The Red Masque / Nov 1 / Baltimore, MD USA

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UPCOMING SHOW: On Saturday, Nov. 1, The Red Masque
will be performing at Orion
Sound Studios in Baltimore.
Improv-band Thee
Maximalists will also be performing. Costumes are encouraged for
this Halloween-themed show and there will be prizes and other surprises.
Showtime is 8 PM. All Ages.  $15. Please visit http://theredmasque.com/shows.html
for information.

---------

Red Masque, The: Fossil Eyes 

by Pete Pardo / Sea
 of Tranquility

You never quite know what you're going to get with Philadelphia's The Red Masque. This band
loves to throw curveball after curveball at the listener with each release,
drawing upon influences that cover the gamut of progressive rock, gothic,
psychedelic, classic rock, and avant-garde styles. Their latest Fossil Eyes,
and first for ReR/Ad Hoc Records, is no exception.

Opening track "The Spider is the Web" kicks things off in spectacular
fashion, a beefy, almost 'metal' tinged rocker that is like a head on collision
between Van Der Graaf Generator, Magma, and Isis, Brandon Lord Ross' humongous
bass lines driving the arrangement while the slithery, crawling guitar licks
from Andrew Kowal add that psychedelic edge. Lead singer Lynnette Shelley adds
in her ominous vocals on the creepy "Carbon 14", another aggressive
number with rumbling bass and crunchy guitars, with the tricky stick work of
drummer Vonorn providing plenty of jazzy underpinnings to this otherwise heavy
and foreboding track. After the haunting & brief instrumental
"Gliese", the band comes back with "Das Snail", a chaotic
slice of avant-garde mayhem, dissonant guitars slashing across the mix above
crashing drum work from Vonorn, Shelley painting the landscape with her
intoxicating storytelling, much like a female Jim Morrison. On this one, the
band is quite effective jumping from soft interludes to loud chaos. Another
short instrumental, the spacey "The Worm", bridges the gap to
"Carbon 13", a perfect soundtrack to your worst nightmare, complete
with distorted bass lines, squawking guitars, noisy drums blasts, and Shelley's
maniacal rantings. There's a certain King Crimson meets Jefferson Airplane
meets Captain Beefheart feel to this one, making it quite an intriguing
listening experience. After a couple of shorter, effects laden pieces, the band
tears into "Polyphemus", a track littered with bulbuous bass, lots of
wild effects created by keyboards, theremin, and guitars, and Lynnette's
mysterious vocals. After the downright spooky "Metamorphosis", the
epic finale "The Anti-Man (Not Afraid)" crashes out of the gate in
almost doom metal fashion, Shelley's vocals almost defiant against heavy guitar
& bass riffs and Vonorn's thunderous drum barrage. Lots of twisting and
weaving instrumentation on this one, a heavy prog lovers dream, and easily one
of the strongest songs to date from The Red Masque discography.

Lyrically, this is some pretty intense and dense stuff, and makes for
interesting reading as you are listening to the demanding music that the band
has created here (full lyrics are included). Nice job on the overall production
by Vonorn, making Fossil Eyes a very bombastic sounding CD at times, yet dark
and ominous when needed during the quieter moments. Due to the heavier nature
of some of these songs, I can see Fossil Eyes appealing to the non-prog crowd
as well, which should be a good thing as this band has been paying their dues
for a few years now and seem like they are ready to be accepted by a larger
audience willing to give their unique style a listen.

For info on purchasing Fossil Eyes, or to listen to some samples, please
visit http://theredmasque.com/fossil-eyes.html.

THE RED MASQUE | theredmasque.com | myspace.com/myredmasque

Edited by velvet - October 25 2008 at 19:23

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velvet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: July 26 2005 Status: Offline Points: 141	Topic: The Red Masque / Nov 1 / Baltimore, MD USA Posted: October 25 2008 at 19:22
	UPCOMING SHOW: On Saturday, Nov. 1, The Red Masque will be performing at Orion Sound Studios in Baltimore. Improv-band Thee Maximalists will also be performing. Costumes are encouraged for this Halloween-themed show and there will be prizes and other surprises. Showtime is 8 PM. All Ages. $15. Please visit http://theredmasque.com/shows.html for information. --------- Red Masque, The: Fossil Eyes by Pete Pardo / Sea of Tranquility You never quite know what you're going to get with Philadelphia's The Red Masque. This band loves to throw curveball after curveball at the listener with each release, drawing upon influences that cover the gamut of progressive rock, gothic, psychedelic, classic rock, and avant-garde styles. Their latest Fossil Eyes, and first for ReR/Ad Hoc Records, is no exception. Opening track "The Spider is the Web" kicks things off in spectacular fashion, a beefy, almost 'metal' tinged rocker that is like a head on collision between Van Der Graaf Generator, Magma, and Isis, Brandon Lord Ross' humongous bass lines driving the arrangement while the slithery, crawling guitar licks from Andrew Kowal add that psychedelic edge. Lead singer Lynnette Shelley adds in her ominous vocals on the creepy "Carbon 14", another aggressive number with rumbling bass and crunchy guitars, with the tricky stick work of drummer Vonorn providing plenty of jazzy underpinnings to this otherwise heavy and foreboding track. After the haunting & brief instrumental "Gliese", the band comes back with "Das Snail", a chaotic slice of avant-garde mayhem, dissonant guitars slashing across the mix above crashing drum work from Vonorn, Shelley painting the landscape with her intoxicating storytelling, much like a female Jim Morrison. On this one, the band is quite effective jumping from soft interludes to loud chaos. Another short instrumental, the spacey "The Worm", bridges the gap to "Carbon 13", a perfect soundtrack to your worst nightmare, complete with distorted bass lines, squawking guitars, noisy drums blasts, and Shelley's maniacal rantings. There's a certain King Crimson meets Jefferson Airplane meets Captain Beefheart feel to this one, making it quite an intriguing listening experience. After a couple of shorter, effects laden pieces, the band tears into "Polyphemus", a track littered with bulbuous bass, lots of wild effects created by keyboards, theremin, and guitars, and Lynnette's mysterious vocals. After the downright spooky "Metamorphosis", the epic finale "The Anti-Man (Not Afraid)" crashes out of the gate in almost doom metal fashion, Shelley's vocals almost defiant against heavy guitar & bass riffs and Vonorn's thunderous drum barrage. Lots of twisting and weaving instrumentation on this one, a heavy prog lovers dream, and easily one of the strongest songs to date from The Red Masque discography. Lyrically, this is some pretty intense and dense stuff, and makes for interesting reading as you are listening to the demanding music that the band has created here (full lyrics are included). Nice job on the overall production by Vonorn, making Fossil Eyes a very bombastic sounding CD at times, yet dark and ominous when needed during the quieter moments. Due to the heavier nature of some of these songs, I can see Fossil Eyes appealing to the non-prog crowd as well, which should be a good thing as this band has been paying their dues for a few years now and seem like they are ready to be accepted by a larger audience willing to give their unique style a listen. For info on purchasing Fossil Eyes, or to listen to some samples, please visit http://theredmasque.com/fossil-eyes.html. THE RED MASQUE \| theredmasque.com \| myspace.com/myredmasque Edited by velvet - October 25 2008 at 19:23

velvet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: July 26 2005 Status: Offline Points: 141	Posted: November 01 2008 at 12:56
	st1\:{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } Halloween Concert and Party at Orion Sound Studios THIS Saturday!* The Baltimore Progressive Rock Showcase at Orion Studios 2903 Whittington Ave., Baltimore, 21230 Presents: THE RED MASQUE (www.theredmasque.com) with guests THEE MAXIMALISTS (www.myspace.com/muffinspaul) Saturday Night, November 1st, 8:00pm NOTE!! The Red Masque will be opening the show $15 BYOB All ages show SMALL folding chairs and coolers welcome There will be prizes and giveaways for this event and costumes are encouraged. DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Take I-95 to exit 50A, Caton Ave., south. Take Caton Ave south to the third traffic signal and turn left onto Washington Blvd. Take Washington Blvd. about ¼ mile to the large "U-Haul" sign on your right and turn right, in front of the sign, onto Inverness Ave. Take Inverness to its end and turn left onto Whittington Ave.; take Whittington to its end and turn right, into our parking lot. Enter through door "B" in the building to your right as you enter the lot. DOWNLOADS Also please visit The Red Masque’s website at www.theredmasque.com. In case you missed the earlier announcement, The Red Masque are offering PAY WHAT YOU WANT downloads for their debut 2001 EP, Death of the Red Masque, and their debut 2002 album, Victoria and the Haruspex. A Paypal donate button allows you to donate whatever amount you wish for the downloads. Go here: http://theredmasque.com/downloads.html for info. FOSSIL EYES The Red Masque’s new album, Fossil Eyes, is now available through eMusic.com, iTunes, Wayside, Squidco, and RER USA, among other distributors. Samples are also available at http://theredmasque.com/downloads.html. Hope to see you Saturday! The Red Masque \| theredmasque.com \| myspace.com/myredmasque

velvet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: July 26 2005 Status: Offline Points: 141	Posted: November 11 2008 at 16:44
	Thanks to everyone who came out to The Red Masque / Thee Maximalist gig on November 1 at Orion Sound Studios in Baltmore. We had a great time, especially giving away the Halloween “trick or treat” bags. Images from this unique Halloween concert are now available here: http://theredmasque.com/gallery39.html. Thanks to Debbie Sears.... A FREE full streaming video of the complete concert will be available soon, and a professional live recording is in the works. Details to come.... The next Red Masque concert will be on December 14th in Philadelphia with Radio Eris and more. The show will be free and all ages. Please see The Red Masque's schedule page for details. www.theredmasque.com

BaldFriede Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: June 02 2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 10266	Posted: November 12 2008 at 05:41
	I am really looking forward to the live recording and only wish you could come to Germany one day.
	BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.