Category: Reviews & Commentary

Sherman Hemsley-George Jefferson-Prog Rock Fan.

In Progressive Rock circles, it’s been known for years that  Sherman Hemsley was a Prog Rock fan.   But with the recent death of the actorbest loved for his role as the peripatetic  George Jefferson in The Jeffersons and All In The Family, here’s a few glimpses into the George Jefferson no one might have expected,…

Still Tangerine Dreaming

There is a nice review of Tangerine Dream’s show in NYC by Jon Pareles in the New York Times.  Nice to see a balanced POV in the mainstream media. Apparently, while they had a bigger venue in New York than Philadelphia, they did not have a bigger audience.  Only a few hundred according to reports.…

Rainy Day, Tangerine Dream Away

Ever wonder what it was like to see Tangerine Dream back in 1971 when they were playing dingy basement clubs in West Berlin?  You got a sense of that Friday night when they performed at the Underground Arts Theater, a dingy basement club in a desolate section of Philadelphia.  Downsized from the 3000 seat Electric…

THE BEST OF NEARFEST APOCALYPSE.

NEARfest shoots their final hoop, hitting nothing but class It was a great ending to probably the best and most highly regarded Progressive Rock festival in the country. It wasn’t the finest NEARfest, it wasn’t the worst and it wasn’t just average.  But it was typical of what they have been doing for 14 years…

NEARfest Sets Sail for the Grey Havens.

The North East Art Rock Festival, better known as NEARfest, comes to an end this weekend with the final edition, dubbed NEARfest Apocalypse. That kind of ostentation is so Progressive Rock.  But that’s what Nearfest was all about.  I went to my first Nearfest in 2005, expecting clones of Yes and bands past their prime. …

Philadelphia Concerts Ahead

This is mostly for Philly area listeners for some Echoes related concerts coming up.  RECOMMENDED THIS WEEK Van Der Graaf Generator.  If you’re a progressive rock fan, you’ll be there.  Check out A Summer of Progressive Rock  GET YOUR TICKETS SIGUR ROS Coming July 29 & 30 *******DEAD CAN DANCE is Coming August 26. ********…

A Summer of Progressive Rock.

It’s Progressive Rock Week on Echoes and we’ll be featuring interviews with NEARfest founders Chad Hutchinson and Rob LaDuca, Gentle Giant, Steve Hackett, The Muffins, Roger Dean, Gong and Iona as well as a live performance from Ozric Tentacles in the Echoes Living Room.  To see what’s ahead on Echoes Progressive Rock Week go here.i…

Phil Collin’s Alamo.

Apparently Genesis drummer/singer and pop crooner Phil Collins is an American history buff He’s written a pricey book called The Alamo and Beyond: A Collector’s Journey and it’s not about his conflicts with Peter Gabriel, his flight from Genesis or his still-born film career.  It’s about the Alamo of Jim Bowie & Davey Crockett. This…

Laurie Anderson Freefalls with HTC AD

I know I’m a little late but since no one in my limited circle has mentioned it, I thought I would. Have you heard Laurie Anderson’s “O Superman” used in an HTC phone commercial?  I’m confused with whether this is the hippest thing in the world or most lamentable.  Should I be cheering that a…

Dr. Who Gets Pink Floyd Treatment

The “Dr. Who Theme” is pretty iconic for English musicians.  Written by  Ron Grainer and realized by Delia Derbyshire, it was one of the first electronic TV scores and plugged in several generations of electronic musicians.  I just ran across this video by a group called Traffic Experiment.  It’s a Pink Floyd “Echoes” era style…