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You got me FS - how'd you know...?

JJJ

Yo!

Stickers, along with all our merch, are made by the fine people at Millennium Music Merchandise.

JJ

No - one moans at Oasis for sounding like the Beatles or Kinks.  Why shouldn't bands play in the style of the big '70's bands if they want?  

I still think progressive as a term refers to the arrangement of songs.  Progressive as a verb attached to a style of music is much more useful - any music can be progressive.  Perhaps we should take a lesson from our American Cousins and use the term Neo Progressive to describe modern bands of the style of the big 70's bands, leaving the verb 'progressive' to its real purpose.

Sounds like a discussion which can only properly be held over a beer...

Maybe Geet, but they're still not improvising.  And I tend to think people go to see a piece of classical music  because they like the tunes, not because so and so's playing this year.

I remember playing with a certain guitarist from one of The Top English Prog Bands of the '70s who only wanted to improvise, for what he said were artistic reasons, but mainly because he couldn't be arsed to learn the songs.  

I never gigged with him in the end, for a number of reasons.  He's currently gigging very, very occasionally with a band no-one's ever heard of to a handful of people who aren't there because he improvises, but because he used to play certain songs in a certain band.

Hi Andy, interesting discussion.  

This pretty much sums up my thoughts at the moment and why I'm bowing out of gigging.
If I'm going to get out and play live I want to be able to improvise, to create something doesn't exist on a CD somewhere. I know fans want to hear an accurate recital but it doesn't interest me, I'm with Bill on that.

As for the collapse of the music business, well we have seen major banks collapse over the past few months. A business that sells what you can get for free on the net won't last long in a recession IMO. We will see....

Doesn't make the presentation of an accurate recital any less valid though, does it?  I thoroughly enjoy the bits of improv we do in Frost, and we're up for more, so that's no reason to stop.  

On the general point, either way, let's face it, there's not much improvisation in classical music, or opera but no-one would therefore say that whole genre was pants because of that.

As a verb, prog is surely purely a way of doing something - arranging music, songs to make them more tricky, or interesting, or whatever.  You could have progressive reggae, or progressive salsa if you like.  

A statement saying a band is progressive is hard to hold up to scrutiny.  Close to the Edge is a progressive song arrangement, but Wondrous stories is a pop song.  King Crimson play prog, and improvise live, but Matte Kudesai is a pop song.  I can seee Celine Dion playing it right now..

And as for the collapse of the music business, like the financial system, it'll just change.  People will still be making a living via business out of music - you certainly will, and amen to that.

Anyway, I thought you said prog is crap?!  

Love ya!

JJx

Good thread!  Can I just say that I love the sound of bass pedals, and Moog Taurus sound great, but the Moog ones are sons of Satan and the 2's, with their keyboard and a half malarkey, rather than just one octave, are just against God and nature..!  It's hard enough playing keyboards with your feet without facing that!

Yes I do play them, a set of Midi Roland PK5's triggering a sample (actually Pete Gee's nicely finagled by Rob Aubrey) but when faced with set of 2's in Mexico, I said No daddy!  The original pedals always have interesting tuning issues in my experience, but samples - no problem!

Anyway, Weapon's of Prog - anyone remember those drums Alan White had about Relayer that all projected out at an angle like a big horn? What were they called?

JJJ

Well done Christmas Postie!!

Cheers all!

JJJ

Brilliant Ped.  Got to do something with that!

JJJ

Thanks everyone for a brilliant weekend.  Such a long day, due to TBE's illness we ended up getting together in Reading before the gig, as well as sorting all the logistics out, but what a blast.  One of the best gig's I've ever been at, let alone played in.  Brilliant to hear everyone singing even the instrumental sections back at us!

The chap before we went on was Alan Rudge.  Back when the gig was booked ,Jem said we've got to have a magician to support - it is Christmas after all - and I think Alan did a great job.  Not sure I'd have liked to face a room full of Frosties all high on biscuits and beer...

Merry Christmas everyone!

JJJ

Don't worry, we're all ready to rock like the proverbial hurricane.

And it's not as if anyone ever said anything controversial on a blog, is it?  

So was George IV and he started it... sorry, he was German....  :?

Yes, beanies are there, and both black and blue will be on sale at the Peel.

On the shop, just go to items at the top left of the shop page.

All your Christmas goodies are there.  And non-Christmas ones too....

JJJ

I got a signed copy in the post within 3 days of ordering it and I didn't even want a signed copy!! Mad!

Haha at least they cocked up in your favour.  

It could have been much worse - the original list of signed CDs from the CRS i think showed about 90 signed regulars and 4 signed special editions.  Didn't believe them so we went through it one by one and it turned out to be 70 signed specials and virtually no signed regulars.  You wouldn't believe the effort that's gone into sorting this CRS mess out.

Liquid - I'm glad you finally got yours.  And as for the signatures - just because they're great musicians don't mean they can write...  

JJJ

Hello matey,

We are in discussions with people, as ever, about further shows over there.  The basic requirement for any gig anywhere is finding someone that wants to take the risk of putting us on.  Extra difficult when there's planes and work permits and hotels involved.

Having said that, we'd love to do more, and there's every chance we will.  We've had a great reaction to the band from people in the USA.  Trouble is, the States is so huge, even with more shows, someone's still going to be disappointed!

JJJ

Funny one though, isn't it? I thoroughly enjoyed Rush last time precisely because they were playing new stuff.  

I love Yes, but I never have to hear And You And I or Roundabout live again....