My Old & New Interesting Progressive Bands Thread

Muchas gracias for the compliments Alberto  For me it was a kind of relief after two frustrating years on Prog Archives that I could write a huge homepage article about progressive rock bands for DPRP without the usual review restrictions of the Prog Archives homepage (road to suggesting, then hoping for approval of the teams and finally the discussions about the right category  ... ) about Barock Project, Breathing Space, Combination Head, Kramer, Mass Media, Mindfield, Nostradamus, Progression, Random Deeds, Survival, Traumpfad, Aviva Omnibus, Danny Brill, Canvas, Sergio Alvarez and Cronico, all interesting progressive bands that are (still) not on Prog Archives, at about 15 % of the 101 new progrock bands, that's a lot  ... !

Edited by erik neuteboom - January 19 2009 at 16:11

Edited by erik neuteboom - February 11 2009 at 13:09

 

Edited by erik neuteboom - February 11 2009 at 13:03

This is a Dutch five piece band from the city Haarlem, they are rooted in 2005 and in 2007 they send me a promo demo CD entitled The Thomas Tracks. It's is a concept album that is based upon the novel The Thomas Tracks by drummer Rob Van Der Linden (the brother of the late Rick Van Der Linden). The music is obviously drenched into the 24-carat symphonic prog tradition of The Seventies, especially 70-77 Genesis because of  the Peter Gabriel-like vocals (melancholic undertone), majestic choir-Mellotron eruptions and the use of the volume pedal in the guitarplay. The four compositions on this demo-CD sound pleasant and melodic with tasteful keyboards (from sparkling Grand piano and flashy synthesizer flights to lush organ and Mellotron waves), varied guitarwork (from dreamy twanging and sensitive solos to fiery runs), the rhythm-section plays fluent and powerful and the singer has a decent voice (although during the Progfarm gig he lacked a bit power on stage). In my opinion 5Bridges has presented a wonderful symphonic prog album with lots of good ideas and compelling moments, I am looking forward to their official debut CD presentation on February 7th 2009!

Info:

http://www.5bridges.nl/english.htm

http://www.5bridges.nl/cd.htm#sound

 

 

 

Thanks Norbert  .... and good luck with your progrock quest. By the way, still no Nostradamus on PA despite their exciting Heavy Prog sound....

Edited by erik neuteboom - January 27 2009 at 16:06

Edited by erik neuteboom - February 11 2009 at 13:09

No, I have never heard of Giuffria's own band but House Of Lords rings a bell because in the past I wrote this review for Background Magazine:

HOUSE OF LORDS – THE POWER AND THE MYTH

(2004, 43.37, Frontier Records FR CD 179)

House Of Lords is rooted in ’88. In 2001 this band reformed in the line up James Christian (lead vocals), Lanny Cordola (guitars), Ken Mary (drums) and Chuck Wright (bass), completed with guest musicians Derek Sherinian, Allan Okuye, Sven Martin and Ricky Philips on keyboards. The info sheet describes the music as ‘melodic hardrock’ but in my opinion it’s more ‘heavy progressive’ because House Of Lords delivers strong and elaborate  rocksongs with inventive keyboardplay, great guitarwork (catchy riffs and biting solos), powerful and distinctive vocals and a solid, often thundering rhythm section. The climates alternates from powerballads till heavy and propulsive. House Of Lords makes dynamic rock music but a major part of the songs contain progressive elements like the use of instruments like Spanish guitar, sitar, violin and keyboards (the sound of Hammond organ, strings and some Mellotron). Recommended to the fans of harder-edged progrock, it reminds me of the excitement of early Journey and mid-Led Zeppelin!

**** (Erik)

Web: www.frontiers.it

E-mail: [email protected]

 

                        And Wikipedia mentions this:

 

Giuffria was an AOR band that appeared in the wake of Journey's success. Despite bearing a similar sound, Giuffria never duplicated their success and disappeared after a minor hit ("Call to the Heart") in 1984. Image File history File links This is a copyrighted promotional photo with a known source. ... Image File history File links This is a copyrighted promotional photo with a known source. ... AOR can refer to any of the following: AOR is an abbreviation of Album Oriented Rock. ... Journey is an Arena rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco, California. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

 

Giuffria was formed in the early ’80s, by keyboardist Gregg Giuffria with Steve Perry-esque vocalist David Glen Eisley, guitarist Craig Goldy, bassist Chuck Wright, and drummer Alan Krigger. They signed to MCA Records in 1984. Giuffria's self-titled debut soon followed, and spawned one hit single, "Call to the Heart," and peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200. Gregg Giuffria in 1978. ... Stephen Ray Perry (born January 22, 1949, in Hanford, California) is an American singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Journey. ... Craig Goldy is the guitarist for the band Dio. ... The Music Corporation of America, legally incorporated as MCA, Inc. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Their next album, Silk + Steel, came out two years later, following some lineup changes (Goldy was replaced by guitarist Lanny Cordola, and Wright was replaced by bassist David Sikes). This time however a Top 40 hit was not forthcoming and the album only managed to struggle up to #60 on the Billboard 200. Giuffria was soon dropped by MCA, and quietly disbanded.

Gregg Giuffria went on to form another band called the House of Lords. Giuffria has since left the music business and now owns a business in Las Vegas.

So interesting Paul, thanks

 

 

 

 

Edited by erik neuteboom - February 11 2009 at 13:04