X Marks the Spock ('s Beard)

Yesterday's radio show (from Sunday May 30th) is now available for download. We had the pleasure to receive as guests three of the four members of Spock's Beard. The occasion is the launch of their new CD entitled X (that is Ten in roman numerals) which, coincidentaly, is their tenth studio effort. We spoke to Alan Morse, guitarist and one of the founders of the band, Ryo Okumoto, keyboardist and comedian (you'll understand when you hear the interview), and Dave Meros, bassist extraordinaire!! The interviews turned out to me a lot of fun, and Rick, ever the trooper, went on with the show even though he had a roaring tooth ache - What wouldn't we do to bring you the best prog on the digital internets !! We'd like to thank Sonya "Spock's Babe" Kukcinovich for all the hard work making these interviews happen.

On a side note, feel free to be a follower of this blog, or by sending a comment. We'd like to know what you think of the show.

You can download the show from here (Link no longer available). The playlist is as follows:

1. A Guy Named Sid, by Spock's Beard (Feel Euphoria, 2003)

** Interview with Alan Morse starts **

2. The Man Behind the Curtain, by Spock's Beard (X, 2010)

3. The Emperor's Clothes, by Spock's Beard (X, 2010)

4. On a Perfect Day, by Spock's Beard (Spock's Beard, 2006)

5. The Water / Go the Way You Go, by Spock's Beard (SB Live, 2008)

** Interview with Ryo Okumoto starts **

6. Kamikaze, by Spock's Beard (X - NEW 2010)

7. Ryo's Solo - Live, by Spock's Beard (Gluttons for Punishnent, 2005)

8. 2nd Overture, by Spock's Beard (Snow, 2002)

9. Beware of Darkness, by Spock's Beard (Beware of Darkness, 1996)

10.Godzilla vs. King Ghidaran, by Ruo Okumoto (Coming Through, 2002)

** Interview with Dave Meros starts **

11. Jaws of Heaven, by Spock's Beard (X, 2010)

12. Skeletons at the Feast - Live, by Spock's Beard (SB Live, 2008)

That's it.

I must add that the new Spock's Beard is fantastic. The best in years (at least in four years :) ). If you don't know their music, buy this one and work your way through their back catalogue, you won't regret it!

And as always, encourage the band by buying their CDs directly from their website or at your favourite retail outlet.

Interview with Galahad

For this week's radio show (May 23) we have a treat for you. We had the opportunity to meet the members of UK band Galahad, in fact we were guests of Galahad for their Terra Incognita gig in Quebec City. I'd like to thank Stu, Roy, Dean, Spencer, and Neil for their kindness and for the great music they have been doing over the years.

We had a 90 minute conversation with the members of the band, really kind of a stream of consciousness, where we talked about the music business, the joys of writing music, the best places to gig, and our wives and girlfriends. We present here, in the first hour of the show, all the relevent parts of the interviews, accompanied by some of the great music this band has given us. I apologize for the sound quality, but its the best we could do.

I also had the chance to see Stick Men here in Montreal, and had a chance to meet both Tony Levin and Michael Bernier. Rick and I saw Mystery and Hamadryad and also had a chance to talk with the members of the band during the meet and greet.

Lastly, our friend Andrew Wood (Yoooreds), saw The Resoning and The Pineapple Thief and was kind enough to send us his comments.

Here is the link (Link no longer available) for the download. The playlist for the show is:

1. Empires Never Last - Live, by Galahad (Sleepless in Phoenixville, 2010)
2. Memories of an African Twin, by Galahad (Empires Never Last, 2007)
3. Richelieu's Prayer -Live, by Galahad (Classic Rock Live '94 Remastered 2CD release, 2010)
4. Deficit, by Crisálida (Raco, 2009)
5. Soup, by Stick Men (Soup, 2010) - NEW
6. One Among the Living, by Mystery (One Among the Living, 2010) - NEW
7. Here and Now, by Hamadryad (Intrusion, 2010) - NEW
8. Your World, by Karnataka (The Gathering Light, 2010)
9. Diamonds and Leather, by The Reasoning (Adverse Camber, 2010) - NEW
10. Nothing at Best, by Pineapple Thief (Someone Here Is Missing, 2010) - NEW
11. Water Run, by Edensong (The Fruit Fallen, 2008)
12. Hands of the Priestess, by Steve Hackett (Live Archives '05, 2005)
13. After the Ordeal, by Steve Hackett (Live Archives '05, 2005)
14. Hairless Heart, by Steve Hackett (Live Archives '05, 2005)
15. Welcome to Your Life, by The Watch (Planet Earth?, 2010)
16. Docteur Mystere - Live, by The Watch (Live Bootleg, 2005)
17. Holy War, by Asia (Omega, 2010) - NEW

Please visit these great bands' web sites!

One Among the Living

On Sunday May 9th our guest live in the studio was Michel St-Père, leader and main composer for Canadian prog band Mystery. Having just released a new CD, Michel talked about its conception and forthcoming live gigs, as well as his work as a record producer. You can hear the whole interview and some choice tracks from the new CD here (Link no longer available). The playlist was as follows:

1. Among the Living / Wolf, by Mystery (One Among the Living, 2010)

2. Through Different Eyes, by Mystery (One Among the Living, 2010)

3. Kameleon Man, by Mystery (One Among the Living, 2010)

4. Travels to the Night, by Mystery (Beneath The Veil Of Winter's Face, 2007)

5. Tempus Fugit - Live, by Yes (The Word Is Live, 2008)

6. The Falling Man, by Mystery (One Among the Living, 2010)

7. Sailing on a Wing, by Mystery (One Among the Living, 2010)

8. Sidewinder - Live, by Galahad (Sleepless in Phoenixville - 2010)

9. Neverland - Live, by Marillion (Marbles by the Sea, 2005)

10. W.B.A.T., by Motorpsycho (Heavy Metal Fruit, 2010)

11. Seven Stones, by David Myers (David Myers Plays Genesis, 2005)

12. Buying New Soul, by Porcupine Tree (Recordings, 2001)

Enjoy, and as always, encourage the artists by visiting their websites and purchasing their CDs.

Frank

Win a Pair of Tickets to Stickmen in Montreal!

Here's your chance to win a pair of tickets to Stickmen in Montreal for this Tuesday, May 11. Send an email at progrockshow@xxxx with your name, address, and phone number and answer the following question:

On which Alice Cooper album did Tony Levin play?

You mus be able to attend the Montreal show this Tuesday... all others will be excluded.

Frank

UPDATE: We have a winner!!! The winner will be contacted by phone at noon today!

UPDATE 2: Caroline and a guest will see Stickmen tomorrow!! Congratulations Caroline. Thank you all for participating, and by the way the answer was: Welcome to My Nightmare!

The Spirit of Radio

Another Wednesday, another podcast ready for download. Last sunday's show, on the 2nd of May, was a special show dedicated to the Women of Prog. Results from a poll conducted here a couple of weeks ago were compiled, and song were chosen from those favourite bands. Here are the results... a full three hours of music by female proggers and bands that have female lead vocalists. The whole show can be downloaded from here (Link no longer available).

The playlist is as follows:

1. Metamorphosis, by Curved Air (Air Cut, 1973)
2. And Dream of Sheep/Under Ice/Waking the Witch, by Kate Bush (Hounds of Love, 1985)
3. The Serpent and the Sea, by Karnataka (The Gathering Light, 2010)
4. The Weight of the World, by Factory of Dreams (A Strange Utopia, 2009)
5. A Different Sky, by Mermaid Kiss (Etarlis, 2007)
6. Fireside, by Mostly Autumn (Glass Shadows, 2008)
7. The Day That I Fall, by Janison Edge (The Services of Mary Goode, 1998)
8. Joker in the Pack, by Touchstone (Wintercoast, 2009)
9. Apocalypstik, by Panic Room (Visionary Position, 2008)
10. Mi Libre, by Crisálida (Raco, 2009)
11. Song of Scheherazade, by Renaissance (Scheherazade and Other Stories, 1975)
12. Hurt, by Magenta (Home, 2006)
13. Stand My Ground, by Within Temptation (An Acoustic Night at the Theatre, 2009)
14. 11:41 a.m.: Awakening, by Frequency Drift (Personal Effects part II, 2010) - NEW
15. Here & Now, by Solstice (Spirit, 2010) – NEW
16. Run from Yourself, by Breathing Space (Below the Radar, 2009)
17. Nissos Sirinon, by La Tulipe Noire (Nostimon Hemar, 2006)
18. Dark Angel, by The Reasoning (Dark Angel, 2008)
19. Paper Moon, by White Willow (Sacrament, 2000)
20. Hinba, by Iona (Open Sky, 2000)

By no means is this the end for this topic... there are a lot of good female-lead progressive music out there, and we will be sure to find them and play them.

As always, follow the links if you want more info on the bands, or if you want to purchase their CDs.

Frank