Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Camel    "Rajaz"    Utrecht, Holland, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YrVPYZUaa8

Andy Latimer (Camel's founder) is one of my all-time favorite musicians. Here he is at 70 years old, suffering with pneumonia, yet still performing to the delight of his fans. The emotion he pours into his singing, guitar playing (as well as his flute) is contagious. Andy's guitar style is more like David Gilmour's than most, as he focuses more on the feel and flow of the notes, bending, sustain, tremolo, etc., rather than speeding arpeggios and the like ... very appealing.

Formed in 1971, Camel has had some band members come and go, yet Andy's always been there. The group have produced 14 studio albums, just as many live ones, and continue to tour as health allows. Andy recovered from a serious bout with cancer about 10 years ago, but being the quintessential performer, "... the show must go on." This track is the title song from their 1999 album.

https://www.sputnikmusic.com/images/albums/6535.jpg     

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

TF

That was terrific !
The sax player was outrageous - I thought that he might be blind by his movements and the guy helping him put the sax down - I looked it up - sure enough he was blind since the age of 4 !

Good stuff my friend - keep '  em coming.

JIm     

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but what your mind can imagine.
Make your life count, and the world will be a better place because you tried.

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except only the the best." - Henry Van Dyke

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

That was great and the blind guy was great on the organ and the sax.  Different and really good. Thank you for listing them they were great, enjoyable listing to them.     

Music is what feelings sound like.
Music is life, that why our hearts have beats.

554 (edited by Peatle Jville 2019-07-04 10:39:11)

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Cheers TF listening to Camel had me completely enchanted by the vocals and music. In my mind it made me feel like I was in the desert under clear skys admiring the night  stars. Andy Latimer is a pure delight.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Nightwish    "Ghost Love Score"    Helsinki, Finland, 2005

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YODCM26JXOY

This is what happens when metal & classical mix, and the result is both dramatic and satisfying. This was the final performance featuring the amazing Tarja Turunen on vocals, who was suddenly and strangely dismissed by an open letter following the concert. In the letter, the band members cited numerous personality differences and tensions, and were very frank in their criticism of her. Apparently, the open letter was written so that their many fans would know why this was happening, because on stage she is an amazing performer. Since that time, they've tried both Floor Jensen and Anette Olzon as her replacement. Although capable singers in their own right, neither truly have Tarja's power and control ... so it's fitting that the DVD for this concert was called "End of an Era". I recommend this one be cranked up for full effect ... enjoy!

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51kktPhnHtL.jpg

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

This is amazing and a great choice. Her voice mixed well with the band and the size of the audience tells everyone just how good they were in this performance.  Tenement Funster thank you for listing this one.     

Music is what feelings sound like.
Music is life, that why our hearts have beats.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Genesis    "Dodo / Lurker"    Birmingham, England, 1981

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TB6e4IbPZQ

The "Three Sides Live" double-live album was released in 1982, and this video was shot at one of the several concerts which made up the entire track listing. Guitarist Steve Hackett had left the group in late-1977, and from that point they took a decidedly Pop Music turn from their Prog Rock roots. That move filled concerts and sold albums, but fans of their previous material (like me) were terribly disappointed in the new Genesis. Once in a while, however, they uncorked a couple of winners, and these are two of them. With Chester Thompson firmly entrenched behind the drum kit, that left Phil Collins free to sing lead vocals. Various guitarists accompanied them for studio / touring work, but none of them (IMHO) were ever of the calibre that Steve Hackett was. This footage is from the laser disc release, in the pre-DVD era.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hSkAAOSw~bhb-1ak/s-l300.jpg     

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

TF on this one I like Chester Tompson standout work on the drum kit.     

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

I can remember hearing this one on the radio when it was first recorded. At one time he was still playing drums and also singing. TF this was a great choice . Thank you.     

Music is what feelings sound like.
Music is life, that why our hearts have beats.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

I remember when Genesis first hired Chester to play for live shows (after Peter Gabriel left) so that Phil could focus on singing. Phil is an amazing drummer with a jazz background (listen to his early work with the jazz-fusion group "Brand X"), so we sometimes imagined how the interview might have went:

Genesis: "So Mr. Thompson, we'd like you to take over Phil Collins' place at the drums, while he sings at our concerts."
Chester: "Say what ?!?!?!?!?!"     

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Riverside    "Saturate Me"    Gdansk, Poland, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvMuA6wEUfM

Here's another installment from Poland's Riverside, featuring the late Piotr Grudzinki (1975 - 2016) on guitar. Piotr died just a few weeks shy of his 41st birthday, and had / has a huge fan following both in his native Warsaw and beyond. "Quidam" guitarist Maciej Meller has been touring with them since 2017. They released their first album without Piotr last Fall (September, 2018), with bassist Mariuz Duda doing the guitar work in studio. Their music shows distinct metal influences, along with the composition and instrumentation elements that slide them seamlessly into the Prog Rock genre. This song is from their 2015 album "Love, Fear and the Time Machine".

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3d/Love_Fear_and_the_Machine_front_cover.jpg     

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

They are excellent !

I liked the way the song changes - it's almost like they switch genres a couple of times.  Superb guitar  playing and the keyboard was top rate as well.
It is so sad that he died - I can't imagine the suddeness - went to a show the night before to watch another band play  - was fine - goes home - then has a full cardiac arrest and dies.
40 is way too young - reminds of the song six strings down -  angels done took anothe (blues) stringer back home"

good post TF  TY

Jim     

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but what your mind can imagine.
Make your life count, and the world will be a better place because you tried.

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except only the the best." - Henry Van Dyke

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Steven Wilson    "Refuge"    Royal Albert Hall, London, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ9qSA6JYgo

I've had a lot of Wilson's work up in the last couple of months, and have been gorging on a fairly steady diet of his music. This one is powerfully emotional, and reflects Wilson's philosophy on his "To The Bone" album, intending to reduce the musical complexity a bit, and to emphasize the the message content more. "Refuge" addresses the plight of refugees fleeing a violent homeland, only to find further heartache and despair where they thought they might find refuge. Wilson's vocal performance in this one is as good as I've heard him, and I find myself humming it on a regular basis. The dual guitar solos between Wilson and Alex Hutchings - backed by Craig Blundell's thundering drum riffs - is simply mind-blowing. Lot's to like here, and I hope it moves you like it does me.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71sk9lEx-xL._SX342_.jpg     

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Steven Wilson    "Refuge"    Royal Albert Hall, London, 2018 is a great piece of work and  a one that  any listener can enjoy. Great singing and  playing. Terrific choice.     

Music is what feelings sound like.
Music is life, that why our hearts have beats.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM)    "Impressioni di Settembre"    Giugo, Italy, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omjsZp5UfnA

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull once proclaimed PFM (Marconi's Award-Winning Bakery) as the best prog band in Italy, and the combination of their talents and on-stage passion really underscore that remark. Formed in 1970 out of Milan, Italy, they have enjoyed international success and a substantial global following. Their odd name was borrowed from a bakery in the small town of Chiari, under protest that it was too long. Their answer was that if it was hard to remember, it would be just as hard to forget! "Impressions of September" is from the first of their 33 albums to date ... enjoy!

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FPTGOk_nr2A/hqdefault.jpg

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

This shows an group of experienced performers and how good they are clearly shows. This is a great group of people.     

Music is what feelings sound like.
Music is life, that why our hearts have beats.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Glad you enjoyed them, CG ... not sure why drummer Franz Di Cioccio has his tongue hanging out most of the time, but it obviously helps him drum better. The whole group presents their work with an enormous amount of passion, which really engages the audience.     

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Nightwish    "Last of the Wilds"    Montreux, 2012

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghCI2LbR5T4

Here's the original version of the song featured in "Tuesdays Flying Fingers". The amazing Troy Donockley joined them on stage, adding a powerful Celtic flair to this piece with the Uilleann pipes. This song really rocks as a Prog-Symphonic Metal piece, and no one does this genre any better than Nightwish. Hailing from Finland, this was the band's 5th world tour, made in support of their 2-CD album "Imaginaerum".

The tour began in Los Angeles in January 2012, continued for 104 concerts around the world, and finally ended in August, 2013 in Hildesheim, Germany, spanning over a year and a half! Lead singer Anette Olzon had replaced Tarja Turunen when she left the group in 2005, but fell sick a year into this tour due to the grueling pace. She was soon replaced by Floor Jansen (Netherlands), who completed the tour, and remains with them now. Jansen, a biologist by education, actually has a beetle named after her (tmesisternus floorjansenae), a distinction she's quite proud of! This one's a foot-stomper and a fist-pumper ... I hope you like it.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0067/2072/products/Nightwish_grande.jpg?v=1431945142     

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

An unusual sound and a very good one. Great choice with then too.  It was clear the  people their were going crazy with the sound.     

Music is what feelings sound like.
Music is life, that why our hearts have beats.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Echolyn    "Past Gravity"    Catapult Sound Studio, Wales, 2012

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjdWtSL_xao

Lead singer / guitarist Brett Kull first formed Echolyn in the 80's as a cover band, which didn't last more than a couple of years. When they reformed in 1990, they resolved to write, produce, record, and perform only original music, and the results have been spectacular. They created their own label (Bridge Records) and have been going strong ever since. Their most recent album ("I Heard You Listening" 2015) continues to tell stories in their own style, and they'll often add guest musicians, like Francis Dunnery in this video. "Past Gravity" is from their self titled album "Echolyn", released in 1991.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dd/Echolyn_debut_big.jpg     

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

This is a wonderful choice. Anyone who thinks they can hear this on any where else is wrong. It is so good and anyone else should listen to this one is is great and different.     

Music is what feelings sound like.
Music is life, that why our hearts have beats.

572 (edited by Peatle Jville 2019-08-22 07:32:31)

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

TF not only do Echolyn sound great great to see guys who look like they have haircuts that most of my  buddies around my part of the woods have.     

I also have just  listened  to and watched Nightwish as I havent checked into this weekly chordie post for a couple of weeks and missed your post last week love their Celtic sound.
TF thank you for your regular post it helps to make chordie a good place to visit.
Unfortunately I am very erratic in my computer use.

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Thank-you, CG & Peatle ...

It's an enjoyable weekly experience to dig out a few rarities for both this and the Flying Fingers feature. The whole inspiration for this was from a fellow-Chordian (Badeye) who started the "Friday Blues Fix" back in 2009. CG has since taken up the mantle (Thanks!) but the idea of weekly features was his idea, and provides (as Peatle says) more reasons for regular visitors to Chordie.

A few years ago, we had some other Chordians try to maintain a daily feature on other open days of the week, but the time commitment can be difficult so they fizzled. Whether or not anyone listens or comments, I simply find this therapeutic to hunt down peripheral music which rarely makes it in the mainstream, because there is indeed soooo much out there. I co-hosted an on-campus radio program back in the 70's called "No Disco", so this is more or less a resurrection of what Shawn & I were trying to do then.

Glad you enjoy it!

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

Gentle Giant    "Interview"    Brussells, 1974

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbSwKmVCnII

Always unique, always surprising, always unusual ... but never popular or well-known, Gentle Giant are now a piece of Prog Rock history unlike any other. The quintet began in 1970, recording and performing for about 10 years until they disbanded. By any standards, they were musicians of the highest caliber and ability. Most of the great prog musicians of the last 40 years will mention GG as a key influence, as they pushed the boundaries in every direction of musicianship and composition. On the album "Interview", they played no less than 46 different instruments among them, with a high degree of skill at every one. Whether someone likes them or not (I love them!) it would be unanimous that no other group has ever sounded like these guys ... enjoy!

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.1DNi_U_wMwckvCrJPJL-eQHaHa&pid=Api&P=0&w=300&h=300     

Re: Prog Rock Wednesdays

The Steve Rothery Band    "Morpheus"    Frankfurt, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmYGSRPHBUE

Some more of Rothery's soulful playing, from his solo album "The Ghosts of Pripyat". As mentioned in an entry several months ago, Pripyat is the Ukrainian city that was irradiated by the Chernobyl reactor meltdown in 1986. The 50,000 residents were evacuated almost overnight (only 16 years after being founded), and the city itself still stands with everything intact .. but eerily with no people. Radiation levels have supposedly returned to reasonably safe levels in recent years, and several movies have used its ghostly environs for filming (A Good Day to Die Hard, Land of Oblivion, The Girl With All the Gifts, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon, to name a few). Rothery's career with the group Marillion is well known, having been with them since 1979. Apart from band obligations, he has done two solo projects, the first being "The Wishing Tree", and then all-instrumental "Pripyat". The whole CD is guitarist's feast ... enjoy!

https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/011/598/941/4a8d547aeff073d5d5e162e5d51b9fd6_original.jpg?w=560&h=315&fit=fill&bg=FEFEFE&v=1463685042&auto=format&q=92&s=1c05db4e1279f541ae0507315e794a67