (Mexico) feat. Mauricio Sotelo of Cabezas de Cera and Hugo Santos of Saena-1870 (Mexico)
CHRIS CUTLER & HUGH HOPPER Duo (England)
BANDA ELASTICA (Mexico)
Sunday, June 15th:
SAENA (Mexico) -feat. Jose Luis Fernandez Ledesma & Margarita Botelo
CAST (Mexico)
AMAROK (Calalonia, Spain)
Thanks to the invaluable support of the Instituto Queretano para la Cultura y las Artes (Culture and Arts Institute of Queretaro), the Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro "through the faculties of Political Sciences and Psychology- the municipality of Queretaro, The Municipality of San Juan del Rio, Luna Negra, S.C. and other private institutions, we have set the 2005, 2006 and 2007 editions of the cultural event FestivAlterNativo.
This event has been the stage for nine bands, national and international, representing a diversity of musical styles which have found a niche in the new music/ alternative scene: MARIONETA (Queretaro), MUSTANG (Queretaro), MANTIS ATEA (Morelia-Mexicali-Queretaro), SAENA featuring Jose Luis Fernandez Ledesma & Margarita Botello-(Mexico City), CABEZAS DE CERA (Mexico City), BANDA ELASTICA (Mexico City), COLECTIVO KAOSS (Queretaro), AMAROK (Barcelona) and JORGE CAMPOS KUARTETO (Santiago de Chile- Toronto).
With a firm intention of continuing supporting the contemporary musical scene, both local and international, Luna Negra, S.C. have thought of the Fourth Edition of the FestivAlterNativo, scheduled for June 14th and 15th, 2008.
This year we will have to opportunity to enjoy the following roster of bands:
Saturday, June 14th:
SANTOSOTELOS Stick Duo (Mexico) feat. Mauricio Sotelo of Cabezas de Cera and Hugo Santos of Saena-1870 (Mexico)
CHRIS CUTLER & HUGH HOPPER Duo (England)
BANDA ELASTICA (Mexico)
Sunday, June 15th:
SAENA (Mexico) -feat. Jose Luis Fernandez Ledesma & Margarita Botelo
CAST (Mexico)
AMAROK (Calalonia, Spain)
16 May 2008
Reviews and more...
I just wanted to post a quick update about a bunch of reviews and stuff that have been posted, or will be posted soon-ish, that may be of some interest to you, Constant Readers.
The following reviews were published on Progscape yesterday:
Matthew Parmenter Horror Express 05/15/2008
Rainwound Shrouded Destiny 05/15/2008
Beardfish Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two 05/15/2008
Rod DeGeorge Cosmic Playground 05/15/2008
The following reviews have just been submitted:
Caamora She (2 CD release)
Caamora She (DVD release)
As soon as they are up, I will be providing links to interviews with the following artists:
Andy Tillison of The Tangent/Parallel or 90 Degrees
Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings/formerly Kaipa, The Tangent, Transatlantic
The following artists have interviews coming up:
Gary Lauzon of The Rebel Wheel
Jason Blake of Aziola Cry
~~~~~~~~~~
Here's what I'm listening to recently:
Asia - Phoenix (Frontiers Music)
Alberto Rigoni - Something Different (Lion Music)
Nude Black Glass - Nude Black Glass (private release)
Fernwood - Almeria(private release)
Voluntary Mother Earth - Unacceptable Vegetable (private release)
You'll probably be getting links to reviews over the coming week or so.
~~~~~~~~~~
NEARfest is about one month away now, and I suppose it goes without saying that I will be there. I'll be covering the event for a variety of outlets, and you will more than likely be getting all kinds of links to photo galleries, reviews, interviews and so on. I'll look into Blogger's voice post capabilities to see if there's any way I can push voice posts here as a stop gap over the course of the two days, but in the event that I cannot, I do have a personal blog that does allow for voice posting. I may simply post a link to that blog before the festival and ask that people hit that page over the course of the weekend if they were at all interested in a 'blogging as the festival goes' kind of thing.
The following reviews were published on Progscape yesterday:
Matthew Parmenter Horror Express 05/15/2008
Rainwound Shrouded Destiny 05/15/2008
Beardfish Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two 05/15/2008
Rod DeGeorge Cosmic Playground 05/15/2008
The following reviews have just been submitted:
Caamora She (2 CD release)
Caamora She (DVD release)
As soon as they are up, I will be providing links to interviews with the following artists:
Andy Tillison of The Tangent/Parallel or 90 Degrees
Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings/formerly Kaipa, The Tangent, Transatlantic
The following artists have interviews coming up:
Gary Lauzon of The Rebel Wheel
Jason Blake of Aziola Cry
~~~~~~~~~~
Here's what I'm listening to recently:
Asia - Phoenix (Frontiers Music)
Alberto Rigoni - Something Different (Lion Music)
Nude Black Glass - Nude Black Glass (private release)
Fernwood - Almeria(private release)
Voluntary Mother Earth - Unacceptable Vegetable (private release)
You'll probably be getting links to reviews over the coming week or so.
~~~~~~~~~~
NEARfest is about one month away now, and I suppose it goes without saying that I will be there. I'll be covering the event for a variety of outlets, and you will more than likely be getting all kinds of links to photo galleries, reviews, interviews and so on. I'll look into Blogger's voice post capabilities to see if there's any way I can push voice posts here as a stop gap over the course of the two days, but in the event that I cannot, I do have a personal blog that does allow for voice posting. I may simply post a link to that blog before the festival and ask that people hit that page over the course of the weekend if they were at all interested in a 'blogging as the festival goes' kind of thing.
Fish's "Clutching at Stars" at NEARfest
In the wake of NEARfest stepping up to sponsor him for his 2008 North American tour, Fish has offered to bring his critically-acclaimed "Clutching at Stars" performance to the NEARfest stage. This encore performance celebrating the 20th anniversary of Marillion's classic Clutching at Straws album, a fan-favorite and the last one featuring Fish, is a NEARfest-exclusive! The Clutching at Stars tour did not reach North American shores in 2007, so this is sure to be a very special show.
Tickets are still available for the show at https://ztickets.lehigh.edu, which is on Friday, June 20th starting at 7:00pm with Synergy as the opening act.
Tickets are still available for the show at https://ztickets.lehigh.edu, which is on Friday, June 20th starting at 7:00pm with Synergy as the opening act.
15 May 2008
Spock's Beard live release info
The long-awaited Spock's Beard live DVD and 2 CD set are now available for pre-order...
Release dates are Germany, Austria & Switzerland on June 13, the remainder of Europe on June 16 and North America on June 24, 2008.
Recorded live in Holland in 2007, it Includes:
On A Perfect Day
Mouth of Madness
Crack the Big Sky
The Slow Crash Landing Man
Return to Whatever
Surfing Down the Avalanche
Thoughts (Part 2)
Drum solo
Skeletons At The Feast
Walking On The Wind
Hereafter (Ryo solo)
As Far As The Mind Can See (Dreaming In The Age Of Answers, Here's A Man,They Know We Know, Stream Of Unconsciousness) Rearranged
The Water / Go The Way You Go medley.
The DVD and CD set contain the same songs. Check out the trailer:
Release dates are Germany, Austria & Switzerland on June 13, the remainder of Europe on June 16 and North America on June 24, 2008.
Recorded live in Holland in 2007, it Includes:
On A Perfect Day
Mouth of Madness
Crack the Big Sky
The Slow Crash Landing Man
Return to Whatever
Surfing Down the Avalanche
Thoughts (Part 2)
Drum solo
Skeletons At The Feast
Walking On The Wind
Hereafter (Ryo solo)
As Far As The Mind Can See (Dreaming In The Age Of Answers, Here's A Man,They Know We Know, Stream Of Unconsciousness) Rearranged
The Water / Go The Way You Go medley.
The DVD and CD set contain the same songs. Check out the trailer:
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