Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Pre-Orders Start for New Stick Men Album "Prog Noir"


The long awaited Stick Men album Prog Noir is now available for pre-sale in 3 formats:
1- Signed Limited Edition Combo Package - Deluxe Box Set (2LP/2CD/Poster) with T-Shirt
2- Regular CD
3- Download (WAV, FLAC, ALAC and/or MP3-320 formats)

The double CD version of this album will only be available in the Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set. Moreover, all Box Sets will be signed by all three members of the band (Tony Levin (stick), Markus Reuter (touch guitar), Pat Mastelotto (drums)).

The Deluxe Box Set has a pre-order cost of $140 USD / 120 EUR plus shipping.
Those who contribute $200 USD / 180 EUR or more, will have their names included in credits inside of the box set.
The single CD costs $17 USD / 15 EUR plus shipping.
The Download costs $10 UDS / 9 EUR plus shipping.


Prog Noir tracklist:
CD1
1. Prog Noir 5:37
2. Mantra 5:46
3. Plutopnium 4:47
4. The Tempest 5:42
5. Schattenhaft 4:31
6. A Rose in the Sand / Requiem 4:36
7. Leonardo 4:56
8. Trey's Continuum 4:02
9. Embracing the Sun 4:53
10. Never the Same 6:29

CD2 (only with the Deluxe Box Set):
1. Plutonium (Instrumental) 4:48
2. Hintergasse 1 2:28
3. The Tempest (Viced Edit) 4:55
4. Never the Same (Instrumental) 6:05
5. Hintergasse 2 0:41
6. Prog Noir (Instrumental) 5:37
7. Embracing the Sun (Ambient Mix) 5:08
8. Dystopia 11:04

Pre-order here or here.

Stick Men will also be touring the album:

Prog Noir Tour 2016 - Chapter Two
Oct 11 - Lomme, France (Maison Folie Beaulie)
Oct 12 - Tilburg, The Netherlands (Paradox)
Oct 13 - Heerlen, The Netherlands (Nieuwe Nor)
Oct 14 - Wiesbaden, Germany (Alte Schmelze)
Oct 15 - Weingarten, Germany (Kulturzentrum Linse)
Oct 18 - Kiev, Ukraine  (The Caribbean Club)
Oct 19 - Tel Aviv, Israel (Barby)
Oct 21 - Nove Mesto Nad Vahom, Slovakia (Blue Note)
Oct 22 - Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republik (Usti Nad Labem Jazz and Blues Festival)
Oct 23 - Brno, Czech Republik (Sono Centrum)


Prog Noir Tour 2017 - Chapter Three
Jan 10 - Seattle, WA (The Triple Door)
Jan 11 - Seattle, WA (The Triple Door)
Jan 12 - Portland, OR (Mississippi Studios)
Jan 13 - Eugene, OR (Hi-Fi Music Hall)
Jan 18 - Oakland, CA (Yoshi's)
Jan 20 - Santa Cruz, CA (Kuumbwa)
Jan 22 - Agoura Hills, CA (The Canyon Club)
Jan 24 - Los Angeles, CA (The Baked Potato)
Jan 25 - Los Angeles, CA (The Baked Potato)
Jan 26 - San Juan Capistrano, CA (The Coach House)
Jan 27 - San Diego (Brick By Brick)
Jan 28 - Mexicali, BC, Mexico (Bol Bol)
Jan 29 - Phoenix, AZ (The Crescent Ballroom)
Feb 1 - Santa Fe, NM (The Bridge)
Feb 7-11 - Tampa, FL & Cozumel, Mexico (Cruise to the Edge 2017)


More announced and confirmed dates coming soon!

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Focus Release New Album “Focus 8.5: Beyond The Horizon”


Dutch music legends Focus are known around the world for their iconic albums, including the hits Hocus Pocus, Sylvia and House of the King. After the reunion of Focus and the release of the Focus 8 album, the band toured the world and was introduced to new musical styles and influences. The line-up on this album features Thijs van Leer, Pierre van der Linden, Bobby Jacobs, and Jan Dumée.

The sessions for the album were all recorded in between South American tour commitments during 2005, and every track is a previously unreleased composition by the members of Focus or producer Marvio Ciribelli.

Thijs van Leer said of the album:
“For Focus it was a thrill to first jam with Marvio and Marcio in a club in Niteroi and then end up in Rio de Janeiro in order to compose and record these beauties. Having one of the best drummers in Europe with Pierre van der Linden and one of South America’s best drummers with Marcio Bahia on the same album makes the world a better and happier place! Here they are!”
The album features all-star Brazilian musicians including Arthur Maia and Mario Seve joining Focus on new recordings, and vice versa, plus a drum duet with Marcio Bahia… as musicianship once again goes Beyond the Horizon


Focus 8.5: Beyond the Horizon tracklist:
1. Focus Zero
2. Hola, Como Estas
3. Rock 5
4. Millennium
5. Inalta
6. Talking Rhythms
7. Surrexit Christus

To purchase:
Amazon CD: http://geni.us/ZTRWj3
iTunes: http://geni.us/RDPEAsO

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Karmakanic Release First Lyric Video Off of DOT


Sweden-based progressive rockers Karmakanic are set to release their fifth album DOT on July 22nd, 2016.  Now they are pleased to reveal the first lyric video for an edit of the originally 23-minute epic track God the universe and everything else no one really cares about, Pt. I (Edit),

You can see the lyric video edit here:



Jonas Reingold had this to say about the track, which also features his colleague from The Tangent, Andy Tillison, on Hammond organ:
"When you are trying to compress a 30-minute prog epic into 6 minutes, you know that you are up for a difficult task. What parts should be in it? Will the fans get the lyrical content? Can I somehow make a coherent piece of music in this format? Well, that's really up to the listener to decide but I feel strongly that the parts I put together really work well in combination with this fantastic video. I hope you will enjoy this as much as I did while working on this.  Soon you all will hear the whole song, but until then, enjoy!!!"
The album is available for pre-order at these links:
http://smarturl.it/KarmaDOTIOMshop
http://smarturl.it/KarmaDOTitunes
http://smarturl.it/KarmaDOTamazonMP3

The is the band's first studio album since 2011's much-praised In A Perfect World and the current line-up includes Jonas Reingold (The Flower Kings), Göran Edman (Yngwie Malmsteen), Morgan Ågren (Casualties Of Cool, Frank Zappa, Steve Vai), Lalle Larsson (Agents Of Mercy), Nils Erikson, Krister Jonsson, Andy Bartosh and Ray Aichinger

For more info on the upcoming release, read here.

Karmakanic Online
http://www.facebook.com/karmakanic-55405124891/
http://www.reingoldrecords.com/

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

John Wesley Announces New Album and Tour


Renowned singer / songwriter & guitarist John Wesley has announced he will release his forthcoming 8th studio album 'a way you'll never be' on October 7th, 2016.

John had this to say:
"'a way you'll never be' was fairly big step for me in that I have worked extremely hard at bringing the two sides of my writing together; the "acoustic singer songwriter" and the "electric heavy guitar" elements. This album is most certainly the set of songs that has successfully combined my introspective lyrics with the aggressive type of guitar playing and writing that I love. Mark Prator and Sean Malone brought the songs to life as an amazing rhythm section. The themes of the lyrics, the melodies, and the playing make these my favourite, most cohesive and adventurous set of tracks to date. Stylistically the songs revisit some of the guitar music of the 70's that grabbed me and made me want to be a guitarist. Sonically I combined those 70's big guitar tones with the modern sounds available to us as guitarists today."
In support of the album, John will head out as support to Marillion & Steven Wilson in the US & Canada:

With Marillion
Oct 21 2016 - The Regency Ballroom San Francisco, CA, USA
Oct 22 2016 - Saban Theater Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, CA, USA
Oct 25 2016 - Paramount Theatre Denver, CO, USA
Oct 27 2016 - Vic Theatre Chicago, IL, USA
Oct 28 2016 - Vic Theatre Chicago, IL, USA
Oct 29 2016 - Hard Rock Live Northfield, OH, USA
Oct 31 2016 - Danforth Music Hall Toronto, ON, Canada
Nov 1 2016 - Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre Montreal, QC, Canada
Nov 2 2016 - L'Impérial Bell Québec, QC, Canada
Nov 4 2016 - Royale Boston Boston, MA, USA
Nov 5 2016 - 9:30 Club Washington, DC, USA
Nov 6 2016 - Keswick Theatre Philadelphia, PA, USA
Nov 8 2016 - Playstation Theater New York, NY, USA


With Steven Wilson
Nov 17 2016 - Center Stage Atlanta, GA, USA
Nov 18 2016 - The Plaza Live Orlando, FL, USA
Nov 19 2016 - State Theatre Tampa, FL, USA
Nov 20 2016 - Culture Room Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA


'a way you'll never be' was produced by Jim Morris at the legendary Morrisound Studios and sports a cover by renowned artist Carl Glover.



'a way you'll never be' tracklist:
1.   by the light of a sun
2.   a way you'll never be
3.   to outrun the light
4.   the revolutionist
5.   nada
6.   the silence in coffee
7.   unsafe space
8.   sun.a.rose
9.   epic
10.  pointless endeavors


John Welsey online:www.john-wesley.com
www.facebook.com/johnwesleyofficial
www.twitter.com/johnwesleymusic

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Next To None Kick-Off Mini Tour July 13


Progressive metal outfit Next To None are taking a break from working on new music to hit the road on a mini-US tour. The tour kicks off this Wed. July 13th in Fort Atkinson, WI.

Based out of the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania, the band features Max Portnoy on drums, Ryland Holland on guitar, Kris Rank on bass, and Thomas Cuce on keyboards and lead vocals.

Their album A Light in the Dark, released in Jun 2015, was recorded when the band members were 15 and 16 years old, and was produced by Mike Portnoy.

The complete set of dates:
Jul 13 - HIJYNX Fort Atkinson, WI
Jul 15 - The Back Bar Janesville, WI
Jul 16 - Skyway Theatre Minneapolis, MN
Jul 17 - Agora Cleveland, OH
Jul 21 - State Theatre St Petersburg, FL
Jul 22 - Cabana Inn Sarasota, FL
Jul 29 - Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia, PA

Next To None are:
Max Portnoy - Drums
Ryland Holland - Guitar
Kris Rank - Guitar
Thomas Cuce - Keyboards, Bass

Beardfish Call It Quits


After 8 wonderful albums and 15 years together, Swedish eclectic prog band Beardfish has called it quits. The band posted this statement on their Facebook:

After a longer hiatus and some disagreements and various difficulties within the band we have decided to call it quits. This was not an easy choice to make. Beardfish has always been our main musical outlet - a proper garage band - the kind that meet up in the rehearsal studio and try out new material together for long, massive sessions at a time. Some of the best times of our lives have been spent together on the road, in the studio and just hanging out. 
Growing up, having families and all that has made that particular way of working very difficult, leading to long periods where we haven't been able to rehearse.. And we LIKE to play.
We've had a very good run though; eight albums in fifteen years, nine if you include "The early years" (ten if you count "The Sane Day" double album as two!). We've toured with some great bands. We've met amazing people and found friends in places we'd never been before.
We want to thank everyone who has supported us throughout the years, you guys are fantastic and the prog community is a very special place to be a part of.
We spent our youth and our early adulthood as Beardfish and we grew up within the band.. Individually we will now venture out into other musical projects. No matter what, Beardfish has been very special and we will all hold it close to our hearts, but right now it's time for new adventures.
"So real, it's surreal"
A Love Story - The Sane Day (2005)
Beardfish
Rikard, David, Robert & Magnus


Rikard Sjöblom will still attend the Uppsala Prog Festival on August 13, in Uppsala, Sweden, as a solo artist with his band.