Coheed & Cambria Announces New Album!

If you're as big a Coheed fan as I am you probably already heard this afternoon that Coheed & Cambria has announced the title and release of their fifth studio album. It will be called "The Year of the Black Rainbow" and it will be released in April 2010. For those who are unaware, the first four albums have all been part of an ongoing story based on lead singer Claudio Sanchez's comic series "The Amory Wars." This new album tells the prequel story to their previous albums, focusing on the backstory of the characters Coheed and Cambria. This is awesome news and it's going to be a long wait. Here's part of the announcement:

"Our new album will be titled, “Year of the Black Rainbow,” and is set for release in April 2010 and will be followed by a headline tour of the US, and then on to Europe and the UK for festivals and such...we think it’s definitely our best work to date.

Some song titles are: “Here We are Juggernaut,” “The Broken,” “Pearl of the Stars,” and “Guns of Summer.”"

Check out Coheed's official fansite for more announcements!

Album Pick: The Best of Apocalyptica

If you're a fan of metal and classical music then this is the perfect band for you. Apocalyptica is a cello band, that's right, it's just 4 guys with cellos playing heavy metal music. They do a lot of covers of Metallica as well as some original work. This best of compilation is a good starter for anyone who might want to start listening to the band. With other albums, I've found that I either really like or really dislike a particular song, but every track on the best of is pretty good. You'll notice cover versions of popular Metallica songs such as "Nothing Else Matters," "The Unforgiven," and "Enter Sandman." It's really cool to hear the cello take over for the electric guitar and vocals. You listen to a song like Nothing Else Matters and forget it was written as a heavy metal song. This album is a must for any Metallica fan and a good choice for fans of a classical sound with a strong metal influence. Check it out!

Youtube Talent!

Youtube has a lot of garbage where people post videos of themselves playing either really bad or mediocre covers of their favourite songs, but sometimes you'll find the odd person with a whole lot of talent. The best ones are the people who reinvent the song with their own personal style. Some of these people should be the ones out there making money instead some of today's popular artists in my opinion. Check it out!

Percusive Guitar!

Four Hands Guitar! Wicked.

Pirates of the Caribbean meets Metal!

This is really neat. I wish there was a longer version.

Cello and Violin - Can't go wrong there.

Piano cover of heavy metal song by Tool. Covers like these are a reminder that just because you might not like the sound, doesn't mean it isn't some great creative writing!

That's all for now. If you know some great Youtube covers feel free to share!

Album Pick: Been to the Future

This is a great solo acoustic album by Joey Eppard, lead singer of the prog rock band 3. If you didn't like 3 because you thought it was too heavy or fast-paced, you might want to give it another try with this album. Eppard does a lot of acoustic covers of 3 songs which you might find easier to listen to. His guitar technique is unlike anyone I've seen before. He combines finger picking techniques with slap/flamenco to make for a very unique guitar sound. His voice sounds like he could be a member of the backstreet boys, which isn't a bad thing, but it does give the music a very pop-like sound. It's hard to pin any kind of genre on this music because he experiments with different styles from hip-hop to prog rock to folk. If you don't like the first song you hear, try listening to a couple other tracks and see if you like those. This album is definitely worth listening to for any fan of acoustic solo performances. My favourite track off this album is "Amaze Disgrace." Check it out!

London Music Club - UWO Students Perform Tonight!

Tonight the London Music Club is hosting UWO Bands and Songwriters Society for their second open mic of the year! BANDSS is a great club at Western for students who want to get involved with music at school. Come to London Music Club tonight between 8:30 and 12:30 and check out the student talent. There are some great musicians at Western and this is the perfect way to see them. You'll get to see everything from solo performances to a full band. If you enjoy the show and think you might want to perform yourself, all you have to do is ask.

"The End" Response

I just watched a 3-part series call “The End,” for my blogging class. Even though this is an assignment, it is has a lot to do with music so you might want to give this a read anyway!

“The End” isn’t about some crazy 2012 apocalyptic theory for the end of the world, but it does ask the question about whether or not we’re facing the apocalypse of print and broadcast radio/tv. All three of these mediums are losing their audience, especially young people, to the internet, where people can access pretty much whatever they want, whether it is a song, movie, tv show or news article. Text, images, audio and video can all be viewed on a computer screen and the internet stores it for us to access whenever we want for free! The video even mentions the Open Content Alliance, which is working with Yahoo and Microsoft to digitize all the world’s books! Imagine having every book imaginable at your fingertips, but is this a good thing?

The issue for mainstream media isn’t how we consume the content we want, it’s about getting us to see the advertisements that pay a lot of money to get our attention. When we download a tv show, we don’t see the ads that paid for that show to go on the air, and so the advertisers lose money and thus the tv station loses money. This could be a bad thing since networks would have less money to spend on making quality content for us, OR we could look at it as a way of putting pressure on the tv networks to make better content that would encourage us to watch more television. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of garbage on television these days, and I think it’s a possible reason for the lack of success we see in television today, rather than the rise of the internet.

What about the music industry? It has been fighting things like file sharing and torrents since it first began with the likes of Napster and other file sharing software. Do you know anyone in university who has an iTunes library with thousands of songs and has paid for all of them? I’d be surprised if you do. Our generation is used to free music, and we get to carry it all in our pockets with an iPod, with thousands of songs at our fingertips. FM radio is losing its audience too because we can access whatever song we want for free, and there are no annoying advertisements either. When we download music are we hurting the artist (who make very little profit off record sales) or the record label? Artists make most of their money from touring live, and the more fans they have (through downloading music perhaps?) could mean a larger audience that want to see them on stage. Some artists like Nine Inch Nails have embraced this idea by releasing their music for free and increasing their ticket sales.

Bottom line, mainstream media conglomerates need to adapt to this new information environment rather than try to fight it. The 2 questions they need to ask are how can they get an audience and how can they profit from it. I don’t think we’ll see the end of print, radio and tv, but they will undoubtedly change. For better or for worse? What do you think?

Album Pick: Brave New World

If you're a metal fan then this should not be an unfamiliar band to you. Though I wouldn't consider myself a huge Iron Maiden fan, their music is a strong influence for some of my favourite bands including Dream Theater and Coheed & Cambria. This particular album was released shortly after lead singer Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith rejoined the band after 5 years. Because the albums that were released after Dickinson left were Iron Maiden's least successful, the reunion was a big deal for fans. Brave New World shows the band is still strong. The thing I find most impressing about the band is their ability to keep writing amazing guitar riffs even after releasing over 10 studio albums. The standout tracks here are "The Ghost of Navigator," "Brave New World," and "Dream of Mirrors." Give them a listen. Even if you're not a metal fan. You might be surprised.

Metropolis Pt. 1 Live!

I was just watching some live concert videos on youtube and stumbled on this video. Metropolis Pt. 1 is one of Dream Theater's best tracks, and it represents pretty much everything that the band is about. This song is very progressive with a great metal/rush kind of sound. This particular performance is from their 20th anniversary show, "Score," featuring an entire orchestra backing up the band. I watched the concert today and whether you're a fan of Dream Theater or not, you can't help but be impressed by what these guys do live. I can't htink of any other band where each member is so good at their respective instruments. Check it out!

Album Pick: In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth:3

This is the second album I've recommended by Coheed and Cambria. It's their second studio album and arguably their best work to date. It sounds pretty different from GAIBS4 (album 3) since this one was recorded on an indie label, so it sounds less produced than their more recent albums. If you can look past that and listen to what they wrote, you'll be impressed. This band really takes advantage of having 2 guitarists, which makes for some awesome riffs that I've even begun to learn on guitar. Of course, the centerpiece of the album is Claudio Sanchez and his vocal work. He's got a very unique voice. It might take some getting used to but it sets this band apart from others. If you're a fan of Rush or Iron Maiden, then this music should be easily accessible since they are big influences in this album. My favourite tracks are "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth:3," "The Crowing," and "The Light and the Glass." Check it out!

The band got most of their following from their lives performances. Here's why:

Stone Temple Pilots - in London Thursday!

If you're in the mood for some good ol' rock and roll, you should visit the John Labatt Centre to see the Stone Temple Pilots!

They'll be playing at the John Labatt Centre this Thursday, November 19th, so if you're a fan and you haven't got a ticket yet, you might still have a chance. I don't know this band very well but I listened to some of their songs on their MySpace and I think it's pretty good. They sound semi-metal semi-pop rock, so if you like either genre you might be into this music. I can't make it to the concert so if you got to see it let me know how good they are live!

Album Pick: Images and Words

I'm a huge Dream Theater fan, so I had to bring up this album eventually. Images and Words is the second studio album released by Dream Theater, and many would argue that it's their best work. This was their first and only album to go Gold, and it has their only big hit that received radio play and featured by MTV, "Pull Me Under." That being said, every track on this album is a masterpiece. If you've heard other Dream Theater songs and thought they were too heavy on the metal side, you should give this album a try. While there are still metal influences, this album is much more progressive than their later albums. Some influences include Queensryche and Rush, so if you're a fan of either of those bands, this album is a must. It is also their first album to feature lead singer James LaBrie. They auditioned over 200 people before giving him the gig, and he's been with the band ever since. I personally recommend listening to "Take the Time," "Metropolis Pt.1 - the Miracle and the Sleeper," and "Learning to Live." You may find it hard to digest at first, but if you listen enough times, you'll begin to get an appreciation for the amount of creativity and time put into the writing of this music, which is something you don't find very often in popular mainstream music.

Wednesday Nights at Spoke! Rick McGhee!

If you like the sound of a nice old man playing hearty folk songs on an acoustic guitar while getting your drunk on a Wednesday night, then the Spoke at the UCC is the place to be! Come listen to Rick McGhee at around 10 o'clock. I was there a couple weeks ago, and he reminds me of the cool uncle who plays tunes at the campfire pit. He does some great covers including "Needle and the Damage Done," "My Girl," and of course, "American Pie." Come listen and sing along. It's Wednesday, but you'll find a lot of people there. We are Western students after all!

"And them good ol' boys were drinking whisky and BEER!,

Singing this will be the day that I DIE DIE DIE!"

Upcoming London Shows! (LIST)

There are a bunch of cool shows happening in London this week. If you've got some free time on your hands you should check them out and support the local music scene!

Nov. 12 @ 7:00 PM

The Midway State - London Music Hall

Nov. 13 @ 8:00 PM

The Trews - London Music Hall

Nov. 14 @ 10:00 PM

Mad Caddies - Call the Office

Nov. 15 - 8:00 PM

Chantal Kreviazuk - Centennial Hall

Nov. 19 - 7:00 PM

Stone Temple Pilots - John Labatt Centre

Hope to see you there!

Album Pick: Neil Young - Live at Massey Hall 1971

I'm sure most of you are familiar with Neil Young and lots of the great songs he's written. If you like his studio albums, you should take a look at his live album from Massey Hall, Toronto. I really think there's something special about this live performance, and I personally prefer most of his songs performed this way rather than their studio versions. It is just him and his guitar or piano (depending on the song), without a band backing him up. I think certain songs, such as Cowgirl in the Sand and Journey Through the Past sound better than the originals. If you're not a fan of live music because you don't like the sound (I often feel the same way), the quality of the recording is as good as it can get.

Give this album a listen! It's Neil Young at his best. Here's the album:

What do you look for in music?

Have you ever noticed that one of the easiest ways to annoy someone and put them in a bad mood is to play music that they don't like? Ever been really excited to share your music with a friend only to have them say it's garbage and then obnoxiously change it to something they want to hear? Why are a lot of people so unwilling to be open minded towards music they don't know? Is it because a lot of people think the music they listen to is a reflection of themselves? For example, would it be possible for someone who's into pop music to also listen to a lot of heavy metal? I'm sure it is, but I don't see it very often. Is it because people who like pop can't stand the sound of heavy metal or they don't like the idea of being associated with the crowd that listens to that kind of music?

I think it's more simple. People look to music to make them feel a certain way, and everyone has different expectations in that sense. I personally prefer anything that is melodic, and written well. To me, lyrics are an afterthought, so genres like rap and hip-hop aren't really my flavour. Some people prefer lyrics over melody, and some people want music to calm them down instead of really high energy music. What do you prefer? What is it that makes a song pull you in? What kind of music do you hate? Is it because you think it is crap or because it makes you feel emotions you'd rather not feel? Think about it.

Album Pick: Art in Motion

A lot of the albums I've recommended have been pretty heavy sounding, with a lot of metal influences and quick tempos. If you didn't like any of that stuff and have decided that my musical tastes suck, check this guy out. Andy McKee is an instrumental guitarist and I think he is one of the most talented guys I've ever seen. Every song is layered so that it sounds like there are multiple tracks in each song, but it's really just one man and a guitar the entire time. The track Drifting got him youtube fame with over 24 million views! On some songs he's got a custom guitar with bass strings added which make the instrument look half like a guitar and half like a harp. You'll find this a lot more relaxing than past bands I've featured. If you like it let me know. I'm a huge fan of acoustic instrumentals so I'm also looking for some recommendations. I'd love to hear some.

Here is the album in it's entirety. Check out some tracks. Rylynn and Africa are my personal favourites. I've included a youtube video so you can see what this guy is doing with his hands. Truly amazing to watch and hear. Enjoy!

Halloween! - A Nightmare to Remember

It's Halloween and wanted to share this song. A Nightmare to Remember is by Dream Theater, from their newest album that was released this past June, Black Clouds and Silver Linings. This is the first track on the album and it has a very eery halloween kind of feel to it, so I thought it'd be perfect to talk about today. Enjoy. Give yourself some time to listen to it. It's 15 minutes long, as one would expect from a classic Dream Theater track. If you like this song you should check out the rest of their album. I would highly recommend it.

Album Pick: Blackfield II

This album is the second produced by Blackield, and it's an amazing piece of work. If you've never heard of them before, Blackfield is a side project of Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree and Israeli singer Aviv Geffen. The pair both play vocals and guitar and collaborate while writing the songs.

Wikipedia classifies their music as "art rock," which I think means it's hard to categorize it. It can fall under a lot of genres, but it's pretty experimental music with a lot of progressive influences. Pink Floyd fans will love this music. Every track on this album (and their 1st ablum for that matter) is different and they're all amazing. I don't know what else to say about it other than let the music speak for itself. Take a listen and get ahold of this album if you can!

Guns N' Roses Coming to London!

In case you haven't heard, Guns N' Roses is coming to London!  On January 25th, 2010, you'll have a chance to see this legendary band live at the John Labatt Centre for their Chinese Democracy tour.  Tickets won't be cheap and they'll probably run out fast, so get one before you miss out on your chance.  I'm not even a huge fan of them, but you can't miss out on an oppurtunity to see them play their hits.  Here's a bit of a reminder...

Covers by KevinMac - Willow Tree

I recorded this a couple weeks ago with my roomate just for fun.  It's a cover of a really great song by Mickey Newbury called Willow Tree.  Give it a listen and let me know what you think!  Keep in mind this wasn't a serious attempt or anything.  We were fooling around, but I think it sounds kool.  Enjoy!

Here is the original.  It's pretty different from my version.  I can't sing like he does.  This really is a great song, so enjoy both versions!

Open Mic in London

If you like to play music but need an audience, there are plenty of places in London that host open mic nights.  I still haven't had the chance to do one myself because of school, but I hope to do one this week.  These are the places that I know about.  If you know any others feel free to share!

Taps on Talbot: Hopefully a great place to play some tunes and drink on Wednesday nights.  Haven't been there yet but when I do I'll be sure to write about it.

110 Dundas St. - (519) 645 2929

London Music Club: Come here on Friday nights for their Acoustyle Open mics at 9pm.  If you play blues music you're also welcome to come in on Thursdays for Blues Jams nights.  Of course, you don't have to be able to play, you can just enjoy the local talent and become inspired to play yourself.

470 Colborne St. - (519) 640 6996

The Spoke at UWO: Saturday nights, come and watch your peers get sloshed and play their hearts out.  I'll be doing just that this weekend, maybe not the getting sloshed part, but it wouldn't hurt.  

UCC Main Level, UWO - (519) 661-3590

Album Pick: Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness

Time to go back to progressive rock this week.  Out of their 4 studio albums, Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Volume 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, is arguably Coheed and Cambria's best work.  The lyrics are based on the comic book series entitled "The Amory Wars," written by lead singer Claudio Sanchez, which is a sci-fi space story following the son of the characters Coheed and Cambria.  GAIBS Volume 1 is their third album in the saga.

I can't say too much about the story, because I have yet to read the comics, but much of the content is based on Claudio Sanchez's life experiences.  While writing this album, he had recently been dumped by his girlfriend, so you'll notice the lyrics are very dark and angry, since he kills the love interest of the main character in his story.  Whether you like angry lyrics or not, you should give this album a listen just for the quality of the music.

The hardest thing to get used to is the vocals.  Claudio Sanchez has a very high voice which some people might find unappealing.  It took me a while before I really started to enjoy Coheed's music, but you eventually develop a taste for the expressiveness of his voice.  He does an amazing job of making you feel the emotion of the song.  Before you know it, you'll be screaming along with Claudio as you listen to the music.  You also learn to appreciate the talent this guy has when you realize that he's playing lead guitar while he is singing during live performances.

The instrumental side of this band is also worth mentioning.  There are two guitarists, one of them being Claudio and the other being Travis Stever.  The 2 guitars play a key role in the music, and they blend together very well to make for some really interesting riffs.  There's nothing really complicated going on, but it sounds amazing.  The drums and bass don't stand out very often, but they do a good job of supporting the vocals and guitar.  The vocals give a pop feel, while the guitar uses a metal sound, and the riffs are very progressive, so there is something for everyone in this band.

There isn't a single weak track on this album.  It is a really great piece of work and a good album to start with if you are interested in listening to Coheed and Cambria.  Check them out!

The Dodos Concert Review

Last night I went to Lee's Palace in Toronto to see The Dodos play live.  I didn't know their music very well when I went to see them, but it didn't matter.  These guys put on an amazing show that I won't soon forget!

 

Meric Long (left) performed the lead vocals and guitar, while Logan Kroeber performed on drums.  Their newest member of the band, Keaton Snyder, was in the back playing the vibraphone, which is essentially an aluminum version of the xylaphone.  Each of these musicians used their instruments in very unique ways to create that "psychedelic" feeling to their music.  Meric Long spent most of the show using a finger-picking technique to play his guitar, but during an instrumental section, he put his guitar on the ground, grabbed a pair of drumsticks and used them to play the guitar.  It made a really cool slide guitar/screeching sound.  Keaton Snyder at one point used a cello bow to play the edges of the vibraphone, which made another unique sound.  I, however, spent most of my time watching Logan Kroeber on the drums.  

Instead of playing the bass drum with his foot, he played the bass drum with a drum stick, while tapping his foot with a tambourine attached to it.  I found the drum patterns he did in their songs very creative, and I couldn't keep from watching him play as quickly as he did while doing so many things at the same time. 

One of the hardest working bands I've ever seen on stage, these guys really put on a sweat, and I really enjoyed the show.  Check out their myspace, listen to some of their tunes, and keep an eye out for when they return to Toronto, or maybe even London!

Off-Topic: OUTFOXED Response

This is an off topic blog post for my blogging class at UWO.  If you would like to stay on topic while you read this, scroll down and play some songs that I’ve posted to keep the music vibe going.

In class we watched the documentary “Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism.”  The film heavily criticizes Fox News and the effect they have on American Society.  Being a student in media, I was already aware of certain things we see in the media such as agenda-setting and sensationalism, but I was shocked to see it happen to such a large extent on Fox News.  The documentary featured media experts such as Jeff Cohen and Bob McChesney (Free Press), as well as former Fox employees who talked of how they were forced to push a right wing agenda to avoid the risk of losing their jobs.

I find it pretty disappointing that such a large news network would engage in agenda setting and sensationalism, because they are a strong voice in the American public, which means they have a responsibility to be truthful and provide the information that will allow viewers to make up their own minds about what they see.  Instead they create the perception that they are biased, when they are clearly pushing a particular opinion on the viewers.  The one interview between Bill O’Reilly and Jeremy Glick I found particularly disturbing.  O’Reilly immediately treats him as though he is wrong and as if he is crazy because of his particular opinion.  He accused him of dishonoring his dead father and kicked him out of the interview before giving him a chance to respond.  This kind of thing should not be allowed in a “debate” between two people.

Private broadcasting is a big problem, because it only aims for profit.  When profit becomes the measure of success, stories and truth become sensationalized and molded in order to bring in more viewers.  I think the public voice should be held accountable by law if they intentionally withhold information to support their own arguments.  The public has a right to information so they can make their own decisions.  News media has a responsibility to the public, not to their shareholders. 

Thinking About Learning Guitar?

I've been playing guitar for about a year now.  By no means am I a professional musician yet, but I think I've progressed well after playing for 13 months, even though I am 20 years old and I am a university student.  I'm not trying to sound pretentious or anything, I just think it's worth mentioning because it proves that you don't have to start playing an instrument at a very young age in order to get good at it.  If you think you want to learn an instrument like guitar (or anything else for that matter), it's very easy to achieve.  All you have to do is this:

1) Pick your instrument: I chose guitar, but there are plenty of choices out there.  Some require more time and effort, as well as money.  Decide what you're willing to put into it before you make your choice.

2) Find a teacher: Some people can learn by ear, but that's a rare gift to have.  These days it's pretty easy to learn off internet tutorials.  I find them useful sometimes but prefer having a person teach me face to face.  I was lucky to have a roomate who is a great guitarist.  You'll find most people are happy to teach you how to play their instrument, so find someone and don't be afraid to ask.

3) Set Goals: If you think you're going to be shredding and doing complicated solos in a month, then you probably won't get very far.  I've been playing for a year and have only started to learn lead parts.  You have to set a list of goals and work on them one at a time.  For guitar, it's good to start with open chords, then move on to bar chords.  The only song I knew after the first couple weeks of playing was "Time of Your Life" by Green Day.  Once I could do that, I moved on to more challenging songs.  Take your time!

4) Practice: If you want to pursue an instrument and get good at it, it takes time and practice.  It's not a secret.  The best-known musicians are the ones who have spent hours a day for years perfecting their craft.  Plan your time, practice every day, and challenge yourself.  Eventually you'll find yourself playing an instrument and you'll ask yourself: "When did this happen?"

Album Pick: Time to Die

The past few bands I've talk about have all been of the progressive rock genre, but if you're in Toronto this weekend, on October 17th, you'll have a chance to see some psychedelic folk rock music at Lee's Palace.  They will be hosting The Dodos at 9 o'clock.  Tickets are still on sale!

If you've never heard of The Dodos, now is a great time to give their music a listen.  This 3 member band consists of Meric Long and Logan Kroeber, along with their newest member Keaton Snyder, who joined them before releasing their third full length album entitled “Time to Die” just a couple weeks ago.   

I like the Dodos for the way they use their instruments.  It feels like you are listening to a pop/folk song, but if you pay attention to the instrumentals there is something interesting going on there.  Logan Kroeber plays drums without a bass drum, frequently uses the rim of the drums more than the drums themselves, and tapes a tambourine to his shoe.  The percussion definitely stands out and to me is what makes this band unique.  I find the guitar playing pretty standard for folk music, but it’s written in such a way that it blends perfectly with the drumming.  Snyder has joined the band to play on the vibraphone, which is similar to a xylophone but uses aluminum bars rather than wooden ones.  The vocals are just right for this genre and are undoubtedly the centre piece of their music. 

Give these guys a listen.  They play this style well, and I think there’s something that caters to everyone’s taste.  Here’s some of their songs.  If you like it, buy a ticket for their concert in Toronto!

These two tracks are off their previous album "Beware of the Maniacs"

Album Pick: The End is Begun

This week I want to recommend an album which I think is a great piece of work, but I don't know very many people who know about this band.  The album "The End is Begun" is the fifth album released by 3, and I think it's their best one to date.  

If you've never heard 3's music, I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about getting into progressive metal music.  There are metal elements but they don't have a really strong presence compared to some other bands such as Dream Theater or Coheed and Cambria.  Joey Eppard has a very unique guitar style which combines flamenco/slap techniques.  It makes for a different sound that I haven't heard from anyone else.  He is also the lead singer of the band.  His voice sometimes reminds me of a boy band singer, which is why some of their older music makes me think I'm listening to rock covers of the Backstreet Boys.  It doesn't bother me though, since he is a really good singer and it adds a mainstream kind of sound to their music.  Check them out.  It'll be a good use of your time.

London Venues - London Music Club

I've been researching good places in London to enjoy local music, and I found the London Music Club.  This is a great venue because there is a different act going on every night here.  Thursdays are Electric Blues Jam night, and Fridays are Open Mic Acoustyle night.  Tomorrow night is a chance to see "Said the Whale," who describe their music as indie without the indie edge.  I listened to a couple of their tracks on their myspace page and I think they sound pretty good.  Definitely worth checking out if you're in London this Wednesday and are looking for some good tunes.  

Album Pick: Metropolis Pt.2 - Scenes from a Memory

This week I'm going to talk about Dream Theater, and their 5th studio album entitled Metropolis Part 2: Scenes from a Memory.  If you've heard of this band, but don't know where to start, this album represents Dream Theater really well.  There are progressive and heavy metal influences in all their music, but I think this album balances the two perfectly.  The album also tells a story of a character named Nicholas, and his past life as someone named Victoria Page.  If you like metal or progressive rock, this album is a must. 

Check out this track off the album:

Porcupine Tree Concert Review

I think I can say this is one of the best concerts I've ever been to.  Hands down.  They played last night at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on the CNE grounds in Toronto.  The sound was perfectly balanced between each instrument, so well that you felt like you were listening to a reproduction of the actual recording.  Steve Wilson sounds great live, especially with the second guitarist John Wesley doing backing vocals.  Projected on the background were images fitted to each song.  I found them interesting, but spent most of my time watching the musicians.

They performed both songs I included in my previous post (Lazarus and Trains), as well as the 55 min title track off their new album "The Incident."  They also played other hit songs including Anesthetize, The Start of Something Beautiful, and The Sound of Musak.

A professional performance done to perfection.  I can't imagine how they could have made it any better.  Porcupine Tree plans on coming back to Canada this coming Spring.  If you get the chance, get a ticket.  You won't regret it.

Taps on Talbot

Tomorrow is the Porcupine Tree concert in Toronto, so I'll be busy over there.  It's at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, a great sounding venue, and well suited for the kind of sound you would expect from Porcupine Tree.  

If you like Porcupine Tree but can't make it out to Toronto, you should consider listening to the local talent on Wednesday, September 30th at Taps on Talbot.  Wednesdays are open mic nights, so they should be fun.  I haven't checked it out myself yet, but I plan on going in the coming weeks and I'll share my thoughts.  

Check it out!

This is a music blog, so why not talk about music?  Every week I'm going to mention an artist or album that I think is worth listening to and why I would recommend it.  I'm a big fan of progressive rock, so a lot of the artists I talk about will fall into that genre, but I am always open to new music.  Share music with me and I'll be happy to listen and discuss.

Porcupine Tree

The Incident (Left)

Since I'm going to see them in concert on Wednesday, September 30th, I thought this would be a good band to start with.  Having released their 10th studio album a couple weeks ago, these guys have got a lot of music worth listening to.  

The Incident (2009) being their newest album, features a 55 minute title track written by Steven Wilson.  It doesn't get much more progressive than that.  I look forward to seeing them play the entire track live 2 days from now.  Check out this album, and some of their more recent albums including "In Absentia" (2002), "Deadwing" (2005) and "Fear of a Blank Planet" (2007).  Here's a taste:

Lazarus (Deadwing)

Trains (In Absentia)

Intro

Hi! My name is Kevin and I'm a third year student in the MTP program at UWO and Fanshawe College in London Ontario.  I'm starting this blog because I'm a big fan of music.  I have been learning guitar for about a year now, and I want to take advantage of what London has to offer for people like me.  I encourage others to share their favourite artists, songs, or London Hotspots, and I'll share what I find.  This will hopefully be a great way to make the most out of the London music scene.