Tuesday, October 31, 2017

THRESHOLD Live in Athens (12/11/2017)

  I am writing this post to inform you about the forthcoming live gig of the English Prog-Metal band Threshold in Athens, on the 12th of November.
  This is going to be the band's first live gig in Athens, so I am guessing that the fans of the band will be there in order to see them on stage.
  A few days ago I was speaking with Karl Groom, the band's leader, because we will have him in Prog n Roll as guest on Sunday, (you will read another post on the subject in a few days), and he told me that the setlist will be including almost 45 minutes from the new - very good - album Legends of the Shires and almost an hour from their older stuff.
  Threshold will begin their mini European tour from Athens, followed by concerts in England, Wales, Germany and Holland mostly.
 A few hours ago, I bought my ticket, and to be honest I can't wait! The tickets cost 22€, which is a very good price I think.
  The concert will take place at Kyttaro Club, in the center of Athens.
So, if you are living in Athens or you are just visitors, here's a good chance to see Threshold on stage.
See you there! :-)

Monday, October 30, 2017

Prog n Roll radio show (29/10/2017), including the Listener's Happy Hour. The complete playlist and more...

Hello all!
  Last night, the last Prog n Roll radio show of October was on air, and because of that, it was including the Listener's Happy Hour; during which, we played the songs that were requested by our listeners.
  This was the first time we did the Listener's Happy Hour after a long time, and we had no idea what to expect. Some people from our audience responded, and asked for some songs to play for them. 
  There were enough long songs included in their requests, that's why the Listener's Happy Hour lasted for more than just an hour; which is very good.
For that reason, the first two parts of the show were shorter than usual.
I believe that it was a very enjoyable show, the playlist was kind of mixed up, and we had lots of fun on the chatbox.
Here you can take a look at the complete playlist:

Part 1: THE WHO: You better you bet / T.REX: Jeepster / DAVID BOWIE: Suffragette city.
Part 2: KAYAK: Time stand still / BEARDFISH: Can you see me now? / MONARCH TRAIL: Missing / TIGER  MOTH TALES: A visit to Chigwick.
LISTENER'S HAPPY HOUR: 
Part 3: MOTORHEAD: Heroes  / MEGADETH: Tornado of souls / THRESHOLD: Lost in Translation / FLYING COLORS: The storm.
Part 4: GALAXY: Sky Queen / ELOY: Mutiny / JOURNEY: Nickel and dime / GENESIS: Fading lights / LUNATIC SOUL: A thousand shards of Heaven.

I would like to thank all tohse who chose to spend their Sunday evening with us, and those who participated to the Listener's Happy Hour with their song requests.
Thank you all!

Saturday, October 28, 2017

GFreedom's Juke Box No.206

Hello all!
  After a week's break, my usual "Juke Box" post is back, with my weekly Top-5 song list for you.
  This  week I went for vinyl shopping, and I found some old classic albums that I added in my music collection; so, some songs in my list are included in those albums.
Here's my weekly Top-5 song list for you:
AL KOOPER: As the years go passing by (Naked songs - 1973)
ANIMALS: You're on my mind (Animalisms - 1966)
MIKE HERON: Feast of Stephen (Smiling men with bad reputations - 1971)
MONARCH TRAIL: Missing (Sand - 2017)
ELOY: Mutiny (Power & passion - 1975)
I will conclude this post by adding the YouTube links of the songs in my list; so in case you are interested, just click on the links and listen to them right away.
AL KOOPER: As the years go passing by
ANIMALS: You're on my mind
MIKE HERON: Feast of Stephen
MONARCH TRAIL: Missing
ELOY: Mutiny
Enjoy the music and have a nice weekend!
Thank you for visiting...

Friday, October 27, 2017

Prog n Roll presents: The Listener's Happy Hour

Hello all!
  I am writing this piece in order to inform you that for this season we decided to bring back the Listener's Happy Hour, which we had in Prog n Roll for the first time 2 years ago. 
But what is that?
  During each month, we are asking from our listeners to send us their song requests via e-mail or FB, or SMS (if they are Greek), and during the last show of each month we are playing their requests. We have begun with only 1 hour dedicated to them, and our ambition was to reach at a point where we will be dedicating the whole show to their requests. This month is the first time that we will do that, after a long time, and I am very pleased with the response we had. For starters, we have almost 65 minutes of music, which can be translated into almost 80 minutes of air time; (with the broadcasting and everything).
  So, this Sunday we are going to have a very special show, because it is made together with our listeners!
  Tune in if you want, in order to spend 2 pleasant hours with the show, the music and the usual fun on the chatbox.
Have in mind that Prog n Roll is a live bilingual broadcast, which comes online at 20.00 UK time on every Sunday.
In case you are interested, just click on the following link on Sunday at the time I mentioned above: www.justincaseradio.com
I hope to "see" some of you in our chatbox.

Thank you!

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

MONARCH TRAIL: Sand (2017). My point of view...

For those who are not familiar with the name Monarch Trail, I should inform you that they are from Canada, and their discography consists of 2 studio albums so far. The band is a trio, and it has been “built” around the Keyboardist and composer Ken Baird. (For the needs of the recordings they are using a few more musicians as guests).
Their style and sound is a keyboard-driven melodic Neo-Prog, which it brings to my mind bands like The Alan Parson’s Project and/or Barclay James Harvest on some occasions.
  Sand, includes 7 tracks, with 3 of them being instrumentals (Station theme, Charlie’s kitchen, Another silent world), and only 4 include vocals.
  To be honest, I had no idea about this band, but because I read some really good reviews I decided to give them a try. I added Sand in my music collection, and I can't say that I regret it.  
  The album includes some long instrumental “soundscapes”, that fills your mind with beautiful images and travels you with its melodies. My only problem is that the use of keyboards at some points is too much, and that bothers me a bit.
  The album’s closing song is the 24-minute-long epic Sand, which is a really interesting composition and definitely one of the album’s highlights; together with Missing and First thoughts in my opinion. (But I believe that Sand should be including less long keyboard parts, and be a bit shorter).
I will rate it with 3.5 (out of 5.0) stars, hoping that the band will continue in the same direction, but with less keyboards maybe.

 

Monday, October 23, 2017

PROG n ROLL with MACHINES DREAM as "guests". (22/10/2017). The complete playlist.

   As I have announced a few days ago, last night we had Craig West, the bass player and singer of the Canadian band Machines Dream as a guest on Prog n Roll's chatbox. We also had Eugene, the CEO of the Irish record company Progressive Gears.
  During our show, we played the interview we conducted with Craig divided in 4 parts, mixed with songs from Black Science. 
 We also did a music quiz, and the winner took as prize a signed CD copy of their new album. Not bad, eh?
  Furthermore, we had the honour to play in a worldwide premiere the song Heavy Water performed live by the band. The song was mixed just a few days before the show, and was sent to us by Craig.
 We had listeners from many different countries once more, like for example, Canada, Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Greece, Germany and Mexico. (I am talking only for those who were active on the chatbox).
 I believe that last night's show was a very good one, and as it seemed our listeners enjoyed it a lot.
Here you can check the playlist:
1st Part: STYX: The Grand illusion / KANSAS: Point of Know Return / WISHBONE ASH: Sometime World.
2nd Part: Interview with Craig West Pt.1 / MACHINES DREAM: Airfield on Sunwick / DAVE KERZNER: Static / Interview Pt. 2 / MACHINES DREAM: Heavy Water (Live).
3rd Part: SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE: Space Oddity (music quiz) / ROGER WATERS: Picture That / Interview Pt.3 / MACHINES DREAM: The Cannons Cry / PORCUPINE TREE: Always Never.
4rth Part: Interview Pt. 4 / MACHINES DREAM: Black Science / GENESIS: Ripples / MACHINES DREAM: Weimar.
 I would like to thank all those who chose to listen to Prog n Roll last night, hoping that they had some nice time. A special thanks to Craig and Eugene for everything they did, and to Stefan Hepe for making it happen. Also, I want to congratulate Ben Bell for winning the music quiz, therefore the signed CD. Enjoy it Ben!
Prog n roll will be on air again on Sunday the 29th of October, and this time our show will be including the Listener's Happy Hour; where we are going to play songs requested by our listeners.
Till then, take care!
Thank you!

Friday, October 20, 2017

PROG n ROLL welcomes MACHINES DREAM.

Hello all!
  I would like to inform you that, on this Sunday (22/10/2017), we are going to have some members of the Canadian band Machines Dream on Prog n Roll's chatbox as special guests. During the 2-hour show, we will play some parts of the interview we conducted with Craig West, (the bands singer and bass player), together with 4-5 songs from their new - excellent - album Black Science. But further than that, we prepared a playlist including new releases mixed with some old classic songs for our listener's entertainment.
 We will also have a music quiz, and the winner will win the CD edition of Black Science, which has been offered by the band, and we thank them for that. (The Cd will be signed by the members of Macines Dream).
A few weeks ago I wrote a review for Black Science, so if you are interested you can find it here: http://gfreedomathina.blogspot.gr/2017/08/machines-dream-black-science-2017.html
  So, if this Sunday you will be in the mood for some good music, tune in to Prog n Roll.
Our show is a bilingual live broadcast, and it begins at 20.00 UK time.
I hope to "see" you there!
Thank you!



Wednesday, October 18, 2017

SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE: Vagabond (2017). A first point of view...

The multinational / Israel based band Subterranean Masquerade with its rather unique sound is back with a  brand new album!
  I learned about them with the release of their previous work The Great Bazaar (2015). It was an album I really liked, listened to it a lot, and played lots of its songs on my radio show. And finally, I included The Great Bazaar in my annual Top-10 albums list of 2015.
http://gfreedomathina.blogspot.gr/2016/02/gfreedoms-2015-top-10-rock-prog-rock_10.html

Almost 2 weeks ago I learned about Vagabond, and having in mind how much I loved the previous album, I added it in my music collection without a second thought.  
  Vagabond continues where The Grand Bazaar stopped. Everything is present again; the beautiful melodies, the strong Mediterranean and Middle Eastern “essences”, the sudden changes of music styles and even the growls from time to time. Although the sound and style is almost the same, the major change is the addition of Brass instruments which makes their sound even richer.
  I will not get into details this time, because the album is still fresh, and I haven’t listened to it as much as I would like; but I believe that this is an album that requires lots of listenings in order to be appreciated. But based on the first 3-4 listens, I have to say that it is a very good work, with strong and very interesting compositions.
  Subterranean Masquerade are inviting us in a "Mediterranean Feast" of sounds and colours once more, and it’s up to you to accept the invitation. I did, and haven’t regretted it.
  This is a 3.5 (out of 5.0) star album for me, but I will add half star more, for the excellent and unexpected cover version of Space Oddity, that closes the album in the best way possible!
                      My Rating: 4.0 stars!

Monday, October 16, 2017

Prog n Roll radio show (15/10/2017). The complete playlist...

Hello all!
  Last night, Prog n Roll radio show was online again as usual, and I dare say it was an interesting one. Everything was simpler; we had no contests, no guests, so special stuff; only good - I hope - music.
  Last night's show was all about Prog. We played Neo-Prog, Classic Prog and Prog Metal. We also played songs from new releases, mostly during the first part.
  It was a relaxing evening, with good music and some cool chat with our wonderful listeners on the chatbox.
Here you can see the playlist:

1st Part: INFRINGEMENT: Adolescence / THE SAMURAI OF PROG: On we sail / KAIPA: Shadowy sunlight / SOUL ENEMA: Octopus song.
2nd Part: MACHINES DREAM: Unarmed at sea / IQ: From the outside in / PALLAS: Shadow of the sun / GENTLE STORM: Shores of India.
3rd Part: THRESHOLD: Subliminal Freeways / KAMELOT: March of the Mephisto / SYMPHONY X: The eyes of Medusa / BEYOND THE BRIDGE: The call.
4rth Part: ILLUSION: Madonna blue / GENESIS: Blood on the Rooftops / CURVED AIR: Melinda / RENAISSANCE: Ashes are Burning.
  I would like to thank all those who chose to spend their evening with us, hoping they enjoyed it. Next Sunday we will have something special for you, but more info on that, later...
Have a nice day!
Thank you.