Are proghead nerds?

Hrychu wrote: Now I'm a bit confused about the semantics. To tell you the truth, I've never encountered the term proghead outside of Progarchives.com How do *you* define "proghead", guys? Does such person in any way differ from a normal progressive rock fan? Or a progressive rock geek?

Spaz, if you could take away the signature aimed at irking me, using my avatar on the other site before I lodge a complaint.
You're aleady on a close watch by the Admins, you wouldn't want thunder & lightning hitting your nerdy head.

As for the proghead term, it's indeed something that popped up in the halcyon days of the site, and I regularly used it in my reviews, and it wasn't in a disrepectful manner. It's just a fan of "prog" AFAIAC.

Hrychu wrote: Gnik Nosmirc wrote: I am actually in my mid 20's. You're not alone. I'm 29 (born in 1996). 😎

Another young boy! I was born in 1999. I'm a bit younger.

Saperlipopette! wrote: ^ I'm not wrong. Actually I know I'm right. My jazz collection and obsession is positive social cultural capital/currency, while in a normie context - Prog is the complete opposite. Selecting my Sunday at the Village Vanguard LP over... Aquiring the Taste is crucial to whether a woman stays or leaves. We obviously have different experiences, and I'm not talking about a 12 year old into jazz - which obviously made you a complete weirdo. -What I write about progheads is not an opinion, but an observation. I've already stated that I usually enjoy their company (up to a point), although I don't count myself as being one of them. You (and Sean) are the one that seemingly can't stand them. I hang out with nerds of all sorts "all the time" - until I tire of listening to whatever the one-or two things they go on about are. I personally listen to Progarchives-related music maybe 25% of music my listening time, and it's usually artists not normally associated with Prog Rock. I know who I am and I'm far form a "prog dork". But I bump into them every one in a while. As far as I'm concerned, the average progger is one track minded and doesn't really have eclectic tastes. I have. If I introduce them to say some rhytmically complex Avantgarde Jazz or Eastern European folk music - suddenly odd time signatures or whatever isn't all that interesting anymore. It's like it has to sound like Gentle Giant for them to count.

I want to apologize for my earlier comment. That wasn’t meant as a dig at the members of ProgArchives — in fact, I’ve always found this community to be refreshingly open-minded, which goes against the stereotype often associated with prog fans.

The reason I brought this up stems from stumbling upon a subreddit where nearly every post came from self-proclaimed “proud dorks” who spoke in a rigid, almost dogmatic way about what prog is — as if there’s one definitive version of it — and insisted that being into prog automatically makes you a massive nerd, no exceptions.

When I read your comment, I initially lumped you in with that crowd, and I reacted poorly because I really don’t like being reduced to a label. That said, I understand where you're coming from now. I’m not convinced a girl would literally run for the hills if she heard Gentle Giant, but I agree — it’s probably not the best idea to start a conversation about them with someone who isn’t already into prog.

Which is why I’ve made a point of keeping my musical taste diverse — from the funk and soul of Earth, Wind & Fire, to the Nordic psychedelia of Tusmørke, all the way to the experimental alt-rock of Radiohead.

Sean Trane wrote: Gnik/King, apparently, you're a late 30's "dude" , who barely knows what went on before you, including 70's prog bands and general public perception.

I am actually in my mid 20's.

You're absolutely right — I only got into prog a few years ago. My roots are actually in jazz, and I’ve also always had a soft spot for yacht rock. Back in high school, my playlist was dominated by bands like The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, and Byrne & Barnes. That sound — the smooth, polished vibe of the late ’70s and early ’80s — was surprisingly popular among my friends at the time, and it definitely helped me connect with people. Maybe it still holds up today?

Over time, my musical tastes have become increasingly eclectic. My library is a mix of progressive rock, fusion subgenres, and a solid foundation of classic jazz. I’ve come to see prog as a natural extension of blues and jazz — branching into classical, folk, electronic, and beyond. For me, it felt like the next logical step after diving deep into jazz and fusion. That progression is clearly reflected in my collection, much of which comes from albums listed on ProgArchives and JazzMusicArchives.

I don’t really identify as someone confined to a niche. I see myself more as a traveler exploring the vast and varied landscape of experimental music. That’s partly why I clash with gatekeepers or the kind of “nerds” who lock themselves into narrow definitions of what prog should be. Music — especially progressive music — should be about discovery, not limitation.

That said, I’ve got nothing against the users on PA. I know many of them have completely different tastes and approaches, and I respect that diversity.

Gnik Nosmirc wrote: Saperlipopette! wrote: I agree. Jazz isn't considered uncool. I do however think people can get a little intimidated by a Jazz-connoisseur, in similar ways as they might get around someone with expert knowledge about classical music. In a respectful way. While a progger isn't intimidating at all, just an awkward nerd who listen to nerd-music. You're completely wrong. I'm speaking as someone who has been a jazz enthusiast since I was 12. In the 21st century—during my childhood and teenage years—jazz was never considered cool, unless you wanted to hang out with people over 40. Back in high school, it was actually much cooler to talk about bands like Pink Floyd, Yes, or Jimi Hendrix. Mentioning Miles Davis or John Coltrane, on the other hand, would get you labeled as someone who listened to music for old people. Also, is this really what you think of progheads, or are you just joking? You guys should stand up for yourselves and drop this whole “proud dork” mentality. Don’t let yourselves be boxed in. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it honestly frustrates me when people with eclectic tastes are reduced to a stereotype.

Cool, considered by whom, though??
By vinyl-buying hipsters, who think they're cool?? They're about as uncool as it gets outside their own little t**tty circle. Even them are buying jazz vinyls.
Jazz is "cool" nowadays and it's nothing to do with Cool Jazz.

Gnik/King, apparently, you're a late 30's "dude" , who barely knows what went on before you, including 70's prog bands and general public perception.

I've been to jazz festivals over the last three decades, and of late, seats are getting pulled out, because the aboundant young flocks don't want them - they want to stand close to the stage, and not have seats blocking them in front where the standers.

Saperlipopette! wrote: ^ I'm not wrong. Actually I know I'm right. My jazz collection and obsession is positive social cultural capital/currency, while in a normie context - Prog is the complete opposite. Selecting my Sunday at the Village Vanguard LP over... Aquiring the Taste is crucial to whether a woman stays or leaves. We obviously have different experiences, and I'm not talking about a 12 year old into jazz - which obviously made you a complete weirdo. -What I write about progheads is not an opinion, but an observation. I've already stated that I usually enjoy their company (up to a point), although I don't count myself as being one of them. You (and Sean) are the one that seemingly can't stand them. I hang out with nerds of all sorts "all the time" - until I tire of listening to whatever the one-or two things they go on about are. I personally listen to Progarchives-related music maybe 25% of music my listening time, and it's usually artists not normally associated with Prog Rock. I know who I am and I'm far form a "prog dork". But I bump into them every one in a while. As far as I'm concerned, the average progger is one track minded and doesn't really have eclectic tastes. I have. If I introduce them to say some rhytmically complex Avantgarde Jazz or Eastern European folk music - suddenly odd time signatures or whatever isn't all that interesting anymore. It's like it has to sound like Gentle Giant for them to count.

Please don't include with Gnik (nothing against him, though)
Outside the bracket you put me in, I agree with most of your post.

The "PROG" sect started in the early 90's, once the style went underground and their lovers started building a citadel, besieged by heathens. At that point, once it appeared to climb up the stairs - but never managed to get back to ground floor - the "truth-fighters" were those that adored anything by the Magna Carta label and the Scandinavian wave (I only adhered to the second).

The rabid PROG fans I met in those years (basically the 90's), some of them became friends, some just buddies, others mostly acquaintances that I never meet outside concerts. The latter's "gardian of the faith" attitude sincerely pulls me somewhat back from them - even if I somewhat admire their involvement for "the cause", as most of them actually get personally involved in the organisation of the "masses".

You wouldn't believe the hatred when PA broadened its scope to widen the database to other bands that were encompassed in GEPR (Gibraltar Encyclopedia or Prog Rock), ProGGnosis and other sites trying to survive and build its chapel. Don't get me wrong, I actually read Gibraltar and learned of quite a few bands I didn't know about, but the rate of success up my tastes was not garanteed at all.

Saperlipopette! wrote: Sean Trane wrote: Gnik Nosmirc wrote: Same goes for jazz. Used to be cool, now it's seen as a bunch of snobby intellectuals or music nerds. Mmmhhh!!! about jazz, since Kamasi and Shabaka, jazz crowds are absolutely not nerd-crowds anymore.   15 years ago, I was one of the tougest in the crowd, nowadays, I'm one of the oldest (notwithstanding the 15 years ellapsed since). I agree. Jazz isn't considered uncool. I do however think people can get a little intimidated by a Jazz-connoisseur, in similar ways as they might get around someone with expert knowledge about classical music. In a respectful way. While a progger isn't intimidating at all, just an awkward nerd who listen to nerd-music.

You're completely wrong. I'm speaking as someone who has been a jazz enthusiast since I was 12. In the 21st century—during my childhood and teenage years—jazz was never considered cool, unless you wanted to hang out with people over 40. Back in high school, it was actually much cooler to talk about bands like Pink Floyd, Yes, or Jimi Hendrix. Mentioning Miles Davis or John Coltrane, on the other hand, would get you labeled as someone who listened to music for old people.

Also, is this really what you think of progheads, or are you just joking? You guys should stand up for yourselves and drop this whole “proud dork” mentality. Don’t let yourselves be boxed in. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it honestly frustrates me when people with eclectic tastes are reduced to a stereotype.

Edited by Gnik Nosmirc - 19 hours 29 minutes ago at 21:47

The only people Nerdier are Birdwatchers and KC completists. Oh, and Bikers... Gay Bikers... On Acid.

I agree with Greg that this is more of a spectrum thing. I'm an introvert and hate crowds. Always had a small number of friends, but could socialize if needed. I can pull off giving a presentation to 100-200 people. But this "extrovert" activity just drains me. I usually needed one day a week by myself to "re-center myself" and recover from a week of dealing with people (at work, while shopping, wherever...).

I guess the stereotypes fit me: prog rock, science fiction, have degrees in astronomy and computer science, all my friends are and were "nerdy" or quirky in their own ways. But on the flip side, I was good at baseball in my teen years, used to run five miles twice a week (now I walk about four miles a day on average), and used to be able to bench press my own weight (not sure if I can still do this or not since I don't have that kind of equipment in my home). But even my athletic side has a "nerdy" feel to it. I still collect baseball cards and have a keen interest in baseball statistics. When I was younger I combined the nerdy and athletic sides of me by listening to prog rock on an exercise bike for 3-4 hours, often on the day I lived inside my little bubble away from the rest of the world.

We are what we are and giving ourselves a label is about as useless as trying to pigeonhole a prog band into a subgenre.

David_D wrote: Sean Trane wrote: David: if the only bands you were into back in the 70's were "prog", than you were probably a weirdo for the cute and sexually-active chicks, and a case to be avoided for body-fluid exchanges with them. I've always been into much more than just Progressive Rock (strictly defined), and that certainly includes the '70s too - which btw has probably been the main reason for my previous fondness of a very broad definition of Prog. When talking about my female acquaintances in the '70s, I had my fair share. Edit: If you by "prog" meant what I now call "progressive music", that doesn't make much difference.

This. Expand your knowledge. Also, that is a very sad comment. Maybe it was only a joke. But your musical tastes should not prevent you from speaking to other people. Or perhaps the 70's were very tough times, I don't know.

Edited by Gnik Nosmirc - Yesterday at 14:33

Sean Trane wrote: Gnik Nosmirc wrote: Same goes for jazz. Used to be cool, now it's seen as a bunch of snobby intellectuals or music nerds. Mmmhhh!!! about jazz, since Kamasi and Shabaka, jazz crowds are absolutely not nerd-crowds anymore.   15 years ago, I was one of the tougest in the crowd, nowadays, I'm one of the oldest (notwithstanding the 15 years ellapsed since).

I agree. Jazz isn't considered uncool. I do however think people can get a little intimidated by a Jazz-connoisseur, in similar ways as they might get around someone with expert knowledge about classical music. In a respectful way. While a progger isn't intimidating at all, just an awkward nerd who listen to nerd-music.

Gnik Nosmirc wrote: Atavachron wrote: "Progheads" are almost entirely nerds.   But in its day, liking Tull and Yes and Floyd and ELP was entirely acceptable and even cool. Which is to say proggies are nerds now, but not so much then. Same goes for jazz. Used to be cool, now it's seen as a bunch of snobby intellectuals or music nerds.

I call the process "dynastic metabolism"... something innovative and exciting comes along... it could be a type of music, literature or even government, Eventually a certain professionalism sets in and starts to drain the life out of things because its about control and gatekeeping. A thousand midlevel managers serving a few major gatekeepers as consolidation happens.   Then there's epistimology etc etc.   Honestly when talking music most effective musicians dont draw lots of lines. Thats the sort of things priests do... interceeding between the gods and the people. Meh. We have the technology to do and end run around that now. So let's...