Dave Kerzner Releases Stranded

Dave Kerzner, former member of the Progressive Rock band Sound of Contact, is gearing up for a late October release of his debut solo concept album, New World. The first single off the album, Stranded, has just been released as a digital download from iTunes®, Amazon®, Google Play® and other on line stores.

Stranded is a 10 minute "rock opera" comprised of 5 parts. It features Kerzner on vocals and keyboards with special guests Steve Hackett of Genesis, Durga McBroom of Pink Floyd, Nick D'Virgilio of Spocks Beard, Jason Scheff of Chicago and it was mixed by legendary engineer Tom Lord-Alge.

A shorter edited version called Stranded Part 1 - Isolation has been made as a "mainstream radio-friendly single" and will be available as a free download to anyone who signs up on the mailing list at davekerzner.com this month.

Additionally, the full length album version will be made available through Kerzner's bandcamp page: http://sonicelements.bandcamp.com/

Listen to Stranded here:



For more information: http://www.davekerzner.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/davesquidskerzner
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davekerzner

Simon Collins Questioned and Released on Bail

Simon Collins, drummer and leader of Sound of Contact, and son of famous Genesis frontman Phil Collins, was arrested July 5th on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs and of possession of a Class B drug. He was questioned by Wiltshire police then released on bail pending further inquiries.
 
For those interested, the UK legal status of Class A include: heroin, cocaine, crack, MDMA ("ecstasy"), methamphetamine, LSD and psilocybin mushrooms.
 
Class B drugs include: amphetamine, cannabis, codeine, ketamine, methoxetamine and methylphenidate Any class B drug that is prepared for injections becomes a class A substance.
 
Penalties for possession of Class A are 6 months to 7 years in detention depending whether it's a Magistrate or Crown court. Penalties for possession with intent to supply of Class A are 6 months to life in detention depending whether it's a Magistrate or Crown court.
 
Simon Collins denied the charges, stating:

I refute the allegations presented in the press today but due to the obvious legal implications at this time, I am unable to comment further.

The Listeners Have Chosen, Part 2

The follow-up to last week's post, continuing the Listeners' Countdown of Top 20 CDs of 2013. Here are numbers 10 to 1. Any surprises? If so, please comment!

10		The Greatest Show on Earth Airbag (Norway)
9		Le Sacre du Travail The Tangent(United Kingdom)
8		Himjlabacken, Volume 1 Moon Safari (Sweden)
7 (Tie)		Dimentionaut Sound of Contact (United Kingdom)
7 (Tie)		English Electric Full Power Big Big Train (United Kingdom)
6		Lifesigns Lifesigns (United Kingdom)
5		The Mountain Haken (United Kingdom)
4		Shrine of New Generation Slaves Riverside (Poland)
3		Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep Spock's Beard (United States)
2		The Theory of Everything Ayreon (Netherlands)
1		The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories) Steven Wilson (United Kingdom)

John Wesley Signs to InsideOutMusic

InsideOutMusic is extremely proud to announce the signing of renowned guitarist John Wesley for the release of his forthcoming sixth studio album Disconnect on April 1. John had this to say:

"Disconnect, is the culmination of all the musical input I have had in the past several years. I am a fan of so many different types of music and being able to perform with artists that take huge chances musically such as Fish, Porcupine Tree, and Steven Wilson led me to a new place creatively. My focus has been on playing guitar for so long, so the songs on this record really came to life on the guitar. I had a great team of musicians to work with and the result is my best work to date. With this album, I was able to achieve a more aggressive guitar-oriented sound that is coloured by my progressive influences. Disconnect has many of the same elements of my previous work -- lyrical depth, song orientation -- but I really feel that I pushed my boundaries musically, with my playing and the song arrangements, more so than in my past work. Inside Out is the perfect home for this album."

John's last release was The Lilypad Suite EP which came out in 2011 and since then he has been playing with the likes of Steven Wilson and Sound of Contact, as well as keeping busy with session work. Disconnect marks his first full-length studio release since 2005's Shiver.

JOHN WESLEY online: 

www.john-wesley.com
www.facebook.com/johnwesleyofficial

2013 Progressive Music Awards Winners

Last night was the night. Prog Magazine unveiled the winners of the Prog Music Awards in the beautiful setting of the Kew Gardens.

And this year’s winners are:

Limelight – Sound Of Contact

Breakthrough – Big Big Train

Anthem – Von Hertzen Brothers' Flowers And Rust

Event – Steve Hackett - Genesis Revisited at Hammersmith Apollo

Band Of The Year – Marillion

Album – Steven Wilson's The Raven Who Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)

Grand Design – Family Box Set

Virtuoso – Mike Portnoy

Visionary – Steve Hillage

Guiding Light – Thomas Waber, founder of InsideOut

Lifetime Achievement – Dave Brock

Prog God – Ian Anderson

 

Congratulations to all the winners!

Sound of Contact's First Video: Not Coming Down

Sound of Contact, whose first CD Dimensionaut is due out on May 28th, have just released their first video. The track is called Not Coming Down and follows the storyline of the CD.



Sound of Contact made their first appearance on stage during Montreal's Marillion Weekend  on March 24th. they are currently on their last days of touring Europe with Spock's Beard and Beardfish as part of an Inside/Out Records promotion. They will also be at Loreley's Night of the Prog Festival in July.

Tour dates:
May 3, 2013 Corporation – Sheffield, UK
May 4, 2013 The Arches – Glasgow, UK
May 5, 2013 Academy 2 – Newcastle, UK
May 6, 2013 Robin 2 – Bilston, UK
May 7, 2013 The Garage – London, UK
May 8, 2013 La Scene Bastille – Paris, France
May 9, 2013 Z7 – Pratteln, Switzerland
May 10, 2013 Hirsch – Nürnberg, Germany
May 11, 2013 Majestic – Bratislava, Slovakia
May 12, 2013 A38 – Budapest, Hungary
May 14, 2013 Szene – Vienna, Austria
May 15, 2013 Colos-Saal – Aschaffenburg, Germany
May 16, 2013 Das Rind – Rüsselsheim, Germany
May 17, 2013 Zeche – Bochum, Germany
May 18, 2013 De Boerderij – Zoetermeer, Netherlands
May 19, 2013 Markthalle – Hamburg, Germany

July 13, 2013 “Night of the Prog” Festival – Loreley, Germany