Progressive Ideas

blogged by Michael Popke and Marc Garrison

Michael Sadler returns to Saga

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After a three-year absence, Michael Saga and Canadian prog-pomp rockers Saga have reunited. “To put all the rumours to rest, we are happy to officially announce that Michael Sadler is once again the Singer and Frontman in Saga!!,” blares Saga’s website. ►

A Fates Warning Reunion (Sort Of)

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Word is spreading that Jim Matheos, guitarist for the seminal progressive-metal band Fates Warning, has teamed up with original Fates Warning vocalist John Arch to record a new full-length album. ►

Fan-Financed Tours, Albums: A Good Thing?

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Sun Domingo may not boast the same name recognition as Marillion and Spock’s Beard. But like its progressive brethren, this Atlanta band is counting on the legions of new fans it has made in the past few years to help finance its future. ►

Frontiers says ‘Yes’ to North American deal

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After a decade of fits and starts, Italy’s Frontiers Records — a company that has long defined itself by giving such former major-label bands as Journey, Toto, Winger, Whitesnake and Asia new life — might (finally) have an anchored presence in North America. ►

James LaBrie gets heavy!

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It seems like Dream Theater is never out of the music news for long. Recently came word of a second solo album from Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie — fourth, if you count his two Mullmuzzler projects from 1999 and 2001 — and it appears to be a doozy. ►

A progressive drum and bugle corps?

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The current repertoire of Teal Sound, a Jacksonville, Fla.-based drum and bugle corps, is titled “In the Presence of Enemies” — named after a Dream Theater cut and featuring the music of Dream Theater, Jordan Rudess, Coheed and Cambria. ►

The Setlist Series: Kansas

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Most of the songs on this Kansas CD have been previously released on live albums or as bonus tracks on expanded editions. Like Legacy’s “Playlist” series, Setlist titles come in eco-friendly, plastic-free packaging ►

Festivals adjust with the times

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With Entertainment Weekly dubbing this concert season the “Summer of Sadness” — many acts have canceled dates, ProgPower USA is now selling single-day tickets for the first time, and admission prices to Lilith Fair have been slashed — the recent news about Projektfest ’10 comes as no surprise. ►