Prog is Back!

This is something Daniel from Dreamland yells at every show. He is a big cheerleader for this kind of music. Well, the Horseshoe was the breeding ground for this movement. There were three Progressive Rock bands on the bill, and the place was packed all the way to the back.

I even caught some Progressive alumni in the audience for this show. I saw David Barrett from the David Barrett Trio. I saw Kevin Comeau from Crown Lands who is helping Brass Camel with their recordings. I saw Terry Brown, the legendary Producer for Rush in the audience.

I have a feeling this is going to be a special evening.

Geoff

When the band Geoff hit the stage, they looked and sounded like they had something to prove. This is a band that has that heavy 70’s Rock sound with great riffs and a powerful presence. They also seemed relaxed because the other two bands here are friends with them. So, I guess they just wanted to play their hearts out with friendly band mates and a full room of diehard Progressive rock fans.

Once Geoff hit their groove, they were crushing it like a commuter train running late. Where are the brakes!

Their song “Traditional Contradiction”, flayed and fought like a drunken fighter to get out of a dire situation. It was a great shot to the head.

Some of their riffs reminded me of early Rush. The bass lines were squeezing the audience like a boa constrictor.

For some reason in that moment, I was thinking about the soulless creation of AI and how Geoff felt like three young musicians smashing at their instruments in a garage somewhere. AI cannot do that.

There is nothing like live music and Geoff reignited this in me, just like I heard back in my youth listening to early Rush.

This is Geoff:

Dreamland

With a mystical sounding start, the band raised the bar and morphed into a slow cataclysmic event of emotional meanderings within our cosmic river. It flowed throughout all of our nuances. This was just the opening song. It had a nice landing.

The second song became another journey of where we are going and not knowing how this was going to end. This band does not produce pop songs. They create an odyssey that relies on us to navigate our own journey for a deeper understanding of how to be in this world. These songs are complete chapters of who we are, not just a simple paragraph.

While I was in this audience, I did find out that they are working on new material and will have the help from Kevin Comeau and Terry Brown. With these two songs alone, I can’t wait to hear what they will be coming out with. It really does look like Prog Rock is back!

Blast Toronto’s mission is to find this music and let all of you know who is creating new and wonderful music. Go discover your music. That is our motto.

Their last song of the evening was “The Scientist and the Dreamer”. It is another journey of emotional discovery. It is a beautiful balance of the heart and the mind, and it is up to you to discover your path with this song.

They wrapped up their set with just 3 long songs so we could have more time with Brass Camel. That was a sweet set and that is what Prog Rock is all about.

This is Dreamland:

Brass Camel

Brass Camel is touring across Canada in a van, hopefully staying away from any rivers. This is because they have a new album out simply called Brass Camel. This is their 3^rd album and they are gaining momentum. They played to a packed house and everyone in that room was excited to be there.

The band is sharper and tighter with their new material. There last two records showed a wildly creative and experimental side. As if they were trying to figure out where their direction should go; this new album is a statement of that direction.

Their live shows are not built on precise playing but have a passionate energy that simply leaves the audience breathless.

I have spoken to them in the past and Toronto is like their adoptive home. It has been a year since they played last and that felt too long for them. This band travels across this Country from Vancouver, so be very grateful when they do show up.

I have to admit; I do enjoy that they are a fashionable band. The three front men are dressed in slick suits, while the keyboardist was wearing a frilled white jacket. I think this is his nod to Ozzy Osbourne. The drummer is simply half naked because he plays so hard, that he must sweat 5-10 pounds off every night. I wonder who brings the mop?

One of the new songs are called “Ice Cold”. The deep grooves this song digs into you can really bring out the goosebumps. If that doesn’t happen, there is something wrong with your circulation.

“Why bother” challenges you with the attitude of what are you going to do about it?

The band did say they were drifting away from doing covers, but they had a special guest and so they decided to do one cover for the evening. If you know Anh Phung, you knew what would be coming next. If you didn’t know her, you were about to be introduced to one of the rising stars that live here in Toronto. She is an incredible flutist that has been known to do the occasional Jethro Tull song.

They began with a Brass Camel song called, “Why Bother” and then blew the newcomers to her style away with “My God” from Jethro Tull. You can catch this moment on our Instagram account- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYXQhsgNGQ4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Well, it needs to be said that she completely mesmerized the crowd and made a lot of new fans instantly.

The show continued in pure prog fashion when we saw the two guitarists pull out two double neck guitars and ramped up the rock. That is so PROG!

The last song of the evening is also the last song off their new album, “This is Goodbye”. Well, Toronto wasn’t willing to say goodbye and within a minute of them leaving the stage the drummer emerged. He went into a resounding drum solo with a 42” cymbal just like the good old days of Prog. They played “Digger in the back” that included the keyboardist to come out and play a Keytar. More Prog goodness!

Just when you were getting ready to say goodbye again, they invited the band Crown Lands to the stage and exploded into Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song”! Minds Completely Blown!

When they finally walked off stage the audience was so high from this experience, they didn’t know how to speak. They ran to the merch table to buy a souvenir of this evening and stuck around to discuss this show over and over. The Prog child in me was completely satisfied.  What can I say but, Prog Rock is back, Baby!

If you were at this show, I would love to get your opinion about this. Please leave a comment below.

This is Brass Camel: