Live Prog-rock is Dying

^ don't worry - you'll easily spot the change - it will be a heralded by a drop-off in CD sales and a rise in tribute bands.

I know it has dropped already but imagine if all music becomes nothing more than an aural flyer for gigs.

I wanted to see Tartar Lamb last Christmas (26th actually, in Cleveland, about 1 hour away) but I wasn't able to make it, I begged my parents. Oh well... now I'm sad remembering...

OK, from now on let's start to focus on lesser and unknown bands, buy their albums (instead of downloading or copying, unless you are out of money) and attend their concerts, this is the first step to support your beloved category, otherwise the focus will remain on Yes, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, ELP and Genesis. Keep in mind that thanks to Prog Archives smaller progrock beauties like Bacamarte, Solaris, Triana, Le Orme, Yezda Urfa and Museo Rosenbach were brought into daylight so there is hope, good luck  

So how many people on average attend prog shows in your area?

Those of you in California, start here when giving lesser known bands a chance:

Dear Hectic Watermelon aficionados,

Saturday 28th Lestat’s

Hectic Watermelon is playing in San Diego this Saturday night with our friends from San Luis Obispo, The Travis Larson band. The show is at the great all ages venue, Lestat’s in Normal Heights, so maybe we’ll see some of you younger wipper-snappers! This may be our last show in San Diego for awhile. 


Mike Keaneally’s School of Rock

Today, we had a fantastic time playing for Mike Keneally’s School of Rock students who are hunkered down in summer camp mode at their new digs here in San Diego. Mike’s San Diego chapter kids have already performed The Wall at three local performances — including the San Diego Fair, so clearly the Master is already showing them the way! We look forward to playing with Mike and his kids in the future!

Northern Cali’ Micro Tour

We are excited to head up the coast in August to play in Monterey on Wednesday 15 August at Monterey Live with the Travis Larson Band opening. We will be in Santa Rosa Thursday, 16 August at the renowned Last Day Saloon. Additionally, we may have something brewing in San Jose on the 17th. It is great step forward to be able to bring our music out of our town to yours, so we look forward to letting you hear and see what we do. We deeply appreciate your efforts to help spread the word about these dates.

Hectic Watermelon at your Private Party!

Given that our Northern Cali’ weekend is not fully confirmed yet, I would like to make the band available for private performances if anyone is willing to host their own Northern HWM party from Friday the 17th to Sunday the 19th. We will be ridiculously affordable if you have good food! Please don’t hesitate to contact me for further info. How totally cool would this be?

Hectic Watermelon in the John McLaughlin Concert Guide

Honored we are to have the opportunity to have our album included as one of a very small number of ads in the sw**ky concert guide for Mr. John McLaughlin’s upcoming Fall tour. We are deeply grateful to our friends at Abstract Logix, Egnater Amlifiers and Ernie Ball guitars who are helping us out with this promotional opportunity. Of course you are all fans of his music, so be sure you check the dates!

Hectic Watermelon on Youtube

Sorry to lag on this so long, but  we finally have some of our concert footage up on Youtube for you to enjoy. Please check them out and pass them around!


Best Wishes,

John Czajkowski

Hectic Watermelon

The only thing worse than going to a gig and finding sooo few people to share this brilliant music, is struggling to scrape together enough money to support our beloved acts, wishing you could do more...wishing you could change the system; not being able to attend any shows with like-minded people; not being within miles of anyone....anyone who shares your perspective on this form of art: and it's impossible not to express some kind of elitism watching the sh*t that is worshipped these days.  Real musicians are busting their asses just to make a living, while slick marketing schemes and god knows what else skyrockets pimple-faced teenagers into "superstardom".  Those of you who aren't strapped or isolated in creative wasteland, go to your rock and roll gigs, support this form of art, and most of all be thankful and enjoy it...do it for me and do it for all of us who can't share in the experience....

I don't see why this has anything to do with my thread mentioned in your original post Dean.

I explained why I don't like live performances as much, and that also means I probably buy a lot more CD's than most of you because of that.

It isn't as apocalyptic as you're making out either I don't think. Yeah people download albums, but it's mainly only really popular albums, and let's face it that aint prog!

Hahaha

I buy most of the CD's I own. Sometimes I download stuff to see what it's like, if I enjoy it which through my general research before hand I invariably do, I'll go and buy it.

^Amen to that.