Prog Club

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

Just had a thought and bare with me on this one boys and
girls.

I was lying in the bath last night playing with my rubber
duck , mulling over how to get more people into progressive music (this might
not be such a burning issue in countries other than the UK but I could be wrong)
and I thought of how successful book and film clubs have been in gathering
together like minded individuals to enjoy and discuss their chosen interests
and I mused, why don’t people do the same for progressive rock?

Surely, a group of guys and girls could get together every
now and again and go see some gigs in their local area. This way the bands get
more of a crowd and people get to see a higher frequency of live prog.

I understand that the ‘can’t be arsed’ factor is a real problem
during a weeknight or the winter months. Some of us have kids or no money (or
maybe both) but thinking it though, I believe it doesn’t have to be that much
effort, hell it doesn’t even need to be going out and seeing gigs. 

For example,
people could just meet up for a drink at somebody’s house, play some well loved
records and then discuss/argue into the small hours about the merits of the
music and the bands that made them. Much like this forum, you might get a
chance to hear music you would normally never buy or even know about. If
you don’t like what you hear, at least you came into contact with something new
and that can’t be a bad thing.

As mentioned, maybe this notion of a progressive club might
not hold true for all parts of the world but for example, I live in London and
although I keep my ear to the ground for prog gigs, I rarely pick up on all of
them (the paucity of real prog shows, apart from the odd festival at the London
Astoria/Mean Fiddler in the Capital is a major stumbling block, couple that
with the more than occasional lack of good media coverage and you can easily miss a
clutch of great prog events). If there was a loose club of individuals who met
up from time to time, they could exchange info on what gigs were coming up and
therefore keep more venues populated by those who care

There, I’ve said it.

In other (but nonetheless related) news, I’m also thinking
of putting on a progressive themed open mic/acoustic night at a venue in London
at some point in the future if I can find enough acts willing to roll up. The
idea is for prog bands, who might struggle to pull a crowd all on their own but
would still like to gig in London
on an occasional basis, to come down with an acoustic setup and play a short set
of around five or six numbers and maybe get in a headline act who could play a
longer set.

Initially, I suppose we might hold a night of this nature
once every eight weeks and see if there is enough interest to push it further.
In total, we’d hope to get about three or four acts on in a night starting and
finishing early enough for people to get transport home. It’s just a thought as
of now but I have a small PA (good enough for vocals, keyboards and acoustic
guitars), some lights and a few ideas on venues that might be interested in holding
such a night.

What was it Robert Fripp said about small, mobile,
intelligent units? 

I doubt the night would be up and running until next year
but it doesn’t do any harm to test the waters does it?

Edited by sigod

Post Reply	Page 12 >