Haven't been to the Klub Progresja since May when I saw Nazareth there, and just before that, I saw UFO there in late April. The Klub Progresja is a great small, homely sort of place. I would guess that it holds about 600-700 people, but I could be way out with this, as it's difficult to say. One good piece of advice about the Klub Progresja: if you're getting your beer on draft, drink Zywiec as it's much better than the Warka there.
I've only seen Paradise Lost once before, and that was back at Castle Donnington in 1995 when Kiss headlined the show. On that day, I thought that Paradise Lost and a surprisingly trimmed down Ozzy Osbourne were the stars of the show (Ozzy did a great version of 'Sympton of the Universe' if I remember rightly). Anyway, below, I've attached two of my favourite Paradise Lost songs: 'Gothic' and 'True Belief'.
My musical taste is eclectic (e.g. I went to Cork in Ireland to see the ethereal-sounding Low in July; and I'm going seeing the dream pop of Beach House at Warsaw Stodoła in November), so I'll have no problem following up the Gothic doom of Paradise Lost with the classic prog of The Flower Kings. I've only really started listening to The Flower Kings quite recently, which is more the pity as they're right up my street (e.g. I love Camel; Yes; Kansas; Jethro Tull; Rush; ELP; Marillion; early Genesis; IQ etc.). Below, I've attached part of 'Stardust We Are' by The Flower Kings. I guess that either 'Stardust We Are' or 'The Truth Will Set You Free' would be my favourite Flower Kings tracks.
It's great to have such diverse Rock bands playing back-to-back at the same place. It gives me a sense of attending a mini-Festival. It's great to get out and see some musical diversity.
You could add the Flower Kings to your progressive rock favourites Pat.
ReplyDeleteI watched ELP from the Isle of Wight on the television last night. They must be the complete, nay perfect band that I have ever seen live or on the television. Absolutely mesmerizing.
I find The Flower Kings dreamy and relaxing (I mean this as a compliment, of course), Dave.
ReplyDeleteAlso, like yourself, I have fond memories of ELP doing 'Tarkus'; 'Pictures at an Exhibition'; 'Karn Evil 9' etc. at Manchester Apollo when they reformed in the early 90s (1992 I think?).
Hi Pat, I knew you would know the date of the Manchester Apollo ELP concert. I remember Henry giving you and me a lift in his car, If I remember right,it was a Sunday and Keith Emerson torturing a poor old organ with a knife, whilst hanging off the stage?
ReplyDeleteWatched the ELP concert on television the other night. He did exactly the same thing. It was all precisely orchestrated and the man could have been a famous composer. Great memory Pat. Please post a report about the concerts this weekend.
Do you like Gentle Giant, Dave? I thought they were a very underrated Prog group
ReplyDeleteI do Pat. Remember that you used to play: on reflection, a lot. I would put Gentle Giant in the baroque, medieval, renaissance prog rock category. Very much like Blackmore's night. Candice is gorgeous isn't she? Ritchie Blackmore is one incredibly talented guitarist and a very lucky man. Lucky man is also a great ELP track. What's your favourite ELP track Pat?
ReplyDeleteMy favourite ELP tracks would have to be the lengthy 'Karn Evil 9' or 'Tarkus'. Having said this, I think that 'Trilogy' is their most melodic, accessible and underrated album.
ReplyDeleteHave you listened to much Pallas, Dave? Once saw them at the UMIST on a Saturday night. The gumbies couldn't stand them. I used to have a great Pallas tape from the Friday Rock Show, Live at Reading. My favourite Pallas track is 'Atlantis'. Pallas are in the same vein as IQ (they were good when I saw them last year in Papertown)
Hi Pat, have heard very little of Pallas. They remind me very much of early Genesis. I think the prog bands are very theatrical and visual and probably in the cerebral rock category that bands like Rush and Blue Oyster Cult belong. I love the use of dry ice and other visual effects. Think Magnum were also (probably still are) good at creating the right atmosphere and visual appearance. I really rate Magnum very highly. I love there themes of the crusades and fighting evil with good. Hope you have a great night.
ReplyDeleteI thought Magnum were best in the late 1970s, Dave, with songs like 'All Of My Life'; 'If I Could Live Forever'; 'So Cold The Night'; and 'Invasion'.
ReplyDeleteSaw Magnum 'supporting' Def Leppard in 1980 and Krokus in 1982. Needless to say that, for me, Magnum were by far the most interesting band on both occasions. When they were on with Krokus, they opened up with 'Soldier Of The Line', another cracker.
Which are your favourite Magnum albums, Dave?
Chase the Dragon and On a Storytellers night Pat. Bob Catley is very very underrated. They always had great artworks on the covers didn't they. Pure magical fantasy. I also liked Firefly by Uriah Heap in that style. Did you ever see Uriah Heap? Wasn't he a Dickens character Pat?
ReplyDeleteOnly saw Uriah Heep once in about 1988 with the gumbies at Manchester Apollo. Yesh, Uriah Heep is a Dickens character somewhere along the line (I think). I think it may be 'David Copperfield', but I wouldn't bet money on it.
ReplyDeleteSad to say I've only read 'A Christmas Carol' and 'Hard Times' by Dickens. Do you have any favourite Dickens, Dave?
I thought you would have seen Uriah Heap Pat. Did you ever see Pat Travers or Triumph?
ReplyDeleteI have only read 'Oliver Twist'. I do know that 'Coketown' in 'Hard times' is supposed to be Preston and he based the 'Cheeryble brothers on the Grant brothers from Ramsbottom. There's even a Dickens World theme park in Kent. Did you ever visit any of his houses? Do you think he was a social reformer and how do you rate him in terms of a literary great?
Hi Dave, I visited Dickens museums in Broadstairs (where he wrote 'Bleak House', I think) and Rochester).
ReplyDeleteMy friend Michael showed me some of the Victorian houses in Preston which influenced Dickens for 'Hard Times'.
I think that Dickens was a great voice for social reform, inspired by his own sense of Christian philanthropy.
What do you think?
Forgot to say, Dave, I saw Triumph in 1980 at Manchester Apollo, and Pat Travers at Manchester International in 1989 or 1990.
ReplyDeleteTriumph didn't seem to really cut it live (Praying Mantis were good as the support band), but Pat Travers was great coming on with 'Snortin Whiskey', and doing a few of your favourites off 'Black Pearl' (e.g. 'Who'll Take The Fall' and 'The Fifth').
I think if Dickens was alive today he would be writing blogs like this. He was very talented and like you say, a great voice for social reform.
ReplyDeleteI do think though his rags to riches tales were a bit OTT and it probably would not really happen in real life. Perhaps that why he was so good because his writing gave the reader sheer escapism and eternal hope, belief in repentance and he encouraged great social reform and Christian philanthropy?
I much prefer a more cynical, nay tragic outlook on life like Thomas Hardy often portrayed. I think like that Rush track: Roll the bones.
Thought you would have seen Mr Travers and Triumph Pat.
I also prefer Hardy's tragedy, especially the big four: 'Jude The Obscure'; 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles'; 'The Mayor of Casterbridge'; and 'The Return of the Native'. Each one of these is a masterpiece.
ReplyDeleteHaving said this, give me Dickens any day of the week before any of the disenchanted and humourless nonsense served up by political-'correctness' to young people these days.
Totally agree Pat. Don't think we are allowed to laugh any more. Dickens and Hardy both painted grim pictures yet at the same time they provided lots of humour. Joseph Poorgrass talking to the owl is one example of Hardy entertaining the reader.
ReplyDeleteI agree Dave, disenchantment with pathos is meaningful (Hardy is one of my two favourite writers, the other being DH Lawrence), but without pathos, disenchantment (politically-'correct' style), is moronic.
ReplyDeleteIts always darkest just before dawn. Pathos and conflict make a great story don't they?
ReplyDeleteThey're the heart of the human condition, they always will be, won't they?
ReplyDeleteYes you are right. The heart of the human condition.
ReplyDeleteWhat about faith, hope, and (possible) redemption, Dave? Just so that we complete the whole of the Dostoyevskyan-type cycle
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