"The album begins very much in the neo-prog vein thanks to an atmospheric instrumental intro and the follow-up, "Sleep My Child", which is bathed in synths and benefits from some strong melodies that get better with repeated listens. As the album develops, the neo-prog leanings become less pronounced as other avenues are explored. For example, "Only Sometimes" is an edgier, higher tempo and more modern sounding track, whilst the subtle Rush-isms on "Go This Way" don't go entirely unnoticed.

[...] an album that I shall return to and derive pleasure from, I'm certain of that. - PR&MM



Essential Tracks: "Only Sometimes" is an edgier, higher tempo and more modern sounding track - PR&MM

Read the reviews at Power Play Rock and Metal Magazine.

Listen to samples and buy the CD directly from the band on Amazon.

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Click on the following link for a complete list of bands that have played for the NewEARS Art Rock Series

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2014-08-01
The Winery Dogs (Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, Richie Kotzen) at The Wilbur - Boston, MA at 08:00 PM
$35 - $55

2014-08-01
The Machine performs Pink Floyd at Blue Ocean Music Hall - Salisbury, MA at 08:00 PM
$25 & $29

2014-08-06
The Moody Blues at Mohegan Sun Arena - Uncasville, CT at 07:30 PM
$39.50+

2014-08-10
King's X at Tupelo Music Hall - Londonderry, NH at 07:00 PM
SOLD OUT

2014-08-14
The Moody Blues at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook - Gilford, NH at 08:00 PM
$34.25 - $85

2014-08-15
The Moody Blues at Cape Cod Melody Tent - Hyannis, MA at 08:00 PM
$63 - $89

2014-08-15
New England Reunion Concert at The Regent Theatre - Arlington, MA at 08:00 PM
With Special Guests TBD
$28 - $75 (VIP)

2014-08-16
The Moody Blues at Cape Cod Melody Tent - Hyannis, MA at 08:00 PM
$63 - $89

2014-08-17
The Moody Blues at Ives Concert Park - Danbury, CT at 07:00 PM
$85.50 - $149.50

2014-08-23
Classic Albums Live "The Dark Side of the Moon" at Cape Cod Melody Tent - Hyannis, MA at 08:00 PM
$29.50 - $35.50

2014-08-24
Yanni at Blue Hills Bank Pavilion - Boston, MA at 07:30 PM
$52.35 - $144.50

2014-08-29
Steely Dan "JAMALOT Ever After Tour" at Darling's Waterfront Pavilion - Bangor, ME at 08:00 PM
$28.75 - $102.75

2014-08-30
Steely Dan "JAMALOT Ever After Tour" at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook - Gilford, NH at 07:30 PM
$58 - $146.50

2014-09-06
Steely Dan "JAMALOT Ever After Tour" at Blue Hills Bank Pavilion - Boston, MA at 07:30 PM
$58 - $146.50

2014-09-07
Steely Dan "JAMALOT Ever After Tour" at Providenc Performing Arts Center - Providence, RI at 07:30 PM
TBD

2014-09-12
Nik Turner's Hawkwind at The Middle East - Cambridge, MA at 08:00 PM
With Special Guests Witch Mountain and Hedersleben
$13

All Events ...>>

 

New England is a four-piece rock and roll band hailing from Boston, MA. John Fannon (guitar & vocals), Hirsh Gardner (drums and vocals), Jimmy Waldo (keyboards and vocals) and Gary Shea (bass) broke out of the local scene with the release of their self-titled album on Infinity/MCA in 1979. The first single, “Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya”, became an AOR smash and even cracked the Top 40. The album was produced by Mike Stone and Paul Stanley of Kiss, with whom New England toured for much of 1979 and 1980. For their sophomore effort, entitled “Explorer Suite,” the foursome once again called upon veteran knob-twirler Mike Stone. Highlights from this album are the orchestral title track, “It’s Never Too Late”, and “Conversation”, which features New England’s trademark lush background vocals. The touring never let up for the boys from Boston as they split their time on the Explorer Suite tour between headlining large clubs and sharing arena billing with Journey, AC/DC, Cheap Trick, and Kiss among others.

For the third album, Walking Wild, the legendary Todd Rundgren was at the helm. The results of these sessions were hard-driving anthemic tunes such as “Don’t Ever Let Me Go”, “L-5” (co-written by Fannon, Waldo & Rundgren) and the kick-ass rocker “Holdin’ Out On Me”, which features Hirsh Gardner on lead vocals. The frustration over the lack of label support grew and the band parted ways. While Fannon & Gardner went on to successful careers as producers and Shea & Waldo former Alcatrazz with Graham Bonnet & Yngwie Malmsteen, nothing seemed to match the excitement of New England. The real strength of New England was the combination of four strong & diverse individuals: Fannon’s lead vocals & songwriting, Waldo’s whirling keyboards, Gardner’s driving skin-pounding and high-pitched vocals and Shea’s thunderous bass lines.

While the records speak for themselves, the fans are the reason New England lives: Waldo explains,“I would tour all over the world with Alcatrazz and every country we’d go to people would have New England albums for me to sign. It really shows you the power of music. We have fans all over Europe & Japan, places we never even toured. It’s amazing.

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2014-07-29: Flying Colors reveal their Second Nature
Flying Colors have confirmed the release of their album Second Nature on September 29 via Music Theories/Mascot Label Group. The prog supergroup – featuring Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Steve Morse, David LaRue and Casey McPhers

2014-07-27: Peter Gabriel says Real World record label can last another 25 years
Musician Peter Gabriel says his world music label can carry on for at least another 25 years. Gabriel, who runs Real World records, made the prediction despite dwindling CD sales and the growth in streaming. "As long as the a

2014-07-26: Jethro Tull, ‘A Passion Play: An Extended Performance’ – Album Review
With Jethro Tull‘s 1972 opus ‘Thick as a Brick,’ band mastermind Ian Anderson aimed to subvert the bloated prog-rock excess of his peers while also paying tribute to their epic sweep. And he succeeded. With its absurd lyrical

2014-07-26: Jon Anderson And Jean-Luc Ponty Announce Details Of Collaborative Project
Back in March, we learned that former Yes singer Jon Anderson had begun working on a new project with noted jazz fusion violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. Now, the duo have unveiled more details of the Anderson Ponty Band, who are loo

2014-07-25: Morsefest announced for November 14-15 in Nashville, TN
For the first time ever, you can join Neal in his home town for a two-day music festival! Special guests, like Mike Portnoy, will be joining Neal in performances of the entire "One" and "Testimony 1" albums. Hear the music in

2014-07-25: Arena split with John Jowitt
Arena bassist John Jowitt is to leave the band by mutual consent, they've confirmed. He joined soon after they formed in 1995 but won't take part in their 20th anniversary celebrations next year, including the launch of eight

2014-07-25: The History of John Rutsey and Rush
Rush have survived 40 years in the music industry, persisting through critical hatred and shifting musical trends, and they owe much of that longevity to the consistently inventive drumming of Neil Peart. Within that view, it

2014-07-24: Enchant break their 10-year silence
Enchant will break a ten-year silence when they launch The Great Divide in September via InsideOut. It's their first release since 2004's Live At Last and their first studio outing since Tug Of War, which appeared the previou

2014-07-24: John Payne (Asia), Fired Las Vegas Musical Director Sues Casino
John Payne claims his creative contributions were copyrighted and that his rights assignment was executed under duress. After being fired from the Las Vegas musical "Raiding the Rock Vault," co-director John Payne has fired o

2014-07-24: John Petrucci Talks About The Future Of Dream Theater...
Prog Magazine caught up with John Petrucci when Dream Theater played at Sonisphere Festival recently. The guitarist talked about how excited the US prog metal legends were about headlining the Saturn Stage at Sonisphere on th

2014-07-23: Progtoberfest announced for Chicago October 25-26
Spock's Beard, Stick Men, Bigelf, Richard Sinclair, Oblivion Sun, District 97 & more (24 bands)

2014-07-23: Yes celebrate new chapter
Yes veteran Chris Squire has described 20th studio album Heaven & Earth as a "new chapter" in the band's history. Speaking in the promotional video below, where each member has their say, the bassist points to the addition of

2014-07-20: Deep Purple’s Roger Glover on Their Upcoming U.S. Tour, A New Album + Working with Bob Ezrin
When we last spoke to frontman Ian Gillan about a year ago, Deep Purple was preparing to release ‘Now What?!’ — their the first new studio effort in eight years. At that time, U.S. dates seemed unlikely, according to a frustr

2014-07-19: Yes, ‘Heaven & Earth’ – Album Review
The opening notes on Yes‘ 21st studio album are like sonic comfort food: Guitarist Steve Howe teases an ethereal melody, his delayed notes conjuring the mystical waterfalls and hovering spaceships of any good Roger Dean cover

2014-07-18: Rush men could have park named after them
Rush men Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson could have a park named after them in the place they grew up. The community council of Willowdale, Toronto, Canada, will be asked to vote next month on whether a "unique creative space" sho