Gentle Giant influenced bands
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Topic: Gentle Giant influenced bands
Posted By: Marsaphire
Subject: Gentle Giant influenced bands
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 04:32
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This may have been done before, and if so, kill this thread - and refer this newbie to the old one(s). However, If this is something worth talking about, please do. I'm aware of bands like Et Cetera (from Canada), Echolyn, Happy the Man...But there must be other, obviously GG-inspired bands out there. If you know of any, please let me know. I'm fairly new to prog - as well as this forum - and have developed quite a crush on GG  Looking for new, related stuff to get into. My background is definitely heavier, darker music, but GG, while "happy sounding" in comparison to most of the metallic stuff I've listened to over the years, is just undeniably great. Okay, enough gushing Cheers! ------------- "Life is fleeting, man" - Slick Willie "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" - Another famous Willie "Don't fear the reaper" -BOC |
Replies:
Posted By: R o V e R
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 05:05
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van der graff generator
is the answer |
Posted By: eloii
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 05:35
| Yezda Urfa |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 05:47
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There have been similar discussions, but not for a while.
My personal view is that history has been kind to GG in terms of their perceived influence. They were not one of the major bands during the time of their existence, indeed I suspect many of the bands deemed to have been influenced by them had in reality heard little by them.
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Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 06:42
To what question however VdGG predates GG. Try Advent |
R o V e R wrote:Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 07:05
| Echolyn, Spock's Beard, Yezda Urfa, Nathan Mahl, Pent**ter.. |
Posted By: Marsaphire
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 07:57
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Once again, thanks people. VDGG seems to be coming up a lot. As I've said in previous threads, I've heard them, but not properly listened to them. Sounds like it's high time I should. Most of the others bands mentioned I've at least heard of, and in several cases, actually have music by therm. But again, I'm quite new to the world of prog, and rather awestruck by the incredible amount of music available to listen to. Thanks primarily to this site, navagating through it all has thus far been very interesting and enjoyable. However, with a job and family, I, regetably, cannot spend as much as I'd like zoning out with a pair of headphones on. Three bands are entirely new to me: Advent, Nathan Mahl and Pent**ter (what an odd name for a band... ).Thanks for the homework assignment. Cheers ------------- "Life is fleeting, man" - Slick Willie "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" - Another famous Willie "Don't fear the reaper" -BOC |
Posted By: Marsaphire
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 11:14
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Interesting post, Easy Living. Personally, I think it might just be that GG are so good, so different (or so far ahead of their time) that, in the same way that van Gogh was penniless during his own lifetime, but would have been incredibly wealthy if he'd only lived long enough to see his work appreciated, we've simply had to wait until recent years for people to "get" Gentle Giant's music. Another example would be Lovecraft, or Philip K. Dick. Both writers were almost totally ignored in their day and written off as hacks and headcases. Now the influence of both writers is tremendous. It seems that the most "progressive" artists are often ignored initially - only to be discoverd later. I'm sure there are many prog bands which were big in the 70's which have been covered up by the sands of time because, really, they weren't all that great. On the other hand, a few bands, like GG, may not have been such a big deal back in the day, but are now. I believe there's probably a good reason for that. Maybe I'm just a love-struck fanboy (and that's fine), but I'd be interested to know what you make of that hypothesis. ------------- "Life is fleeting, man" - Slick Willie "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" - Another famous Willie "Don't fear the reaper" -BOC |
Posted By: JesusBetancourt
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 11:28
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ADVENT
ADVENT
ADVENT
ADVENT
ADVENT!!!!!!!!!!GO TO THIER WEB SITE AND YOU WILL SEE: THEY ARE PERFECT CLONES ------------- "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" John 7:38 |
Posted By: jplanet
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 11:50
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Saga claims they are very GG influenced, but I don't hear it. Spock's Beard's acapella moments are affectionately called "Gentle Giants" amongst the band...
------------- https://www.facebook.com/ShadowCircus/" rel="nofollow - ..::welcome to the shadow circus::.. |
Posted By: enteredwinter
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 12:12
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There is a really cool moment in Wobbler's debut where they go into this Gentle Giant groove for a few minutes. I love it. (It is about 10 minutes into the title track from "Hinterland"). There are probably other instances of GG influence on that record, but that is the most obvious. |
Posted By: el böthy
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 12:33
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Not obvious, but MIA has some Gentle Giants stuff every now and then...specially when the vocals, try the Cornostipicum album.
------------- "You want me to play what, Robert?" 
|
Posted By: Marsaphire
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 12:57
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I'm starting to get more and more interested in Wobbler as people bring them up again and again. Definitely high on the list. What is it about Scandinavia and great music? Something in the water, or just long winters with nothing to do? As for Saga...Well, that was one of the bands my step-dad was into years ago, and I couldn't stand them as a teen. I may give them another try one of these days, but I'm afraid the negative associations connected to that band might ruin the experience for me. ------------- "Life is fleeting, man" - Slick Willie "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" - Another famous Willie "Don't fear the reaper" -BOC |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 13:16
| I think you may well have a point there Mars. There's no doubt in my mind that GG have had considerably more influence on more recent bands (The Flower Kings spring to mind too) than they did on their 1970's peers. |
Posted By: Visitor13
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 13:38
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Gargantua: http://chief.oke.krakow.pl/~tylda/tylda/gargantua/en.html |
Posted By: R o V e R
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 13:48
ya i'll try "Advent"
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Posted By: MattiR
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 14:03
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- Yezda Urfa - Echolyn - Gargantua --> excellent Polish band!!!!!!!!!! - Epidermis --> Germany |
Posted By: Leningrad
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 14:11
| Geddy Lee has said that Rush was influenced by GG. Can't really hear it, however. |
Posted By: erlenst
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 14:30
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[QUOTE=R o V e R]van der graff generator
is the answer[/QUOTE ??????? |
Posted By: Marsaphire
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 17:08
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Visitor13 and MattiR, Thanks to you both for the Gargantua tip. I've just been to the site and listened to a few clips. Very nice - if that's the right word to use  My Polish wife (I only point out her nationality because I'm a Yank from SoCal) says she's heard of them, and that they've played at some point in the smal city where we live....Man, where the heck was I that day?? Maybe next time.... ------------- "Life is fleeting, man" - Slick Willie "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" - Another famous Willie "Don't fear the reaper" -BOC |
Posted By: Marsaphire
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 17:11
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Rush and Gentle Giant? No, can't really say I hear it, either. Geddy is the only one who sings, and he sounds nothing like anyone in GG. But hey, if Rush like the Giant, that just makes me appreciate them more ------------- "Life is fleeting, man" - Slick Willie "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" - Another famous Willie "Don't fear the reaper" -BOC |
Posted By: Alex Zambra
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 23:06
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I can't find anyone that would even resemble Gentle Giant; at least all have heard till "Interview" is so unique. Would take geniuses working together for a long time.
I started on them about 1 year ago and so far keep listening to their stuff over and over.
So I don't know any band like this.
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Posted By: Asyte2c00
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 23:29
| You can't have a VDGG without a GG |
Posted By: mickstafa
Date Posted: October 07 2006 at 23:31
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What?!? Van Der Graaf??! They are completely different camps! Gentle Giant is so harmonious with their vocals, their songs are often witty and light-hearted (there are some exceptions though, especially on Aquiring the Taste). They often incorperate some straight-ahead rocking segments in their songs as well. Van Der Graaf is more akin to Crimson more than anyone else. I have no idea what you guys are talking about with this one.... Oh, and definitely get Yezda Urfa. Only two CDs, but man, they are amazing! Any GG fan will love them, yet they are not clones. |
Posted By: Marsaphire
Date Posted: October 08 2006 at 05:26
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Yes, Yezda Urfa are great: Gentle Giant on speed. Or perhaps Yes on crack. I dunno. Anyway, it's fantastic stuff Alex, I'm with you. Nobody really sounds like GG. However, there are quite a few bands, primarily newer ones (90's and later - pointed out to me by Easy Livin) that are influenced by them and incorporate aspects of GG sound into their music. As for VDGG, I like them, and definitely hear that Crimsonian darkness - but nothing that really makes me say "Ah, that was a GG moment!". But I'll keep listening. Gladly ------------- "Life is fleeting, man" - Slick Willie "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" - Another famous Willie "Don't fear the reaper" -BOC |
Posted By: SlipperFink
Date Posted: October 09 2006 at 03:58
You're JOKING RIGHT? KIDDING? A horrible joke gone wrong? Giant was THE "musicians band" thru the mid 70's. The most respected and admired band HANDS DOWN by prog musicians. I lived thru it. Crash. Who won "Contemporary Keyboard" band of the year in 1975? Giant. NO magazine was more indicative of "what was hip" for prog musicians in the mid Seventies. It was the bible. Giant was KING. KING. Not KC. Not PG Genesis. Not Yes. Not ELP. Those jokers were bigger with the FANS than they were with the MUSICIANS. This is because all those bands had passionate afficiandos and detractors among the musical community. You rarely could find somebody who wasn't a whole hell of a lot more into KC than Genesis... or vice versa. Not so for GIANT. Universally respected and revered by prog musicians worldwide. Feared. Loved. Then again... you may be some kinda moderator thingie here but... yer named after a Uriah Heep song... and no self-respecting prog musician would be caught DEAD holding one of their albums back in de daze. Kiss of death... Gearhead music. Chopless metalheads who smoked too much lousy Mexican weed and read Tolkien. SM. ------------- Modesty is an ornament, but one goes further without it. Old German Proverb |
Posted By: Marsaphire
Date Posted: October 09 2006 at 05:35
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^ SlipperFink, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading that post ------------- "Life is fleeting, man" - Slick Willie "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" - Another famous Willie "Don't fear the reaper" -BOC |
Posted By: pero
Date Posted: October 09 2006 at 06:01
| Slipperfink, for one 96 year old you have pretty good memory. |
Posted By: IVNORD
Date Posted: December 14 2006 at 10:35
Almost agree... Yezda Urfa have been influenced heavily by GG and Yes. They imitated both bands and quite remarkably so, although I find their music to be without substance, just sheer technical vertuosity. Also, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso's album "Io Sono Nato Libero" displays a lot of GG influence. |