North America will soon see the release of Steve Hackett’s new album OUT OF THE TUNNEL’S MOUTH. The album is scheduled to hit streets on June 8th via InsideOut Music. Released late last year in the world-renowned guitarist/
March 4, 2010 (New York, NY) Prog rock/metal institution DREAM THEATER will spend their summer supporting Iron Maiden on the band's month-long tour of major US and Canadian markets. The tour launches on June 9 and runs throu
On its albums, the band Muse carries a lot of baggage by way of songs and performances that too easily call up influences and peers. “The Resistance,’’ for example, is a fine-sounding album, but is rarely spoken of without co
NEW YORK --Peter Gabriel has always been an experimental artist. He pioneered the progressive rock movement in the 1960s with his band Genesis, explored African rhythms with his solo work, and branched into world music later
The covers album can strike dread into the hearts of fans of veteran artists. It can feel like the ultimate creative surrender. Nothing in the tank? Let’s do a few favorites. It’s unknown where Peter Gabriel is at in terms of
Phish's Trey Anastasio is set to induct Genesis into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month.
Other artist inductions include Wyclef Jean honoring Jimmy Cliff, Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees inducting ABBA, Green Da
I haven’t heard an Izz album in quite a few years. I have to say, the band has done nothing but get better in that time. This is an incredible progressive rock CD that’s captivation and powerful. It’s one of the best discs I’
Towards the end of 2009 I caught-up with Roine specifically to discuss the recently reformed Transatlantic and the new CD The Whirlwind. Of course Roine has his fingers in many musical pies so inevitably we also touched on Th
Moraine are a self-styled ‘electric string quartet-plus drums’ hailing from Seattle. The band’s leading light is the experienced and well-travelled guitarist Dennis Rea, who is a veteran of numerous experimental groups since
Although Genesis has stayed away from the studio since 1997’s poorly-received (and Phil Collins-less) Calling All Stations, the band hasn’t given their fans much reason to complain: Over the past 11 years they’ve released si
From the very beginning, I felt a sense of recognition, as SMPT:E is conjured. Even before the first spin of the disc, the reappearance of Per Nordin’s space-blimp motif on the cover visually announces the return of Transatl
A new super group has been formed with Jason Bonham, Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa and Derek Sherinian. They are calling themselves Black Country, taking their name from the industrial area in England from which Bonham and Hugh
In an age where news travels as fast as a sled hurtling down a skeleton track, the sustained secrecy surrounding Friday's opening ceremonies at the Vancouver Games is an Olympic feat in of itself. Only in the past few days ha
NEW YORK --When Genesis gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month, founding member Peter Gabriel won't be there.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame president Joel Peresman said in a statement Thursday that Gabri
When guitarist / vocalist Bruce Soord entered his home studio to commence work on a new project back in 1999 he in effect created the blue print for The Pineapple Thief, a band which has gone on to release seven albums to da
NEW YORK --Haiti's devastating earthquake reinforced Peter Gabriel's belief that disaster relief needs to take better advantage of the digital age.
The 59-year-old singer-songwriter says technology has amazing potential an
Syzygy is a four piece band from Ohio (USA), led by guitarist/lead vocalist Carl Baldassarre. Together with keyboardist Sam Giunta and Al Rolik on bass these friends were in a band called Abraxas, touring extensively during t
This blog post brings together two of my favorite things: Pat Metheny and robots. Metheny's new album Orchestrion, due out January 25, is technically a solo act. That's because the members aren't human. Each instrument is a k
On The Difference Machine from 2007 Big Big Train founders Gregory Spawton and Andy Poole started to take on the role of directors, leaving the spotlight to others, which resulted in an incredibly strong album. With that albu
Due to several personal circumstances this review has been delayed endlessly, for which I apologize sincerely to all concerned! But as this album very much deserves a review and some more attention I thought it's necessary to
After receiving this latest DVD from Kansas I made a point of checking out the DPRP reviews index to see how many listings the band had and was surprised to find just the single entry, 2002’s The Ultimate Kansas compilation.
Van Der Graaf Generator are often considered as Peter Hammill's band, after all he writes the majority of the music and as the only full-time musician is the arbiter of their activity, or even existence. However, anyone who h
Rooted in the true sounds of progressive rock is The Tangent, a supergroup led by keyboardist/guitarist/singer-songwriter Andy Tillison the band has led the way within the genre with five studio and two live albums as well as
Often forgotten and sometimes maligned, Lizard is a King Crimson classic that's waited to be found for nearly 40 years. When it was first released in 1970, it was quickly overlooked as a transitional album between the group t
It's been 8 years since the symphonic prog supergroup of Neal Morse (ex Spock's Beard now solo), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings) and Pete Trewavas (Marillion) released a studio album under the Tra
The progressive community is buzzing with the new release by New York prog ensemble IZZ. In the past decade the group has released several highly acclaimed albums and have accumulated a large dedicated following in the proces
10t Records here offers us eleven of its artists (rather, I should say “all eleven of its artists”) each covering “a song by another artist that was influential in the development of their own musical identity... The mission
Known to many as “The Voice,” song writer, producer and musician Greg Lake has been entrancing audiences for decades. Originally honing his craft with the UK band s “The Shame” and “The Gods,” Greg burst onto the scene with
Not much has been said about this album yet, so I hope to be able to inform those curious if Trans-Siberian Orchestra's new album is worth purchasing.
Fans of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, including myself, have been eagerly awa
On November 3rd 2009 Gentle Giant will be digitally releasing seven of their best-known albums and tracks in digital form for the very first time via their own Alucard label through EMI Music's Label Services unit.
This
Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson isn't your typical Rock Star. He's never done drugs and has no use for the trappings of fame. So what does he have in common with the boys from Led Zeppelin? More than you might think.
Stressed out by power struggles and creative differences, Pink Floyd were near the breaking point when they created the greatest album of their career, The Wall. In this extraordinary oral history, the members tell how it all
Nowadays, most critics view Radiohead's Kid A as a back-to-back masterpiece to 1997's OK Computer. As if The Bends didn't merit that same distinction. When it was released in 2000, it seemed unlikely that Radiohead could put
Death metal doesn’t come any more fatal or metallic than Dethklok. As a unit, vocalist Nathan Explosion, guitarists Skwisgaar Skwigelf and Toki Wartooth, bassist William Murderface, and drummer Pickles are interested only in
Pendragon are a band that have grown upon and even expanded their sound with release after release, taking the word 'progressive' to it's true meaning. Ever since their incarnation in 1978, this English quartet has given the
When the album Six Wives of Henry VIII was released in 1973, it was a milestone for symphonic rock - a personal artistic statement from the man who provided the keyboard mastery for Yes at the time. Now decades after it's rel
I remember over ten years ago, amongst a circle of metalhead friends around the time Tyranny was released - we dubbed these guys to be the next Dream Theater. When the nineties were drawing to a close, you really didn't have
“ALL I KNOW IS THAT I HAVEN’T FOLLOWED THE GENERAL VEIN OF THE STYLE of guitar that people have been playing,” confessed Steve Howe in his first Guitar Player interview back in April of ’73. That’s a bit like Columbus offhand
Richard Thompson is truly a consummate musician. His searing, soaring electric guitar work and intricate acoustic hybrid picking are the stuff of legend, and have firmly established him as one of the most versatile players to
And so we reach the end of what readers of a certain age and disposition will agree has been the single most exhilarating reissue campaign of the century so far: the complete, utter and apparently absolute restoration of the
Inside The Warfield in San Francisco, a full house is tensed and alert like bloodhounds that've caught the scent of fresh game. Onstage only a few minutes, Porcupine Tree is generating a thick, hypnotic atmosphere as they mov
Are you a fan of the greatest band ever, Spock's Beard?
Then you have to get this app to stay on top of the latest news, tour dates, videos, and full discography and lyrics.
Spock's Beard is currently in the studio rec
Beardfish may have only been around since 2001 but as Dave Sissons indicated in his review of their 2007 InsideOut debut Sleeping In Traffic: Part One, their roots go back to the prog tradition of the early 70’s. Such influen
HAMBURG – Phil Collins is drumming no more, for now.
The former singer and drummer for Genesis told a German newspaper that since he had surgery in April to repair a dislocated vertebra in his neck, he doesn't have feeling
To celebrate their 35th anniversary, Kansas returned to their hometown of Topeka and recorded a DVD/CD (each sold separately) titled There's Know Place Like Home. The band recruited the local Washburn University Symphony Orc
Now there's a headline that catches your eye. Yes it turns out that late Frank Zappa, the restless musical genius who may have been the most committed inconoclast in the history of rock, was a pal to the late Jack Kirby, the
Those who like their prog instrumental and just a little strange will enjoy this. Comparisons to King Crimson, Djam Karet, Birdsongs of the Mesozoic and Univers Zero are perhaps the most obvious, but there are other things he
Once upon a time, it was perfectly acceptable to lug six keyboards onstage at a rock concert and launch into a piano solo. Or play flute while standing on one foot. Or wear silver capes without a trace of irony. These were th
On paper, Porcupine Tree is a band whose success is a little puzzling. The progressive rock act's songs are lengthy, complex works that almost defy commercial arplay. Band leader Steven Wilson refuses to give away his music a
Taking the most difficult album in the history of rock as your role model isn’t an obvious strategy for success, but for Asheville, North Carolina’s Ahleuchatistas, it works.
When Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band issu
Forty years after the release of their landmark album, In the Court of the Crimson King, the prog pioneers continue to inspire bands, including the Mars Volta and the Mystery Jets.
If you were a grammar school music fan at
This outfit hails from Indonesia and the music has the world influence of that region. That gives it a unique flavor separating it from the bulk of this genre of sounds. Taken outside that context the music here falls between
Check out these reissues from Steve Smith especially the GHS. Which really smokes if your into jazz-fusion like I am!!
The Mars Volta no longer plays three-hour shows with ever-evolving set lists, which some have taken to mean that the band has lost its experimental edge. Don’t buy that argument. During a 90-minute performance Wednesday at th
Attempting something ambitious doesn’t have to yield a high and mighty result to do justice to the painstaking efforts. But in the realm of prog-rock, this is total heresy. It isn’t uncommon that in their dizzying enthusiasm
Porcupine Tree has always been about exploring the resonance and echoes found within Steven Wilson’s subconscious. After witnessing a road accident, Wilson was prompted to construct an ambitious song-cycle exploring the numer
You've seen the reissues in stores; the top ten compilations for hundreds of artists released on Collector's Choice Records. Well, the record label is expanding, and that's a good thing. Noble Rot Records has been created to
Talking with Eddie Jobson
If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart. Leo Tolstoy
Considered a child pr
Coming straight from the roster of one of the new big players on progressive rock is 10T Records Undercover; an album of diverse covers that are centered on a direct reflection of the artists' influences and interpretation co
Wikepedia defines a drummer as “A male or female who plays drums, particularly a drum kit ("drum set" or "trap set", which will also include cymbals), marching percussion or hand drums.” This writer would prefer a separate li
Every so often a band that you’ve never heard of comes out of nowhere and blows your mind. That happened to me a couple of years back with the Ohio progressive rock band Syzygy and their epic 2003 release The Allegory of Ligh
It’s Kansas, but it isn’t. When you have Billy Greer, David Ragsdale , Phil Ehart and Richard Williams as the members of a band you can be sure the comparisons to Kansas well be rampant – since all of these guys have been in
Hugh Hopper departed this world on June 7, 2009, victim of leukemia, as curiously his previous collaborator, keyboardist Alan Gowen had, almost three decades ago. Hopper was, on his own, a revolutionary bassist and composer w
Progressive rock giants Dream Theater released Black Clouds and Silver Linings on June 23rd and the album was nothing short of what you would expect from such an eclectic collection of instrumental virtuosos. Once again they
"Most concerts performed in different countries in 24 hours" is: 6, achieved by Jeff Aug (Germany) on his 'Wounded Fingers' Tour, which included concerts in Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Belgium and The Nether
Perhaps you’ve been looking for a band in the style of Jethro Tull with elements of heavy metal added to their music, or perhaps you wished you found enjoyment in the Arjen Lucassen-led project Ayreon, but found the starry he
WITH MORE THAN 30 SOLO RELEASES TO HIS name, acoustic guitar virtuoso Anthony Phillips has long transcended his status as co-founder, lead guitarist, and key songwriter for British progressive-rock pioneers Genesis. Together
Two of England's finest art rock ensembles, Yes and Asia, have just begun a North American tour that will run through August. Tonight they perform at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, CA, followed by a performance a
As previously reported, guitarist Steve Vai held an Alien Guitar Secrets Master Class at the Meinl Guitar Festival in Gutenstetten, Germany on June 27 (near Nuremberg). which included an All Star Jam with Andy Timmons (ex-DAN
Native Window is the band Kansas, minus vocalist Steve Walsh. It’s a long story, but basically, Kansas continue to be in a creative void, mainly due to the refusal by chief songwriters, Kerry Livgren and Steve Walsh, to writ
This year, Kansas is celebrating their 35th Anniversary, however, another band, featuring fourfifths of the current lineup, will be making their CD debut on June 23rd. Native Window, featuring guitarist Rich Williams, violini
ALEX: Dream Theater have rightly earned the respect of music fans worldwide for their brand of heavy progressive rock, which they have been writing and performing now for about a quarter of a century. It’s a powerful soundsca
Progressive rock gets slagged a great deal for its baroque excesses and boyish overblown-ness fueled by hyper-technical playing. But, some folks like their water deep, choppy with portent and rippled with beefy riffage and po
Keyboard virtuoso Derek Sherinian has returned with another refreshing album of musical prowess and creativity with a well-known lineup of session musicians joining him on his forthcoming opus “Molecular Heinosity”. I was abl
It is with the utmost disappointment that I am forced to share the unfortunate news of both Pain Of Salvation and Beardfish having to pull out of this summer's Progressive Nation tour....
Their label Inside Out just rec
Grammy-winning prog-rock wizards The Mars Volta show a softer side but still rock hard on their fifth studio outing, "Octahedron."
A creative partnership between guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Za
"It's fun to see the surprise on people's faces when we play something in a completely different style than they expect," says Paul Richards, a founding member of the California Guitar Trio. The group brings its solid 18 year
NEW YORK - It's a cold, drizzly spring afternoon in Times Square, but in the hotel suite overlooking the dull hurry of tourists and umbrellas, Pat Metheny looks as if he's just stepped in out of the blazing sunshine, in short
Unlike rock and roll or blues, the American progressive rock scene has had a long standing identity problem next to its British counterpart. Led by the Beatles, the Who, the Rolling Stones, Cream, and herds of other artists,
Hugh Hopper, who as the bassist for the British progressive rock band Soft Machine was a central figure in the forward-looking music scene that bloomed in Canterbury in the 1960s and ’70s, died on Sunday in the county of Kent
In my mind, I still think of Deus Ex Machina as one of the new wave of Italian prog bands, but their first album came out eighteen years ago! Blimey!
Deus Ex Machina are closer in sound to bands with a jazz fusion slant l
When you say neo-progressive rock, England's IQ is one of the first bands to come to mind; they might have not have had the slight MTV airplay that Marillion did during the eighties, but alongside Pendragon and Pallas, they l
ROSWELL SIX is a project launched by Shawn Gordon, head of the US label Progrock Records. Erik Norlander is the main composer, while acclaimed writer Kevin J. Anderson and his wife Rebecca Moesta have created the concept and
AS ENVELOPE-PUSHING BASSISTS GO, some have developed unique voices on the instrument; some have redefined the bass through their playing; and some have even pushed the bass into new stages of physical development to accommoda
This is Saga reborn for the later end of the 21st century’s first decade. Saga has gotten heavier while still maintaining several of the classic Saga elements. As Ian Crichton puts it, “It’s still us, of course with a differe
Serious change has been afoot in the IQ camp. After years of service, long-time IQ drummer Paul Cook left the band in 2005 following touring for their 2004 opus Dark Matter. Andy Edwards, who had formerly worked with Robert
Agents Of Mercy, for those that don’t know, is a side project from The Flower Kings mastermind, Roine Stolt. Nad Sylvan of Unifaun provides a bulk of vocals with his unique voice. They are joined by on different tracks by an
If there was ever a doubt as to who was the actual heart, soul, and guiding force behind pioneering progressive rock giants THE NICE , EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER or the short-lived but excellent trio 3, than look no further than
I had no previous knowledge of the band but the name and title of the album appealed to me on various levels. I was expecting an Ozrics/Gong/Spatialize thing, but it turns out that the music is very different. The band go to
Saga was formed around 1977 by Jim Crichton. Together with his brother Ian, Michael Sadler, Steve Negus and keyboarder Peter Rochon, Saga released their first self-titled album in 1978. Rochon was replaced by Greg Chadd and t
The death of the record industry as we know it is something trumpeted across the mainstream media these days. But all of that wow and flutter doesn’t mean a lot to entrepreneurs such as MoonJune Records’ founder Leonardo Pavk
Ten years on, the men of Mastodon have become famous for ideas as heavy as their metal riffs. Three of their four full-length releases are concept albums, from the "Moby Dick" story line of 2004's "Leviathan" to its follow-up
Watch the exclusive world premiere of
"A Rite Of Passage," the first video from
Dream Theater's upcoming album
Black Clouds & Silver Linings, in stores 06.23.09.
Don’t expect Crack The Skye to win you over on the first listen. I was very fond of Mastodon’s 2006 release, Blood Mountain, but I was unprepared for this evolution. (I strongly recommend making Blood Mountain your introducti
He is the legendary voice behind a monstrosity of Deep Purple classics, Black Sabbath's Born Again, and his own band Gillan - just recently One Eye to Morocco has hit the racks, his latest solo endeavor of that is a true stat
Longtime Kansas fans may have a hard time dealing with the fact that the group's two main songwriters, Steve Walsh (singer/keyboards/synths) and Kerry Livgren (guitar/ keyboards/synths) have stated that they are done writing
I’ve been a big fan of Derek Sherinian for years and it seems like every album he does is a climb above the one that preceded it. Well, with that sort of track record you had to know that eventually it would end. For my money
Due to a hand injury, Keith is unable to tour this Summer. He's been trying to work around it. But unfortunately, he hasn't been able to overcome it. He's very upset about having to cancel his shows. But he sees no way out of
'There's no controlling when the riff god is going to visit and make an offering," says Mastodon drummer-songwriter Brann Dailor. "You just hope and pray that he actually shows up."
Judging by the sheer might of the guitar
John Mayhew, drummer on the Genesis album 'Trespass,' was buried on April 22nd. Please think some positive thoughts for John and his family.
Tom Scholz has posted a lengthy essay titled BOSTON shows, myths, and truths on the band's official website, http://bandboston.com/ addressing several issues that have come up causing confusion for the band's fans. Among the
TALAS, DAVID LEE ROTH, MR. BIG, NIACIN, G3… Buffalo-raised bass native Billy Sheehan’s made the rounds. But damn it all if it’s not time to recognize him for his growing catalogue of solo albums, each of which is an enjoyable
TCP is a new and promising American group. "The Way" is their first album and on their first cd they are joined by 7 guest musicians. The CD's 11 tracks vary in quality, there are, however, many excellent ones.
Progcat can h
There are two kinds of concept albums. One is about a story, which unfolds through the lyrics and the music, whilst the songs are actually the chapters of that story. This is the exact kind where Ryche won gold medal and the
TRANSATLANTIC, the progressive rock "supergroup" comprised of Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Pete Trewavas (Marillion), Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings) and Neal Morse (ex-Spock's Beard), have reunited after a 7 year hiatus to b
Jeff Beck barely said more than a dozen words to the audience during his 80-minute instrumental set at the House of Blues Monday night. But as usual, his signature Stratocaster electric guitar - as lyrical, loud, and audaciou
No matter how many twists and turns Umphrey's McGee takes into prog-rock, metal, trip-hop, and, occasionally, free jazz, the group will forever be saddled with the term "jam band." That's a dirty little label that makes most
Rik Emmett & Dave Dunlop (aka STRUNG-OUT TROUBADOURS) will be performing live on the internet this Monday, April 13th 2009 at 8:00 PM EST -- A SHOW NOT TO BE MISSED!
***Featuring the WORLD PREMIERE of new songs from their
Flat Planet is a release from Garaj Mahal guitarist Fareed Haque. After hearing Garaj Mahal for the first time recently, I can see how Professor(Guitar and Jazz at Northern Illinois University) Haque has molded the Garaj..
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for good guitar music. I don’t care what the genre is, if someone is able to pick up a guitar and absolutely make it sing, you have my undivided attention.
So, it was with a sen
The new millennium has proven to be a watershed age for progressive rock. Following the resurgence of the genre in the late 90's, responsible largely in part by a few independent labels such as Inside Out Music and Magna Cart
This will be the 27th album or DVD by Yes we’ve reviewed on the Daily Vault, and my 22nd review of a Yes release. Whether this qualifies as enthusiasm or masochism is for you to judge; from my perspective, it veers between t
Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence is a stupid mouthful of a title. If you research the phrase a bit, you will read that it refers to the six songs on this double album. “Only six songs on a double album?” you say. Well, kind of
The new millennium has been a watershed season for Dream Theater. It has seen them through several outstanding albums and a growing fan base, as well as a string of highly successful tours and festivals -- including a spot on
SAN ANTONIO—Singer Phil Collins says his new "main thing" is the Alamo.
Collins, who said he has "hundreds" of cannonballs, documents and other artifacts from the Alamo, is in San Antonio this week in conjunction with the
Progressive rock in the early to mid ‘70s had arguably reached its pinnacle; within the span of a year, the giants within the genre would release some of their most ambitious work. Pink Floyd broke through with Dark Side Of T
Watch streaming clips of todays and yesterdays progressive rock bands.
DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy has issued the following:
"It's with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that I share the news of the passing of my best friend, my idol and my father, Howard Portnoy.
He passed aw
D: Hi Jonas, how are you this evening?
J: Beautiful, I'm doing quite good.
D: The third Karmakanic album, it is quite different from the previous two, a more symphonic and relaxed vibe about it?
J: That's maybe tru
Guitarist Fred Frith is used to playing multiple musical roles. A pioneering experimentalist who co-founded the avant-garde British rock band Henry Cow in 1968, he's a dauntingly prolific artist who works as a composer, educa
What can one say about bassist Billy Sheehan that hasn’t been repeated countless times before? Only a select few musicians really deserve to be called a virtuoso but when you consider the players who have truly mastered their
For the past several years, I’ve written on The Daily Vault about how fascinating a storyteller keyboardist Rick Wakeman is. I’ve sat through two prior DVDs listening to Wakeman tell story after story about his life and histo
For those following closely the great emergence of progressive metal rock in the last 10-15 years and being intimately familiar with bands like Dream Theatre, Charlie Dominici is almost a household name. For those not in this
As if Kraftwerk’s sudden emergence from a self-imposed exile in 2003 to release Tour De France Soundtracks wasn’t enough for the fans, the very first official Kraftwerk live album from the supporting tour (complete with an ac
Since the release of their debut album "The Fruit Fallen" in June 2008, Edensong has been garnering critical acclaim from the global progressive rock community. A recent invitation to play at the Three Rivers Progressive Rock
LONDON—Jimmy Carl Black, who went from drummer in Frank Zappa's avant-garde Mothers of Invention to doughnut shop worker and house painter, has died at age 70.
Black died Saturday of cancer in Siegsdorf, Germany, said Rodd
By no means was Rick Wakeman the father of new-age music; in fact, I would have a hard time questioning the genre’s actual parentage (though an argument could be made for either William Ackerman or Chip Davis, the founders of
For many Genesis fans, the final box set of the progressive rock group's series of remixed and remastered studio albums is the one they've been waiting for the most. 1970-1975 documents the period when Peter Gabriel was the b
Proto-Kaw's second studio release follows closely on the success of the brilliant Before Became After. Kerry Livgren's songs are still full of passion and fire. As always, the musicianship is incredible throughout, from the f
An Improvised Sonic Exploration featuring Richard Lainhart and Jordan Rudess
Tune in on Sunday November 16th @ 2pm eastern standard time.
Join us as RandoRadio broadcasts live from Richard's home studio. Treavor Hasting
Dream Theater is a group of musicians with too much talent. They have a sometimes tired inclination to make everything technical, but I don’t think they’re necessarily showing off. They just do what they want.
Oh, and Dre
Given the controversy over the upcoming is-it-really-Yes-or-no tour, it seems only fitting to review an album of Yes music made by a melting pot of Yes members and admirers.
Assembled by prog-friendly Magna Carta back in
For the launch of the "Equilibrium" album, a concert (15 minutes) and an exclusive interview will be presented on October 21 at noon EST on www.erikmongrain.com
The concert will mark the launch of the Erik Mongrain’s second
Inspiration can be found within the scope of many things, and Neal Morse is one who not only unearths it, but also exhibits it to the masses with powerful music and lyrics. Having released a string of inspiring concept albums
You can tell that The Tangent are an English progressive rock group. You can tell they're English because they chose the wry, self-mocking title Not as Good as the Book for their fourth album. You can tell they're a progressi
Neal Morse is one prolific guy. The king of fresh progressive rock, Neal keeps cranking out solid albums. He also finds time to put out live CD's, live DVD's, worship albums, singer song writer albums, you name it. His lates
Billy Sherwood has released this solo album and it is truly a solo work. He wrote all the songs and performs every bit of music on the disc. Much of this album reminds me of Open Your Eyes by Yes (an album on which Sherwood w
When I reviewed this group’s last disc I was impressed. It was a strong album. The thing is, this new one blows that one completely out of the water. It’s just a much more mature creation. The music here is powerful and very
Kansas, the Midwestern prog-rockers gone arena rockers gone 80s power balladeers and back around again -- and still on the road in 2008 -- were groundbreaking and influential within a limited frame of reference: they were the
The four men huddled around one corner of the stage facing inward, locked in concentration. The sounds that they were making - at that point with thick, churchy organ swells, a gentle swirling bass line, the light chiming of
MVD Entertainment Group (MVD) has announced plans to issue several releases on vinyl including new and previously unreleased tracks by Devo and the Dwarves, plus reissues by G.G. Allin, Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics, a
LOS ANGELES - Richard Wright, a founding member of Pink Floyd whose piano and synthesizer work played a critical part in the pioneering rock band's ethereal sound, died yesterday after a short battle with cancer. He was 65.
The Mars Volta once enjoyed a certain shock value for its alien assault on the senses that relied on an exotic mash-up of electric jazz and psychedelic rock. The band was audacious upon arrival even by prog-rock standards.
WASHINGTON—The classic rock band Yes, which was forced to cancel their 40th anniversary tour this year due to the illness of its lead singer, has decided to relaunch the tour with an "understudy" -- a Yes tribute band singer.
LONDON—David Gilmour is sorry to disappoint, but there will be no Pink Floyd reunion. He's having too much fun on his own.
The British rock icon raised fans' hopes when the band performed at the Live 8 charity concert in L
Pictures from the recent Flower Kings show in Arlington, Mass.
California Guitar Trio are certainly well known for creating unique progressive rock instrumental pieces. They are perhaps even more associated with turning rock music classics into killer mellow prog instrumentals – with mos
Broadcasting from my his home (he thinks) a live on-line clinic($19.95). Bass Player Magazine set this up & is sponsoring it. It’s my first on-line clinic in a long time. Everybody on Earth is welcome! It’s a little pricey, b
As one of the titans of 60's/70's German psychedelic rock (aka Krautrock, aka kosmische), most rock fans think they know about Amon Duul II but do they really? We know about the great albums, the line-ups and the discography
As many as 800 astute ears are expected to converge upon Lowell this fall.
Sound-recording academics and professionals from around the world -- about 400 of them -- are expected to converge on Lowell in November, when The
Kansas was always one of those bands that everyone loved to hate. Despite the lack of media support, the band soldiered through and always managed to be on top of their game. Fantastic musicianship and great songwriting was
Some of you may have heard that Oblivion Sun's founder, guitarist and singer Stanley Whitaker has a health issue that will be taking center stage in his life for the next several months. His wife, LeeAnne has created a page f
I will preface this review by stating that Ritchie Blackmore’s untimely departure from Deep Purple in 1993, and his subsequent replacement by Steve Morse as the band’s guitarist, was nothing short of a blessing. Not since Ian
When you hear your first Garaj Mahal note, leading into an innovative fusion of funky jazz with a tasty world music flair, all other thoughts leave your mind as the music takes you on an unforgettable voyage. Fans return to e
A recent video of Oblivion Sun live at Jammin Java on 7/5/08.
Okay, maybe I am not the one who should be writing this review as I wrote the liner notes to the new 30th Anniversary Expanded Edition of TFTS and I am a self-professed Kansas fanatic. That said I have to tell you that this a
Still held as one of modern day progressive rock’s most sacred, Spock’s Beard again brings a live offering to the table, this time in the visual aspect. Only about three years after their first post-Morse live set Gluttons fo
Rich Williams is more than happy to talk about his 37 years as lead guitarist for Kansas, and about the band's release of a remastered version of the 1978 double live album, Two For The Show.
The new release includes ten pr
One year on from the release of their first album for InsideOut Music, Beardfish fulfills the promise made via the title of that release (Sleeping in Traffic Part One) with the second half of their lengthy concept piece. Sup
Some excellent photos from Studio M of the recent NEARfest X.
The tenth annual NEARFest has come and gone, leaving in it’s wake more than 1000 very happy progressive rock fans and. Read Marlin May's take on the weekend.....
Watch a video of Peter Gabriel in a recent interview at the BBC.
Much of legendary guitarist and composer John McLaughlin’s prolific output has been inextricably tied to an interest in Indian music spanning more than 40 years. It first came to the fore on his second solo album, 1971’s My G
BOSTON’S future never looked more bleak that it was on March 9, 2007 – the day vocalist Brad Delp took his own life. Now, a little over a year later events have come to pass that bring a renewed energy and spirit to the band.
Upstart Germany label Promising Music is releasing vintage music and tyring to reproduce the sound as close to the vinyl original as a CD format can be.
Former Spock’s Beard frontman Neal Morse declared his faith with the epic album Testimony, chronicling his path to Christianity. His stunning follow-up, One, explores the separation of man from God. Morse explores the concept
Neal Morse is the founder of the highly successful progressive rock band Spock’s Beard, as well as a member of the prog-rock supergroup Transatlantic. After almost 20 years in the music business, and a chance encounter with a
To some, this band might be newcomers on the progressive rock scene, but Beardfish have been around for years and have just released their fourth record Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two, a second in a two-part concept. Having in
MANSFIELD - Rush fans are a funny bunch. More than a quarter century after the rock trio peaked, its admirers remain staunchly loyal. They still listen to "2112" and "Moving Pictures," though most likely alone and in private,
Watch an entire concert of Echolyn in Burlington, Ma. from 2003
Incredible performances of Neal's most acclaimed
CDs: Question Mark and his most controversial: Sola Scriptura.
And songs from: SPOCK’S BEARD, TRANSATLANTIC, One and Testimony.
Rush has so many albums -- 18 studio and 5 live by my last count -- that it’s easy to overlook one or two. Imagine my surprise when I was checking the high stacks of the DV Archives (over 5,400 strong) and discovered a big, d
Adrian Belew likes to keep a lot of plates spinning in the air at once. Lately, he has been touring with his Power Trio supporting the band’s new Side Four (Live) [ABP] album. But he’s also featured on the latest Nine Inch Na
-– Legendary rock band Yes announced today that the group will unfortunately be canceling their 2008 40th Anniversary Tour. The 26-city tour was scheduled to kick off in Quebec next month and run through the summer.
USA Prog Music: Your website doesn’t have a bio about the band, so can you give me a quick synopsis about how IZZ came about and how it has evolved over time?
Tom Galgano: Well, first off, John [Galgano] and I had been col
The Red Masque have signed with progressive label RER USA (headed by David Kerman) and will be releasing their new album, Fossil Eyes, in late June 2008 through RER USA's own label Ad Hoc Records. RER USA was founded in 2003
New Vocalist Rob Moratti formerly of
Final Frontier.
I call myself a Queensryche fan, but I’m not a diehard devotee. I do not listen to their albums repeatedly, day after day. I don’t consider any of their releases flawless (though 1988’s Operation Mindcrime is as close to perf
A ritual of summer takes on a jazz flavoring this year, as perhaps the season's most anticipated reunion tour is the one featuring the classic lineup of Return to Forever, one of the most iconic jazz units of the '70s.
mor
I’ve always had a soft spot for concept albums. Maybe it’s the storyteller -- or former drama student -- in me, but I've always thought there was something endearingly audacious about trying to capture an audience with an ex
It started around the time that King Crimson took us by surprise with the most adventurous blend of jazz, rock and avant garde packaged in one of the most enduring icons of album art. And for a while, about half a decade in f
The 2008 edition of the Rites of Spring Festival (ROSfest) saw a major upgrade in the venue, moving from the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville, PA to the much larger Keswick Theater in Glenside. The change was a wise move, as
It has been nearly four years since Round Midnight, the last Moongarden album was released and, true to form the band have undergone a couple of changes since then. From the last album only principal composer, keyboardist and
Among those with a passion for challenging, adventurous music, the name of the Muffins (not the new wave group that did "Echo Beach") has long been spoken in hushed tones of adulation. Cult heroes of an underground genre (the
I must admit I was a bit disappointed when Geoff Downes decided to discontinue his working relationship with John Payne. ASIA was doing fine with the duo; they’d finally seemed to have formed a steady lineup for the band an
Tuesday, April 15, at 8pm EDT, rock supergroup Asia will be celebrating the release of its new album, Phoenix, with a performance from the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY.
Take guitarist / vocalist Stanley Whitaker and keyboardist / saxman Frank Wyatt from Happy The Man, add keboardist Bill Plummer, bassist Dave DeMarco, and drummer Chris Mack, and stir! The result is the band Oblivion Sun. Obl
OK flowerheads, I suppose it is about time to let you in on what is cooking in the FLOWERKINGS camp......
we most certainly have a new drummer in the band, his name is Erik Hammarstöm, he is from Stockholm, he is 32 years o
As someone that makes a point of never buying an album that’s advertised on TV you could say I have an aversion to sales hype. I was therefore understandably sceptical when a fanfare of publicity announced the release of Ca
Mystical visitations are much on the mind these days of Victor Wooten. In addition to a new album, "Palmystery," out next week, the Nashville-based contemporary bass guitar hero is also releasing a book, a work of fiction tit
To start, Jon, let's recap. When Yes finished touring in 2004 you decide to take a break. What was behind your decision to take that break from Yes for a while?
JON ANDERSON: I was very ill with bronchial pneumonia. I had
Tim Burness' fame originated in the eighties, with his band at that time, Burnessence, noted for their support slots with such acts as IQ and Pendragon. And his musical tastes seem to have stopped after that certain period of
Few people in the music industry are as busy or accomplished as Adrian Belew. The list of people with whom he's worked is a "Who's Who" of the music world. King Crimson, Talking Heads, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Trent Reznor a
The Gagliarchives will be hosting the 2008 edition of its annual NEARfest Radio Special on Saturday, March 15th. Host Tom Gagliardi will be joined by Festival Organizer Chad Hutchinson for four hours of nothing-but-NEARfest.
The story of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe could fill up a season of reality TV all by itself. Since there’s already way too much of that going on for my tastes, I’ll try to keep this brief…
In 1988, lead vocalist J
Blackmore’s Night was an under the radar group until last summer when I received free tickets for one of their concerts in North Carolina. At the end of their three hour performance, I was a fan, and began assembling their
Symphony X - Set The World On Fire
from the Album: Paradise Lost
(c) InsideOUT Music / SPV (more)
Added: January 18, 2008
Symphony X - Set The World On Fire
from the Album: Paradise Lost
(c) InsideOUT Music / SPV
Hear the phrase “progressive-rock guitarist” these days, and it’s easy to picture a shredder drilling Lydian licks at 90 mph. In contrast, Roine Stolt, of Swedish prog favorites the Flower Kings, is a melodic, wah-stomping
What can I say? In my opinion, when this was recorded on March 7th 1979? It is truly one of the best lineups Bill ever played with. And if you know anything of progressive rock history, that really is saying a lot.
Allan Ho
Before getting to know this album, I read it was heralded as one of the best progressive rock releases of 2007. Needless to say, I had great expectations and I can tell you I wasn't disappointed.
Big Big Train is based in B
Rush is one of the most successful rock acts of all time. They have over twenty gold and platinum awards, numerous Juno's and are members of the Canadian Hall of Fame and should be members of the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. Th
Dave Kilminster, the great guitarist who impressed so many on Roger Waters' recent tours, has kindly taken some time out before preparations start for Roger's 2008 shows to undertake an interview with us. Included in the ques
The third album in Peter Gabriel’s self-titled trilogy, often referred to as Melt, also happens to be his first fully-realized package of songs.
Produced by Steve Lillywhite of U2 fame, it is one of those albums where th
Jeremy Frindel directed music video of "Speedbump" from Tony Levin "Stickman" CD
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – 4 December 2007 – "Inner Visions" is the second solo album from Japanese virtuoso Tadashi Goto. Although a young man with only one other album under his belt, this instrumental tour de force h
Oblivion Sun is a new band formed by Stanley Whitaker (guitars and vocals) and Frank Wyatt (keyboards and sax), the founding members of Happy the Man (HtM), who after 25 years of silence released The Muse Awakens in 2004. Whi
What's happened to the idea of holding the line against evil, against the human infection so capably noted and harangued by such as folkies as Phil Ochs, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan and a proud line of others? Well,
Akacia is US-based progressive rock group, based in Massachusetts according to what little (updated) information I managed to find on this group. This Fading Time is their third release, and from what I could find out facts w
Pyre of Dreams is quite possibly the most accomplished album by Persephone's Dream yet. Chock full of varied instrumentation, a vast array of vocalists, and eclectic songwriting, it is easily their most diverse work. It still
Porcupine Tree’s latest Fear Of A Blank Planet tries to condense the essence of the entire record in the title itself, similar to what Public Enemy did when it came up with a nearly identical and brilliant title for a brill
Announcing the formation of "UKZ" - the quintessential musicians' band, formed by keyboard and electric-violin icon Eddie Jobson, and featuring Aaron Lippert (vocals), Trey Gunn (10-string touch guitar), Alex Machacek (guitar
What makes a good Fish album? The hit and miss attempts by the big Scotsman seem to point to a few success factors: (1) the more miserable the man is, the higher the chance of classic composition, (2) the co-writer for the mu
QUEENSRYCHE's upcoming covers album, Take Cover, is currently streaming in its entirety at ArtistDirect.com.
As previously reported, the Take Cover tracklisting will include (original artist in parenthesis): 'Innuendo' (
After 30 years of a splendid career and exploring a variety of styles, Al Di Meola still ranks among the most popular guitar-masters of jazz and jazz-rock. Here, on his first "electric" DVD, Di Meola shows up with "Speak A Vo
There is strange and there is eclectic. Then there is Gentle Giant.
Gentle Giant was an unusual, to say the least, British progressive rock band that released about a dozen albums from 1970-1980. While their later 70s albu
Utter the word “Vai� within the rock-guitar world, and you will hear many definitions. Vai’s first boss, the late Frank Zappa, called him “our little Italian virtuoso.� To fans of the 1986 film Crossroads, he’s Sa
After a 16-track demo became Puppet Show’s 1998 debut CD, Traumatized, outside forces — including family and career matters, plus a game of musical chairs with drummers — sidelined this Northern California progressive-r
This list attempts to reflect the changing face of modern progressive rock music and the impact progressive bands have made on the global stage.
“I think a lot of great bands are playing really interesting music right n
Wondering at the title to this disc, I did a search for the word “hemulic� and came up empty handed. So, while once can certainly imagine conceptual links to Sgt. Peppers, I can’t tell you what the meaning of the title
Images from the band's new oral history, from 1969 to 2007
The news is out... after a 27-year absence from band activity, Eddie Jobson has formed a new group. Further details will be officially announced in mid-October.
Big Big Train seem to have been floating around prog circles without making that dramatic an impact for eons; I remember picking up their From The River To The Sea cassette way back in the early 1980s when the so-called new w
In a break from industry tradition the UK band famous for hits including Creep, Paranoid Android and Karma Police, has told fans "it's up to you" what they pay to digitally download the album.
This isn't the first time tha
The Tangerine Dream turns 40.
Edgar Froese formed the Tangerine Dream in 1967 as a cutting-edge experimental band featuring a unique lineup of three synthesizers plus drums. Their early experiments with electronic music we
British prog-rock titans Genesis surprised much of its global fan base when it announced it was reuniting its hit-wielding line-up of Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks for a 2007 European and North American tour.
In honor of the 30th anniversary of Kansas’ Americana-laced, prog-rock behemoth Point of Know Return, the band’s guitarist, Richard Williams, provides an insider’s look at the making of each song.
Nektar will feature in a "live" Internet broadcast on the 21st September from the Substage in Karlsruhe Germany.
The broadcast will be accessible on http://s3.pop-stream.de:7592/listen.pls. The show should start around - wh
American duo INVISIGOTH (Invisible Goth, I suppose) present their first official CD; you see its title, "Alcoholocaust", is a compound word as well. The press kit, while shedding no light on the outfit's history or the musici
Records is proud to announce the release of the brand new full length CD release by Little Atlas, entitled "Hollow" on October 8, 2007. This will be the Miami-based band's 3rd official release and their first on 10T Records.
This brand new release from The Flower Kings has been trumpeted as a return to the former glories of earlier albums like Stardust We Are and Retropolis. In Roine Stolt’s own words this is “Flower Kings to the max�, expl
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