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jeremykeys

I'm a huge fan of progressive rock and one of my favorite bands is Spock's Beard. I just got their latest cd, The Oblivion Particle and am over the top blown away with it. The playing, the singing and the writing are all amazing. I just wish they would come here to Toronto so I could see them live.
Unfortunately they don't tour around here or tour all that much so chances are I will never get to see them.

I seriously recommend that you all give them a listen. A few albums ago they were selling gear to finance recording and their second last album was financed by pre-sales and somewhat of a kick starter campaign. Check out Spock's Beard. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Jeremykeys, the Prog Fan!
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If music is the food of love, play on and play loud!
Gear: Kronos 73, Triton Pro-X, Wavestation EX, Polysix, King Korg, Monotron and Monotron Duo, Minikorg, Moog Grandmother, 1 Roland U-20, Hammond M3, 4 acoustic and 6 electric guitars, 1 Ibanez 5 string bass, a bunch of microphones and other very cool toys, 1 wife and 3 cats!

LordVampyre · Joined: 29 Jan 2015 Posts: 37 Location: Southern Missouri

You probably know this already but they have/had quite a few vids on youtube. That is where I found them by accident and liked them straight away.

jeremykeys · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2015 5:16 pm Post subject:

Yes I do know. Unfortunately I live in Toronto which seems to be a black hole when it comes to progressive rock bands these days. It wasn't like that way back in the 70's but things have changed. Sad but true. The closest that they have come is Montreal. That's a 5 hour drive away and it seems they usually play on a Wednesday. Since I have to work the next day it tends to make it a no go. Oh well. At least they have vids!
_________________
If music is the food of love, play on and play loud!
Gear: Kronos 73, Triton Pro-X, Wavestation EX, Polysix, King Korg, Monotron and Monotron Duo, Minikorg, Moog Grandmother, 1 Roland U-20, Hammond M3, 4 acoustic and 6 electric guitars, 1 Ibanez 5 string bass, a bunch of microphones and other very cool toys, 1 wife and 3 cats!

Weirdofromouterspace · Joined: 04 May 2015 Posts: 33 Location: Germany

I hope you don't consider me a dickhead now Laughing

...

... but I saw them in concert only last Sunday (Sept 27, that is) in Cologne/Germany. They were great, just as good as last year (same venue).

This is the setlist from 2014: http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/spocks-beard/2014/essigfabrik-cologne-germany-2bcfc07a.html.
Last Sunday's isn't yet online.

They played a real long set including two of my all-time SB favorites, 'On a perfect day' and - as final and looooooong encore - 'The light' Very Happy

.

And yes, their new album is great. Received it in the mail yesterday (special edition with Black Sabbath's 'Iron man' as a bonus track) and just loved it. Just the way I love all other albums by them.

Oh, and both support bands (Synaesthesia from England and Special Providence from Hungary) were really good and worth listening to as well!
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Derek Cook · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2015 3:57 pm Post subject:

I'm another Spock's Beard fan, after purchasing "Beware of Darkness" around 2003 purely on the whim of seeing what a band called "Spock's Beard" sounded like! Smile

I hated that album on the first few listens, and then one day (whilst off sick) I put it on rotaton and it suddenly clicked. Music that you have to work at often sticks with you.

I explain Spock's Beard to people as an intersection of Yes, Crowded House and the Beach Boys! Very Happy

You have the playing chops of Yes (without some of the pomposity), the catchiness and quirkiness of Crowded House, and the vocal hamonies of a the Beach Boys.

I was lucky to see them in the UK in 2008 on the "X" tour in Cardiff. They were awesome (and supported by FROST*). Ryo was quite amazed that we had our (then) 12 year old daughter with us. Whilst she wouldn't admit it now, she used to love them!

I personally don't think that "The Oblivion Particle" is as good as their previous "Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep", which I think is their best in years, but "Oblivion..." is still very good and rewards repeated listens.

I do think that Spock's Beard miss Neil Morse a little, simply due to the sheer brilliance of the guy. If you like SB, be sure to check out "the Neil Morse Band" and "The Grand Experiment" which is very good.
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jeremykeys · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2015 11:22 pm Post subject:

Derek Cook · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:10 am Post subject:

Get "Beware of Darkness" - it's one of their best. I actually have all of the SB albums, all of Neil Morse's (even his "Christian ones" are rewarding, no matter what your religious outlook - they tell a story), and then I have all the Transatlantic ones.

There is so much good music out there, it's hard to hold myself back! the UK PROG magazine is a good source of discovery, as is following interesections of personnel in different bands. And Internet Prog radio stations are of course a good source as well - including discovering old bands. I had never heard Camel until a few years back and then one day I heard "For Today" on a prog radio channel and I was hooked!
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jeremykeys · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 11:46 pm Post subject:

Derek, are you also occasionally on the Cubase forum? I thought I saw your name there.
_________________
If music is the food of love, play on and play loud!
Gear: Kronos 73, Triton Pro-X, Wavestation EX, Polysix, King Korg, Monotron and Monotron Duo, Minikorg, Moog Grandmother, 1 Roland U-20, Hammond M3, 4 acoustic and 6 electric guitars, 1 Ibanez 5 string bass, a bunch of microphones and other very cool toys, 1 wife and 3 cats!

Derek Cook · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 11:32 am Post subject:

Hi,

Yes, very occasionally. I don't go there often, only to check for updates and the issues that people have around the latest updates.
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Follow kronos.factory development and submit ideas over at the kronos.factory Trello Board

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