Prog Cover Fight

HansGruber · Post by **HansGruber** » Sun May 01, 2005 7:58 pm

Attention children of the 70's: While I'm uncertain that I have the chops for it, I'd like to propose a Prog cover fight.

What do I mean by Prog? Odd time signatures, abstract guitar solos, mystical storytelling, and zero humor (which makes it funny - see Spinal Tap).

The term Prog Rock is pretty broad. I'd like to try to stay away from the more experimental variety such as Faust and Beefheart. And not Zappa - he's in on the joke.

The bands that capture that special spirit (and inspre awe) are: Procol Harum, King Crimson (and all their spinoffs), Kansas, Yes, EL&P, Asia, Rush, early Genesis and Peter Gabriel, Jethro Tull, and maybe Pink Floyd and the Moody Blues. There are also a few songs by bands like Styx that would be game.

***UPDATE***

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive-rock.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prog_rock
Prog Rock on Googlism (thanks Roymond)

Ok, we're all deliberating over the definition of 'Prog Rock' and the scope of the fight. I don't want to be exclusive...so my position (at least for now, and in keeping with 'Prog' spirit) is to let youds guys run with your ideas. It's good to hear people fired up, and I hate to be the one to douse your creative energy. Go for it...Kraut Rock, Eno (That's Eno not Emo), Beefheart, Zappa, & The Captain and Tennille are all in.

I liked Jack's comment about this being a progartistfight, and not a progsongfight. Personal interpretation is, of course, allowed, and even encouraged. Musicianship is always awarded here, anyway.

Tentative Deadline: September 12. This is totally arbitrary and flexible. Please let me know your preferences, and I'll try to average it out.

Here's the current list of song reservations, as people have requested. I'll add you to the list, or edit your song if you wish.

Leaf - Today's Tom Sawyer
Jack - Fat-Bottomed Boys
Roymond - Indiscipline
Cashpoint - Thick as a Brick
Hans - I Talk to The Wind
Scott - Cuckoo Cocoon
Deshead - Red Barchetta
Bolio - Long Distance Runaround
Boltoph - See Emily Play
TheHipCola - YYZ (with Leaf)
Rabid Garfunkle - Aqualung
BeWells - The Heart of the Sunrise

Let me know how I'm doing. This is Baby's First Thread, so I need initiation in protocol and expectations (Thanks for the help so far, guys. I'm enjoying this).

Niveous · Post by **Niveous** » Sun May 01, 2005 8:03 pm

Though I am intrigued by the idea of digging up some gem from "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway", this will probably have to be put on the backburner seeing as we have an official coverfight coming up.

HansGruber · Post by **HansGruber** » Sun May 01, 2005 8:15 pm

Yeah - I'm in no hurry. Just putting it out there.

thehipcola · Post by **thehipcola** » Sun May 01, 2005 8:34 pm

I'm in...since I love many kinds of prog, I couldn't not be in. But time will definitely be required.

Cool idea!

Niveous · Post by **Niveous** » Sun May 01, 2005 8:45 pm

TheHipCola wrote:I couldn't not be in.

*Pokes THC in the eye for the ugly double negative*

jimtyrrell · Post by **jimtyrrell** » Mon May 02, 2005 3:53 am

I also can't not acknowledge a bad double negative. Shame on you HipCola!

Boy, when this fight comes up I'd love to do a cover of that Genesis tune about the giant hogweed. That might be too ambitious, I don't know. Still, this is intriguing, and I'm gonna start kicking ideas around.

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Mon May 02, 2005 4:18 am

I am sucked in by inevitability. We should all just claim a song from the Lamb and run with it. Plus I know there's at least one other Giant fan out there somewehere. Whenever (distant date in the future) works for me.

thehipcola · Post by **thehipcola** » Mon May 02, 2005 6:45 am

C'mon gang, double negatives are not not FUN! Try one yourself, you can't not see how using them isn't the unawesomest thing to do!

{ahem...} ok...

ON topic, this is way cool, but I'm not a huge Genesis fan, so I vote we don't only do Genesis. I'm much more of a Floyd/Tull kind of guy, so that's where I'll probably go. Floyd is too obvious tho, so maybe Tull... hmm...

HansGruber · Post by **HansGruber** » Mon May 02, 2005 7:54 am

I want to bring the cheese...unfortunately (?) I have no Rush mp3s to review for worthiness, though I have a few King Crimson stinkers...I thought 21st Century Schizoid Man would be wond'rously appropriate for me, and then I listened to it. I'd blow my head off trying to sequence those drums. Does anyone happen to have a copy of 'The Great Deceiver'?

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Mon May 02, 2005 9:01 am

HansGruber wrote:Does anyone happen to have a copy of 'The Great Deceiver'?

I have cigarettes, ice cream and figurines. Will check tonight. Definately looking for a guy-and-guitar kind of cover

When I studied with Fripp (too long ago), my room was next to his, so every morning he woke up at 5:00 for an hour of practice, which was quite acrobatic. Little strands of Starless, and of course the newer stuff, kept cropping up.

HansGruber · Post by **HansGruber** » Mon May 02, 2005 9:31 am

Roymond - Thanks! Is Starless and BB the album with 'Formentera Lady'?

It seemed more edgy, less fruity, and not so head-spinningly synchopated like their later stuff. What is Bill Bruford's problem?

You studied with Fripp? Oh, I'm blushing....

HeuristicsInc · Post by **HeuristicsInc** » Mon May 02, 2005 9:33 am

that's awesome, roymond.
hans, do you mean the song, from "starless and bible black" or the box set of live stuff? 'cause for an odd reason i have two copies of the box set.
-bill

Justincombustion · Post by **Justincombustion** » Mon May 02, 2005 9:57 am

Wonder if Glenn Case can pull off a Geddy Lee voice...?

BYTOR!!! duh duh!!
And the snow dogs!!

Leaf · Post by **Leaf** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:10 am

I'm calling TomSawyer... I think Tontripper could do a mean Closer to the Heart... and the Hell Yeahs could pull off some hardcore Fleetwood Mac... do they count as prog rock?

The Hipcola.. April Wine all the way.

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:16 am

HansGruber wrote:Roymond - Thanks! Is Starless and BB the album with 'Formentera Lady'?

That's from Islands

HansGruber wrote:You studied with Fripp? Oh, I'm blushing....

Not that I have much to show for it now, but yes, for eight very long days in 1984 I attended a sort of master class. Every day included a private lesson, a group lesson, composition time, rehearsals, performances, group meals, drinks at the pub. Trey Gunn was in my class, and Terre Roche stopped in. I worked with a guy last year who saw me play that year in Virginia with the Crafty Guitars (what Fripp called the group). Strange, that.

HansGruber · Post by **HansGruber** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:25 am

Bill -

hans, do you mean the song, from "starless and bible black"

Yes, that's the one. It may be in the box set, too. I'm not interested in doing that song, I just remember it being nice and sparkly.

I'm calling TomSawyer... I think Tontripper could do a mean Closer to the Heart... and the Hell Yeahs could pull off some hardcore Fleetwood Mac... do they count as prog rock?

Excellent! I was hoping someone would grab TS. And no (ha!) - even hardcore Fleetwood Mac is so not prog. I might accept Phil Collins, though. Especially for the Hell Yeahs....

Speaking of others, I'd like to get Wreckdom and Hoblit in here. I think they have a lot to give in this arena.

thehipcola · Post by **thehipcola** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:27 am

Leaf wrote:The Hipcola.. April Wine all the way.

unless I missed something, April Wine isn't very prog. Probably about as prog as Fleetwood Mac. Or maybe we define prog differently. But either way, who doesn't like Say Hello...?

Leaf · Post by **Leaf** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:31 am

They seemed pretty progish to me when I saw them last year... but you're right, and you'd know.. trying to stick to Canadian content dude... seems like we got Rush and Triumph...

Ok, Ok, you can do Toto. (Like you're waiting for instruction on a cover choice!)

thehipcola · Post by **thehipcola** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:34 am

The singer from Dream Theater is Canadian...does that count? Maybe I'll just whip off a quick DT cover. Or early Rush...say, Workin' Man. Heh.

Leaf · Post by **Leaf** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:39 am

Ah dude...you gotta do the Dream Theatre... Canadian spelling of course. I had no idea he was Canadian. That band... I can handle them for a song or two, then my brain melts and I gotta wait a week.

Hey, what about Mr. Bungle or Zappa? Do they fit "prog rock"?

DEFINITION PLEASE!!!

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:50 am

Contemporary prog, as someone here at ASCAP has educated me, includes Spoc's Beard and Transatlantic. He lent me a couple CDs and talk about living in the past! They're really good, but you know...it's the 21st century.

Ahhh...Schizoid Man!

HansGruber · Post by **HansGruber** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:52 am

Good question, Leaf. My original intention was to do a Rush cover fight, but THC thought that prog would be more accepted. Here's a rather long-winded definition of 'Prog Rock':

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive-rock.asp

As I mentioned above, I have a certain range that I'm interested in, but I' not going to dictate the terms. Just recommending we stick to a limited scope.

I would count Zappa out, as he's all about humor. I'd like to hear some ridiculously sincere takes. I'm not as familiar with Bungle, but they opened for Rush when I saw them, so they may have to be in by default.

I haven't listened to this stuff in years. I know nothing of these new bands, Roymond; I can hardly believe there are still 'new' bands in this genre...