Proto-Kaw The Wait Of Glory...

Just received this press release:

Contact: Denise Kovalevich, Chipster Entertainment

                 [email protected]   610-409-6050 ext. 201

Proto-Kaw to Release The Wait Of Glory January 31^st

Through Inside Out Music

Founded by Former Kansas Songwriter/Guitarist Kerry Livgren, Proto-Kaw’s Newest Release is the Follow-Up to Their Critically-Acclaimed Debut Album Before Became After

Proto-Kaw, the progressive rock sensation founded by former Kansas guitarist/songwriter/producer Kerry Livgren, has announced that they will be releasing their sophomore album The Wait Of Glory January 31^st through Inside Out Music. The Wait Of Glory is the follow-up to the band’s breakout album Before Became After which was released in April 2004.

Guided by the songwriting savvy of Livgren, Proto-Kaw’s second album proves that the band is no longer just a collaborative effort of old friends and musicians, but a band full of progressive force and stability, able to create musical landmarks without forgetting their storied past.

According to Livgren the aftermath from Before Became After provided the impetus for more things to come. “I think we were very pleased considering where the band came from, which was out of nowhere,” said Livgren. “To complete a project like that and have it turn out the way it did, from my perspective, it was not just a bunch of musicians who came together, it was a bunch of guys who hadn’t played in literally decades.”

However, as the band, which is rounded out by vocalist Lynn Meredith, sax player John Bolton, drummer Brad Schultz, keyboardist Dan Wright and bass player Craig Kew, slowly began to gel, Livgren and company headed into the studio with more confidence than ever before. Now more comfortable with his collective ensemble, The Wait Of Glory became the product of Livgren’s more specified vision.

“On The Wait Of Glory, we went into it as a functioning band,” said Livgren. “I knew what to expect as a producer and a writer. I knew what the band sounded like and what they were capable of. Before Came After, that was all totally unknown and a roll of the dice. With this album, I was able to write the material envisioning the band that was going to be performing it.”

Labeled as a “jammy, progressive rock band”, The Wait Of Glory evokes a cinematic, Broadway-like feel, something that wasn’t lost on Livgren during the creation of the album.

“I didn’t sit down and say I was going to write in this style,” said Livgren. “As the music developed, there was a style that was becoming obvious and probably ‘cinematic’ is a good word. The music is progressive, but progressive I think, in a new way. There are elements of R&B, which is going back to our very early roots before we were called Kansas and this is melded into a progressive thing and I can’t think of anyone doing that.”

After 30 years in the music biz, Kerry Livgren is still forging ahead, fully aware of his musical legacy with Kansas, but also seemingly against resting on his past laurels. Judging by the complicated and vast nature of The Wait Of Glory, the man is in no hurry to slow down.

“What I’m trying to accomplish now is for me to do something new. That’s a not a new thing for me, but I get from people all the time, ‘why don’t you do another “Dust In the Wind?’ Why would I do that? Those songs were what they were and I’d just be imitating myself. So many artists do that. They have one great hit and the rest of their songs imitate that hit. I like to be a moving target (laughs).”

For more information about Proto-Kaw visit www.protokaw.com or www.insideoutmusic.com

They should really proofread those before they send them out.  They forgot to add Mike Patrum as the drummer and Jake Livgren as backup vocalist also.

For those of you on the fence abbout this Amazon just knocked off $5.00 off the price of the extended version Only 14.99 now.

http://tinyurl.com/c57ut

Garion81 wrote: For those of you on the fence abbout this Amazon just knocked off $5.00 off the price of the extended version Only 14.99 now. http://tinyurl.com/c57ut

Thanks for the news Garion. It took a bit of time, but I have grown to like these guys quite a bit. I can't wait. I hope they come back to this neck of the woods again. i didn't go to their show when you gave me the head's up.  Big mistake. I would love to see these guys live and it is a crime that they have been playing to such small crowds. I'm glad that hasn't discouraged them.

This album debuted on Bill Hammels Internet radio show last night.  He played the whole thing but I turned it on late so we heard only 6 cuts. Even of the Great Decline, Physic, The Vigil, Old number 63, Osvoldos Grocieres and Melicus Gladiator. Some very good stuff in there. Some of my thoughts (Maybe spoilers for some of you so read with caution):

  A lot of really tight arrangements of some instrumental parts between the horn/flute, keyboard, guitar.  Craig just smokes on bass and the work between he does with Mike is getting better and better each new thing they do. I love Dan's keyboard work as usual, John is always blazing and Lynn shows some of his unique vocals that we heard of on the Early Recordings CD this time with good production behind them. Kerry is playing some of the best lead guitar I have ever heard him play.
I find some of these songs to be extensions of the early work, a lot more Zappa type of jazz and some fusion influences with Gentle Giant, King Crimson influences with a dose of Jethro Tull and VDGG thrown in to boot. They seem to adapt all this and make it thier own effortlessly. I don't know about the classic rock fans but this album with these cuts is certainly going to be a big hit with the prog crowd.  I can't wait to hear a lot of this live.

Great Job!