And fortunately, while in Boston in July 2009, I was able to catch the Yes/Asia concert in a covered outdoor circus round in Cohasset, MA. Quite the drive to get there, but well worth it. Asia was really good (see below). Before the show, I met up with a bunch of people from YesFans.com website. Nice people and hardcore Yes gurus. Photos from that show here...
In June of 2010, I took in the Iron Maiden / Dream Theater show here at home in Edmonton. Dream Theater blew my socks off. Little did I know that it would be the last time I would see Mike Portnoy play with them. Sad. Their last album is one of the greatest things I have ever heard.
Then in July 2010, while on a work gig in L.A., unbeknowest to me, Yes and Peter Frampton were playing at the Greek Theater in Hollywood, just 10 minutes from my hotel. I zipped over there, got a single 14th row ticket and watched and recorded a lot of the performance on my new camera. Then.. THEN... after the show, I was able to ask a guy for his backstage pass and next thing you know, there I am talking to Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White, Oliver Wakeman, and Benoit David, and getting a picture with the group (see below).
Steve Howe, Benoit David, Alan White, me, Oliver Wakeman, Chris Squire
Photos from that show...
Photos from that show...
Then a month later, I flew down to Vancouver to meet up with an ol' buddy and former bandmate and we drove across the border into Seattle and then a couple hours later, we were at the Rush concert, but missed the first three songs due to the odd venue location and massive amount of single-lane traffic. Won't be going there again, that's for sure. That said, although we had distant seats, the big zoom on my camera allowed me to get some great shots and video of Tom Sawyer and Subdivisions. It was also the funniest concert I have ever been to. Monkeys simply make me laugh and seeing them play Tom Sawyer, well, I pretty much lost it. There were a tonne of other side clips and movies they did, you'll just have to see it for yourself. They'll be in Vancouver next year, so I think I'll go see them again. It's just that good.
Rush - August 2010
So it's been quite the year for me seeing my favourite prog bands. Lots of changes though. With Portnoy leaving Dream Theater and Yes about to record their first album in 10 years and 2nd ever without frontman Jon Anderson, perhaps indicate that nothing good lasts forever... Well, I guess, except for Rush who had one of the best rockumentaries ever released about a band.. ever.
Then in November 2010, I had the chance to see an old, old classic band play for the third time with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, but this time at the amazing Winspear Centre of Music. I'm talking about Procol Harum. Unfortunately, this is the only video on YouTube...
Throughout this period, I have discovered a wonderfully full magazine simply called PROG by Classic Rock Magazine. While expensive, the mag comes with a full CD with all the latest and greatest prog bands. I have about 5 of the CDs now and have been mighty impressed with the quality of the songs on there from some amazing bands. Two that stand out for me are Porcupine Tree--a favourite of the drummer in my band, and Mystery, which is the home band for new Yes frontman, Benoit David. Mystery is from Montreal.
So throughout all of this past year and a half, if not more, my appreciation for prog rock has grown dramatically. There are so many bands I now listen to because of Prog Mag, leaving a lot of other so-called "rock" bands in the dust. You know who you are ... and you'll never compete with the dynamic range and innovation of these bands, and you never have.
