Live Prog-rock is Dying

I'll not discuss downloading in an open thread since some replies will be in direct violation of site rules. Iain, if you want to know why I think every thing you have written is erroneous, then PM me.

darqdean wrote: I'll not discuss downloading in an open thread since some replies will be in direct violation of site rules. Iain, if you want to know why I think every thing you have written is erroneous, then PM me.

PM away.

darqdean wrote: The topic of this thread is about people supporting Live music by attending gigs.

On that note, I sadly don't see enough unsigned bands, certainly not Prog. I did buy one of Nine More Lies' EPs after seeing them support Marillion.

I don't think prog rock is dieing at all- in fact i'd go as far to say that it was making a very serious 3rd wave come back. Bands such as 65 days of static and The Mars Volta are massively popular in the underground amongst cool people, and they're (especially TMV) progressive to the core.

I think the main problem Rob is that most soundmen are deaf as posts. I've been to many gigs where the sound is actually distorting in the speakers and when you politely point that out to the soundman, it tells you to go away (or words to that effect).

prog-chick wrote: I don't understand. What drives people to gigs, or makes them shrug their shoulders and stay home?

There are undoubtedly a number of reasons. Speaking personally (I don't want to sound like a narcissist, but I like to stick to what I know), I don't go to many gigs for the following reasons:
1) Money. Most gigs I've been to have cost ~£20 a throw. Personally I'd rather pay half that and get a DVD of a performance that I can watch again and again in the comfort of my own home.
2) Competing entertainment. There is mush more to choose from on Television these days, the Internet to surf and DVDs to watch.
3) Hassle. I went to see Gary Moore the other week and very nearly missed the last bus home. Had he played one more encore I'd have had to catch a taxi which I can't really afford. On top of this, many of my favourite bands that I want to see don't come to Nottingham, and I can't afford to pay to take a train to Sheffield or Birmingham and rent a hotel room for the night on top of the cost of the ticket and tour-shirt (which I usually buy at gigs)
4) I suffer from excutiating pain in my back if I stand up for an hour or more. Codeine barely takes the edge off, and is usually wearing off toward the end of the gig when the pain is at its worst. It almost totally ruined by experience of the Marillion gig I attended earlier this year, and certainless lessened my enjoyment of Porcupine Tree and Gary Moore. It isn't been a problem in sitting gigs I've been to (Deep Purple, The Australian Pink Floyd Show and Steve Vai) but these shows are usually more expensive. This probably only effects a few people, though.
5) Anti-social people. I get extremely anxious in large crowds of people at the best of times, without idiots bustling past me every few minutes. People talking and yelling through quiet bits of the songs, whistling right next to my head (which I'm fairly sure does more damage to my hearing than the loud music) and generally showing what I consider to be a lack of respect. My first proper gig experience was Fish back in early 2005 and that put me right off the whole thing until this year, pretty much. Two people infront of me I suspect objected to me singing through some of the songs. Fair enough, they could have politely turned round and asked me to stop if it was bothering them. What they shouldn't have done was pushed me back into the barrier and repeatedly and deliberately struck me with their arms throught the gig. I ended up getting cramp because they had me so totally pressed.

They are some of the reasons I don't go as often as I'd like, or perhaps should (I've been to 5 this year IIRC, and am seeing to more this month). They probably don't apply to everyone, but at least one applies to most people. And of course the fewer hardcore fans a band has, the fewer people will show up.

prog-chick wrote: When Peter & Nick from Pendragon played a FREE accoustic gig in Birmingham last month I only saw 2 other Pendie fans their, both had illegally downloaded the entire catalogue (inc dvd's) neither spent a penny all night. That my friends is both sickening and shocking.

It is rather sad, particularly if they really are fans. How old were they?

Edited by Forgotten Son - December 07 2007 at 15:38

prog-chick wrote: The guys in Birmingham? two guys with good jobs (they told me) in their 40's. Shameful!

That really does piss me off that people can be like that. Freeloaders with no excuse.

IM PART OF THE NEO-PROG THIRD WAVE!!!!!!!!! Its my duty! For the sake of King Crimson,Caravan,Genesis,Pink Floyd,Uriah Heep,ELP,Gentle Giant,Rush,Frank Zappa,Procol Harum,The Moody Blues, Soft Machine ,Egg and many more...AND IF IM DOING IT  I go retro...F*** Prog Metal...Its getting too popular!!.Lol.

if prog rock is dying... why the hell do I have 80 new bands.. from Italy alone .. that I have been screening this week.  

Atavachron wrote: Someone will always be progressing rock, you just have to pay attention

and still others will feast upon the carcass of earlier work that was truly progressive. Sometimes with success.. other times not.

schizoid_man77 wrote: Now your making me feel bad!   Sleepytime gorrila museum came last month and I didnt bother asking my parents to see them.

Poor Ian!
SGM live is an experience to be beheld.
I try too see every prog act that swings by, but even in a big city like New York, that doesn't happen as often as one might think. I still do my best.