ProgPower USA VIII: 4th Slot bands confirmed

Glenn - Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! An absolutely amazing line-up so far and I will be there again for my 5th year in a row. You and your family have a wonderful holiday season. Take care and stay safe!!
 
This is the most balanced ProgPower line-up I have seen to date. There really is something for everyone this time.
 
Provided Glenn doesn't round out the fest with Benmech as the headliner, showing off his panflute stylings..... I would agree.

Don't worry, that won't happen - after all, as I am in Ben's band, I haven't heard anything about it.
 
What has Virgin Steele done music wise thats so innovative other than sucking?

Well, they have around 8 or 9 awesome cds and started writing great melodic power metal back when a lot of the other bands were children (or in some cases not even born).

Their music is very theatrical. David takes great mythological works and translates them to cds. I think Virgin Steele's lyrics are amazing. And the emotions captured in the songs perfectly captures the moods of the literature.

Im sure you think Virgin Steele are far more stellar musicians than a band like Dream Theater too.

Virgin Steele is not about technicality, so your comment makes no sense. If Dream Theater learned how to put a little emotion into their songs instead of writing songs like they are preparing for a PHD, they would be a much better band IMO.

Virgin Steele also kicks ass live. I really wish they had I higher slot, but I will be thrilled to have them at PP regardless.:headbang:

Robin
 
or Iced Earth to be confirmed as the other headliner.

Interesting...A lot of people are complaining that there are too many repeats. Well, Iced Earth have never played the festival, they have a brand new double cd coming of Something Wicked, and (if the God's allow) Barlow's return, starting at the best festival on earth!

But seriously Ripper would be kickass because i pretty much know that Barlow isn't coming back. Ever.
 
I don't know where "the leak" conspiricy comes from. Pagan's Mind and Vanden Plas have been the forerunners of almost every poll this board has had in a year. If "buzz" is a factor it was an almost forgone conclusion that they'd be participating in some form this year. The only suprise to me was VP on the Showcase roster.
As for Primal Fear... they may have appeared on a few wish lists, but there has been next to nothing, and cetainly nothing significant about them in the rumor mills that I've read.

Interesting how Pagan's Mind opens PP IV and now get's an extra half hour at this fest, while Threshold was a two-slot at PP III and is getting the same hour this year.
A two slot in PPI-PPVI were 45 min slots. That changed just last year. Pagan's Mind has the momentum going into this year, so they placed higher.
 
Man, I feel bad for Virgin Steele. A band with a long history that has composed and crafted some pretty amazing concept albums and finely polished metal operas getting bumped down by the two-album pan flash of Redemption and the generic Pagan's Mind. Virgin Steele is a special band, PM is just filler in the prog metal genre. A #2 or maybe #3.

And Primal Fear as #4. I don't even know where to start there. Guess all the mindless, beer chugging, fist pumping folk will be happy.
Huh!?:zombie: :loco: :Smug:
 
Great job Glenn! Excellent news to wake up to this evening!
Pagan's Mind kicked tons of ass last time, and Primal Fear will rock the house.
Saw them at MMF and they put on a great show, and just slay live.

J-Dubya
 
Hell yes. Pagan's Mind

Been waiting for this. Freak Kitchen, Vanden Plas, Pagan's Mind...hell every band so far!!

I'm going out on a limb and hoping against hope that Nightwish will fill the second headline.

They're supposed to get a new singer by spring with the new record set for release in the summer. I know it'll never happen but I also knew that Evergrey would never play "The Great Deceiver".

Sun Caged for the Showcase!!
 
Well - I am more into the power than the prog but I am semi-stoked by both of these choices - I have a couple of Primal Fear cds - and while they havent stayed in rotation due to other cds coming out - I will certainly enjoy them. Pagan's Mind - i have one of theirs - same situation. Seems to be a very balanced festival full of bands I havent been able to see yet. Like I said - I'd be coming down as much for the event as much as for the specific bands - so I'm happy. Having only been to a couple - I dont have the problem of "repeats" :)
On the subject of leaks - dammit I thought if I frequented this board it meant I was "in the know" but apparenlty not as I didnt hear anything other than some people expressing or guessing so I guess I am not that high on the insider info food chain :(
As for the headliners - and this is NOT A LEAK, just a guess - here is the link you all need to answer the question - and just remember - I am sponsoring Emma - couldnt care less about the rest of em :) I bet they are using the Diana concert as a tuneup before they hit the ALMIGHTY PPUSA

A Socialite's Life

Great news Glenn thanks for all the hard work -
jeff
 
Excellent news! Primal Fear have been kicking my ass for a while now and same with Pagan's Mind. I actually put PM in my car CD changer when I did my roadtrip up north a few days ago.. I guess I'm part psychic!
I cannot wait for October!
 
Yea, I hope DT was just being a sarcastic asshole... but something tells me he was being serious. If that is the case, he has no business being at this festival...

Why? Is he not allowed to have an opinion that differentiates from yours?

Also, I'm not a huge Iced Earth fan, but I'm definitely down with the idea of them Headlining.
 
For everyone complaining about the whole Virgin Steele getting the second slot deal and other bands with less releases / history being above them... it's a fest this stuff happens. Hell, its the industry in general. Doro's gonna be opening for Edguy when they do their home shows. I like Edguy alot, not so much Doro but from a historical standpoint why the fuck is Doro opening for Edguy?!?!?!? popularity. Edguy even did the same thing when their tour hit the UK. They all of a sudden found themselves opening for Dragonforce.

Even though I'm the type of person who can watch an "evening with" performance (3 hours plus) of Virgin Steele, I'm just happy to finally see them.