WINTER MADNESS!! PA's Battle of the Bands.

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Dateline: Detroit Prog City!!

The PA's Battle of the Bands kicked off today and first returns are starting to come in.  We bring in our guest analyst Dick Micky to give his thoughts on the first returns coming in.

PS: Heyhoo Dick. So what jumps out immediately to you.
Dick:  are you kidding me. Where is the Rush army at.  Le Orme is kicking some serious ass right now. 
PS: Yeah I think we are all in shock...
Dick: The general consensus was it was a bad draw for Le Orme.. who would have thought it was a bad draw for Rush. We shall see, I think we all expect the Rush army to mobilize but I think the Vegas odd makers are going to take a bath on that.

PS: any other thoughts early on.
Dick: yeah, how close almost all of them are.  Other than the Yes-Death matchup whose only drama will be  the contest to see who can post the wittiest play on Yes v. Death.
PS: Thanks Dick. We'll be sure to check back in later today and get your thoughts as more votes come in
Dick: Will do!

bhikkhu wrote: I have to say I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable in my seat rooting for Le Orme surrounded by all these rush fans. After all Canada is just a short drive over the bridge from here.

hah.  I sleep and live with #1 Rush fan.  I'm trying to keep her distracted so she won't vote. She is not the Orme fan we are.

Just spammed the polls, I suspect I might have angered a few people with my comments! It's surprising that of the very few number of bands I truly detest, most of them are considered all time greats and will show up in these polls.

How longs the voting open for anyway?

Rick Robson wrote: Rick Robson wrote: At least one humble vote for Le Orme please, as this is a lost battle obviously, or aren't their opponents the most popular canadian band? Hey not only music is illogical hahah , it seems that prog music fans are illogical too, this bad draw for Rush should be happening since the Thanks Giving Day!   I've read from you Micky that Raff is italian, so another proof that prog music fans are illogical too hahahah

Oh yes. Raff is full blood, pure bred Italian. She moved here to be with and marry my sorry mono-lingual ass. The funny thing is... she loves  the English stuff more than the Italian and I love the Italian stuff more than the English.  I've disovered a lot of English stuff from her, and I think she has redisovered a lot of stuff through me. She was there firsthand but I suppose the alure of the exotic 'foreign' even applies to those in the midst of such incredible music.

yeah prog does have its therapeutic qualities to souls in pain.. that is when I got back into it during a very low time in my life.

It can be often is quite majestic and can transport you to far away.. and much better places.

Progspin - Prog News without taste, flavor, access, knowledge or any semblance of discretion.

Dateline: Detroit.... Prog City!!

We are pleased to welcome back our guest analyst Dick Micky.

Dick: Rogaine? really who is sponsoring the final prog 4.  Viagra?
PS: it pays the bills man.
Dick: haha. Sucks to be be old I suppose.
PS: *fidgeting uncomfortably* anyhow back to the tournament. Any thoughts on the current vote totals.
Dick: no.. not really. Still surprised Le Orme has maintained its lead on Rush. I'd be surprised if it finished  that way but it was a good way to kick off the tournament.  Perhaps only a very select few are safe. Even then I do have renued confidence in my ultra upset pick which would have been almost as much as a long shot as little old Le Orme over Rush. I did pick Can over King Crimson. Rush has the larger fan club, and Can likely has the larger base of fans and admirers than Le Orme.  We shall see.

PS: any other results of note so far
Dick: oh yeah. Very surprised UZ and Gong are as close as they are.  I thought the overall accessibility of Gong would stear them clear of UZ. Perhaps it might as more votes come in, it is still early, many of the last series of band on band polls we had had vote totals exceeding a 100 votes for each contest. Still time perhaps for Gong to pull away but still somewhat surprising they haven't established a bit of an edge early.

PS: So what do you think of tomorrow's matchups.
Dick: oh man. There were some great ones today, perhaps an even better day lined up tomorrow. The ones I look most foward to are: Camel/SDO, Area/Talk Talk, RTF/Radiohead, and ELP/Strawbs.
PS: ELP v. Strawbs?
Dick: oh yeah. ELP is a far superior band with more import and greater music than 99% of the bands in this tournament however one can not disregard people simply not liking the group. There is no easy matchup for ELP, they might have even had their hands full with some of these pansy extreme metal groups.  'Sure x may not be prog... but ELP sucks'.  Anything with ELP is rife with upset potential and potential to go nuclear as the small but passionate ELP fanclub gets mobilizied. They are not a group to f**k with, they take no prisoners!

PS: sounds like a fun day ahead of us. Thanks again Dick for your insights and if we can we'll try to find you later this evening for another update.
Dick: sure .. you know where to find me. At the bar!!


Edited by micky - November 29 2014 at 14:26

Raff wrote: I actually grew up with Italian prog, and heard most of those bands on the Italian radio at the time their music was being released. Then I discovered English prog through some of my friends who also played in amateur bands, but in my early twenties I was more into New Wave and heavy metal than prog. My rediscovery of our favourite genre came in relatively recent years, after I moved back to Italy in 2001 after some years abroad.

Meltdowner wrote: Progspin's news are awesome! Where do I subscribe?

thank M@X for that. Instead of repeating sorry episodes like Torman Maxt  he just turned to corporate sponsers like Rogaine and Viagra so as a result he gets another yacht to ski behind and you all get this tournament and Progspin free with your free membership.

^^

Progspin - Prog News without taste, flavor, access, knowledge or any semblance of discretion.

Dateline: Portland

After catching the red-eye last night we find ourselves in beautiful Portland Oregon where today the Portland bracket kicks off!  We had hoped Dick Micky would be joining us this morning to preview the matchups and give us his thoughts on the updated overnight Detroit returns but it seems Dickie M never made it to his hotel last night. He flew in with us but immediately left the airport with a group of adoring PSU coeds who greeted us at PDX.  God bless Dickie M, fame is good isn't it. Wait.. who might that be.. oh wow. It is Raff, the queen of prog reviewing.  Perhaps she will join us for a few minutes.

PS: Hi Raff, do you have a few minutes for us.
Raff: *in a VERY sexy voice* sure, I am a huge fan of your show.
PS: So tell us. What us what are your thoughts of yesterday's results so far.
Raff: I'm happy to see some favorites winning... and ESPECIALLY Porcupine Tree being trounced.
PS: yes, your thoughts and feelings on the band are well known. Any surprises?
Raff: Le Orme still having the lead over Rush.
PS: yes, that surprises me greatly.  Any others?
Raff: Very pleased to see SMM's good showing as an underdog to a popular and good new band.
PS: any matchups today you are especially looking forward to?
Raff: Diablo Swing Orchestra against Camel.  Talk about some WILD stylistic differences.
PS: Well thank you dear for your time and I do LOVE your reviews I think it is time for the Portland brackets to be posted. Any last thoughts?
Raff: I do hope to see the underdogs continue to do well, and ohh..  I would be amiss if I didn't say how charming and frickin HOT my dear husband is. 
PS: ahh ok.  He is an odd one but you have always come across as the more normal of the two of you.
Raff:  Thanks



Edited by micky - November 30 2014 at 07:27