On Day Two of NEARfest Apocalypse, Heritage Rules Helmet of Gnats How do you know you’re at a progressive rock concert? An abridged version of a song is ten minutes long. And they leave in the drum solo That was the story with Helmut of Gnats and their epic closing tune, “Chimps in Space,”…
Tag: Progressive Rock
Reviews & Commentary
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. …
Reviews & Commentary
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…
Reviews & Commentary
Prog Heaven Past & Future coming to Philly.
Philadelphia, where Echoes is based, will be experiencing a wave of progressive music past and present in the coming months. From the past, Tangerine Dream, UK and Van Der Graaf Generator. Reflecting the past, Broekhuis, Keller & Schonwalder. From the present, Sigur Ros, Dead Can Dance (well, kind between past & present), Radiohead and Iona. …
Reviews & Commentary
Nearfest Exits, Farfest Enters
If you missed out on tickets for Nearfest Apocalypse, the final edition of this venerable festival, then hang on until October for Farfest, a four day progressive rock festival happening in Wilmington, Delaware at the Grand Opera House October 4-7. The festival has put together an impressive array of 70’s Progressive rock acts, all from…
Reviews & Commentary
Progressive Rock Returns WXPN 7-Hour Marathon
I’m just hours away from WXPN‘s Progressive Rock Marathon. I’ll be joining Dan Reed, Biff Kennedy and Star’s End pilot Chuck Van Zyl bringing Progressive rock to the airwaves of Philadelphia, Central PA and the world Saturday, January 7 from 10AM-5PM. Since the show is a special segment of XPN’s “Highs in the 70s,” it…
Reviews & Commentary
NEARFEST Apocalypse
After announcing that they were resurrecting NEARFEST in 2012, the festival organizers have decided that 2012 will mark the last NEARFEST. In true ProgRock fashion, they’ve labeled it NEARFEST APOCALYPSE. Prog was never known for understatement. Well, like just about every classic prog group they’ve presented over the years who were resurrected from the grave,…
Reviews & Commentary
NEARFEST RETURNS IN 2012
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, or maybe King Crimson rising from Robert Fripp‘s mind, NEARFEST, the venerable progressive rock festival, will return in 2012 after cancelling the 2011 show due to poor ticket sales. With the original founders back at the helm, look for the festival to return to it’s mix of vintage…
Reviews & Commentary
Sleepy Hollow Prog Rock Playlist
This past Sunday I participated in WXPN‘s Highs in the 70s 24 Hour Progressive Rock Marathon. In addition to co-hosting with Dan Reed & Biff Kennedy from 11AM-3PM, I also produced a special two hour Prog edition of Sleepy Hollow, XPN’s wake up and stay in bed weekend morning show, or “The quiet sounds of…
Reviews & Commentary
Keith Emerson-A Different Knife’s Edge.
Keith Emerson, founder of The Nice, the Emerson in Emerson, Lake and Palmer and destroyer of Hammond B-3’s undergoes colon surgery. From Keith Emerson’s Facebook page: I would like to thank all those well-wishers that wrote to me during my recent hospitalisation. I would also like to thank the doctors, surgeons and nurses of The…