How 'bout X Japan?
With Yoshiki's neck injuries and pending surgery, coupled with their constant scheduling and canceling of shows around the world, I doubt this would happen :-( It's been almost a year since they were supposed to play in NYC and still no rescheduled show. Shane would either have to perform a miracle or be better off chancing the Vanden Plas thing before booking X JAPAN.
Now Toshi with T-Earth is another story
I love some of the suggestions already here, particularly
Hibria
Eumeria
Six Minute Century
PLANET X (um, yes plz!!!!)
Morgana Lefay (I'd put down $ for this if Shane opens up for sponsors)
I'd like to add
GUILT MACHINE (seems the only way to get Arjen in the door without robbing a bank)
I'm on the fence about Sabaton/returning bands. I have loved the returning bands these past few years, but it's always different the second time around. I'd rather the second time around be as a headliner/supporting slot for the main event. No offense to the Shane or the showcase, I realize that sounded like a lead-in for a put down, but it wasn't. I'm just saying that the main event bands get a lot more attention and I think for Sabaton's return, or for any band's return after a stellar set, I'd rather wait until they could play mainstage with all the glitz and glamor and new material.
It would be neat if the showcase was focused around (or included but not solely) performances that might not be covered under Glenn's rules for Fri Sat, but would still be of great interest to the crowd. That's exactly what it already accomplishes, but I'm talking further hits into left field. For instance, a reunion show of a band like Running Wild. I guess they've officially broken up, I don't think they have any new material, and if they got together to play one show I doubt they'd make a full-scale comeback, record a new CD, and bring in huge concert numbers around the world - but it sure would be great to see them! Now obviously Running Wild was just my example. Any number of bands could fit this model. Bands that are still active but without new material, or even a-typical performances like the previously planned Pagan's Maximus or the Orphaned Land acoustic set with guest musicians or CM's "stuff we're not playing on Saturday" set. All of those were great, interesting, and unique to the ProgPower experience but don't qualify for the mainstage on Fri & Sat. I wonder how likely these things would be for the showcase. There could be 1 or 2 regular acts and then a "special event", or the whole night could be dedicated to special programs that are literally once in a lifetime.
Just typing as I think... Shane does an incredible job with the showcase every year, without a doubt, and I'll always be in attendance and ready to rock out no matter what's going on!
