SUNRISE is simply one of the best movies ever made: period! Silent or not, if you have not seen this F.W. Murnau classic you're no movie fan. This powerful story of lust, betrayal, hatred, love and redemption had both me and my wife weeping with joy when we saw it screened at the Lawrence Arts Center several years ago, accompanied by the live music of the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra.
Well, last night in Topeka, at the 19th annual Kansas Silent Film Festival I saw two fabulously funny and entertaining comedy 5-reelers. The first was Harold Lloyd's 1922 "Grandma's Boy," and the second was Buster Keaton's 1927 "College." While there was no Mont Alto this year, the great Californian polymath, protean genius (I'm really not exaggerating) and Renaissance man Dr. Jon Mirsalis (scientist, researcher, patent holder, Lon Chaney Sr. expert, silent film expert, composer, musician, and accompanist extraordinaire) played piano and keyboards to the Keaton masterpiece. And I WAS THERE! I would have gone up and gotten his autograph, but with limited funds (i.e. no money) I was unable to purchase any of his scored DVD silents that were for sale.
While not Prog in the sense of Rick Wakeman or Keith Emmerson, Dr. Jon Mirsalis' playing last night was truly progressive in expressing ideas, emotions, and a wealth of other plot devices and manifestations.
If you ever have a chance to hear Mirsalis play--TAKE IT!
Mellotron On!
Saturday, February 28, 2015
LONELY ROBOT - Airlock (Teaser)
Do you like science fiction? OF COURSE YOU DO!
Do you like rich, lush, prog music with concept-themes and incredible melodies? DUH!
Are you a "thinking man?" WELL..............?
Surf over to The (n)EVERLAND OF PROG on wordpress https://fatherwatson.wordpress.com/
to read my review of this singular 2015 mega-release.
And since you're a "hard case," here's a snippet to hook you like a large-mouth (Mickey's) bass
Mellotron On!
Do you like rich, lush, prog music with concept-themes and incredible melodies? DUH!
Are you a "thinking man?" WELL..............?
Surf over to The (n)EVERLAND OF PROG on wordpress https://fatherwatson.wordpress.com/
to read my review of this singular 2015 mega-release.
And since you're a "hard case," here's a snippet to hook you like a large-mouth (Mickey's) bass
Mellotron On!
Friday, February 27, 2015
New Post sorta
I've got a brand-new album review posted on our doppelganger site (....hmmm...or is this the simulacrum site?)
check it out:
https://fatherwatson.wordpress.com/
Mellotron On!
check it out:
https://fatherwatson.wordpress.com/
Mellotron On!
Thursday, February 26, 2015
BIG BIG TRAIN: Thursdays
What a perfect little gem of a tune to put a smile on your face (especially if you're in a wintry and frigid part of America or the UK).
'Uncle Jack' (written in honor of lead vocalist David Longdon's uncle) is the second track on BBT's 2012 album ENGLISH ELECTRIC PART ONE. It appears as the third track of disc one on their Double album (with extra tracks) of 2013 FULL POWER.
This is a song totally immune from the criticisms sometimes leveled at bands like Mumford & Sons as being only tepid ersatz folk rock or roots-rock. No! This song is so genuine and earthy that you can taste the 'bangers & mash' and smell the stout (or coffee).
That first 20 seconds, once the banjo (Dave Gregory) takes off, has one grinning, bopping the head, and tapping the foot. Then when the vocal harmonies join in with the lead of David Longdon you're in heaven--which is fitting since Longdon truly has a voice of an angel.
This song has one thinking of the perfect meld of Jethro Tull and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, only far better than both!
What a salutary love poem to localism, rootedness, and earth; GKC would be smiling...heck, Wendell Berry too.
Mellotron On!
'Uncle Jack' (written in honor of lead vocalist David Longdon's uncle) is the second track on BBT's 2012 album ENGLISH ELECTRIC PART ONE. It appears as the third track of disc one on their Double album (with extra tracks) of 2013 FULL POWER.
This is a song totally immune from the criticisms sometimes leveled at bands like Mumford & Sons as being only tepid ersatz folk rock or roots-rock. No! This song is so genuine and earthy that you can taste the 'bangers & mash' and smell the stout (or coffee).
That first 20 seconds, once the banjo (Dave Gregory) takes off, has one grinning, bopping the head, and tapping the foot. Then when the vocal harmonies join in with the lead of David Longdon you're in heaven--which is fitting since Longdon truly has a voice of an angel.
This song has one thinking of the perfect meld of Jethro Tull and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, only far better than both!
What a salutary love poem to localism, rootedness, and earth; GKC would be smiling...heck, Wendell Berry too.
Mellotron On!
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
You know what, I'm happy
First Droopy (love me that Daws Butler)
Then the reason thereof:
I have long drooled over, and thumbed through, PROG on the newstand--or, at least the magazine section of my local HASTINGS (which has been like a ghost-town for the last several years...no one reading or BUYING magazines anymore it seems). I would buy every issue of PROG but for the too-high (for me) cover price. Heck, for $3.99 I can buy that Cars album I don't have or the Geo. Lynch Dokken masterpiece that's on sale (HASTINGS is pretty slim pickens when it comes to actual Prog Cds :( ) So I just can't seem to part with the $15 bucks that this journal requires.
But my best friend in the universe, Reliops of California (the Spoiler of plebian music), bought me a subscription for Christmas. My first issue just arrived. I can't wait to listen to the free Cd sampler on my way to Kansas City tonight. I also can't wait till March 4th when Steven Wilson's much lauded new album drops. Stay tuned.
Mellotron On!
Then the reason thereof:
I have long drooled over, and thumbed through, PROG on the newstand--or, at least the magazine section of my local HASTINGS (which has been like a ghost-town for the last several years...no one reading or BUYING magazines anymore it seems). I would buy every issue of PROG but for the too-high (for me) cover price. Heck, for $3.99 I can buy that Cars album I don't have or the Geo. Lynch Dokken masterpiece that's on sale (HASTINGS is pretty slim pickens when it comes to actual Prog Cds :( ) So I just can't seem to part with the $15 bucks that this journal requires.
But my best friend in the universe, Reliops of California (the Spoiler of plebian music), bought me a subscription for Christmas. My first issue just arrived. I can't wait to listen to the free Cd sampler on my way to Kansas City tonight. I also can't wait till March 4th when Steven Wilson's much lauded new album drops. Stay tuned.
Mellotron On!
The Flower Kings - Pipes of Peace
Due to my other, other gig (i.e. my full-time vocation) I'm probably not going to be able to post as often as I had hoped during this period of "re-launch." We'll see.
But in the spirit of my vocational music (no, I'm not an organist but I'm married to a musical lady who can play the organ) I present a marvelous little "minute-plus" piece by the amazing TOMAS BODIN, keyboard wizard extraordinaire of The Flower Kings. This virtuoso snippet would be well suited for our Lententide services...just sayin' :)
Mellotron On!
But in the spirit of my vocational music (no, I'm not an organist but I'm married to a musical lady who can play the organ) I present a marvelous little "minute-plus" piece by the amazing TOMAS BODIN, keyboard wizard extraordinaire of The Flower Kings. This virtuoso snippet would be well suited for our Lententide services...just sayin' :)
Mellotron On!
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
New Post
A new text-post has been posted on the mirror Wordpress site.
Check it out: https://fatherwatson.wordpress.com/
Mellotron On!
Check it out: https://fatherwatson.wordpress.com/
Mellotron On!
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