I’ve written a lot about progressive rock and what I think it is (or at least what I think it’s supposed to be.) But the real question is, ‘who cares?’

I Do Love A Bargain!

Well, I got me a new drum kit. I haven’t even played it yet, so it’s hard to comment beyond saying that I got a good deal from this Nigerian guy on this farm out in *EBF. Typical story: got it for a teenage son who played it about five times and then decided XBox was more entertaining. This new piece of craftsmanship is made by the same company that built my beloved Ringo, but sadly, the 2010 version is made in Taiwan of materials that were probably sourced from the Taipei Home Depot. For some reason, this fact has just told me it must henceforth be known as

Rudwig.

Because that’s the kind of humour I live for.

Why get a kit now? All summer as I’ve sat here not playing, I’ve been thinkin’ and thinkin’ and thinkin’ about the various criticisms I’ve received about my non-prog ‘prog’. And the loss of the drum kit got me thinkin’ about even more about what I practice in my drumming […]

…with apologies to Oscar Wilde (not the most serious guy in the world, but what-ehveeeer.)

In my last death-defying rant I talked about the terrifying trend towards twee.

This time I’m giving you the flip side–the road less travelled. Or at least, the one that I have decided upon after some reflection and pain and suffering.

We all know that famous quote from Hamlet

This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!

The thing people tend to forget (or never learn) is that when Polonius says this to his son Laertes, we’re rolling our eyes.

I’ve taken a lot of criticism from you dears fans (we few, we happy few, we band of broth… OK, enough with the high-school Shakespeare already.)

As I was ranting, my ‘base’ has been on me for the past several years about my downward spiral towards ‘pop’. Not that I ever reached the levels of Pomplamoose (that would […]

As I said last time, I put out a number of ‘blind requests’ for musicians to rebuild the band. I got a bunch of people who listened to my stuff and then replied that though they thought what I do is nice enough, it sure as shit ain’t prog, buddy! I beg to differ. And I’m gonna tell ya why using a number of specific examples from my ‘oeuvre’ to demonstrate the points I wish to make. But first, I’m gonna tell ya why I’m gonna tell ya why!

In my last rant pondering what is ‘prog’? I talked about Charles Snyder’s three defining characteristics of progressive rock. I ponder this today because of my recent involvement in on-line adverts.

As I’ve blogged (man do I hate that expression. I think it’s no accident that it sounds like a synonym for vomitus.) Where was I. Oh yeah, as I’ve recently written here, I’m trying to rebuild the band locally. So, in addition to talking to old mates and people clued in, I’ve also put out ‘cattle call’ ads in all the local papers and CraigsList to try and get some action. Who knows? I’ve had one or two decent blind dates. Ya never know.

So far? These ads have yielded bupkus in terms of finding the guitarist, keyboardist and drummist necessary to re-take the champeenship, but I’ve definitely gotten responses.

Hi,

I’m interested in forming a group to perform my work. I’m looking for guitar, keys and drums to supplement my voice and bass.

What I do is often described as in the […]