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Joined: March 29 2013
Location: WA
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Points: 4591
Posted: July 15 2013 at 16:45
In staying within the OP's criteria I voted Gentle Giant. They technically mastered every crazy instrument they could get their hands on and then were able to display that mastery live. The live album "Playing the Fool" is a testament to their incredible ability. I'm thinking specifically of the "Excerpts from Octupus" track. I saw that tour when GG opened for Yes in 1976 and what band would be crazy enough to perform 4 part A Capella (Knots) or a recorder ensemble in front of 15,000+ screaming Yes maniacs?
Joined: June 14 2007
Location: Near York UK
Status: Offline
Points: 7024
Posted: July 15 2013 at 17:33
aapatsos wrote:
I will go completely against the tide and say Toto (just because they deserve at least a vote)
Toto are indeed all stellar musicians. For those who say Bruford is the best drummer ever, watch Anthony Phillips, and Steve Lukather has very few peers as a guitarist.
And their music has more progressive content than many of the bands on here.
Joined: June 18 2009
Location: Mexico
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Points: 12586
Posted: July 15 2013 at 19:22
There are some bands here that I don't know. And I don't really know so much of music theory and such thing. However, for what it's worth, the classic Yes line-up from Fragile and CttE is just unbeatable for me.
Joined: March 12 2005
Location: Neurotica
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Posted: July 15 2013 at 21:12
Tough call between GG and KC.
I'll go with GG though.
Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
Joined: May 01 2007
Location: NYC/Rhinebeck
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Points: 4070
Posted: July 15 2013 at 23:36
Dellinger wrote:
There are some bands here that I don't know. And I don't really know so much of music theory and such thing. However, for what it's worth, the classic Yes line-up from Fragile and CttE is just unbeatable for me.
Agree--no one touches this Yes line-up---but Seconds out Genesis and the 80's line up of KC were all amazing live.
Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
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Points: 26108
Posted: July 16 2013 at 01:52
I feel obliged to vote for ELP if only for how they were in 1974 on the world tour when no one could live with them. The version of Pictures they were doing at the time was insane. They nailed it on that tour but sadly there are no decent recordings of it in existence. Probably would have to pick Karn Evil 9 at Cal Jam for the best available live recording from that period.
From the seventies (and just beyond) I'm sure Eloy are worth a mention at least. Anything better than Time To Turn just on a technical stand point? And they were great live as well.
Would be interesting to do a poll based just on post 1990 bands
Dream Theater
Glass Hammer
Par Lindh Project
Anglagard
are a few that would be on my list
EDIT forgetting that DT are already in the list and existed prior to 1990
Joined: March 18 2013
Location: South Africa
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Points: 291
Posted: July 16 2013 at 03:04
Dream Theater by a long long long way. Looking at the list I'm wondering why Toto isn't included here as a band on PA even if only on the prog related side if needs be.
Joined: March 21 2008
Location: Tigerstaden
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Points: 34050
Posted: July 16 2013 at 03:13
Tom Ozric wrote:
How about Transatlantic ?? Very difficult to choose any band from the list (I'm familiar with all except for Messhugah).
I did see some of a Toto live DVD and they were mightily impressive. One longer cut was even full-blown Prog. It was kinda recent - post-2000 anyway.
here is their strongest line-up, so you can have something to compare that one you saw , (one of the rare occations to see Jeff, Mike and Steve Porcaro on a concert when all of them is in top shape),
Joined: January 30 2004
Location: United States
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Points: 2632
Posted: July 16 2013 at 17:25
I agree that GG and KC are generally tied. However, GG has a slight advantage, since ALL of the members are multi-instrumentalists, where KC's are not.
Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Posted: July 16 2013 at 19:18
^ Though I do agree with you, I must admit that I see quite a lot of GG's compositions as pompous and clumsy, which is not a sign of good musicianship. Plus, Crimso were a very adequate live improv band.
Joined: June 18 2009
Location: Mexico
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Points: 12586
Posted: July 16 2013 at 21:06
twosteves wrote:
Dellinger wrote:
There are some bands here that I don't know. And I don't really know so much of music theory and such thing. However, for what it's worth, the classic Yes line-up from Fragile and CttE is just unbeatable for me.
Agree--no one touches this Yes line-up---but Seconds out Genesis and the 80's line up of KC were all amazing live.
I would say almost Seconds Out Genesis... if only they had released that album with Bill Bruford on drums it would have been great.
Joined: September 03 2005
Location: Olympus Mons
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Points: 15916
Posted: July 17 2013 at 01:17
aginor wrote:
Tom Ozric wrote:
How about Transatlantic ?? Very difficult to choose any band from the list (I'm familiar with all except for Messhugah).
I did see some of a Toto live DVD and they were mightily impressive. One longer cut was even full-blown Prog. It was kinda recent - post-2000 anyway.
here is their strongest line-up, so you can have something to compare that one you saw , (one of the rare occations to see Jeff, Mike and Steve Porcaro on a concert when all of them is in top shape)
Joined: February 09 2010
Location: Australia
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Points: 3236
Posted: July 17 2013 at 02:06
irrelevant wrote:
I'll vote for Dream Theater. Don't like their music, but they are seriously tight. All the other groups here are too.
If Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band were on the list, I'd probably vote for them.
I'm with you on this one. Could add Frank Zappa as well and from the above list I'd have Rush as next best in terms of musicianship. But if you asked me to pick the best band from the above list, I'd have Yes, KC and GG miles in front of Dream Theater.
As Noel Coward might have said 'ecstatically' - I don't need a definition of the term thanks, just how you would arrive at a method to quantify musicianship that does not rest upon the listener's own aesthetic judgement
(If you're up for it, try quantifying anyone's happiness while yer at it)
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(just because they deserve at least a vote) 
aapatsos wrote:
, (one of the rare occations to see Jeff, Mike and Steve Porcaro on a concert when all of them is in top shape),
