Prog Friendly Cities?

Hi,

Logistics. The USA is way too large and the costs incurred in making the trips out West makes for things that are very difficult.

In the 90's when GONG toured around here, they were on a bus, and went up and then down I-5, and I know that the producer (Sean Ahearn) did not make a whole lot of money, and then on his try at the 1999 San Francisco Progressive Music Festival, he took a serious bath ... I would think that not even half the tickets were sold, despite a fairly good lineup, although some of the bands that were shown early in both shows, were probably not quite well known, but it's hard to fault a Japanese band, a SF favorite and a few others, although I am of the opinion that one of the best and most professional of appearances, was Lana Lane and The Rocket Scientists, that put on a tremendous show, and on the 2nd day, Per Lindh also put on a great show, however, even with the late Magdalena, they put out more of a hard rock show and left her behind, and I wonder why the more expressive material was not heard. 

Magma, apparently, did really well both times here in Portland, totally sold out, and the funny thing about it, was ... it was all about the French contingent in Portland ... they were out en masse! 

Otherwise, over the years, not many shows were well attended. Damo Suzuki was sad, and half empty, many years ago, Alan Stivell was half empty at the Arlene Schnitzler Hall, and Tangerine Dream was also half empty. 

Portland, itself, is not a "progressive" place at all ... witness one of the most shameful things I have EVER seen, and it was RETURN TO FOREVER (subbed by ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA) played in Eugene totally sold out ... but not a whiff in Portland! I don't even think ZPZ has come here, or Dweezil would be in some bar, and only get a few nickels and a beer for his show. The  RW's Wall, was not a sell out. Barely half way, too!

One of the worst parts, is the "traditional" jazz scene, that is often a show case for the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, and I'm still looking for one ECM artist in their lists of folks, but some of the stuff for me, is quite 2nd rate and not worth going to. 

Seattle is more interesting. Saw KC there.

I miss SF and LA, and the availability of music ... but the majority of "progressives" will not make it up in to this area a whole lot, although I have been told (based on Mono and Album Leaf) that the Japanese contingent makes Seattle an attractive location.

This has been my experience. It is one of the main reasons why I want STREAMING to get off the ground, to help more of these bands ... I simply don't think I will see it in my lifetime, since folks are so damn stuck on living in the past and thinking that they have to touch the artist in order to believe in him/her! That's when you know it's not about the music anymore and for "progressive" to survive, it needs to lead the way into the future, like it did 55 years ago ... not live in the past!

I'm the OP and I think many would assume asking about prog friendly cities means I love Rush or PT, in fact I despise them all lol.  I listen mostly to avant-classical from musique concrete, composers like Sofia Gubaidulina, Andriessen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oeei7-Yxusg , Henry Brant and newer bands like Dry Cleaning, Shame, Preoccupations, etc.  I still think early long form English progressive is genius and all that followed showed a complete lack of interest in its classical sources. No Steve Wilson or Neal Diamond Morse links!  Listening to Guy's show now, great, thanks.  I should have said "new" instead of prog but both sound meaningless.