Glenn - make the announcement already!

[JayKeeley]

Glenn,

Aren't you just as anxious to post the roster, as much as we're dying to find out who's playing this year? How do you hold back from the anticipation in seeing all our reactions? What's your secret??!!

* develops a nervous twitch under right eye -> *

Otherwise, how about a few more hints to keep the guessing games moving along?

JK.

 

[Harvester]

I had two bands pull out on me last week. I have replaced one with a band making their U.S. debut. I'm working on the other now and hope to have something done by next week. Needless to say, I have been in scramble mode for days now.

I'm ready for March 1st to roll around just so I can relax for a bit.

Glenn H.

 

[Anon138]

I had two bands pull out on me last week.
Glenn H.

Glenn,

Can you tell us which bands bailed out on you?

 

[DarkOne]

I know you won't name names, but I'm curious if the bands that pulled out were headliners, openers, or somewhere in between?

Steve

 

[Creeps]

look ----> fuel for the anticipation fire

 

[JayKeeley]

I had two bands pull out on me last week. I have replaced one with a band making their U.S. debut. I'm working on the other now and hope to have something done by next week. Needless to say, I have been in scramble mode for days now.

I'm ready for March 1st to roll around just so I can relax for a bit.

Glenn H.

Wow, just goes to show that nothing is ever truly final. Is there some kind of contractual obligation attached to the March 1st sign-off date?

Still, a "band making their US debut" now makes me all the more curious. Of course, if it's an opening act, it could be almost anyone, heh. Can you tell us if it's prog or power?

 

[Demonspell]

I don't think the cancellations will be revealed until the book is out, or at least until after the first of March...

 

[Riceloft]

I still can't wait, its going to be incredible .

 

[Ninkasi]

If you're having trouble filling that last spot and they aren't already invited, might I suggest Watchtower (http://www.marathoncd.com/watchtower/)? It would be truely incredible to see them at Progpower V. Besides creating the technical metal genre, the musicians in this band are some of the most if not the most talented musicians in metal and their songwriting is equally as good. Their first album (Energetic Disassembly (from 1986)) is going to be reissued soon and they are working on finishing up their third album right now (which was started back in the early 90's before the band broke up). Also, while they may be an American band, few Americans will ever get to see them play live unless they travel to southern Texas. A band like this really isn't popular enough to do a tour in the US.

Even if they aren't in the lineup, I'm sure it will be really good and I can't wait to see it.

 

[jkohn]

If you're having trouble filling that last spot and they aren't already invited, might I suggest Watchtower (http://www.marathoncd.com/watchtower/)? It would be truely incredible to see them at Progpower V. Besides creating the technical metal genre, the musicians in this band are some of the most if not the most talented musicians in metal and their songwriting is equally as good. Their first album (Energetic Disassembly (from 1986)) is going to be reissued soon and they are working on finishing up their third album right now (which was started back in the early 90's before the band broke up). Also, while they may be an American band, few Americans will ever get to see them play live unless they travel to southern Texas. A band like this really isn't popular enough to do a tour in the US.

Even if they aren't in the lineup, I'm sure it will be really good and I can't wait to see it.

Is this the same Watchtower that opened for Dream Theater at the Houston show a couple years back on the SFaM tour? My God, those guys were horrible. I remember the announcer who introduced them said this was a special treat and they hadn't performed together in years. It was painfuly obvious; their stage presence personified every bad 80's Metal cliche right down the the skinny bow-legged lead singer in leather pants who kept pretending to hump the amps. And no, I'm not kidding or exaggerating, my friend and I still laugh about those guys. I don't remember the music being any good either, it certaintly didn't strike me as ProgPower-calibre music, or even in that genre.

So Glen consider this a vote against Watchtower.

 

[EisNinja]

Dragonland Would Surely Participate!!

 

[Curufin]

Dragonland Would Surely Participate!!

I would have Dragonland's babies.

Your babies too, Robbie.

 

[Hamburglar Metal]

I have my money for the ticket, crossing my fingers in the hopes that, come March, I will hear that SACRED STEEL is headlining ProgPowerV.

 

[MadeInNewJersey]

I don't think the cancellations will be revealed until the book is out, or at least until after the first of March...

I have a pretty good idea who one of the cancellations is...but out of respect for Glenn's hard work, I'll keep it to myself until after March 1.

 

[AngraRULES]

Mark, one of the cancellations is that one band we've talked about.... =(

 

[Ninkasi]

Is this the same Watchtower that opened for Dream Theater at the Houston show a couple years back on the SFaM tour? My God, those guys were horrible. I remember the announcer who introduced them said this was a special treat and they hadn't performed together in years. It was painfuly obvious; their stage presence personified every bad 80's Metal cliche right down the the skinny bow-legged lead singer in leather pants who kept pretending to hump the amps. And no, I'm not kidding or exaggerating, my friend and I still laugh about those guys. I don't remember the music being any good either, it certaintly didn't strike me as ProgPower-calibre music, or even in that genre.

So Glen consider this a vote against Watchtower.

Who cares about their stage presence? I certainly don't. I could care less what the band looks like or how they act - I just listen to their music. Also, Watchtower is known for their incredibly technical music, not for their vocals. They have some of the most skilled musicians in metal - especially the bassist and drummer. If you don't believe me, I suggest listening to any of their songs on either of their two studio albums. Because of the difficulty of their material, it's unlikely that they could pull it off live as well as they do in the studio but I am willing to bet that they could get pretty close. As for why their music sounded bad, the only thing I can think of is that they had a bad mix. It's also not the easiest stuff to like the first time you listen to it either. One of the previous ProgPower bands, Spiral Architect, was heavily influenced by Watchtower - almost to the point of copying in some places. Watchtower is the only band whose presence alone would be enough to get me to go to ProgPower V (Pain of Salvation, whose vocalist wore leather pants at PPIII by the way, and Angra are close though).

 

[jkohn]

Who cares about their stage presence? I certainly don't. I could care less what the band looks like or how they act - I just listen to their music. Also, Watchtower is known for their incredibly technical music, not for their vocals. They have some of the most skilled musicians in metal - especially the bassist and drummer. If you don't believe me, I suggest listening to any of their songs on either of their two studio albums. Because of the difficulty of their material, it's unlikely that they could pull it off live as well as they do in the studio but I am willing to bet that they could get pretty close. As for why their music sounded bad, the only thing I can think of is that they had a bad mix. It's also not the easiest stuff to like the first time you listen to it either. One of the previous ProgPower bands, Spiral Architect, was heavily influenced by Watchtower - almost to the point of copying in some places. Watchtower is the only band whose presence alone would be enough to get me to go to ProgPower V (Pain of Salvation, whose vocalist wore leather pants at PPIII by the way, and Angra are close though).

Look, I don't know what to tell you, the band I saw sucked big time IMHO, both the music and their stage presence. Maybe they didn't play a set that was representative of their best studio work, but the music they played did not strike me as being particularly technical or progressive, and just didn't sound good at all.