ProgDay 2014

**Jon** · 11-02-2013

I know it's 10 months away, so you might think it is too soon to start daydreaming about ProgDay 2014, but not for me.

Of course, it matters not what kind of weekend I envisage, the organizers always put together an event that eclipses my feeble imaginings.

Nevertheless, just to pass the time with pleasant thoughts…

Perhaps they’ll bring back some great bands from ProgDays past; Discipline, Echolyn, Deluge Grander and The Muffins come to mind immediately.

And what about making up for some cancelled appearances by the likes of Už Jsme Doma and Quantum Fantay? That would be sweet!

What are your ideas/wishes/comments?

**NogbadTheBad** · 11-02-2013

Topping my wish list

Free Salamander Exhibit
Uz Jsme Doma
Basta!
MiRthkon
Rabbit Rabbit
Zevious
Not A Good Sign
Jean Louis

**Jon** · 11-02-2013

Nice list, although I don't know Free Salamander Exhibit or Rabbit Rabbit. Have to check them out.

**Baribrotzer** · 11-02-2013

Originally Posted by Jon

Nice list, although I don't know Free Salamander Exhibit or Rabbit Rabbit. Have to check them out.

Essentially, the two halves of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum: Free Salamander Exhibit is Nils, Dan, and Michael, plus David (the original SGM drummer) and a new guy on guitar, and preserves a lot of the SGM sound; Rabbit Rabbit is Carla and Matthias, and sounds closer to Carla's solo material.

**battema** · 11-02-2013

Jean Louis would be great, especially after their scorching set at Orion.

I would like to see Djam Karet make a return, especially since (I think) 2014 is an anniversary for them.

Honestly though...the thrill of ProgDay for me is that I am usually blindsided by the choices; most years I know few of the bands going in, and by the time the weekend is done I have a variety of new favorites

**Lopez** · 11-02-2013

Don't know if they exist anymore, but I would love to see a return of Japan's Ars Nova and Naikaku.

Wouldn't mind both days filled with all the bands that had to cancel for one reason or another over the years.

**JKL2000** · 11-02-2013

Djam Karet - have yet to see them!

**Jon** · 11-03-2013

Originally Posted by Lopez

Don't know if they exist anymore, but I would love to see a return of Japan's Ars Nova and Naikaku.

Wouldn't mind both days filled with all the bands that had to cancel for one reason or another over the years.

I heard (name withheld) say that the key to a good festival is the inclusion of an Italian band and a Japanese band. The comment made me laugh, but, at the same time, it seemed to have quite a bit of truth to it.

Lou, if I'm remembering correctly, after ProgDay 2013 you were returning home to your first batch of sour beer. How did that turn out?

**Lopez** · 11-03-2013

Originally Posted by Jon

Lou, if I'm remembering correctly, after ProgDay 2013 you were returning home to your first batch of sour beer. How did that turn out?

Hi Jon,

It turned out well considering that sour is the goal. It takes some getting used to. Kind of tastes like a Bud gone bad or maybe like a regular Bud (so says my fast-food-connoisseur brother-in-law). I will drink all that I've made, but I doubt that I'll be making any more. I'll stick to full-flavor beers and IPAs.

Speaking of ProgDay and beer, I learned the hard way this year that high summer heat and lots of beer do not mix well.

**progeezer** · 11-03-2013

Originally Posted by Lopez

Hi Jon,

It turned out well considering that sour is the goal. It takes some getting used to. Kind of tastes like a Bud gone bad or maybe like a regular Bud (so says my fast-food-connoisseur brother-in-law). I will drink all that I've made, but I doubt that I'll be making any more. I'll stick to full-flavor beers and IPAs.

Speaking of ProgDay and beer, I learned the hard way this year that high summer heat and lots of beer do not mix well.

Yeah, you should have stuck to absinthe!

**philsunset** · 11-03-2013

The last night of the Progday weekend I was sitting at a table in the hotel party room. Someone sat down next to me and put a sugar cube on a slotted spoon and poured me a glass of absinthe. I'd never tried it before. Interesting to say the least and it didn't taste bad at all like I'd heard.

**zombywoof** · 11-03-2013

2013 was my first ProgDay and I had a wonderful time hanging out with people I'd known from NEARfest, as well as meeting some online acquaintances in person. Not to mention the fact that the bands were tremendous.

I'm looking forward to 2014!

**NogbadTheBad** · 11-03-2013

See you there Ian

**SteveSly** · 11-03-2013

Originally Posted by Lopez

Wouldn't mind both days filled with all the bands that had to cancel for one reason or another over the years.

Not to condem all of the bands that have cancelled over the years, but in some cases the cancelations were not done on the best of terms. In fact, more than once I would say that the festival got screwed by certain artists / bands. In those cases I highly doubt they will be invited back.

Steve Sly

**SteveSly** · 11-03-2013

Originally Posted by Lopez

Speaking of ProgDay and beer, I learned the hard way this year that high summer heat and lots of beer do not mix well.

ProgDay is all about pacing yourself. A lesson I have learned the hard way over the years. Mixing beer with occasional bottles of water makes a huge difference.

Steve Sly

**Digital_Man** · 11-03-2013

Originally Posted by SteveSly

Not to condem all of the bands that have cancelled over the years, but in some cases the cancelations were not done on the best of terms. In fact, more than once I would say that the festival got screwed by certain artists / bands. In those cases I highly doubt they will be invited back.

Steve Sly

Wouldn't that depend on the leadership of the festival? Or do you mean that maybe certain bands hold a grudge against the festival also? If it's not the same people running the festival when the bands cancelled or whatever even under bad circumstances I don't see what difference it would make if a band's name came up and someone else(not implying it was you necessarily)was the organizer.

Anyway, I haven't been to PD in several years. It would be great to return to it again at some point. I can't say for sure next year but we'll see.

**SteveSly** · 11-03-2013

Originally Posted by Digital_Man

Wouldn't that depend on the leadership of the festival? Or do you mean that maybe certain bands hold a grudge against the festival also? If it's not the same people running the festival when the bands cancelled or whatever even under bad circumstances I don't see what difference it would make if a band's name came up and someone else(not implying it was you necessarily)was the organizer.

.

I guess all I can say is that cancellations (and there have been a lot of them) have come under very different situations. Most of the time there were legitimate reasons for the bands cancelling, but occasionally there have been other circumstances with bands making promises (under contract no less) that they never intended to keep. When a band makes a commitment, signs a contract and says they are going to play, the expectation is that is what will happen baring something really catastrophic. In ProgDay’s case there have times when bands simply pulled out at the last minute. Some were legit, but some we found out after the fact basically lied to the festival about their circumstances. When you are left holding the bag and trying to find a last minute replacement it can leave a rather bad taste in ones mouth. I can think of one fairly well know prog band in particular that just decided that they were not going to play only a week or so before the show. There was no illness or emergency in the band they just thought they were going to get a better offer somewhere else and said “see ya” to ProgDay only a few short weeks before the show. It is not up to me anymore, but personally I would not be interested in dealing with that particular band again.

Then again, sometimes time heels old wounds, so you never know in some cases...

Steve Sly

**TheLongshot** · 11-04-2013

Originally Posted by SteveSly

I guess all I can say is that cancellations (and there have been a lot of them) have come under very different situations. Most of the time there were legitimate reasons for the bands cancelling, but occasionally there have been other circumstances with bands making promises (under contract no less) that they never intended to keep. When a band makes a commitment, signs a contract and says they are going to play, the expectation is that is what will happen baring something really catastrophic. In ProgDay’s case there have times when bands simply pulled out at the last minute. Some were legit, but some we found out after the fact basically lied to the festival about their circumstances. When you are left holding the bag and trying to find a last minute replacement it can leave a rather bad taste in ones mouth. I can think of one fairly well know prog band in particular that just decided that they were not going to play only a week or so before the show. There was no illness or emergency in the band they just thought they were going to get a better offer somewhere else and said “see ya” to ProgDay only a few short weeks before the show. It is not up to me anymore, but personally I would not be interested in dealing with that particular band again.

Then again, sometimes time heels old wounds, so you never know in some cases...

Steve Sly

None of this surprises me, since I've seen it happen to other festivals. It isn't always made public, but festivals have been screwed by bands in the past, which have lead to bad feelings and no chance in hell they'd be allowed to play the festival.

**SteveSly** · 11-04-2013

Originally Posted by TheLongshot

None of this surprises me, since I've seen it happen to other festivals. It isn't always made public, but festivals have been screwed by bands in the past, which have lead to bad feelings and no chance in hell they'd be allowed to play the festival.

Yup, I think it has happened to all of them at one time or another.

Steve Sly

**Jon** · 11-05-2013

Originally Posted by SteveSly

Yup, I think it has happened to all of them at one time or another.

Steve Sly

I hope Už Jsme Doma are not on the sh*t list, as I would love to see them.

I'm sure it's a giant butt-pain when an act cancels at the last minute, but the ProgDay organizers must be commended on thier ability to find excellent last-minute replacements. For example, I was very happy to see Oblivion Sun at ProgDay 2013.