Arena

Arena, 2020. L-R: Kylan Amos, John Mitchell, Mick Pointer, Paul Manzi, and Clive Nolan.

Kajamera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Courtesy Verglas Music/Wikipedia.

 Arena are a band that I have been dabbling with for some time, but unlike some of the related bands, I may not be getting all of the CDs since it gets expensive to go after all these every time I bring someone new into my collection. Mick Pointer, late of Marillion, and Clive Nolan, also of Pendragon, started the band in 1994, and there have been several different lineups ever since, which have included John Jowitt, late of IQ and Jadis; John Mitchell of Frost*, It Bites, Fish, Lonely Planet, and now Asia; and former Landmarq and Threshold frontman, as well Headspace and Rick Wakeman band member Damian Wilson (his joining is what got me to buy their most recent studio album, The Theory of Molecular Inheritance). Unfortunately, other commitments will have him moving on by years end. Paul Manzi left in 2020 to join the Sweet of all people, which some may consider selling out, by going from a complex prog band to a latter day lineup of a glam band from the '70s. However, he will be back for good by next year. Now I know why I used an old photo (Manzi was originally supposed to be on the last album before the split was announced). Pointer still plays his old bands music on occasion in a side project with original bass player Cliff Orsi, proving that he's no Pete Best. Mitchell and Nolan have also worked the late John Wetton of Asia on his 2003 solo album Rock of Faith, and the former on the Wetton (Geoff) Downes Icon series.
 Arenas sometimes dark lyrics and layered sound design resonate with me and many listeners. The band have been independent from the start, managing themselves and running their own label. They have built up a cult following spanning over three decades. Like other artists with simplistic names, they get confused with obscure artists of the same name on Amazon, where I stream them, Spotify and maybe even indie specialists emusic. Look for the Verglas label, or at least what you know is the real Arena on these services, given the generic nature of the name. No word yet on the next studio album now that Manzi is poised to return in one years time. At least I can easily stream the band at home as I can on the go and at home, but that will be the next post, this being the first in 2026. I guess it comes from getting bored of the other bands and despising current mainstream rubbish. I may have even designed the next albums sleeve for them out of sigils, which current bass player and art director Kylan Amos could adapt, even though AI even knows his style. I drew them for something else while playing the band the other week..
    One more live album would be nice from the current lineup. Tracks like "Valley of the Kings" from the latest tour have not been officially recorded or filmed live with Wilson (or even original singer John Carson [no relation to Johnny Carson] for that matter from the first album and tour, if any, since there was little live activity with him, and he imitated Pointers former colleague Fish at times to where they had to play the old guard just to fill the set and seats at the same time). Bootlegs don't even seem to exist of Arena (pirates do, but we've been over that with other people), while shows of different lineups are on YouTube, including some of the oldest from early guitarist and seasoned session player Keith More, who is terminally ill and once worked with Paul and Linda McCartney, sharing an interest in animal rights and the environment. Increasing security at most venues these days make it much harder to film or record most shows, yet one survives from this past year on video (it wouldn't be worth it to try to copy the audio and spend all day trying to split up the tracks, which is why there should just be official soundboard recordings fans can buy, or even what the Grateful Dead allowed when they were still together with a taper section and trading recordings, yet Arena are indie and are more cult than the Bay Area icons by comparison, so it may not be feasible in the current climate).
    I hope to get more from Arena as I can afford. They have been upstaging everyone else, even those I know and love. I know I can build on this as I have for much of the collection I've accumulated.

AI of original album design for next album

REO Speedwagon: REO-gate

REO Speedwagon in happier times (cliché, I know!) at Red Rocks, CO Capital Region, 2010

Sjgkfe, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 Seems that it's never too late for a band to have problems. Just as oasis come back, other bands fall apart, particularly ones from before thirty years ago I grew up seeing in the charts and on MTV & VH1. It's like a marriage that ran its course, A trite comparison but it's true. REO Speedwagon are no stranger to this, and now they're on the way out because of a row over bass player Bruce Halls medical recovery and frontman Kevin Cronin. A similar situation occurred twice in the late '90s with their friends Styx and contemporaries Journey, as well as Yes less than a decade later, so it's not uncommon, especially as one gets on in age. The jury are out on this one. We've just seen Hall & Oates and Janes Addiction become Behind the Music material (now on Paramount+, sister streamer to MTV and VH1).

 Remaining founding member Neal Doughty stopped touring in 2022 and I saw the band for the last time and without him last year, and it wasn't the same. I also learned co-founder and original drummer Alan Gratzer is originally from Syracuse. I didn't go the year before because I couldn't afford to go to that and Elton John, who was wrapping up his life on the road, and his bass guitarist Matt Bissonette (Greggs brother) has just taken over for Hall to boot. I just didn't go this year also because I had to cut back on shows like a lot of people are on less essential activities in this economy. Perhaps the spirits of Gary Richrath and the more recently departed Gregg Philbin told me not to go this time as they turn in their graves over this. I might have even skipped Cronins birthday this year because of how he allegedly stabbed his longtime colleague in the back or I'm focussed on other bands and priorities right now. We're riding a real (two in the south at the time of this writing) and proverbial storm out here. It'd be too easy to throw in some Gene Shalit-style puns to what is a sad end to a nearly six decade legacy that started in the Champaign-Urbana area at uni in the bar scene and became an AOR-corporate rock punchline to many. We're all experienced at being human and life is one big Pandoras box. Terry Luttrell from the 1971 début (later of Starcastle) and would-be vocalist Greg X. Volz (who joined Petra instead, who I once liked, while Cronin returned after the Mike Murphy period in 1976) found the Lord.

  It's a right shame to see a band I've known for over forty years' time since I was very young get to this stage so far along, but let's hope they can sort out their differences so they can end the band with some integrity and dignity for the sake of the fans.

UPDATE: The final lineup will now tour under Cronins name. They will tour with Styx and Don Felder (late of Eagles) in summer 2025, including Syracuse (Styx were in the same boat on a river, while Felder had left, but says never checked out of his old band).

The last REO proper show I attended at the NYS Fair

Tickets, Touts, and Taylor

David Gilmour at the Peter Green Tribute Concert, 25/2/20

 When oasis announced their reunion tour, fans made a mad rush for tickets, even though they were hundreds of pounds, and they were slated for it. Even worse, touts were already reselling them for even more, so the band are putting a stop to it by making the tickets exclusively for who bought them, just as Kate Bush had a decade ago for her rare residency at the Eventim Apollo (formerly Hammersmith Odeon). On the contrary, her old friend and mentor David Gilmour is about to have his own tour, and  when I looked at downstates dates coming after another event in the tri-state I would like to attend (story for another day, but I'd stay at the same hotel to save time, even if I'd be on the tube late at nights, or run into his former colleague), one was sold out, and the other a right fortune. Ironically, when I went to an article on Pearl Jam (who boycotted Ticketmaster in 1996) and there was a link to a third-party reseller, both dates were available and had seats at a remotely doable price and distant location in the arena. Last time I went there or the region was to see Paul McCartney. He and Peter Gabriel (you can connect the dots by now) were at Taylor Swifts concert in London a while ago (the old guard come to her). Swifties seem to spend less by going overseas than trying to see her in the US. I know it's too easy these days to write about missus, but even she's a scapegoat of the Live Nation/Ticketmaster monopoly. I'm lucky to get to one name show this year, which is Duran Duran back Upstate at the casino, but I'd have to win the pools well before that since I need time to plan and pay for the lot. I also have to see what they're doing with the Fairfield County do the night of Durans own show at the Garden because it can be too much and they're not that close together since it's a big area. Like most people at this stage, essentials come first in this economy before even considering hols or big shows anywhere.

oasis: 30 Years On

oasis at the Patriot Centre in Fairfax County, VA (DC area); 20/12/08

 The return of oasis after fifteen years time is something many fans hoped for, but thought would never happen. The volatile relationship of Liam and Noel Gallagher has long been a sticking point. Reports of a tour next year are coming out now with ticket prices reaching as much as thousands of pounds. Nothing about a new album has been announced yet. More as this develops.

Yes - Mid-Hudson Civic Centre

Yes later in 2010 in Paraguay

Show was on 2/2/10. I used to live several miles north and it brought me back to the area after a decade away. This was only bumped up because there was no image until now. This would be the last time I would either go to the mid-Hudson Valley or see the band again (as Benoît David and Oliver Wakeman had left the band after that, and Chris Squire and Alan White are no longer with us, while I'd see Steve Howe three more times in Asia, including six months later in Rochester). Setlist.fm has the right order.

Setlist (in order of original release except *):

Siberian Khatru*
I've Seen All Good People*
Astral Traveller
Yours is No Disgrace
South Side of the Sky
Heart of the Sunrise
And You and I
Onward
Machine Messiah
Tempus Fugit
Owner of a Lonely Heart
Masquerade/SH Solo TBD
Roundabout*
Starship Trooper*

Dropped:

Clap
Mood for a Day
Aliens Are Only Us from the Future
Close to the Edge
Soon
Parallels
Awaken
Long Distance Runaround

This was my third time seeing Yes, the second with Benoît David and Oliver Wakeman (and the bands second time at this spot). The was smaller than the last two places I went to, apparently because it's a small town. I used to live in the area, so I came in on the train.
There were just a couple minor flibs, but no one noticed. It wasn't 100% full, but people of three generations came. A lot of people were having drink standing up at the side of the auditorium.
I've accepted Benoît enough that I picked up his other band Mystery's CD before the show and paid $20 US. That's another story. However, I still hope things are patched up with Jon Anderson in future, as we all do. Or maybe he can't handle these long tours anymore. He's an old man now.
I had to leave just as the last song finished to catch the bus, but I didn't miss that much.
The old guard still have what it takes and you won't see them at over-60s anytime soon! The local press still mention all three as original members. Of course, we know better! Oliver came more into his own. Just wish his vocoder sounded better on "Tempus Fugit". Benoît makes the songs his own. Some people still slag him off (excuse my language!).
Overall, I give it an A-, and a good time was to be had by all.
Because there was no studio album to promote, the merchandise table had solo albums instead, akin to the 1976 tour. I bought Beneath the Veil of Winter's Face from Mystery (Benoît David) I already have (Alan) White and Fish Out of Water (Chris Squire). Holding out for Homebrew 4 (Steve Howe) on emusic.

Marillion: Childhood Mysteries

 

The cover that was meant to be

    Marillion played Castle Donington in Leicestershire in August 1985 on an all-star bill that included ZZ Top (on their Afterburner tours Europe leg), Bon Jovi (not yet that big, promoting 7800° F), Metallica (between albums) and Magnum. Whether Marillions show was soundboard, radio or just the typical fan recording is likely one of the mysteries! It's when it made it onto bootleg is what leads us here. One early edition looked more like an early '70s head shop release with a cheap photocopy cover with what looks more like a drawing Peter Nicholls from IQ. Another looked like an apple of some sort. The most common is what may drawn intrigue for nearly four decades for diehards of both bands. The label probably tried to come up with something at short notice comparable to Mark Wilkinsons fantasy style, so they decided to steal another designers sleeve. Rodney Matthews drew the cover of Magnums 1983 release The Eleventh Hour! It was originally released on Jet Records, Ozzy Osbournes former solo label, and his estranged father-in-law the late Don Arden ran it and would have sorted out whoever nicked the sleeve if he knew! On one of the Facebook groups, a fan showed his copy of the LP that Fish signed. I had Bill Bruford sign a King Crimson pirate CD, but that's a bit different (we've done that).

    Magnums lead songwriter and guitarist Tony Clarkin, who passed on 7 January this year, didn't like his own band being bootlegged (most people wouldn't). The last thing he'd want is for the cover of one their studio albums being used for another artists bootleg. When I bought it a few years ago in my area at a great price, I didn't realise at first until it said so on Discogs. I had an earlier Marillion drawing combining elements of Script for a Jesters Tear, Misplaced Childhood, Brave and Marbles (the last two from the Steve Hogarth era), but the original disappeared a long time ago and I'd have to see if it's still online somewhere. I went to the charity shop and bought this bordered paper and coloured pencils, originally for a promotion next door at the coffee shop for St Valentines Day (they got one of my cats!). I also had some pastels for bits that couldn't be pencilled in. I was trying to make Robert Mead, the youngster on the Misplaced cover in the style of Loren Bouchard (Bobs Burgers/The Great North) because I don't draw people too often. He turns out similar to The Great Norths Moon since they'd be the same age and have the Will Byers (Stranger Things since it's that time period) look to boot!

    I have Magnum to get for Boris and I wouldn't have heard of them if not for the list. I may look into them myself. The Eleventh Hour! isn't on it, but he could get it for me since I may not find it on my own since little of theirs came out in North America in the old days. If part of the cover is missing when it comes, I'll just photocopy the bootleg and cover up Marillion parts with bits of scrap paper. Even band photos of the show would have worked better once it was on CD, although it'd be a matter of getting cameras past security (video ones even more so once they were more versatile for the consumer market long before mobile phones could do all this and the internet), yet several photos were taken and are available. One could hide tape machines somehow. They scan for such things and even have clear bag policies in some venues today, yet people can still get these made if they have the knowhow and connections. It was still the Wild West in the '80s, and more of a challenge by the '90s as artists and venues became more strict about this. At least I could put to bed this anomaly of a bootleg cover.

Here are the tracks anyway. No Kayleigh or Lavender.

A more original yet Ghibli AI cover

Apologies to Rodney Matthews and Studio Ghibli

AI images courtesy ChatGPT Open AI (created March-April 2025).

Aerosmith (1973) 50th Anniversary

Courtesy Legacy Recordings/Sony Music Entertainment

By The cover art can be obtained from Columbia / SME / Capitol / UMe., Fair use, Link

 Aerosmith are about to be on their final tour (my sister might go), but without drummer Joey Kramer, who retired from the road in 2020. It's now fifty years on since their first album, and frontman Steven Tyler purposely changed his voice since they were all a right bundle of nerves being new to the studio in early days. Lead single "Dream On", which wasn't a hit until after Toys in the Attic was released, will show you (I recently discovered a cover version with the late Ronnie James Dio and Yngwie Malmsteen on amazon Music from one of those budget compilations). With AI being more than what sci-fi legend Isaac Asimov had ever imagined, it can be used to change ones voice (ex-pat Canadians Drake and the Weeknd being at the centre of AI-gate). What could be done is make Tylers voice sound like it did from 1974-80, and even enhance the others' playing due to their inexperience with a producer in those days (I'm not wholly familiar with the bands work myself). If A&R legend John David Kalodner (who had  appeared in drag in a couple of their videos in cameos and even on The Simpsons in 1991), who signed them, Peter Gabriel, Asia, and possibly Elton John (in the US and Canada) to Geffen still worked with them, he might not have allowed this, but he's a pensioner now. Aerosmith themselves would also have to approve, of course. There could be a remaster with a remix of the original album and a new one with the AI vocals. It could be done, as no one has announced an official release of anyones work with such manoeuvres just yet. It's being considered and already being done for new material. Until then, we all can just "Dream On". More as this develops.

UPDATE (14/2/26): The début album will be reissued on 20 March 2026 by Capitol/UMe, now sister to Geffen of all things. No AI, of course, but digitally remixed and remastered, previously unreleased live recording from Pauls Mall fifty-three years ago to the day of the release to boot and some outtakes. Almost like how future producer Jack Douglas later worked with John Lennon and Yoko Ono on Double Fantasy, which was one of Geffens first releases, spurred by Paul McCartneys live version of "Coming Up", #1 on Billboard, and released on Columbia in the US and Canada, only for both former colleagues to go back to Capitol themselves (Lennon posthumously), while Aerosmith covered "Come Together" in something (no pun intended) that shall remain nameless (you know the story, as John would've said). CBS distributed Geffen internationally from 1982-85. The Offspring moved their Columbia albums to Universal themselves, but these things happen, you know. Aerosmiths other albums from 1974-82 if not 1985-93 or 1997-2012 could transfer, but that has yet to be confirmed. The Capitol deal was signed several months ago, and the band have just worked with Yungblud, who moved around UMG himself, on a new EP.

COVID-19

Concert poster from happier times

With coronavirus the elephant in the room, all aspects of life are affected.  Tours are all on hold, and many annual events cancelled making Glastonbury fallow years look like a mere blip (even they had to cancel since it came down to that).  As such, there won't be anything new to add for some time.

Paul McCartney in Rochester, NY

Back at the Hollywood Bowl

Paul McCartney has been coming to Upstate New York in recent years, and I've gone each time in Albany, Buffalo, and close to home in Syracuse.  The next logical step is Rochester.  Downtown has Blue Cross Arena, where I saw Fleetwood Mac over a decade ago.  He'd close the place as he does everywhere he goes.  Two of his former drummers, Joe English (Wings 1975-77) and Steve Gadd (1982-83 albums) are from the area.  This year, there are no Northeast dates so far, even the tri-state, where I've gone twice, or even Canada, where I went across the lake from Rochester in Toronto.  For open air, there's Six Flags Darien Lake in Corfu (back under that franchise, yet considered part of the Buffalo area) and CMAC in Canandaigua (which is thought of more as an exurb of Kodak country), even though these are small towns and that kind of traffic may be too much for them.  Rochester is easier for me to get to for a show, but I only spent the night once when Asia were in town (one of only two times I saw them outside CNY).  Maybe next year, Maverick Management (Madonnas old company) could have the booking agency look into Monroe County.  I may have to go on my own again as one I used to go with had their fill in Albany of gigs and others have more important things going on right now to come with me.  Just hope I can afford it and can avoid touts after tickets sell out which one expects from this beautiful man that I've grown up with.

Yes - Like It Is (3) Live at...

Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White; 2011.

I haven't posted in a period but I'm back now with something now that's there something to write about after getting writers block here and TV Quick USA while NY Retail Roundup seldom runs out of ideas.  This is why some people just have one blog!  This is supposed to be the flagship too.

The loss of Chris Squire this past year left Yes without any original members still in the band (Peter Banks passed a couple years before, and their surviving former colleagues Jon Anderson, Tony Kaye and Bill Bruford have all left the band more than once already).  Billy Sherwood was selected by Squire himself to come back and take over on bass.  Many have slated Yes for carrying on in this manner and the fandom are torn as they have been for almost a decade since Anderson last left again.

There have been two volumes of the live release Like It Is from their current label Frontiers who fill the void of not having even existed yet in the old days to have signed the bands by releasing live albums from Yes, Asia (Geoff Downes does double duty while Steve Howe will focus on Yes and solo from here on out), Def Leppard and others.  Yes' 1971-72 and 1977 albums were revisited and the next tour will do the same for 1973 and 1980.  Half of Tales of Topographic Oceans and all of  Drama plus encores are being planned for this year and I would hope there would be an official album and DVD dedicated to Squires memory (the last one was already prepared by the time he had gone).  It'd be too easy to just get a bootleg and with more security at shows one would be lucky to sneak in a quick video on a mobile phone and I wouldn't dare do such a thing; also, I'm no Wayne Isham or Bob Clearmountain so I can't do a proper job anyway).  If they decide to have a go, then I hope they will come to the new amphitheatre across town to tape and film as the Grandstand where several past lineups have played across the street sadly went the way of the Rainbow and Marquee.  Now Roger Dean has to paint a new cover as only he can.  More on this in due time.

AC/DC - 1979-10-18 - Rockville "Age Of Giants" (bootleg) · Rock and Pop Bootlegs

AC/DC - 1979-10-18 - Rockville <br><u> "Age Of Giants"</u> (bootleg) · Rock and Pop Bootlegs

PROGRESSIVE ROCK - GENESISMARILLION: Marillion - Haunters Having Lots Of Fun 1980/81

PROGRESSIVE ROCK - GENESISMARILLION: Marillion - Haunters Having Lots Of Fun 1980/81

Elton Daily: Elton John Quits Touring, Making Music at Carcassonne Festival, France

AI of Elton John

UPDATE: Elton John stopped touring after 2022.

Elton Daily: Elton John Quits Touring, Making Music at Carcassonne Festival, France

T.U.B.E.: Yes - 1980-20-11 - Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK (AUD/FLAC)

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AI photo of Paul McCartney and a husky

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PINK FLOYD: BOOTLEG: Pink Floyd - 1970 - Bytes Of The Talisman - Live at Paris-

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ROCK & PROG ~ 5 años: RUSH "Clockwork Angels Tour" (Trailer)

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Pink Floyd - Live in Adelaide 11/2/88

The track listing is as follows: Side 1: Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pt 1-5, Signs of Life, Learning to Fly, Side 2: Yet Another Movie, A New Machine Pt 1, Terminal Frost, A New Machine Pt. 2, Sorrow, Side 3: Dogs of War, On the Turning Away, One of These Days, Side 4: Time, On the Run, Wish You Were Here, Welcome to the Machine, Side 5: Us & Them, Money, Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2, Side 6: Comfortably Numb, One Slip, Run Like Helll

CD 1
CD 2

Mi2N.com - Legendary Singer/Songwriter Greg Lake To Release Highly Anticipated 'Songs Of A Lifetime' Live CD – February 25, 2013

Mi2N.com - Legendary Singer/Songwriter Greg Lake To Release Highly Anticipated 'Songs Of A Lifetime' Live CD – February 25, 2013

Blog Stoned: Rick Wakeman - A Unique Journey

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