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Are proghead nerds? |
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Sean Trane ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() Prog Folk Joined: April 29 2004 Location: Heart of Europe Status: Offline Points: 20609 |
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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. |
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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Sean Trane ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() Prog Folk Joined: April 29 2004 Location: Heart of Europe Status: Offline Points: 20609 |
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Dorks are definitely a nasty form of nerds, precisely because they go out of their way to be dorks. Nerds are +/- their own victims and can't help themselves being losers. I've never made a point of widening my musical tastes. It happened right from the start and increased as time went on. TBH, I'm not a big fan of what is called "classic jazz", because it encopasses too many styles I don't really care for. Not just the different Bops, Cool, Swing, Big Band, Soft (the worst kind), Acid, etc.... What I really like is the Modal jazz "new thing" from the Impulse! label (Coltrane, Mingus) and what ensued in the 70's (Tyner, Alice, Pharoah, etc...), Mwandishi, RTF, WR, MO etc... I'm also into the LDN scene that calls itself "spiritual jazz" and other stuff. . Edited by Sean Trane - 58 minutes ago at 16:18 |
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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Gnik Nosmirc ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: March 28 2024 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 336 |
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Another young boy! I was born in 1999. I'm a bit younger. |
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Hrychu ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: November 03 2013 Location: poland? Status: Offline Points: 5955 |
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One of the reasons I see myself as a nerd is because I'm too young to have experienced the heyday of prog rock naturally. I discovered the genre back when it was already a lingering niche, completely on my own, thanks to Progarchives and YouTube. :P As a largely hip-hop and chiptune focused musician at the time, I was immediately drawn by the complex and rich structures of 70s prog music. Moving onto prog from the repetitive and formulaic conventions of the so called beats felt like an epic adventure. A challenge. Intimidating yet rewarding. Studying the classics helped me push the boundaries of my comfort zone and continue the journey to improve my craft. I still have a long way to go. Edited by Hrychu - 6 hours 24 minutes ago at 10:52 |
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Gnik Nosmirc ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: March 28 2024 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 336 |
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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.
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. |
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Hrychu ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: November 03 2013 Location: poland? Status: Offline Points: 5955 |
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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? Edited by Hrychu - 10 hours 33 minutes ago at 06:43 |
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Sean Trane ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() Prog Folk Joined: April 29 2004 Location: Heart of Europe Status: Offline Points: 20609 |
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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" ![]() 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.
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. |
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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Saperlipopette! ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: December 20 2010 Location: Tomorrowland Status: Offline Points: 12951 |
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^ 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. |
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Gnik Nosmirc ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: March 28 2024 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 336 |
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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 |
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Atavachron ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() ![]() Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 30 2006 Location: Pearland Status: Offline Points: 65818 |
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I don't know, seems to me the STDs were probably far more common among the Sabbath/Aerosmith/Zeppelin crowd than the tiny handful of female prog fans. |
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"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy
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Valdez ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: September 17 2005 Location: United States Status: Online Points: 1187 |
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The only people Nerdier are Birdwatchers and KC completists. Oh, and Bikers... Gay Bikers... On Acid.
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https://bakullama1.bandcamp.com/album/maxwells-submarine
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David_D ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: October 26 2010 Location: Copenhagen Status: Online Points: 15792 |
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Then sorry for my interruption. ![]() |
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quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
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progaardvark ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() ![]() Crossover/Symphonic/RPI Teams Joined: June 14 2007 Location: Sea of Peas Status: Offline Points: 53627 |
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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. |
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i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
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Sean Trane ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() Prog Folk Joined: April 29 2004 Location: Heart of Europe Status: Offline Points: 20609 |
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I was talking to David/Atavachron, not you You can talk to all the ladies in their 70's and try getting laid - who knows, maybe they're desperate enough at that age to acceot your offer. ![]() ![]() Sorry, I couldn't resist - too easy, though. |
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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Gnik Nosmirc ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: March 28 2024 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 336 |
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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 |
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David_D ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: October 26 2010 Location: Copenhagen Status: Online Points: 15792 |
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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. Edited by David_D - Yesterday at 12:52 |
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quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
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Saperlipopette! ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: December 20 2010 Location: Tomorrowland Status: Offline Points: 12951 |
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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. |
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Sean Trane ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() Prog Folk Joined: April 29 2004 Location: Heart of Europe Status: Offline Points: 20609 |
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Svettie is obviously a nerd, that's a certainty. He's soooooo obsessive about posting in PA, that only major-league nerds can compete with him . ![]()
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). 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. Personally, I had not only "prog" albums (which was called Art-Rock back then), but blues-rock, hard-rock , a few glamrock (that I kept well hidden), folk-rock and a few more. Of course, back in the 70's, I wasn't into 70's JR/F or 60's Jazz or even funk (jazz or rock), but the mid-80's solved that. When the 80's pop scene invaded and avoided it like the plague, I might've appeared to be a weirdo myself, but by that time, I had a chick network going for cross-gender interactions. . Edited by Sean Trane - Yesterday at 01:12 |
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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Themistocles ![]() Forum Newbie ![]() ![]() Joined: May 05 2025 Location: Portland, Or Status: Offline Points: 25 |
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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... |
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Sjå, my first album in 25+ years is out now: https://jeffjahn.bandcamp.com/album/sj I am told its quite original
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Gnik Nosmirc ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: March 28 2024 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 336 |
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A nerd isn't necessarily bad at socializing. I am very good at socializing, probably even better than most people. I've demolished job interviews even though I didn't have the qualification for the job (having lied on my résumé). Likewise, I'm a smooth talker, quite charming, and I am rather street smart (I've pulled myself out of some very very tough spots out of smooth talking). Nevertheless, I am a huge music nerd who can spend hours and hours in his bedroom making a music collection as much as I can spend hours trying to solve a math problem instead of going to a party. But if I decide to go to said party, I won't be in an unfamiliar ground. I realized when I was young that academic knowledge alone wouldn’t take me far—I had to navigate both worlds. Otherwise, I’d probably be a total dork today. ![]() NOTE: not saying you are a total dork or that there is anything wrong with being introverted and into niche stuff. As a matter of fact, I am. Edited by Gnik Nosmirc - May 27 2025 at 16:47 |
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