PROG FESTIVALS

The Classic Rock Society in England hold at least two festivals a year. It was where I discovered Arena, Flowerkings, Jadis, IQ & even John Wetton

Tommy wrote: The Classic Rock Society in England

Ok ! where exactly ?

I went to NEARFEST last year and opted not to try for tickets this year, even though I'm barely a half hour away, I just wasn't too impressed with the bands last year, the Strawbs just looked like grandpas up there, by the end of the whole thing I was just wondering why I'd went. There was one band from Finland I think that was good, I liked them, but the rest, hmmmm, and Pallas was almost embarrassing to me. 

 

I am attending Cal Prog this year and the Preshow at Nearfest. 

 

Cal-Prog.... 9 days.

Great news! That means next years will include a few better bands. Maybe James will go then.

Garion81 wrote: I am gettin more excited about THIS show as it gets closer.  Not sure of some of the music, Bubblemath and Spiraling, if I will like it or not but I know I will like IZZ and Flower Kings. BTW Dan, Nima from Mima and Merge will be there. He has a table and  is not playing but you can get a chance to meet him. Very cool person.

Cool. I hope I have enough cash to buy a few discs, get some autographs too. I think you'll like Bubblemath. Very eclectic in the Zappa/Keneally vein. I've heard a couple of tracks. Here's a link to some samples: http://www.bubblemath.net/music.shtml

Ken Jaquess from K2 and Atlantis will be there too. I've gonna bring along some CDs to get autographed. I got all my IZZ discs autographed last year.

What did you think of Tiles?

I went to the Fresno BJ's and had a Nutty Brewnette. Similar to Newcastle, very tasty. I had a Red Pirhanna too. Both are highly recommended. I was drivin' so I passed on the stout.

 

Fresh from the IZZ website:

 

Quote from John Galgano:

Hello everyone!
Wanted to fill you in on the latest here in IZZ land.

1) We are currently in the middle of the mixing stage for the new record! It's
coming along beautifully and we hope for a mid-summer release at this point. As
many of you know, to pin down a date is always dangerous, so I'll leave it at
mid-summer! But be assured that work is progressing and you'll have new IZZ
before you know it! We are MOST confident that it will be worth the wait.

2) We are in big-time rehearsal mode for Calprog and have recently put in a
large amount of time to prepare three new pieces to play at the show (one of
them the 20 minute piece that will close the new record), as well as our most
ambitious cover song to date...Calprog is nearly a week away and we can't wait.
We're super-pumped to play this cover...I'm not at liberty to divulge what song
it is...

3) I can't tell you how much it means to us knowing that we have all of you
pulling for us, always. I know it can be frustrating waiting for new music (I
know the feeling; thank you Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Yes and Roger Waters...I'm
still waiting, Roger...), but to know that we have your support and enthusiasm
behind us - it really means everything. Without you, there's no us.

Hope to see some of you at Calprog and some of you at Roguefest in Atlanta! And
then we bury our heads back into mixing and mastering to finish up our newest
concoction...

Best to all - Have a restful, healthy and sunny Memorial Day weekend!

John and the guys

Last year, IZZ performed a medley from the Lamb Lies Down.... and it brought the house down. Copies of the gig are on the Cal-Prog website. Enchant, another prog metal kinda band, did a smoking cover of Yes' Tempus Fugit. It was the best tune they played, my ears stopped bleeding and they nailed it. Eric Norlander and Lana Lane covered ITCOTCK. It was okay. Rather lackluster. They also covered A Salty Dog. Not bad.

 

In Italy: Altrock Festival, Sesto San Giovanni (Milan)