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Joined: November 26 2009
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Topic: NEARfest Help Posted: March 03 2012 at 11:02
I just purchased my tickets for this year's NEARfest and I'm extremely excited to see Eloy, Renaissance, and of course VdGG, however I don't own much music from the bands performing, outside of VdGG. So, can someone suggest some albums to check out before the big weekend in June?
Here is the lineup:
Friday June 22, 2012 Aranis (Belgium) Van der Graaf Generator (UK)
Saturday June 23, 2012 Helmet of Gnats (USA) Twelfth Night (UK) Änglagård (Sweden) Renaissance (UK/USA)
Sunday June 24, 2012 Gösta Berlings Saga (Sweden) Il Tempio delle Clessidre (Italy) Mike Keneally Band (USA) Eloy (Germany)
Thanks for your help!
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Joined: August 11 2009
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Posted: March 03 2012 at 11:20
Dang, that is a sweet lineup. I need to get rich fast so I can see NEARfest too.
Ummm, for Gosta Berlings Saga, their best album (imo) is Detta Har Hant, although it might be easier to find last years release (Glue Works) which also was very well received. Really though all of their albums are great, but their first (Tid ar Ljud) had a different guitarist so will be less along the lines of what you are likely to hear at NEARfest.
Helment of Gnats' 2010 release, High Street, was good.
Il Tempio de Clessidre only have one album, I own it but haven't heard it yet but I have heard good things about it.
Aranis' latest album Roqueforte has been really well received, although I personally prefer their third (Songs from Mirage). Roqueforte features percussion (by none other than Dave Kerman) while Songs from Mirage features lovely female vocals.
I haven't heard Anglagard but their debut, Hybris, is pretty legendary. I believe it is out of print though, might be easier to look for sample on youtube.
And that is the extent of my knowledge, hope some of it helps!
Joined: November 26 2009
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Posted: March 03 2012 at 11:32
Whoo you are a lucky man !!
You must absolutly listen to both Anglagard albums ( Hybris and Epilog) they are essential IMO and both albums have been re-released. You should check Renaissance' Scheherazade and Other Stories and Turn of the Cards. If you like them get the others high rated. Gosta Berlings Saga is a must too, their last 2 albums are excellent. Eloy is awesome, once you are used to the vocals! Check out Dawn, Ocean, Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes and Planets. And since you love VDGG I don't have to tell you what to listen haha.
I don't know very well the other band so I won't talk about it but it would certainly be good to check some songs of them on youtube.
Here some songs from the mentionned band
The song is split in to part, this is the first one
Joined: November 26 2009
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Posted: March 03 2012 at 11:55
Thanks for the help so far ... so much great music! I have Anglagard's "Hybris" and I listened to it a few times and set it aside ... I didn't want to get too excited for NEARfest until I had tickets (its in a 2000 seat theater and it sells out fast! This time in under two hours...). However, I enjoyed it very much and look forward to return to it, as supposedly they are performing all of it on this tour! I have "Scheherazade", too and have listened to and loved it for years. I'm dusting off my copy of "Floating" by Eloy and it really cooks along ... I hope they play some stuff from it! Once again, thanks for the help.
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Posted: March 03 2012 at 12:16
TWELFTH NIGHT - I'd advice you to start from "Fact & Fiction". Yes, they have different singer now, but this album is just too good not to be heard. And I think most of the songs will be from this album. This is the classic of Neo-Prog, and arguably the best album produced in the driest era of English prog ('79 - '82).
Änglagård - Both of their albums are masterpieces but it's better to start chronologically, with Hybris. It's just phenomenal. So great to hear they're back and performing!
Renaissance - Better starts from their classic albums, like Scheherazade and Other Stories and Turn Of The Cards. My other favourite is Song For All Seasons - it's lighter but still very beautiful... Might be a good starter too.
Gösta Berlings Saga - They have three excellent albums. I started with Detta Har Hant and I don't regret it. I think it's their best album (by narrow margin though). The last piece there is just breathtaking.
Eloy - It's a bit tougher call, because their discography is quite extensive and they went though various phases in their career. So my advice would be banal, but I hope, effective: start with highest rated, Ocean and latest, Visionary.
Il Tempio Delle Clessidre - They have only one great album yet, so go grab it.
Aranis - I've only heard one of their albums (Aranis II) and quite liked their kind of chamber-prog. But I don't know their other albums to compare.
I'm not familiar with Helmet of Gnats and Mike Keneally Band.
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Posted: March 05 2012 at 16:18
Friday June 22, 2012 Aranis (Belgium) - RoqueForte (If they aren't playing with a drummer [idk their current lineup] then Aranis II. Hell, even if they are II is still good enough to hear. ) Van der Graaf Generator (UK) - you know them
Saturday June 23, 2012 Helmet of Gnats (USA) - High Street (I also quite their their self title debut) Twelfth Night (UK) - Fact & Fiction, Live At The Target Änglagård (Sweden) - Hybris & Epilog Renaissance (UK/USA) - don't know them so well myself...I only have Scheherazade And Other Stories. I'd recommend that and Turn Of The Cards seems to be highly regarded but I can't speak from a personal experience on that one.
Sunday June 24, 2012 Gösta Berlings Saga (Sweden) - Glue Works, Detta Har Hant Il Tempio delle Clessidre (Italy) - Only have one album Mike Keneally Band (USA) - This is a tricky one. IMO his best (for my tastes) material will probably not be played as it's not for the MKBand (at least as far as I know). For my personal favorites I recommend - Boil This Dust Speck, Nonkertompf, and The Universe Will Provide. For something more akin to what will probably be played - Bakin @ The Potato, Dancing, Sluggo. Though hopefully I am wrong and MK does something more unexpected. Eloy (Germany) - Ocean, Planets, Silent Screams & Mighty Echoes
Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
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Posted: March 05 2012 at 19:48
Man With Hat wrote:
Friday June 22, 2012 Aranis (Belgium) - RoqueForte (If they aren't playing with a drummer [idk their current lineup] then Aranis II. Hell, even if they are II is still good enough to hear. ) Van der Graaf Generator (UK) - you know them
Saturday June 23, 2012 Helmet of Gnats (USA) - High Street (I also quite their their self title debut) Twelfth Night (UK) - Fact & Fiction, Live At The Target Änglagård (Sweden) - Hybris & Epilog Renaissance (UK/USA) - don't know them so well myself...I only have Scheherazade And Other Stories. I'd recommend that and Turn Of The Cards seems to be highly regarded but I can't speak from a personal experience on that one.
Sunday June 24, 2012 Gösta Berlings Saga (Sweden) - Glue Works, Detta Har Hant Il Tempio delle Clessidre (Italy) - Only have one album Mike Keneally Band (USA) - This is a tricky one. IMO his best (for my tastes) material will probably not be played as it's not for the MKBand (at least as far as I know). For my personal favorites I recommend - Boil This Dust Speck, Nonkertompf, and The Universe Will Provide. For something more akin to what will probably be played - Bakin @ The Potato, Dancing, Sluggo. Though hopefully I am wrong and MK does something more unexpected. Eloy (Germany) - Ocean, Planets, Silent Screams & Mighty Echoes
Joined: January 04 2007
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Posted: March 06 2012 at 14:28
Hi,
Such a bummer that Peter will probably not make it over to the West Coast ... I would drive to Seattle to see him but those grundge noise folks would not know a whole lot about Peter at all, or give a damn.
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
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Posted: March 06 2012 at 14:54
moshkito wrote:
Hi,
Such a bummer that Peter will probably not make it over to the West Coast ... I would drive to Seattle to see him but those grundge noise folks would not know a whole lot about Peter at all, or give a damn.
I consider myself to be very lucky. How often does he come to the US?
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Posted: March 06 2012 at 16:48
^ Not very. The previous time VDGG came to Nearfest that tour was only the second tour they've done of the US. And their first tour wasn't really a tour...as it was one show.
Not sure of PH solo.
And thanks Nogbad.
Edited by Man With Hat - March 06 2012 at 16:50
Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
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Posted: March 07 2012 at 12:47
rushfan4 wrote:
I know that PH was here in Detroit a couple of years ago to play a show. Not sure if he had ever been here before though.
We would have to ask him at his website, but he has been here and done many shows by himself ... I'm not sure that VDGG has ever done a show in America per se, and this might be the first or second time for it. Don't quote me, though.
The issue is the travelling expenses ... in Europe you drive 4 hours and you are in a different country (so to speak!) and in America you can drive 10 hours and you are still in California ... which could easily fit 5 or 6 countries in Europe inside it.
America, is also a country that is so vastly separated culturally that bringing a Peter Hammill to New York would get a few clubs sold out and the appreciation would likely be huge ... but doing this in a place like Seattle, or Los Angeles? ... lost in the commercial shuffle ... and LA was one of the most important hubs for "progressive" music and a lot of the big names in the 70's that we now consider "progressive" (they all were a part of the rise of FM radio in America!!!!) ... of which Peter was well known and played mercilessly at KNAC, KPFK and also KTYD in Santa Barbara -- even during prime time, specially during Godbluff/Still Life time.
I know that Gong had a hard time in 94/95 in coming close to break even and the turnouts in Portland were ok the first time, and pretty bad the 2nd time, but the Eugene turnout that 2nd time (Pierre was with them) was totally sold out and the show was superb and some of the pictures I have of them are from that show on my website. Thus, I imagine that Peter can break even by himself, and he can stay at my place here in Portland/Vancouver and save some money ... but I doubt that a band can make it through here and drive that much and have no money to take care of the expenses.
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
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Posted: March 07 2012 at 15:58
Thanks for the help so far. Waiting for "Turn of the Cards" and "Ocean" to arrive in the mail. Plenty of time until June, so I'll order the others when I have the extra cash. Money's a bit tight for me at the moment, since I'm saving a lot for the festival. Anyone else going?
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Posted: March 07 2012 at 18:12
Zombywoof wrote:
Thanks for the help so far. Waiting for "Turn of the Cards" and "Ocean" to arrive in the mail. Plenty of time until June, so I'll order the others when I have the extra cash. Money's a bit tight for me at the moment, since I'm saving a lot for the festival. Anyone else going?
I'll be there with my 18 year old daughter, her first festival.
She's already an Aranis fan (Dad's fault) and she pretty much liked all the samples I pointed her to except VDGG.
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Posted: March 07 2012 at 22:58
Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:
Zombywoof wrote:
Thanks for the help so far. Waiting for "Turn of the Cards" and "Ocean" to arrive in the mail. Plenty of time until June, so I'll order the others when I have the extra cash. Money's a bit tight for me at the moment, since I'm saving a lot for the festival. Anyone else going?
I'll be there with my 18 year old daughter, her first festival.She's already an Aranis fan (Dad's fault) and she pretty much liked all the samples I pointed her to except VDGG.
This will be my first prog festival. I'm only a year older than your daughter, afterall! Hope to see you there.
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Posted: March 07 2012 at 23:08
Sounds like fun!
I've met Mike Keneally & seen him play in different formats, he's an absolute nut!! And, one of the most amazing guitar players I've ever known.....what you'd expect for a Zappa alum! Super-nice guy as well!
Check out a lot of his stuff on Youtube & just go to see him with an open mind, if he's selling CDs, then buy some! I'm not sure what format he's in or who he is playing with, but be prepared for some jaw-dropping guitar licks!
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