Tag Archives: progressive rock

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Hot Ticket: Steve Hackett: Genesis Revisited @ Lincoln Theatre, 3/26/14

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Steve Hackett first revisited material by the prog-rock band Genesis in a 1996 album of reworked songs by the band. And in 2012, he did it again, recording lush guitar solos with various guest singers who reinterpreted selections from the six classic studio albums Hackett made with the band.

Hackett is taking Genesis Revisited II on the road starting with a date in D.C. on Wednesday, March 26 at the Lincoln Theatre.

It’s a rare stateside opportunity to see a guitar master in his element, playing the songs that put him on the map. After all, he’s likely to revisit guitar classics like “Horizons” (from Foxtrot) and “Dancing with the Moonlit Knight” (from Selling England by the Pound).

According to his Wikipedia entry, Hackett refined several guitar techniques for the age of classic rock, introducing tapping and sweep picking to a new genre of songs. The end result sounds great on the recordings, which manage to capture a bold mystic and occasionally romantic sound. But let’s not put our stock in critics and recordings. Let’s go see the man himself and hear him live.

Steve Hackett: Genesis Revisited
The Lincoln Theatre
Wednesday, March 26
doors @7pm
$45-$65
All ages

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We Love Music: YES @ Warner Theatre – 7/24/13

Yes ocad123

Progressive rock band Yes stopped at the Warner Theatre Wednesday night, taking the very crowded hall on a journey through mystical rock symphonies that usually ended with a roaring standing ovation from their admirers.

Seriously, there was so much energy among the audience, which largely behaved and listened attentively while Yes revisited three classic albums — Close to the Edge, Going for the One and The Yes Album (in that order). But particularly toward the end of the show for the classic “I’ve Seen All Good People,” the audience could no longer contain itself and broke out into dancing in the aisles.

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Hot Ticket: YES @ Warner Theatre, 7/24/13

Yes (Photo by Rob Shanahan)

Yes (Photo by Rob Shanahan)

Progressive rock band YES is on an ambitious tour of the United States, performing three classic albums in their entirety in a number of shows, including a stop tonight at the Warner Theatre in DC.

In one concert, the band will perform their highly regarded albums, The Yes Album, Close to the Edge and Going for the One. The band is hitting the road with much of its classic lineup, including bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White, and keyboardist Geoff Downes. Joined by new singer Jon Davison, they have been selling out big shows in Los Angeles, New York and other major cities.

I personally am excited to dive into the rich history of this band, which has declared they are still going to continue to make albums. Howe is one of the greatest living guitarists today; Downes is an innovator who also took his synths to The Buggles (beginning the band’s long and fruitful relationship with producer Trevor Horn).

The influence of the progressive rock movement Yes helped to launch can be seen today in bands from Muse to LCD Soundsystem. Catch the show tonight and hear for yourself!

YES
Warner Theatre
Wednesday, July 24
Show @ 8pm
$39.50-$79.50
All ages

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Q&A: Dave Hartley of Nightlands (@DC9, 5/30/13)

Dave Hartley of Nightlands (photo courtesy of Nightlands)

Dave Hartley of Nightlands (photo courtesy of Nightlands)

The band Nightlands is the brainchild of Philadelphian Dave Hartley, who actually grew up nearby in Frederick, Md. The band last came through DC in June 2011 after the release of their first album, supporting Sondre Lerche at the 9:30 Club in June 2011.

With second album Oak Island released in January, Nightlands is returning to DC to play at DC9 on Thursday, May 30. Tracks like “Born to Love” suggest lush progressive rock of the 70s, with the tone set by buoyant vocals instead of guitar solos.

Hartley talked to We Love DC about growing to love touring and being a perfectionist in his songwriting.

Mickey: You’re going on the road to support a new album! Can you tell us about it?

Dave Hartley: The tour starts Wednesday in New York. This will be our second tour, supporting Oak Island, which is the second record from Nightlands.

It’s a record that came out in January. We went on tour for a month. This is a shorter tour; it’s like a week and a half. DC is the second stop. We are looking forward to playing there!

We will have my four-piece band. We’ll be singing some beautiful harmonies and playing the songs from the record and some older songs and some new stuff I’ve been writing.

I’m really proud of the band and the way we are playing together right now. I think we are really good. It makes me look forward to the tour.

I didn’t always look forward to tours. Sometimes I make these records and they are very complex recordings, and I didn’t know how to play them live. I would get real stressed out about it. But we’ve gotten to the point now where the band is really good.

I’m really proud of the way it sounds, and I get excited about the tour. I never thought I would be excited to tour.

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