Progressive Palaver

Episode 133 – Queensryche Part 8, Empire Pt 1 Empire, the album that broke Queensryche wide open. This episode sees the group reliving more fond memories of our friendship as we consider the merits of this most excellent and yet commercial album. There is plenty of hyperbole on both ends of the spectrum fueling our palaver. Empire provides much to satisfy a progmetal fan. Excellent drumming and drum sounds? Check. Crisp vocals and lyrics? Check. Tasty guitar work all around? Check. While we only get through the first part of this record on this episode, the conversation is genuinely fun and leaves room for more. Enjoy! Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Bonus Episode – Why Joe No Longer Supports Roger Waters In this Palaver for one, Joe lays out his reasons for no longer supporting Roger Waters. Joe briefly explains his somewhat difficult history with Roger and frames the whole story with the live shows of 2017 and 2022. Ultimately the tale ends with an explanation of how Roger’s online behavior has led to the decision to simply move on from the founder of one of prog rock’s greatest bands. Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Dive into the compelling live interpretations of Queensryche's iconic 'Operation: Mindcrime.' From nostalgic concert experiences to the emotional weight these performances carry, hosts reflect on the evolution of the band's stage presence. They analyze vocal challenges faced by the lead singer and share captivating moments that electrify the audience. The discussion also touches on the socio-political themes in their music, emphasizing the lasting influence and artistry of Queensryche through time.

Star Wars Palaver – The Book of Boba Fett, Season 1 SPOILER ALERT – The episode will spoil Season 1 of The Book of Boba Fett. If you do not want to be spoiled, watch the full season before listening The group spends some time catching up on The Book of Boba Fett. As usual, we consider the general landscape of the series including, characters, plot points, and visuals. We explore the connections between this show and others in the canon and ask ourselves some probing questions. Is there too much Tatooine in the Star Wars universe? Is this the Boba Fett we always imagined (and wanted to see)? Is The Book of Boba Fett a spinoff of The Mandalorian? All this and so much more in this fun Star Wars palaver. Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Episode 131 – Queensryche Part 6, Operation: Mindcrime Pt 3 The group finally reaches the end of Operation: Mindcrime! Picking up with The Mission, the Palaver continues this labor of love. We touch on all the story points, the stellar music, and, of course, Tate’s mind-bending vocals. The second half of Mindcrime is rich with indicators for where the band will go next, while maintaining the relentless pace of the record. The impacts are multiple and significant as we complete our exploration of this seminal album. Enjoy! Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Special Episode – Interview with Joe C, Joel S, and Johnny B of Total Mass Retain – January 2023 In this special episode we catch up with Joe Cass, Joel Simches, and Johnny Bruhns of the Yes tribute band Total Mass Retain. It’s been about a year since we’ve chatted together and it was great to talk about the wonderful music of Yes. It was the first time for us at the Palaver to meet guitarist Johnny Bruhns and we were thrilled to hear his perspective of the music that we all enjoy so much. Joe and Joel, as usual, bring their unbridled enthusiasm to the conversation. As one might expect, we cover a broad range of topics from setlists to future plans. As this is published, we are gearing up to see TMR at the City Winery in Philadelphia for what promises to be a “kick ass” show. Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Episode 130 – Queensryche Part 5, Operation: Mindcrime Pt 2 We finally get into the music of Operation: mindcrime (after a short detour into the myriad differences between heavy metal, hair metal, and hard rock). We narrowly avoid the pitfall of “is Chris DeGarmo the Phil Collins of Queensryche” (that’s a joke!) before we get eyeballs deep in the delightful soundscape that is the first half of this album. We consider the songwriting, production and world-building of a band at their peak. This album presents a host of delights in which we revel. We hope you enjoy this palaver and album as much as we do. Twitter: @progpala Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

The discussion kicks off with a celebration of Queensryche's 'Operation: Mindcrime,' hailed as the ultimate concept album. Personal anecdotes reveal deep emotional connections and nostalgic memories tied to its music. The visual storytelling of the album's cover sparks intriguing analysis of its characters, especially Sister Mary. They explore the groundbreaking sound design and innovative techniques that make the record so unique. The vibrant music scene of the 80s also comes into play, reflecting on heavy metal's evolution and the album's lasting impact.

Special Episode – Interview with Karl Eisenhart and Simon Godfrey of Tribe of Names, October 2022 In this special episode we sit down with friends of the Palaver Karl and Simon to discuss the “debut” album from Tribe of Names. We get to cover topics ranging from songwriting during the pandemic to integrating new members into a group to how to throw a proper release party. Tribe of Names’ album Evolver promises to be a winner with excellent songwriting, tasty musicianship, and world-class artwork! We look forward to much more from Tribe of Names. Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Episode 128 – Queensryche Part 3, Rage for Order Pt 2 The group completes our discussion of Queensryche’s Rage for Order with this delightful episode. Turning the vinyl over to side two, we consider the back half of this landmark album. We continue to delight in the acumen displayed by this band on only their second full-length album! From Chemical Youth’s nod toward the future to London’s vampire chic, Rage for Order is an album that delights from top to bottom. And Tom’s internet connection provides a real-time example of screaming in digital! Twitter: @progpala Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt