An ode to vinyl

or about being an audio-nerd...

The most recent event of my nerdiness: a guy of Music Buy Mail found a topic in the progulus forum and felt the need to send out his comment to a couple of people who ordered the Koyaanisquatsy album. I felt the need to answer it and, as I am, asked if they consider offering 320 kb/s mp3s. He replied and promised to do so.

The normal metal guy may like those 192 kb/s mp3s, I don't, a 'lossy' compressed audio format doesn't sound as clear as a lossless one. The one's who love metal because of it's noisyness may like the 192 kb/s version even better. And on most home stereos, people even may not hear the difference.

I did spend quite some money for my stereo and I love using it.

Having some hundreds of vinyl discs in my shelf, there had to be a good old-fashioned turntable, too. Equipped with a modern high class needle, I started to listen to those old black monsters again, and I was quite surprised!

Yes, most of them crackle, some more some less, some even don't at all.

I purchased a couple of cds though having the vinyl version in the shelf in the last 20 years. Now, in the meantime, I rather listen to the vinyl version because they simply sound better than the cds.

Some weeks ago I stumbled over the leak that enabled me to download the new Opeth cd "Watershed" even before it got released. I couldn't resist. But it was clear to me that I need to buy the album now, and I indeed wanted to.

Well, in this case, I decided to buy it as 2lp (when you remember that abbreviation, you're old... ) vinyl.

The sound of the vinyl is quite different. Not worse or better, but different.

All in all it sounds a tad smoother. The guitars for example are less earbleeding; not less aggressive, just a bit nicer to the ears. Therefore, more room is left for Ackerfeld's vocals. The vocals are more intense on the vinyl version, which is rather good, because he does some real great work on this recording. All in all it is like comparing guitar amps. The cd would be the transistor amp, vinyl the tube amp.

The only big issue is the sound of the drums. As vinyl doesn't have the same dynamic range, the drums sound really old fashioned and don't fit the metal genre somehow. but I like them hearing this way as well as I like the mellotron they play on the disc.

Well, despite the drum problem, I think the vinyl still sounds more natural to me.

Allow me to talk techincally, just a bit.

They sample audio at a frequency of 44,1 kHz. They say the human ear doesn't hear a sine higher than 20 kHz. that is true, but we do recognize higher frequencies, not every noise we hear is a sine. And music does not consist of sines only. for example you discern a trumpet from a violin not because of the sine they play but because of the different harmonics they produce. That is ignored, when deciding to not sample high frequencies.

If we consider the Nyquist an Shannon theorem of scanning, the formula is even worse. The theorem says that the scanning frequency must be 3x as high a the original for an accurate result. So 44,1 kHz divided by 3 makes a frequency of 14,7 kHz. Any higher frequency will be scanned erroneous. Distorted guitars and vocals produce those frequencies.

I agree that the analog world is imperfect, but the digital techniques that are offered to us are nothing more than a lame compromise.

I shall listen more to knackles and rumbles....

A NEW CHALLENGER APPROACHES!

The name's Alex Ricard, but please. Call me T-Bo. Or even better, by my rightful title as mighty King T-Bo.

I, too, am a regular on Progulus Radio, dating back almost to the site's inception in 2005. I believe I joined a month or so after it was created. My tagname comes from another site I frequent, RPG Chat, where my username is Terry_Bogard, after the fighting game character. Somebody once shortened it to T-Bo, and I liked it, so the name stuck.

Anyhow, my journey to prog began as a young boy. My dad is a quite talented guitarist and vocalist, and while not the best in the world at it, he is certainly capable. There was always music playing in my house growing up. My dad loves everything from Bob Dylan to Led Zeppelin to Robert Johnson to Django Reinhardt to bluegrass. I'm serious, his music taste changes constantly. He's even been digging some of the Dream Theater, Neal Morse, and Sigur Ros I've been throwing to him lately. In 1999, I was nine years old, and my dad went on a religious retreat. It was then that he started playing guitar regularly again, for the first time since he'd been in college. That Christmas my little brother and I both recieved small guitars, and he taught us basic chords, and eventually enrolled me in formal classical music lessons. For years and years I played classical guitar, but with no real passion for it. I played, and I enjoyed the music, and I practiced, but outside of my own tinkling of nylon on wood, I never really took the time to listen to music.

But that all changed one day at my friend's house. He put on a CD of this band he had just discovered. It started quiet and calm, with a theatrical singer saying something about fearing darkness. And then it got HEAVY. I was instantly hooked on Iron Maiden, and from that point on I constantly listened to music. Maiden, Metallica, Dio, Megadeth, Rush, Led Zeppelin, you name it. I became a guitar disciple, exponentially increasing in my abilities as I switched over to electric guitar.

One day, in school guitar class my freshman year, I was jamming out some Maiden with a friend of mine and he turned to me and told me about this band called Dream Theater. He had me download their song "A Change of Seasons", and then made sure I sat and listened in its entirety. From there, there was no turning back. Opeth, Tool, Ayreon, Pain of Salvation, Symphony X, Frost*, Spock's Beard, Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Meshuggah, Porcupine Tree, Devin Townsend, Vanden Plas, Muse, Transatlantic, OSI, et al.

I began to love all forms of progressive music, from the epically pompous stylings of Rhapsody (of Fire) and Blind Guardian (always sticking to my metal roots), the ethereal minimalism of Tangerine Dream and Sigur Ros, the brutality and intensity of Spiral Architect or Behold... The Arctopus, the intense emotional journeys of Arena and IQ and Everon and Marillion and A.C.T., the simple weirdness of The Mars Volta and Magma, and the pure beauty of Mostly Autumn and Panic Room and Parhelia, and so on. I still enjoy extreme metal, and rock, the occasional blues or jazz, lots of classical, and pretty much everything. Even hip-hop.

And so, I've begun my own prog-ject. It's called Hopefactor, a word I discuss quite frequently on my main blog. Hopefactor is very much a prog-metal project, but my music has touches of electronica, acoustic music, and symphonic metal in it. The official site is here, but there are no samples up yet due to the lack of technology. However, I've already written a concept album's worth of material (INCLUDING a 20-minute epic!), and more.

So, there's your T-Bo in a nutshell. I will be reviewing music, offering my opinions on modern music (being a young guy, I'm still very aware of mainstream music, though one of my favorite things to say is that I "stopped listening to the radio once I got into music"). And I'll be throwing out rants as well. I'm sure you'll be entertained. I'm looking forward to posting! And maybe, if I do enough, I can go on the sidebar as one of them FEATURED AUTHORS... :O

Also, bow before me. I am your King, after all.

Review: Second Society – All solutions are artificial

A short while ago I got in contact with one of my Childhood friends (seems that Facebook can actually be used for something). I also discovered that he has recently joined a Danish rock band as their bass player. So I thought that I would do him the favor of reviewing their latest album. Just one warning: This is not progressive rock/metal, but that does not stop me from reviewing it, since I am open to all sorts of music.

This is actually a difficult task. First of all my friend Lars Holmboe is...well…my friend and I would not like to write anything negative about him and his band activities. Secondly Second Society does not play the kind of music that I would normally listen to. So, since I am already rather biased, I will not rate the album on lets say a 0-10 grade scale, but just try my best to give a balanced view of my findings.

On the band’s MySpace page they name themselves a Danish PowerRock Band, and I agree in the sense that they are playing rock not heavy, death or other forms of metal, but the style is nevertheless powerful.

So what elements make this album stand out from the rest?

The first thing I noticed was that it is very well produced coming from such a relatively new and unknown band. I can already think of some other bands I listen to that would have benefited from the same production process. I feel that the resulting songs compliment each other well and belong on the same album, so yeah, it sound pretty much as if they know what they are doing and where they want to take their music.

The album takes the use of synth (in rock) to a new level. Where other bands mostly use keyboard synth as a way of creating a background for the songs, this band uses it more as a regular instrument, which is quite refreshing in this day where so many bands sound similar.

The Songs:

The album opens with the rocker “A New Dawn”, which quite well introduces the band and gives you an idea about the rest of the album: Fast guitars, synth and voice distortion. This would be one of the obvious single contenders (are people still buying singles?).

“The Waiting”: Not a bad rock song, but I find this to be the weakest track on the album. I find it a little too straight forward, although the last 3rd has a good heavy feeling to it.

Like the opener “The Only One” is synth driven, maybe a little too much for my taste, but I find this song has the most enjoyable drum patterns I have heard for a while (also compared to what I normally listen to).

“Devil With Two Hearts” is my favorite song on the album, and could be another choice for a single. The introduction of piano to this track makes everything more interesting, especially how it stands in contrast to an otherwise heavy track. This is probably the most diverse track on the album, which in my book also makes the best.

The album is closed with “Bring me the renegades” which is my other favorite track. The band here shows that they have an excellent rhythm section, which I feel could have been put to better use throughout the album.

Some criticism:

All band members play their instruments well, nothing there to put my finger on. Everything fits together like a well oiled machine. Unfortunately that is where I must criticize the most, the album has some great moments, but overall I find it a little mechanical, as if part of the album was recorded on autopilot. Simply put, I miss some more surprises. Voice distortion and piano helps a bit, but more range and complexity in the vocals and melody would have made the listener experience more enjoyable. A way to achieve this would be to break away from the “verse, chorus, verse in 3½ minute” formula on some tracks, which would force you to come up with some new and hopefully brilliant ideas. But all that would be for a future album, which I would surely take for a spin.

Dear band members, if you read this, please take my criticism with a grain of salt. As I usually listen to Progressive rock/metal I am used to music that often has a structure more similar to that of classical and jazz than to rock/pop, and I usually favor the more complex sides of music. But, for the style of music you play I find that you do more than a decent job.

The Road to Life and Progressive Rock. Part III

Phase3
The move back to California!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB17uWuBrL0&feature=related

"Carry on my wayward son, there'll be peace when you are done, lay your
weary head to rest, don't you cry no more..."
- Carry On Wayward Son/Kansas

Look away Dixie Land indeed!
Life in Gretna, Louisiana is OVER . . .
Me and my Dad had enough! Me at school and my Dad's jobs and the "good ol' boy"
attitudes. The only good things that came from living there were Relatives, the
Seafood and the birth of my little Brother whom I love soo much.
But my Dad had traded (and sadly, my beloved...) the Ford 67 Mustang "Fastback",
that fell victem to the La. Humidity, for a Non-4x4 Chevy Blazer a few years before.
To this day, I miss that car, and I know it would have passed down to me.
Fricken' State even ate up the car!

The Birth of Comedy.
Through the hardships, I found my sanity through building model kits of Cars and
Warbirds. And I had always been the "funny one" in my small circles of friendships.
So having a sophisticated (for my age) comic sense, or rather a GOOFY comedic
sense helped. I think it was a gene from my Dad. He was always the Life of the
Party.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcXA_pkfLso&feature=related
It also came from watching Monty Python and SCTV episodes, and the nation
wide broadcast of the "Dr. Demento Show" on the radio, that featured funny skits,
performers, comedians and bands with the likes of Weird Al (before he had a
record contract), Shel Silverstien; Captain Beefheart; Monty Pythons Flying
Circus; Cheech & Chong; Spike Jones and his City Slickers; Barnes & Barnes
and it would be the 1st time to hear Frank Zappa. And outrageous songs/acts by
the obscure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c-NMnYhM3Q
(Okay, so this isn't a "Funny Song" but the antics are, and
Zappa shreds! Can you guess who the 2nd guitarist is,
close to the camera?)
So my "humour in music" was sown forever (later, I would listen to the direct
California broadcast for over the next few decades until its last shows).


" . . . You can check out anytime you like... but you can never leave!"
- Hotel California/Eagles

Summer of 77.
1977, The road to California is a special memory because during the ride
across a few deserts (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California), we were
listening to "The Radio X" (and the sweet voice "sweeper" of a Latina saying,
"Baja California-Mejico [Mexico]" -The same station ZZ Top sang about).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8BRmZCqsHg
And we would hear newly released songs by the Eagles; Gerry Raferty; Bob
Seger and the Silver Bullet Band; Al Stewart; Fleetwood Mac; Electric Light
Orchestra; Marshall Tucker Band and a Band from the East Coast . . .

"When I'm tired and thinking cold, I hide in my music, forget the day
and dream of a girl I used to know, I closed my eyes and she slipped away. . ."
- Boston/More than a Feeling

"Boston". (The debut in 76, which was still making its way on the airwaves-1st
hearing them a few months before leaving La.) The dueling Guitars of Tom
Sholtz and Barry Goudreau were soo smooth and Brad Delps soaring Vocals
really made an impact. Their sound has always been very special to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AlzsP4jN1E
Not until 1978 would we have their sophomore Album "Don't look Back" and
their unfortunate decline through various lawsuits:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_%28band%29
Tom Sholtz, Being an M.I.T. graduate, would boast "No Synthesizers used!"
on their albums. It was amazing and puzzeling at the same time.
More than a Feeling to this day reminds me of the little girl that lived across
the street from me when I was 5 (my 1st kiss, Kimberly) . . .

I'd ask my Dad, for us to take a ride out to BellFlower Ca. (I think it was the
city of Cudahy to be exact) to see what the old nieghborhood was like.
Well, it was a sight alright, dilapidated Houses, trash everywhere, Gang
Grafitti, not the place where multi-racial middle class people lived in the
60's and early 70's, where I used to ride my tricycle on the sidewalks.
And where we used to walk to a Fosters Freeze to get Burgers and an Ice
Cream Cone.
" . . . She slipped away!"


Re-Settlement, and Re-Settlement.
We moved in temporarly with my Dads Sister and Brother-in-law in the San
Fernando Valley in the beginning of Summer. A few months later we found an
Apartment on Van Nuys Blvd. in Panorama City.
I can remember the Heat, but in the early mornings, I remember them being
the most content sleep I would ever have in my life, and I would wake up (or
"fade out" of a comfortable sleep) to a cold breeze through the window, that
seems to have never returned.
Soon I would start 1 year of school nearby as a Freshman, A School that I can
not even remember its name. I vaguely remember my 1st Art Class, A girl I
had a crush on named Leslie, with her friends, laughed at some idiots joke
about me being "Gay". I do remember the food, probably the best damn
lunches I would ever have in school (3 choices of Entres and all kinds of

sides, including the individule foods at the outside counters).

The music of the time also reminds me of our drives down Van Nuys Blvd.
Where we would eventually live in an Apt. for over a year. The type of Apt. that
all the units surrounded a Pool in the middle (See "The Karate Kid", it was sort
of like what Daniel -Ralph Machio lived in), at least I think there was a pool (If
there was, I don't recall people swimming in it), something we were not used to,
since living in houses most of our lives.
Life on the "Strip" would see the last days of Hot Rods and Lowriders "Cruising"
down the Boulevard as it would be outlawed in 1978-79.
This "Film" represents 1979, but its very reminiscent of 77 (though I was only 14
and didn't have close friends until our next move):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3MOXwdkJp8

As my folks, weary of living in the Apartment, in the sweltering heat of the
"Valley" as it was called (The San Fernando Valley, that Zappa would make
famous years later with "Valley Girl"). My parents saved for a new home of our
own and to make new roots. And we would take rides to different neighborhoods
to look at homes while my dads 8 track would play Santana, and Eagles Newly
released "Hotel California".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9UUm1NvjbM
No matter what you think of them, this song had all the sensibilities what Prog
Rock was, but the Eagles made it their own, soo layered with sound and various
guitar tones, and the vocal harmonies were brilliant, intertwined with a blend of
Mexican Folk, "Tex-Mex", Country/Western and Rock.
With Orchestration, beautiful ballads, great storybook lyrics and high caliber
musicianship.
I still think its a great album through and through.
But, it would take years till I realized what the Song Hotel California actually
meant, and that all the songs seemed to take place in the same "State".
For many, the lines in the song were true. I'm one of the few that want to stay
. . . but I just want to move farther up north (but thats another story in my later
years, the love/hate relationship of LA and a Los Angelino).

"Mirrors on the ceiling,
The pink champagne on ice, and she said:
'We are all just prisoners here,
Of our own device'
And in the master's chambers
They gathered for the feast,
They stabbed it with their steely knives,
But they just can't kill the beast..."
- Hotel California/Eagles


Back at the Strip . . .
I would be skateboarding for longer distances at this time. Smooth marbleled
sidewalks at nearby outdoor plazas, skating through corridors, around Department
Stores and such, for hours. There was also a Tower Record Store a block away
from home, and I remember seeing all the LP's on the shelves, it was overwhelming
I think. All the colours, the Art . . . but sadly, I wished I could hear every record.
Radio, was kind of all over the place as far as music, and their were all kinds of
genre's and bands becoming more popular and new ones being born.
But . . .
Queen; Led Zeppelin; Steely Dan; Santana; Rolling Stones; Wings; Alice Cooper;
Chicago; Supertramp, The Who and others were some of the exceptions, as other
Rock artists were getting lost among the Disco, R&B and "One Hit Wonders" at
this time.
I didn't discover FM Radio yet, I was still stuck on the AM dial and Top 40 Radio.
I was missing out on the more creative stuff coming from Europe (Especially from
England) where Rock and other forms thrived.

Disco throughout 1977 thru 79 would slowly die off, as Rock grew strong. But
unfortunately Disco would influence R&B and completely kill (for the most part)
a genre of music I enjoyed.
Again . . . "Rock is dead they say, Long Live Rock!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-S5aVuKsgI&feature=related
And yet ANOTHER band would exclaim this Anthem against the Top 40
garbage at this time (1977-78). I would not discover them till 1981:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG012KNiC_Q&feature=related

Santa Brings my 1st PrOg album!
For the coming Christmas, I would receive my 1st LP/Vinyl of my own, Kiss-
Alive II; ELO- Out of the Blue; and Foreigner (debut) From my Parents, who
also enjoyed their hit singles (sans Kiss).
Note:
Did you know, Sax, Keyboardist, 2nd Guitarist and Flute player in Foreigner-
Ian McDonald, was also in King Crimson?:
Foreigner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQagCZPRk2c&feature=related
King Crimson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4c5lY_5NNU
(Another band I wouldn't discover till late 1980).

Electric Light Orchestra, for all that they were, could very well had been my
1st (technically speaking) Progressive Rock band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVAvjFwKshQ
But there was another album among these, that would change my world of
music, but . . .
I was just getting into Kiss the last year of living in La. But I think I was just
being a wanna-be, and maybe I just liked "Destroyer" and thought it was
their strongest album. I knew my Ear was tuned differently than most kids, I
just didn't know what it was yet. I was also getting albums on Cassette at
this time. But Alive II held something that I never payed attention to till this
album . . .

The Drum Solo.
I thought Peter Criss was a GOD, the "Cat" could beat those skins, nevermind
that I saw Buddy Rich numerous times on Johnny Carson, this guy was it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oswmeVPoOM&feature=related

Soon after I'd start collecting a few of their albums on Cassettes, "Rock and
Roll Over"; "Love Gun" and others.
One day in Science class in 9th grade, I don't remember who I was talking to,
I was talking about Peter Criss and this great drum solo on Alive II-very
enthusiastically, and this tall black guy (I think he was the schools star
basketball player) with a huge afro says to me,
"You want to hear a great drum solo, listen to Carl Palmer of ELP"
and he just walked away . . .
WHO is this guy to tell me Peter Criss's drum solo isn't as exciting as . . .
Carl Palmer (ELP again!)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvhjgQvvK18&feature=related
And STILL, I didn't run out and get their albums!

Buddy Burnin'-
Buddy Rich on NBC's Johnny Carson circa mid 70's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky5bC7wDMOw&feature=related


". . . I was going nowhere fast, I was needing something that would last!"
- Paradox/Kansas

THE "Gift" that keeps on giving.
I was also hearing cuts on the radio from an album called "Leftoverture" that
was released the previous year.
But Songs like "Carry On" with its hard rocking edge resonated in me as a
prelude for what was to come (and would not purchase that album till the
late 80's) and a NEW single "Dust in the wind", still had that Top 40 vibe of
the era . . . but not.
I didn't realize what they were until 1977 and the release of "Point of Know
Return" by Kansas. The 1st real Prog Rock band I'd fully dive into. This
was the other album I had gotten for Christmas.
Its weird, I'd brag about Kiss but didn't realize that it was Kansas that
broadened my taste, painted pictures in my mind- with my favorite songs
"Lightnings Hand", "Sparks of the Tempest" and "Closet Chronicles" (What
weird picks for faves of a 14 year old) and the aggressive notes of "Paradox"
and "the Spider".
Yet I couldn't really grasp what they were doing, how complex the music really
was . . . I just LIKED it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60A1yKc2hi4

I would buy more Cassettes, single 45's and hearing the songs of Paul
McCartney and his band "Wings". It continued the love I had of the Beatles.
As well as John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and their musics.
This carried on from Louisiana till this day. They will always be special.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkAuBGyQVG4

It Changed my life Forever.
Another life changing experience, There were giant billboards all over Los
Angeles, Big black billboards with no images but a stylized white logo and the
headline, "A Long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away".
From the Opening "Crawl" to the 1st ship that flew over our heads . . .
to the LARGER ship that went on forever, and the scene of Luke Skywalker
on his Farm, looking over the Valley and the twin Suns, dreaming of
adventure far beyond . . . I was hooked.
The Summer of Star Wars would slowly take me from drawing cars, to drawing
Spaceships, eventually to drawing people in the later teens, and dreams of
working for Industrial Light & Magic, which at the time was a small slapped
together Company among small Warehouse suites in Van Nuys California
not far from where I lived! (But I did not know that, till years later).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gvqpFbRKtQ

On our Family Sunday outings, we would walk on Hollywood Blvd. "Window
Shopping" and from a Book Store (that is still there) I'd see many of these
images:
http://conceptships.blogspot.com/2008/06/star-wars-concept-ships-from-ralph.html
These images and the Film would instill the possibilities of me to be, a
somewhat unknown career in movies . . . The "Conceptual" Artist.
I'd run to my room and get out paper and try to recreate what I had seen.
As I said before, from Cars, and Hot Rods, I'd start drawing Spacecraft,
Creatures, People in Sci-Fi garb, and I started to draw more Women, which I
think was influenced by Fantasy Artists Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejo.
More and more I delved into the Art and Films of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Soon, the "Music" and my new interest would go hand in hand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjxGjwzWUuA

"I came to learn perhaps to teach but I can tell somehow
The world that I was sent to reach has got no future now
Across the galaxy to spread the word and no one heard
I came for nothing I'm alone and Nobody's Home"
- Nobody's Home/Kansas


To be continued . . .

OPUS INSERT
As we PrOguli (and listeners of the Female gender), enjoy many a Femme'
Fronted Prog Rock or Metal band within its many sub-genre's.
There are too few to thank for the movement.
I can think of Hard Rock/Metal Bands such as "Girlschool" (the all girl band
that Lita Ford and Joan Jett, got their start).
"Warlock" fronted by "Doro Pesch", who would go on with a Solo career.
"Chastaine (David T. Chastaine)" fronted by "Leather Leone"; "Drain (STH)"
the all girl Metal band from Sweden; N.Y. Thrashers "Znowhite" fronted by
Nicole Lee's raspy but powerful voice (She would later form "Fear of God").
And "Saraya", the AOR/Hard Rock/Metal band from New Jersey fronted by
the beautiful "Sandi Saraya".

These Artists paved the way for what was to come. But who came before
them? . . .

1977 would mark a breakthrough album for a band with an un-likely name,
Heart. The Seattle born band, that not only had a Female Guitarist (Electric
and Acoustic with 2 other Guitarists) and 2nd Lead and Backround Vocalist
Nancy Wilson, but her sister, the powerfully soulfull, bluesy, soaring and
screaming Vocalist Ann Wilson, with her dark sensual looks (contrast to her
sisters Blond Locks) were more than ready to rip heads off and astound their
listeners from ballads, to hard rock anthems. The song "Magic Man" brought
them to the radio. But it was 1977 when the album "Little Queen" was
released.
And a single that stands as a staple for AOR Radio (if you still enjoy it or sick
of hearing it), as much as any Led Zeppelin, Beatles or Rolling Stone song.
"Barracuda" was pretty heavy for its time, and that it is sung by a Woman
breaks all barriers! If that "Chugging" riff were done now, it would be tuned
down, Overdrive/Distortion on 9, Saturation on 7, Bass knob turned up,
Treble on 5, Volume at "11" on the Amp and it be ready for Death Metal riffage.
The song hit #11 on the Billboard charts in 77 and it remains an Anthem for
anyone burned by someone.
1. Their story can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_%28band%29
2. Little Queen Album:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Queen
3. The "official" story of Barracuda:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_%28band%29#Controversy
Barracuda Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpkitLUbeEg&feature=related

Their next album "Dog & Butterfly", dare I say, even had Prog Rock
qualities to some of their songs, but maintained the melodic Hard Rock they
were known for (This became one of my all time fave albums).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWhlC_xCPok
Watch this and many other vidz of Ann, Nancy and the Boys and you will
come to realize the huge influences on their contemporaries.

What happens after the music is done

So, the mix on the new Strange Land cd "Catharsis" is nearly done. Yay! Now we can party, right? Hold on, not so fast. There is a lot that goes into a cd beyond the music as I'm sure you can imagine. All the more time consuming for an indie band that doesn't really have "people". I have learned that I need to take my estimated time for project completion and triple it. It always takes longer than I want it to. Here is a snapshot of what happens after the music is recorded.

1. Mix the music. This can take hours to weeks. With Strange Land we do a little bit together, then I finish up everything myself. I burn cds for Chad and Brad to listen to in various places, I often judge a mix in my car since that's where most of my listening happens. We kick this back and forth a few times until we are happy.
2. Master the cd. Mastering puts the final 'pixie dust' on the recording and its often best to have another set of ears to do this, someone not in the band. This time we will give it to a guy who will tweak it, then we will meet with him to listen and finalize everything.
3. Artwork and layout. Everything from the front cover to who gets thanked. This time out we had a photographer take some pictures, I am manipulating them, then I will send the cover to MAV (hi MAV) for a kick ass logo. Then I'll put the whole thing together. Time here varies depending on how many pages we will do for the booklet. And that can depend on:
4. Who is paying for it? While all of the above is going on we are working with our contacts to see what kind of record/distribution deal might happen for this cd. The details of that can affect how many copies get made, how many pages the book has, and other things determined by who will foot the bill.
5. Sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Or run and hide for a while to decompress from the whole damn process. Or both.

What is Progressive anyway? 4/5 - Discovering Marillion

Part: 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1

Discovering Marillion

When I started to listen to Dream Theatre I actually didn't have a clue about Progressive Rock or Metal. This was just Metal, although being of a different sort. It actually took me a couple years before I started to explore the genre.

What really got me started was Marillion.
For a while I had been seeking new and interesting music. So there I was in the record shop looking at the "special price" CDs and one of them was standing out because of a colorful and interesting cover. "Misplaced Childhood".

The funny thing about this album was that I had actually seen (I can't say that I listened) it before (as vinyl), but at the time I totally dismissed it. I suppose I was too young and too interested in "Top of the Pops". I was introduced to it a few later times, but I stubbornly refused to see its value. So what prompted me this time? I am not sure, maybe I just decided to take a chance, I don't know, but today I am happy that I purchased it.

I brought the CD home, listened to it...and the next evening I had altogether 4 new CDs in my collection. On the third day I went to get more...bought one of the new era Marillion albums (Afraid of the sunlight) and was severely disappointed. Just to say it shortly the new lead singer sucked...badly.

Ok, ok now, I'm too hard on Hogarth (top left), but comparing him to Fish (bottom left) is like comparing apples and oranges. Both are fruit, but of a different kind, and I just happen to like one better than the other. This was around 1995 which is probably why I still didn't have a clue about the term "progressive". I say this, because at that time the Internet was not much to talk about and I couldn't access it to find out more about this genre of music that I had started to like more and more.

In 1996 I got married and 1½ year after I moved to Finland. At work we got free Internet access and it didn't take me long to find out everything about Marillion and put a label on my new and favorite type of music.

Nowadays I hardly never pick up Marillion. They have not become bad. Its just that I have heard those 4 albums so many times that I can sing most of the songs...even the guitar and keyboard solos. There are simply no more surprises left. Instead I look elsewhere, and luckily there is still so much material to put my hands on all the way back from the 70s till now.

Christ.0 the musical

Me at a theatrical play, who had ever thought this would happen...

Well, Christ.0 was one the best releases in 2006, if not the best. So when Vanden Plas announced to make a musical out of it, I first had the wish to watch a musical. I never felt the need to do so, but in this case, well, I had to. So together with PL, my sister and an old friend we got tickets and went to the patriarchal theater, built in the year 1865.

Having never seen a musical (except in movies) it is quite hard to review one, as it might become unfair easily, but I'll try to do my best.

On the cd I never understood the concept they wrote, I just love it because of the music. The story of the play is quite different to the original, but why not? Storytelling should be a creative process, too, so it's just fine for me.

Edmont Dantes (played by Andi Kuntz) got imprisioned on a ship, abuses drugs and finds a way to escape. He uses the ship as a base of operations. He became schizophrenic and his 2nd personality managed to become inspector Xsaviour (Chris Murray) ; the good personality hunts the bad one of himself. Prosecutor Villefort (Mischa Mang) who imprisioned Dantes is a drug dealer and uses the fine society for his secret business. Fearing that Dantes could unleash his secret, he's after Dantes as well, so they all are hunting each other. Dantes' son (not knowing who his real father is) is in love with Villeforts daughter, which complicates things even more.

So much about the plot. I had the feeling they told it rather sparsely, I wished they had more to tell, but hey, it is a necessity for a musical to take time for everything; they play, sing songs, change stage sets, so 2 hours are filled rapidly.

And indeed, there wasn't one boring minute in it. The construction of the plot is great, e.g. you find out about Dantes schizophrenia very late in the play.

With all the technical ability the theater provides they seemed to have plenty of fun creating all stage design and characters, and it really turned out good for the audience, too.

Playing with a story that's centuries old in the here and now turned out quite good. Electrically moving requisites, back projection, front projection on gauze while playing behind it, besides old geeks like trap doors etc. are cleverly used, a multimedia stage turned out; very fine, delicate use of light made a great three dimensional look of the stage.

The charachters are all a drawn a bit to the grotesque, but don't turn out cheesy at all. Indeed, in many moments this is where it becomes fun, for example when the prosecutors dark soul comes to light. What a great show! Mischa Mang for sure loves this part the most.

If they ever decide to make a DVD, I bet they just need one camera, just film the stage, it is all perfectly done already.

Musically Vanden Plas had to extend a lot of course, it wouldn't be done if they only played the cd. Plenty of fills here and atmospherics there were added to make it a complete play. The additional compositions are more in a musical style than prog metal, but one would expect that.

Vanden Plas of course play the enitre show live, and they do that really awesome. They are perfectionists! In my opinion it is a crime to let them play in the orchestra pit. They should be on the stage as well, so the audience could see them playing the music.

And they should turn the PA to eleven! It was at about 3 or 4; not loud enough imo. If they make a prog metal musical, the agressive parts should blast the audience imo.

But hence, they probably fear to damage the good old theater...

The director of the theater said he asked them to produce the musical because he wants to have a show that attracts young people. That seemed like a strange idea to me, as kids normally don't listen to prog metal. But it turns out very well. Classes come to watch the play; they even come in busses. In the break we found us inmidst a huge bunch of kids.

I like the double effect of it, kids come to see a rock musical and experience prog metal. And they all seemed to like it, just like all of us.

The Road to Life and Progressive Rock. Part II

Phase2
Moving (backwards).

"If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all!"
-Born on a Bad Sign/Cream/Pat Travers/adapt. from Booker T. Jones and
William Bell


Louisiana and Southern Hospitality 1972.
My Mom was longing for Family, and many of them lived in the State of
Louisiana, so it was settled, we'd pack up and make a new home there.
I . . . was not happy about it, it must have been early signs of "intuition" I had
inherited from my Mom.
The 1st sign of trouble was on the 1st day on Jefferson Parish soil at my
Aunt and Uncles house, a nice little boy said hello to me (I think), and I guess
said a few more things(?), but he "talked funny", thinking he was just being
goofy, I followed with an "imitation" of him . . .
Then the kids Father came out of the house with the same "funny talk" and
started yelling at ME! Then my Dad came out and had no idea what was
going on (just like me!), I tried to explain what happened (I'm 7!!!) but there's
my Dad and the kid's Dad yelling at each other from across the street, "Waa
is yer keed makin' fhun ov ma' Son!!!?" . . . From that day, it just got worse.
(It was all innocent, I lived 7 years with English with no accents, I guess
the "Hee Haw" shows didn't help much).
. . . A sign of things to come.

The AWFUL move to Louisiana would hold the NEW influences as an escape
for a 7 to 14 year old. I started hearing a band called "Grand Funk Railroad"
on the radio, and thought it was the HEAVIEST stuff I ever heard (ahh
. . . niavete').
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x6chChxzV0

St. Josephs Elementary School of B.S.
Catholic School would be a revelation that the Teachers were hypocrites in
the beliefs and teachings of the Church, what else is new? (to an infant mind
that did not have the courage, reasoning or wits to defend). Their was a
particular Teacher who was not a Nun, that insulted me and let other kids
tease me in the class was an almost everyday occurrence, and my folks
would be called on about "MY behavior", and we would see the Dean/Bishop/
His High Majesty of Hypocrisy in his darkly lit chamber/office and proceeded
to be made-to feel like an amoeba, where my folks complied, because he was
a "man of the cloth".
As that were not enough, my folks would then scold me when I got home, and
all that, almost everyday, pretty much ruined schooling for life.
To add torture to injury, I am in firm belief we lived in a Haunted House, houses
in older areas were built on stilts because of heavy precipitation, so all kinds
of "critters", and who knows what else, would be heard scurrying under the
house . . . we had hard wood floors, and almost nightly I'd be shaking under the
covers as I would hear, as if someone was dropping a marble on the floor, as if
it were coming from the living room.
TAK TAk Taktaktak...TAK TAk Taktaktak . . .
I'd get up to see where it was coming from . . . nothing. I'd Wake my folks who
in frustration would not believe me and angerly rush me to bed, as I in tears
would be begging to let me sleep with them. After about 30 minutes later . . .
the marble started again. Sleep deprived, nervous, geeky little boy.
Which is totally weird that I had a sort-of, blonde "Girl Friend" that lived across
the street named Jean, who was my best friends sister, she was my 2nd too!
(My 1st was back in California, across from my house, a cute Raven haired girl
named Kimberly, who we used to sneak kisses at the side of my house and put
flowers in her hair . . . at 5 years old!). But that didn't last long when my "Best"
friend started making fun of me as well.

. . . But there was a Blessing.
1973.
At this house came someone we all wanted, my little Brother Daniel :)
I loved him soo much, there are pictures of me and him in his outfit with booties
where we are soo happy together, me making a "peace sign" and him emulating
it with his little fingers, I had someone to care for and give my sence of humour
to (weird too, I was always the comedian with friends even through all the toil, as
I always have been). Its the best thing to come out of Louisiana for all of us.
I still love him to death, though he's picked up alot of the angst of my Father
. . . he's my little Brother :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B1wdau8uHU&feature=related

Escape through music and Roundhouse kicks.
New School, New House . . . Same crap.
After we left that God-forsaken rented house, we finally moved into a nice home
and my spacious bedroom, where I started to build model Planes and Cars and
continued drawing Hot Rods, as I did in class, from then on, I didn't care for any
schooling and payed for it at home.
I started listening to the radio on my own at this time, and my folks continued to
buy 45's of hits and my Dad, the occasional 8-Tracks.
I've never told this story to anyone, at Livaudales Junior High School, the bullying
continued (I was a nappy headed geek looking kid- on top of that, being Spanish
and tan skinned). . .
One day in class (a class that I was picked on by the teacher as well), A bully
who also was from St. Joseph's by the name of Joey Jackson (pretty much
everybody knew who he was. My thoughts in my last visit to Louisiana in 1996
were: if I EVER see that idiot when I visit La. again, I'll fricken' punch him
unconscious! . . . scars never heal) was listening to a hand held radio (in class!),
and he said to me, "do you know who THIS is?" (I'm hearing heavy riffs on a
guitar), I said, "I don't know . . . Grand Funk?"
He smacks the back of my head and says, "No bitch! its Fog Hat!"

. . . my introduction to Fog Hat and "Slow Ride".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhkJBBTBA4M

From that moment on, I knew who the bands were, who the members of the
bands were, and the next 5 years of Shotokan Karate (by 14 I graduated as a
3rd (dan) Degree Brown belt, that I was too scared to use because I have
always thought I'd go completely nuts, as I still feel that way) added to my anger
and sadness from Schooling, poor grades and punishment at home. I had been
facinated by Martial Arts and Bruce Lee since I lived in California, I'm not sure
why I didn't try Kung Fu, but went the to a more traditional "Japanese" style.
Maybe I started noticing heavier guitars on songs because it was much like my
anger stomping on through life.

But then there was Grand Funk, and the "B-side" of the single for "Locomotion",
which was called "Flight of the Phoenix", It might be the first Hard Rock
instrumental I had ever heard. I can remember "Air Keyboarding" to the
Hammond Organ solos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLE4w43g_Ak

As my ears got trained baby step by baby step, I practiced dilligently on my
Karate, punches, kicks, kata's and discipline, I think that may have helped me
stay my lashing out at the world, other kids and teachers. But my Dad was hard
on me more and more in class, but I went to one belt to the next.
(See the Film: "The Great Santini", he wasn't that bad, but bad enough. If he'd
gotten into the Marines in the late 50's, early 60's, to become an automatic
citizen, instead of going the traditional route, this might be a different story).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubir9tTlboI&feature=related

This all just became a part of life throughout my 7 LONG years of "Southern
Hospitality" for me and my Dad. He got it at work. He worked at the Avondale
Shipyards as a Welder, working on Naval Destroyers, so you can imagine
the Ass-holes he had to deal with. Stories of "I almost got in a fight today
because, I don't care if they make fun of me, but when they start making fun
of you (Mom) and the family! . . ."
So his frustrations with my grades and work just made each day excruciating.
For me, almost everyday at school I would be asked , "Are you Black!?" or
"Are you a Niggah!?" by White and Black kids. So I cringe everytime I hear
the "N" word.
Through all that, it never came to blows, just constant teasing, being pushed
on campus, classes and on the Bus made me hate school more and more.

But always throughout, I must've had angels watching over me, some-sort of
divine intervention, I don't know, through all this there were good times with
my Moms Family, which is why we moved there. There were lots of Parties
for Birthdays, Weddings, and Holiday get togethers, but at Christmas, as each
year passed, I started to realize my "worth". When it came time for all the
kids to open their presents, they were getting all kinds of Toys, but when I
opened mine . . . Socks and Ugly Sweaters or Shirts.
Even though many knew I Drew Cars all the time and Built Models, so I
started to know what was coming every year. I look at that kid and want to
lecture him about staying strong, I'd remember how caring my Aunt Daly in
California was, who always had pencils and paper ready for my visits.
. . . California dreaming.

There were also Football Parties! Everyone was a Saints fan, but me and
my Dad being from California were Raider Fans! So this could lead to
some rivalry . . . more on this later.

Hot Rods and Music.
Buying Hot Rod Magazine and the Car Comic book from the same publisher
called "CARtoons" helped my "education" in drawing and reading. And
dreamed of one day owning my own 67 Mustang Fastback, like my Fathers.
http://www.georgetrosley.com/cartoons.html
The Story from HOT ROD Magazine:
http://www.hotrod.com/thehistoryof/cars_in_cartoons_history/index.html
So my escape was always drawing and the AM Radio, hearing the likes of
Nazareth; Eric Clapton; Steppen Wolf; Mahogany Rush; Manfred Manns
Earth Band; Three Dog Night; Chicago; ZZ Top; Lynyrd Skynyrd; Eagles;
Styx; Edgar Winter Group; Blood Sweat and Tears; Todd Rungren; Electric
Light Orchestra; Rare Earth; Bachman Turner Overdrive; The Who; Derek
and the Dominoes; Mott the Hoople; Jim Croche; Cat Stevens; The Allman
Brothers; Robin Trower; Focus; Seals and Croft, as well as the Pop Music
the day, R&B of the 60's-early 70's and the "One Hit Wonders". . .
Chicago Transit Authority:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_AP3oUYF7E&feature=related
Styx:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSGeVx2XmSs&feature=related
BTO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_GHIpqRuzs
Manfred Manns Earth Band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_efcADtKkQ
Mahogany Rush:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_56cgFccCPk&feature=related
Three Dog Night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_UEnupu4UM
Robin Trower:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkxEaDDTwho&feature=related
Edgar Winter Group:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGNTof21jWE&feature=related
Focus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpV5InLw52U&feature=related
(thats the "Gladys Knight & The Pips Variety show"!)
These bands should have made a bigger impression, it astounds me why
they didn't till many years later, again, maybe because it was a bit beyond
my comprehension.
then something else . . .

Led Zeppelin was brief, it should of hit me like a ton of bricks as well as for
my Dad. He loved the song "Black Dog" but didn't get around to buying the
albums.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqE0gO3_BwY
Black Sabbath should have as well, but knowing Dad's ear for rumours- he
probably didn't like the so-called "Dark" side of the band. I remember seeing
"We Sold our Souls for Rock n' Roll" in a LP stack at a relatives house. I wish
I would have heard it. These guys would hit me decades later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvuI8d57N9I&feature=related
Alice Cooper was dark as well, but we did get into his "Hit Singles".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWe0pb55q8w
Queen was WEIRD, but the music was really epic, but didn't seem to catch on
either. Brian Mays tone and playing was awe inspiring though. Every time I'd
hear that guitar sound, I'd stop to listen (And the layered vocals!). I remember
only their singles, and a couple of cute cousins that were into them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0uiY-jDkzs
The Rolling Stones were popular, but not with me. Only a few songs but they
never really appealed to me.
The Who finally made an impression with a newly released album and a song
that would become an anthem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUbGLVvfB7Y&feature=related

"If you follow me, there's a specialty
some tears for you to see
Misery, misery,
Roll up! Roll up! Roll up
See the show!"
-Karn Evil 9-1st Impression, Part I /ELP

But . . .
Only in bits in pieces, and not really knowing who or WHAT it was, Yes and
Emerson Lake & Palmer, I could swear, I saw them on television.
Me and my Dad would watch all kinds of Music Specials and Variety Shows
including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and the awesome cavalcade
of Bands and Musicians. As well as The Midnight Special and Don Kirchner's
Rock Concert.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TLL3ApTO4w&feature=related

Yes will always be a faint memory that I actually saw them on T.V. but ELP
made an impression.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3zOB-nP5nk
2 experiences with ELP:
1st, was seeing a "Documentary" about them, I vaguely remember it, but what
I DO remember was the names of the members, in BIG black letters atop
their Trailers/Lorry's! (And I swear in another segment "they" were atop them
with their respective instruments) as they zoomed down the road from a
Helicopter cam view.
Part 1 of 5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eu7UzVgd1E
(Finally! found on YOUtube, after all these years 2/23/09)

2nd-
There was a place that my Dad used to get his 8 Track Tapes, I believe was
called "General E. Lee Music" (figures...yee haw) and in the middle of the
floor was an elaborate floor display from the Manticore Label- ELP & Brain
Salad Surgery, it was soo intriguing and SCARY! It would be my 1st time seeing
the works of H.R. Giger and both would seem to make its way throughout my
life.
At this point, other than 45's, I had yet to have my own albums(LP's).
. . . and 5 more years of misery at schools.

"I got it all together now
With my very own disco clothes, hey!
My shirts half open, t' show you my chains
n' the spoon for up my nose
I am really somethin'
That's what you'd probly say
So smoke your little smoke
Drink your little drink
While I dance the night away, I'm a
Dancing' fool . . ."
-Dancin' Fool/Frank Zappa

Jefferson Parish/Gretna Louisiana sucked BIG time. And something else would
"suck" . . . DISCO.
1976 and Disco would explode and it seemed Rock was dieing, but as the WHO
would exclaim, "Rock is dead they say, Long Live Rock!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-S5aVuKsgI
At first I liked Disco with its Orchestrated music and its high-hat and drum beats,
but then it started to focus on the "singer" and the simple verse and repeated
chorus over and over. It became less about the music and more the vocals, the
simplicity and the glitz, the glamour, the fashions and "lifestyle".
The flavours of the week were selling millions, but ROCK would endure and had
longevity . . . and slowly, Rock would get heavier and more creative.
Disco started to sound the same and Rock became my banner of rebellion.

Raiders STOMP Saints . . . a door opens to the west.
American Football, as much as European Futbal was very popular in our Family,
but the New Orleans "Saints" were the Team of the Famelies . . .
Not for the Velasquez Clan, The Raiders were the "NFL Rejects" of choice!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_raiders
One day at a friend of the families, many were there to watch the New Orleans
Saints play the Oakland Raiders (many called the Saints the "'Aints" because
they never made it to the Superbowl), well you can imagine the yelling, cussing
and all that went into the game, but everytime the Raiders would score, the
man of the house Manuel, would "Shush" my Dad . . . "The baby is sleeping",
(Wha!?), the "shushing" would continue until it turned into . . . "SHUT UP!"
. . . I could see my Father, sitting amongst his childhood friends that HE defended
when they were kids in Honduras, his face getting redder and redder . . .
after a few minutes, he got up and said to me, my little Brother and Mom, "Lets
go...". Everyone was dumbfounded, there were pleads, tears, and my Dad
alone left the house. We got a ride with someone after a few minutes to follow,
we open the door and there is Dad, cheering on the winning Raiders doing what
they did best back in those days . . . beating the stuff out of their opponent living
the reputation as the meanest, rejects of the NFL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvZQtJ5REdc
Revenge was served that day . . .
I felt bad not leaving with my Dad, I think he felt bad not having his family stick
with him, there came a few days of silence at the house, but it caused a break-up
with the family that lasted about 3 decades. When they did meet in the mid 90's,
all was forgiven in heavy tears (I have a bad taste for playing most sports and its
seriousness, it brings out the worst in people, though I always liked playing
Soccer. As my Brother got older, at least my Father had him as a fellow sports fan).
. . . we are one emotional family.

But at the time, it pretty much was the straw that broke the Camels back.

"Cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good,
Now, cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good,
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move "
-When the Levee Breaks/Led Zeppelin

Phase3
The move back to California!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljYkQiIrFtU&feature=related
To be Continued . . .

OPUS INSERT
Occasionally a commercial for a Concert coming to town would come on the
radio (even though I rarely listened to FM), ZZ Top, Lynnrd Skynrd, Black
Oak Arkansas, Allman Brothers and whatever Southern Rocker that would
visit New Orleans, not that it was bad (I liked most of them), but it was rare
to be surprised by a band coming to town.
But I remember this one really stood out:
(annoucers booming deep voice) "THE PRIEST!!! JUDAS PRIEST!!!" At the
time I had no idea who they were, but the music clips sounded really cool!
-"Exciter" - "Green Manalishi" - "Diamonds and Rust" - "2 NIGHTS AT THE
(what-ever club in New Orleans) JUDAS PRIEST!!! another Beaver Production!"
Again . . . why I didn't get into them right away is another mystery.
. . . a very cool memory that comes to mind when I hear a Concert coming to
town that takes me back to naive younger days.

The Road to Life and Progressive Rock. Part I

Introduction:

"Talk talk talk, it's only talk, comments, cliches, commentary, controversy
chatter, chit-chat, chit-chat, chit-chat, conversation, contradiction, criticism
It's only talk . . . Cheap talk..."
- Elephant Talk/King Crimson

My name is Marco A. Velasquez III, I'm a very passionate fan of
this music we call Progressive. Its a word that has started
controversy, criticism, and defining its definition can be a task.
For me its a label . . . but I like labels. When you want to buy a
product at the Market, you look at the label to see what you're
gonna' get.
But it takes some "logic" to know . . . what you're gonna' get.
If you say to a Prog Rock fan, "Hey! I hear you like Progressive
Rock . . . ever heard of Meshuggah?" and this "Prog Fan" is the
type who likes the "Genesis" kind of Prog,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_EYU75uhKk&feature=related
. . . there is a chance after a few seconds of those crazy
Meshuggahners . . .
your'e friend might just strangle you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6VerKdcrOQ
Now take Genesis and label it . . . what kind of Prog is it?
It could start a war of words. Art Rock, Neo-Classical, Symphonic,
Epic . . . yes, Internet Stations could topple, friendships tainted,
ruin a meal, Nuclear weapons armed and positioned, make you
wanna' burn every "Rules of Prog List (what rules!?)" atop a roaring
Bon Fire Rally filled with Proguli singing "Freewill"! and any sense
of humour ceased (proggers are soo serious) . . . it could happen.
Things can get pretty contentious about who belongs in the Prog
list of Bands.
Follow a Family Tree of Prog bands and you could be surprised.

Then their comes along a person like me . . .
I screw everything up, sideways, backwards, upside down. I love
it all! . . . no really, the Avant Garde to the Mathematical and even
the more extreme. Even add some humour in the mix!
Yes (...them too!), I am a card carrying Progressive Rock/Sub-Genre
Fan (say that 5 times real fast).
What kind of Fanatic am I? . . .
When I hear the motors whine of a Car Window opening, the 1st
thing I think of, is the dialogue: "Kill her, thats all you have to do-
Kill Mary? - She's a risk, and get the Priest as well".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG3qgH_3E_k
I keep the "Original" Printings of Yes CD's along with the Re-Masters
because the Inner Art is slightly different and original recordings have
nuances that were edited "out" of the re-masters!
Or when I get into a discussion with friends about our day to day, or
some sort of political or religious/spiritual topic, I may just quote Rush
or Kansas . . . its embedded in me, I can't help it.
And as you will read throughout the months to come (. . . I'm Old), how
I got here through the "Noise and Confusion", the madness and the
laughter of my life.

What the Heck are you talking about?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU3-zd86BLQ&feature=pyv&ad=614
2376617&kw=%22progressive%20rock%22&gclid=CJ3Y4_bawaMCF
RpZiAod0FRMdQ
Well, if you are one of the uninitiated, what is Progressive Rock?
Well it be very easy to go into a detailed description that would only
make you want to jump off the nearest tallest building, so I will let the
armchair experts of Wikipedia and The Prog Archives Forum 'splaine.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_rock
2. http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive-rock.asp#definition
(Scroll down page).

Where do we go from here?
This "Essay" marks pivotal moments in my life that would shape
the music in my growing up and start me on my Prog Odyssey.
It is also a way to contemplate the Book I want to write about my
Life and "insert" the weird, funny, sad, wacky, pathetic and
sometimes good and blessed things that have happened "on this
long strange trip".

Dedication. . .

I want to Dedicate this to my Father, Marco Antonio Duarte-Velasquez II.
If it wasn't for him, his Guitars and who he was, I would not be who I am
today, for good or bad, but you instilled in me a love for many musics.
God be with you eternally papa', may you be at peace, riding horses and
playing Guitars with your heroes and Family, and . . . may "Corky" be at
your side.
. . . And for my Mother, Zoila Guadelupe Zelaya-Velasquez and Brother,
Daniel Velasquez for their music/life influences, and love.
A love I could never put into words and protected by my Father, each and
every day of their lives.

Last but certainly not least, my friends that dealt with my musical
madness through Lp's, Tapes and Cd's, VHS tapes, DVD's, Concerts,
Store-hopping and conversations.
This music has shared love and laughter, tears, sadness and joy with
these friends and loves. Within many a lyric they are best explained.

And to the astounding like minded listeners of the Progulus.com
community that put up with my opinions, wackyness and love for all
things Progressive, and the friendships I have made there . . . you guys
rule. This is also a GREAT place to "Hear" the Music that influenced
me and meet some great people who share the love:
http://www.progulus.com/rprweb/playing.php

>>>WARNING<<< I may have to Re-edit Video Links because
YOUpoop keeps banning them (copyright infringments and all that
rubbish), so thank YOU for your patience.

"Here we go...vertigo
Video vertigo
Test for echo
Here we go...in slo-mo
Video vertigo
Test for echo . . ."
-Test for Echo/RUSH


Phase1
In the Beginning . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziPh9U_EmPs&feature=related

"Turn off your mind, relax and float down stream . . .
It is not dying, it is not dying, Lay down all thoughts, surrender to the void, It is
shining, it is shining . . ."
- Tomorrow Never Knows/the Beatles

From 1963 to now, My life has been filled with music of all sorts to enjoy.
My love for "The Beatles" as a little kid was overwhelming, I knew even as
a 5-7 year old that this music was different than anything on Top 40 radio of
the 60's. Then there was my Dad's fondness of "Santana", it went along
with his tastes in Latin music that he grew up with (Herb Albert and Brazil
66 were my faves, along with many other Latin and South American music
styles). He was also very influenced by American Rock and Roll of the
1950's, but it was the 60's and my Dad's love of guitar would influence my
childhood (he also had a Spanish/Acoustic Guitar and a hollow body
Harmony electric with an accompanying amp).
I had learned from my Uncle, that my Dad used to walk the neighborhoods
of San Pedro Sula (in Honduras), with his friends strumming his acoustic
guitar almost everywhere he went . . . that makes me smile.
A wanna-be "Balladeer" to win my Moms affections it seems (he was quite
handsome, looked like a young Elvis, and even had the "lip" thing goin',
something me and my Brother get when we're angry. His real Mother was
a "Beauty Queen" of Honduras, and My Mom was a real looker back in the
day, they were a popular couple her and my Dad).

The Music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T80KPqxl29U&feature=related
For some reason, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Alvin Lee & 10 Years After, and
the like, eluded us for some reason back then. I might've been a musician
instead of an Artist if we listened to more of the innovators of the day.
The "Hits" were heard, but my Mom and Dad never purchased any albums
(maybe it was their association with "hippies" and the drug culture).
But I did hear this song vividly, "Sunshine of your Love", the Guitar riff was
soo HEAVY, it would stick with me for the rest of my life.
But Carlos Santana were on the same par as those musicians, even as a
kid I could hear it. This was beyond Bubble Gum.
There were no "twangy" guitars here, these guys knew the power of the
Power Chords, the sustaining notes and adding the heavy blues influence
and innovation of the Player that would influence everyone.
But Santana had this HUGE group of musicians, top of there form, at such
a young age! (that included: Greg Rollie, Neal Schon who would later
form Journey, and Michael Shrieve who would become a session Rock
and Fusion Drummer). They also added the African/Latin/Tropical flavour
that always held musicianship to the highest degree.
It would be the albums "Abraxas"; "III"; and "Caravansari" that would shape
me into the music aficionado.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEm2afF8Iyo&feature=related
"Every step of the way" from Caravanserai, Live:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHVLGWT9jFM&feature=related

Then hearing bits of Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, the White Album, Abby Road
and Let it Be from the Beatles with the usual hit singles (Lady Madonna
made an impact on my early ears).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfthrizXKOM
This song always takes me back to the "feelings" I had as a small boy at
a Nursery/Kindergarden school, the taste of Milk with Cheese Sandwiches,
the naps, Mr. Glardinis "Hot Wheel Collection" that if we were lucky, got to
play with and bring in our own, and drawing with the "older" kids (how
GIANT they were to me, they might as well been High School kids, they
must have been, at the most, 11 years old), kids that drew Hot Rods,
Dragsters, Funny Cars, even a kid who drew them as "Cutaways".
Amazing how just 1 song can take you back, and The Beatles and
Santana are literally seedlings for music in general, germinating within
me. A childs growth with music that too, would grow.

These 2 bands I consider the 1st Progressive Rock bands-in general, and
that would be the "seed" for the movement, even though I usually didn't
know what the heck they were singing about ("I am the Egg Man, I am the
Walrus, kookookatchoo!"?), but the "Progression" was on the move,
Instruments not associated with "Rock", Classical influences, Jazz and
Art and the counter culture all creating a new soup. A Renaissance!
Recent note:
It could be that "Procal Harum" may have been the 1st, and the song
"Whiter Shade of Pale" is embedded in me as it takes me back to Radio
and the feelings I had in the 60's, a time that will never return.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA&feature=PlayList&p=85E467
B30BCD5E07&playnext=1&index=71
(See the story here, Part 1 of "Prog Rock Britannia"):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt6uWZpIiMY

But the Beatles were always a staple on the radio. The only album we had
at the time was "Meet the Beatles" and 45rpm singles. The Let it Be album,
would be given by my Aunt Daly, she noticed every time I'd visit her, I'd
want to hear it, she decided to give it to me to take home (and I still have it),
She was also a HUGE encouragement on my Art, I was fascinated by Cars
at the time, mostly Race Cars and Hot Rods. So when I visited, she
supplied paper and pencils as we listened to music (I may have been a bit
precocious as a child, which makes me cringe, yikes! . . . :shakesoutofit: ).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdopMqrftXs
(. . . and "Hey Jude" that I saw on T.V. "Re-Broadcast" as a kid on ABC):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEKgYKpEJ3o
I have pleasant memories of taking Sunday drives, heading home at night
and listening to "8 Track Tapes" (and the soft lights of the player under the
dash board) in my Dads 67 Mustang Fastback, laying on the flattened back
seats (back seats would fold down into a flat-bed) and looking at the lights
and stars through the rear window, going through the various streets of
Los Angeles and Hollywood.

There was also my Dads love (I should insert that my Dad hated to say
things like love for "things", "How can you LOVE cars, they're not REAL!
Love people, thats different!" . . . thats my Papa') of Country, and this was to
be the "Golden Age", where the Outlaws of Country like Waylon Jennings,
Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard thrived. Then you had the
likes of Tom T. Hall, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Tennesse Ernie Ford,
Loretta Lynn, Charlie Pride, as well as soo many others that had the old
"twang" and swing of the classic stars, with incredible voices, musicianship,
with all sorts of Guitars, tone and style.
A nice memory is watching the Country Variety show "HEE HAW" with my
Dad and the various Country Stars of the time. But when Co-host Roy Clarke
would play his various Guitars, he was like the Steve Howe (Yes guitarist)
of Country! (And it was a treat to see him on Johnny Carson as well).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k59g3pX-C_s
"Fingers on Fire" (Hee Haw):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipweRXwPFiQ
Then you would have guests like Chet Atkins and Glenn Campbell that also
would shred and finger-pick with unbelievable speed (Influences for Dixie
Dregs Steve Morse I'm sure).
Chet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni8KBhnebwE
Glenn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh0F2sMcr_4&feature=related

Recent:
How could I forget the late great Les Paul (and Mary Ford):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP7qI5RVtxw&feature=related

Johnny Cash, Jerry Reed and Glenn Campbell also had variety shows with
diverse music talents (Comedian Steve Martin was one of the Lead Banjo
players in Cambell's Band!). John Denver would soon follow.
But Country music has become a "cash cow" and less twang, more rock.
My Dad used to say "...that isn't Country!" There are exceptions, but it mostly
sounds like Top 40 music with a southern "drawl" nowadays.

I also got to appreciate Vocalists like, Frank Sinatra; Tony Bennet; Johnny
Mathis; Dean Martin; and Pop music and Rock of the day like Simon &
Garfunkle; Sugarloaf; the Strawberry Alarm Clock; The Guess Who; Jackie
DeShannon; Ray Charles; Stevie Wonder; the Letterman; America; Love;
Spiral Staircase; the 5th Dimension; the Carpenters; the Lovin' Spoonfull;
Buffalo Springfield; the Monkees; the Byrds; the Beach Boys; Crosby, Stills,
Nash & Young; Janis Joplin; Procul Harem; Iron Butterfly; the Cowsills; the
Rolling Stones; Credance Clearwater Revival; Bread; T-Rex; Three Dog
Night, and the Jackson 5. Including the British Pop Bands/Vocalists of the
"British Invasion" like Lulu; Dusty Springfield; Donovan; the Bee Gees;
Hermins Hermits; Petula Clark; the Seekers; the Zombies; the Hollies; the
Kinks; Eric Burden and the Animals and more (Did not remember hearing
the Who this early on, I have no idea why).
Missed out on the Moody Blues; Fleetwood Mac Mk I; Pink Floyd; Yes Mk I;
and Jethro Tull Mk I (I would have been a REALLY strange kid...).
This would be from 1963 to about 72.

But the happiness of living in California would soon be over . . .
"Southern Hospitality" would bring an end to that.


Phase2
Moving (backwards).

"Boy, you're going to carry that weight, Carry that weight a long time
Boy, you're going to carry that weight, Carry that weight a long time . . ."
- Carry that Weight/The Beatles

A song that would be an analogy for life.

To be continued . . .

OPUS INSERT
An odd thing for a kid of 6-7 to be thinking about . . .
Something we take for granted these days are Pop Songs within Television Shows nowadays,
a song can grab attention for both performer and show, everybody wins (unless you are like
me, sick and tired of hearing the sappy love song, the inevitable R&B or Hip-Hop song, or the
teen angst emo/post punk song... enough to make you wanna' throw-up! But it took an
episode of Smallville to introduce me to Porcupine Tree . . . yup, Porky Tree's In Absentia).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO3GQvye2bQ&feature=related
When I was a little kid, I used to wonder why I didn't hear "real" Rock songs on T.V. shows
that I liked, especially when it involved kids, pre and post teens. For example The Brady
Bunch (I remember thinking this), seems adults thought Rock n' Roll was music that had
"Horns" in it for some reason, and NO Guitars, so what you got was trumpets sounding like:
Da Da da DADADADAHHH Da Da DaDaAaAAaaAAaaAAHH!
(kind of that "60's-70's GoGo Dancer vibe thing") and that annoying Organ doing the same
thing, like Ray Manzarek of the Doors (Reminds me of Latino bands of the 60's I heard at
weddings, it annoyed the hell out of me and my Dad, sorry Doors fans) . . . what was that all
about? I would probably ask friends and my parents this, and they must have just thought,
". . . what are you talking about?"
In the 70's, songs would take their cue from modern Films and a pop song would be heard in
the backround if you payed attention.
Surprisingly (or not), George Lucas was the 1st to use an ALL "Rock'n Roll" Soundtrack in a
Movie, that was American Graffiti : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvmFpj2Bgyc
The Beginnings of how to Market a Film in the new Era of Cinema.

Then came Miami Vice, the Crime series that started a style, and made a "niche" music
seem hip and made it part of each angular frame and noir motif. For us music devotees, we
were lucky to hear Jan Hammer, Brian Ferry, Genesis and even Russ Ballard. And cool
session musicians with Chorus/Echo laden Voices and Guitars, as stylish as the
Cinematography.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60kmZiCbxjI
That was then, now music styles are in MacDonalds commercials and in Children shows,
and sell you that "this music represents YOU, because its the fashion, so that makes YOU
hip... Just another Car, Credit Card and Cell Phone commercial YOU need, now Assimilate!"
For a brief time it was about enhancing a scene, now its a plug as much as a Beer Cans
Label facing the camera . . . MTV "killed the radio star" indeed.
Be careful what you ask for I guess. . . what a weird kid to be asking that question at 6
years old. Thanks kid, wheres my money?