The anticipation was killing me. It was the first weekend in May, and that could only mean one thing: time for the road trip. Destination: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Objective: a serious dose of live progressive rock. It was finally time for the internationally renowned Rites of Spring Festival. For the past five years, my longtime best … Continue reading
Detroit, Michigan’s very own Discipline has a long, storied history in the world of underground American progressive rock. Led by founding vocalist/keyboardist Matthew Parmenter, Discipline has released 4 albums since 1988 along with a smattering of live releases. 2017 brings about the band’s 5th album, Captives of the Wine Dark Sea, via the Laser’s Edge … Continue reading
Sometimes, the worst thing that can happen to a talented underground band is they get noticed, particularly by a major record label. Still, where avant-pop geniuses Bent Knee were concerned, it was only a matter of time before they got noticed and a major label got involved. The Boston quintet has been hard at work, … Continue reading
Here’s my obligatory statement of conflict of interest: I am a huge Anathema fan, and seeing them is definitely on my lifetime bucket list. They have been an important part of my life ever since I first heard them back in 2007, and they continue to be important for me now. However, this level of … Continue reading
I knew I had to see Devin Townsend at Bogarts. I couldn’t really avoid it. Mastodon, Eagles of Death Metal. and Russian Circles were playing at the Taft, which would have been a given if any other band or group was playing, but Devin and I go way back. I remember first hearing Devin Townsend’s … Continue reading
In a couple of weeks, I’m going to order a copy of the 50th anniversary box set of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Why? Because it’s the Beatles, and Sgt. Pepper is one of the most important albums of the 20th century. Plus, there’s a new stereo mix of the album. It’s said to … Continue reading
Nad Sylvan’s The Bride Said No is a sequel to 2015’s Courting the Widow, an album featuring Mr. Sylvan’s onstage persona, the Vampirate. The Bride is a melodramatic, theatrical offering that employs a virtual Prog All-Star team, featuring the likes of Steve Hackett, Roine Stolt, Tony Levin, and Nick D’Virgilio. The musicianship, as one might … Continue reading
