Any progressive rock fans out there?

Dosen't anyone listen to Bad Company, The Guess Who, even..AC-DC anymore?

Steve Upton (drummer) of Wishbone Ash is phenomenal, the fast section of Sometime World has me rewinding so much for that first chorus, he's practically playing with time. Complete master of rhythm. Their debut also has some ridiculously crunchy riffing; Lady Whiskey at full blast while driving down the M3 at like 90mph = a f*cking good time. I am a big fan of Phil Collins too, again he just floats through ridiculously technical passages with flair. Much better behind the kit than up-front but I guess their commercial success post-Peter Gabriel (who I think is the second coming of Jesus Christ) would suggest otherwise.

Steve Upton is definitely one of the greats I'd say! (Along with Bonham) And if you've ever seen Laurie Wisefield in the 1985 live performance at the Marquee club (I think) his performance of Phoenix is phenomenal! But prog rock has definitely offered up some of the most technically gifted musicians from recent times. I'm continually trying to find bands nowadays who match up to it. What other bands do you like?

Yep I do remember indeed I've yet to meet anyone else who's properly into Wishbone Ash (excluding my Dad who got me into it), so it is a nice surprise, especially Argus which is one of my favourite albums! I especially love The King Will Come (the way that it builds up is incredible), Sometime World and Throw Down the Sword

No worries about the delay with the music it's very different from Wishbone Ash and Genesis (and very 80's), so I won't mind if you're not into it.

It's easier to provide a list of bands I hate or don't like, merely because I'm very liberal and can find enjoyment in most music that has been composed in a wholesome and creative manner. Heavily commercialised music leaves me with no satisfaction from having listened. I was working in a pub recently and the more experienced cooks all had playlists or pop radio stations they put on. I guess they liked it because they played the whole variety of the pop charts. I felt like banging my head against a wall every time I heard Jamie-T or Pharrell Williams, it all was so weak and inexpressive and every repeated hook made it feel more so. Luckily they fired me so I didn't have to take it any more!

But still, musical elitism rants aside - recently I've been listening to a lot of Gentle Giant, some italian prog-bands such as Premiata Forneria Marconi and Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso (which all take GG as their primary influence), a post-rock band called Boyfrndz, this pretty cool indie-folk band called Sun kil Moon, 70s Canterbury prog like Caravan, Robert Wyatt and Hatfield and The North (as mentioned in the OP) and classic jazz fusion of Miles Davis (particularly 1969s Bitches Brew and In A Silent Way). Just a few though, I always prefer to reach out for new music than over-listen to familiar territory. What about you?

FATES WARNING

My dad was also into WA when he was a teenager and saw them one or twice with the classic line up. I think I actually got into them by seeing the CD of Argus next to the stereo and putting it on because I liked the album art and then quickly discovering that every song was like aural gold dust

As you mentioned Laurie Wisefield earlier I thought you might like this:

Laurie's playing is so smooth and funky but still manages to give the punch required for The King Will Come. Of course AP and Bob are doing their thing just fine. Not sure who the drummer is in this lineup but he's great, too. Strange to think this was their 30th anniversary party and in a few yeas they'll be having their 50th!

You're kidding?! He's a lucky guy then I get Argus mixed up with the Tarkus album strangely enough! (the Emerson, Lake and Palmer album) despite the fact that they probably have nothing in common. Aural gold dust is a lovely phrase by the way!

Thanks for the link though! I'll have to listen to it when I manage to find my phone, since my laptop has recently decided to corrupt itself and now will not work anything except for the internet incredibly. But I agree, he's an often overlooked musician I think, and extroadinarily talented. My dad thinks it's amazing how quickly they've aged but I guess the same thing will happen to us when Lana Del Rey or whatever grows older. It's strange to think about.

Yes - up to 'Tales from Topographic Oceans'

Yuck, it's the worst.

Yes I agree .. I stopped buying their stuff when that came out.

I've been listening to Opeth pretty frequently for the last couple of months particularly Ghost Reveries, Heritage and Pale Communion (but all on YouTube so all the songs would be in the wrong order )

The sound of Pale Communion is absolutely gorgeous but it also sounds rather familiar; I'm not sure what it reminds me of, Bob James perhaps?

I listened to a bit of Rush many years ago as well as a couple of Genesis and Camel songs and I will hopefully come back to them in... a few years lol. I have an ever-growing list of bands to listen to


including them, and Pain of Salvation

standard prog is boring as ****, just emotionless showcases of "look at how much time I spent practising this somewhat hard to play piece"

When bands produce music that doesn'y sound like anything that's gone before though it's fantastic. Bands that sound like the aforementioned BS such as Yes, Genesis, Opeth, etc can SMD, but pink floyd, the gathering, ulver, porcupine tree and such are fantastic bands purely because they don't show off for the sake of it.