Nick D'Virgilio Leaves Spock's Beard
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Topic: Nick D'Virgilio Leaves Spock's Beard
Posted By: KirksNoseHair
Subject: Nick D'Virgilio Leaves Spock's Beard
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 14:41
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Not sure if this is the place for this topic, but, well, there it is: http://www.ndvmusic.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ndvmusic.com Bummer!  ------------- http://www.theanabasisproject.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 14:42
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Well, there goes the band. Too bad, the last album was great.
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 14:44
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I saw that coming. This probably spells the end of the band.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm 
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 14:45
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OMG!!! Gutted!!! |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 14:46
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Sorry to double post, but man, so many lineup changes have happened with a bunch of bands lately, not to mention hiatus's some bands have taken. The prog landscape has changed drastically in the last few years.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 14:46
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I think prog is dying out again.
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 14:50
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No way, so many good albums come out in the last 5 years, including this year. It is rising if you ask me.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 14:50
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I suppose this isn't surprising since he couldn't play with them during the summer festivals this year. Well, Mike Portnoy is looking for a job, and maybe his good buddy Neal might be willing to follow him back to the band. ------------- 
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Posted By: KirksNoseHair
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 14:51
Yeah, I think when NDV signed up with that Cirque gig the end was near. Then, when they had Ted Leonard fill in for those shows this summer, I knew it was only a matter of time. You can't really blame him. He needs to support his family and Spock's Beard can't even draw 200 people to a show in the US. To me that's a tragedy. ------------- http://www.theanabasisproject.com" rel="nofollow">
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darkshade wrote:Posted By: KirksNoseHair
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 14:52
Imagine if Neal went back and took Portnoy with him to play drums? WOW!!  ------------- http://www.theanabasisproject.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 14:55
That's be awesome, and interesting to see how the music would sound. Portnoy has played with Spock's live before for a couple of songs. That would bring SB some much over-due attention. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:00
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Spock's Beard was already dead after Neal Morse left. ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:11
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Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:16
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Shame.
Back when SB made my top five favorite bands. Even with Neal gone they still had their moments. At least they still have a drummer (at least with live gigs...idk why Jimmy whatever his name is isn't a member already). Thoygh I assume NDV is a major creative force with the band. If it's the end, they certainly had a good run and I hope the others do something new soon. ------------- 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. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:17
Untrue ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:17
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He;s the only lyricist I believe. The best thing that could happen is that Alan highjacks the band and puts out some more pop fusion like his solo album.
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Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:20
------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:27
No one needs more pop fusion.
But if he is only thte lyricist then hopefully theyll continue as an instrumental band. ------------- 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. |
Posted By: Anthony
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:34
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I was already worried when Lisa LaRue mentioned on Facebook last month she was working with Nick D'Virgilio (EX-Spock's Beard) ------------- Future prosperity lies in the way you heal the world with love (Introitus - The hand that feeds you) |
Posted By: KirksNoseHair
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:35
Strongly disagree. They certainly changed, which is to be expected when the primary songwriter and frontman departs, but they found their own new sound and identity and released some excellent music. "X" is an incredibly good progressive rock album. ------------- http://www.theanabasisproject.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: KirksNoseHair
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:38
Sorry, but some people don't agree with this. ------------- http://www.theanabasisproject.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:46
4 O'Clock and Hysteria was a good album k -------------
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Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:52
they probably don't care about vocals. ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:53
 -------------
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 16:03
Please stop being ridiculous. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 16:16
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Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 16:16
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Well crap . . . I really liked X and was eager to see where they were going next. The accounts of Nick being the only lyricist are incorrect to my understanding. Many of the songs on the recent CD's do not have Nick listed with a writing credit. If I have my data correct, Nick is only given partial credit for one song on the last CD (From the Darkness). Half of the songs were written by Dave Meros and a non member of the band (Boeghold according to the spreadsheet that I put together when X came out) . . . (yes, I actually did a study on it). Most of the rest were written by Alan and someone else (Nick on one, a few non members on the others). I'm not disputing that Nick was a major creative force in the band, it just seems that he was already taking a back seat when X was being put together. At the same time, Dave Meros and Alan Morse were the much more prolific writers on X. Also, many (myself included) consider X to be their best post Neal Morse album. While my initial reaction to hearing of his departure was disappointment, the more I think of it, I'm eager to see where they can go from here. I will say this, the thought of Neal Morse and Mike Portnoy joining the band has absolutely no appeal to me. I want to see a band led by Alan and Dave, I dunno, maybe offer Jimmie Keegan (I think I spelled that right) a permanent position and get a lead singer with a stronger voice and let's see where we go from there. The Beard is dead, long live The Beard! ------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 16:18
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well, let's say that the voice is a very important component in a prog band (cf the strong vocalists in Yes, Genesis, VDGG, ELP, KC...). If this component is missing (which is the case with SB without the soul of SB (Neal Morse)), then this band is not worth checking out anymore. ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Wanorak
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 16:35
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Very sad indeed They were really starting to find their own sound after Neal Morse left. The last two discs SB and X were amazing. ------------- A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!! |
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 16:49
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Very sad news! Even though their first post-Morse album was a bit patchy (though at least half of it was great!), `Octane' was a very consistent pop-prog album, and the self titled (although overlong) and especially `X' albums were very impressive. I would LOVE if they just did one album now as an instrumental band, even if it's just temporary while they figure out their next move with a vocalist. Some of the instrumental tracks on their last few albums have been killers!! I hope they really don't just chuck it in, there's too much talent and potential in them! |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 16:51
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Well I would hold off on shaving the Beard completely off...........I don't think there is much more, if anything, that Neal can do with his Testimony series. He will probably issue some more solo stuff, but I think with Portnoy he will create more Transatlantic and maybe revive Spocks Beard.......I do like the Portnoy idea in Spocks Beard.
We still have yet to see the MMPLMPLMLPPMMMPPL  project come to light......Neal just finished his Prog Christmas album, so lets get thru the holiday season and I bet 2012 will be some really cool announcements about all these guys......Who really do not have a formal main band.-------------   
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Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 17:46
Is that all? Well, not that big a loss then. I know Alan at least has written lyrics before so I reckon they could all chip in and finding a new vocalist isnt hard.Its who wrote the music thats important and I think Allan, Dave and Ryo are in the driving seat there. Whats up with everybody, its not like the bands split or anything, cheer up! ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005  |
Posted By: osofiababy
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 17:51
| I thought he was gone already! |
Posted By: Clepsydra
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 18:50
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X was great (imo) Really intrigued by Pulse w/ Mike! |
Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 18:52
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Really liked their last two albums. Their best since V (wasn't that big on Snow). I wonder where they'll go from here. Alan has sung some lead vocals with the Beard before, "Moth of Many Flames" and he co-sang a song off of SB. Can't remember which one off the top of my head. Not sure if he could pull off a full-time gig as their singer. Who took over for Nick on vocals on the festival shows he was unable to attend? ------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 19:57
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I never got into Spock's Beard but I like his Big Big Train work.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 20:20
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Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 20:23
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^That seems a bold choice. Not sure how that'd sound.
------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: Battlepriest
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 21:40
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I guess Enchant is now dead.... (not that they've released anything in years.) If I was going to scalp a lead singer from another dormant "Third Wave" band, I'd probably go after Glen McLoughlin from Iluvatar, instead. |
Posted By: Harry Hood
Date Posted: November 19 2011 at 00:50
Dregsatlantic! ------------- 
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: November 19 2011 at 02:39
Well they officially have a name for the band. Flying Colors. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
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Posted By: Harry Hood
Date Posted: November 19 2011 at 02:54
Not too fond of that name honestly. Transatlantic was originally called "Second Nature" which is even worse. And of course "Adrenaline Mob". Band names are hard  Hoping the music still turns out awesome.-------------
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Posted By: KirksNoseHair
Date Posted: November 19 2011 at 06:41
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I can confirm that that ARE going to soldier on. I had another very long email from Dave this morning and they're definitely planning to get things moving again. I can 't give out any more details than that, but Spock's Beard is definitely going to continue as a band. ------------- http://www.theanabasisproject.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: November 19 2011 at 06:50
I wish them well and look forward to new releases. Sometimes this sort of setback is good for a band. Like when Neal left they had to stand on their own feet. I think it was good for their development as a band and individually. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: KirksNoseHair
Date Posted: November 19 2011 at 07:38
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That's a very good point, Snow Dog. Sometimes adversity can breed creativity. Hell, half of the songs on my band's album (I wrote all of the music) were written when I was going through some very, very difficult times. These guys are top players and great people. Ryo is one of the nicest guys I know and a very dear friend and extremely enthusiastic about Spock's Beard and about making music in general. Hell, he's been hounding me about us getting going on the next The ANABASIS album for months!  Dave Meros is also a terrific guy and an incredibly talented musician and he's very very eager to get going on their next album too.In a lot of ways, I think they kind of needed this to happen because with NDV committed to the Cirque gig, Spock's Beard was sort of stuck in a holding pattern, now, thanks to NDV bowing out like this, they can move forward. Sure, it's a kick in the nuts because NDV is a great musician and charismatic front man, but I think Al, Dave and Ryo will find the right person to fill the position and the Beard will come roaring back stronger than ever. ------------- http://www.theanabasisproject.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: infocat
Date Posted: November 19 2011 at 08:36
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Is Ray Wilson available? ------------- -- Frank Swarbrick Belief is not Truth. |
Posted By: freyacat
Date Posted: November 20 2011 at 09:24
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I wouldn't say that Spock's Beard died when Neal Morse left. I would say that Spock's Beard died somewhere around the time that he decided that "Snow" would be be an evangelical christian album.
------------- sad creature nailed upon the coloured door of time |
Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: November 20 2011 at 09:51
------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: Andy Webb
Date Posted: November 20 2011 at 09:59
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...wait, what? how did I miss this? ------------- http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: davemuttillo
Date Posted: November 20 2011 at 13:02
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Frankly, the Beard has never 'died' contrary to some of the opinions expressed above. They have changed, developed and grown. Before Neal left, no one else contributed to the writing. After Neal's departure they truly became a more cohesive unit with the whole band writing and contributing. That said, I love the suggestion above about Neal returning and Portnoy joining on. It may be pie in the sky, but I would dearly love to see that version of Spock's Beard.
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Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 10:35
Good news . . . copied from a Beard e-mail:
------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 11:00
Aww, dang. Without a famous front man I don't think they'll recover. They shoulda just called up Beardfish and fused the bands into Spock's Beardfish, lol. -------------
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Posted By: The T
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 11:18
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I'm not clapping for NdV's departure (I liked him) but for Ted Leonard's arrival. Great singer from a totally-underrated band (Enchant) who fits like a glove in SB. Now I see myself buying SB's next album again (which I wouldn't have done had they picked somebody else to replace Nick). ------------- 
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Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 11:35
Bwahahaha...Spock's Beardfish . . . love it. ------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 12:41
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Nick is a supreme talent in any band. He toured with Tears for Fears as well as SB. He played drums on a couple of tracks of Calling All Stations by Genesis. He even sat in on the Power of Two tour from Agents of Mercy and Karmakanic in 2010 in the USA. I happened to see the first show after he had one day of rehearsal with them and he just nailed it. I was also fortunate to see his Rewiring Genesis concert The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and that was just a great show as well. If you are not familiar with that project Nick took a bunch of musicians who were not familiar with the music and gave them the charts and put this thing together. Horns, flutes all sorts of instruments went into the production and it was a lot of fun to hear. I wish him the best of luck in his future projects. I saw Nick with Spock's Beard 3 times and can assure you that as long as Jimmy Keegan is there there will be no fall off from behind the kit as he has toured with them since Neal left. Be interesting to hear his takes on the studio work as well. Have to see how Ted works in this role. I can see no reason why this won't work out. -------------  "What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 12:49
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Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 13:02
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They merged with the Tangent for a while, but it was just a touring band.
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 13:04
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Ahh. That is what it was. -------------
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Posted By: KirksNoseHair
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 13:16
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I've known about this for a while, but it was confidential (for obvious reasons). Ted Leonard, in all honesty, is not my first choice, but I do understand why they went with him and I will look forward with an open mind to what they come up with now. Long live the Beard ------------- http://www.theanabasisproject.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: davemuttillo
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 14:37
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Sorry, but I do not like this choice. Jimmy on drums was the expected call. Ted from Enchant, no surprise either after he did the gig with them, but I don't like Enchant and wasn't impressed with Ted's work on their albums ... Can you say "thoroughly disappointed"? But, we shall see how it works out.
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Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 16:36
Jimmy should have been a full time member for years now. 
But no surprises I suppose. Glad they repaired the lineyp so quickly. Will be interesting to see where they go from here. ------------- 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. |
Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 18:15
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So I listened to my lone Enchant CD on the way home and I'm feeling pretty good about the new lineup. Honestly, I think they've actually upgraded on the vocals. I think that Ted Leonard has a similar but stronger voice than NdV and Jimmie Keegan has been doing a fine job for them on drums for years now. The biggest loss in my mind is the charisma of NdV and the acclaim. Nick is such a great and prolific drummer that he will add a certain amount of respect to any project just by his presence. It will be interesting to see who, if anyone takes on the 'virtuoso' status of the band. My take: Vocals: Upgrade Drums: Push Writing: Upgrade (I mentioned this before, Nick barely wrote anything for X and it was their best in years) Celeb Cred: Downgrade If they can overcome the loss of their 'star' then I think this lineup can go far. ------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: KirksNoseHair
Date Posted: November 24 2011 at 07:27
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Hey Roland113, I totally agree about the writing. Many of the best tracks they've released since Neal left the band have been written by people who are not even in the band. Now, whether or not the writing will improve from here remains to be seen, but I think having people who are going to actually perform the material doing more of the writing is always a good thing.
------------- http://www.theanabasisproject.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: dennismoore
Date Posted: February 07 2012 at 15:39
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Sad to see Nick go, but SB never was able to attrack enough concert goers to make enough to tour.
I saw SB in San Fran on Spock's Beard V tour. AMAZING & FANTASTIC show, The Great Nothing live was
too good to put into words, but even then WITH Neal Morse they had perhaps 200 peeps in the crowd
for the only night in SF (ticket cost only 20 bucks!). Most promoters have left prog dry. It breaks my heart.
Best to Nick in the future. I hope that Neal's guesting on the new SB record brings back some of the old magic.
All On A Sunday, indeed.  ------------- "Yeah, people are unhappy about that - but you know what, it's still Yes." - Chris Squire |
Posted By: FunkyM
Date Posted: February 11 2012 at 09:40
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Wow, how did I miss this one back in November? It is sad to see NDV leave Spock's Beard, but given the reasons, it's understandable. X was a fantastic album for him to go out on. I am glad to see the band continue and it will be interesting to see how Ted Leonard fits in with the Beard's sound. I own copies of Tug of War and Blink of an Eye and although I don't think I would call them exceptional works, I don't have anything against his vocals. |