Prog Digest – An Xperience Column

Prog Digest – An Xperience Column – by Klyde Kadiddlehumper.

Happy Thanksgiving, and welcome to a special edition of Prog Digest.

So, let’s get to the bad news first.

Klyde is bummed.

With all his efforts and planning and aligning cohorts to join in the fun at MSG – Klyde got shut out of the special early release chance to get tickets for Rush.

Demand for these has been huge, and additional shows added, and – yikes.

Ah – well, so it goes.

Just about right on the 15^th anniversary of the passing of Neil Peart, Alex and Geddy will embark on a 50^th (ish) anniversary Rush tour.

But who to replace Neil, and why are there so many people unhappy with all this?

OK, you simple-minded, unbending, afraid-of-change Neandertals – get your heads out of your collective butts and hear this.

Alex and Geddy love the music, finally decided they really missed playing for the fans, and didn’t just decide they would do this without thought. Neil’s widow and daughter are all in and happy they are doing it. So – all you “It’s not the band without fill-in-name-of-member-who-passed-or-left-or-was-kicked-out” – get over it.

I will admit that when Jerry passed, I didn’t have the heart to go to a Dead show. Not because they weren’t still awesome – but it was just a thing in my head for me, not about change.

Marillion after Fish – all in.

Van Halen after Diamond Dave – all in.

Dream Theater after Portnoy – all in.

Rush after Neil – all in.

Now, for the rest of you cretins who are grousing because they chose a female drummer you’ve never heard of … do some research and learn who she is and just how awesome a choice.

Anika Nilles is a German drummer who, in a very short time (15 years or so), has earned her stripes and is crazy talented, awarded, and a hell of a teacher. When there is a scholarly paper titled “An Analysis of the Drum Techniques of Anika Nilles – Focused on Odd Tuplets”, you quickly realize this is no 4-4 time drum machine.

Skeptical? Get yourself over to YouTube and check her out. There is a bunch of her own material. The killer is that she was the drummer on the last Jeff Beck tour. Yes – THAT Jeff Beck.

No fangirl of Rush – every drummer knows of Neil – but not a fan clambering to fill in. And certainly not the first time a (nearly) complete unknown has taken the reins for a late or ill band member.

Prior to heading out on a Utopia tour, the original keyboardist, Roger Powell had to withdraw. Enter replacement Ralph Schuckett, well known to Todd from “A Wizard, a True Star.” He took ill – and enter – Gil Assayas? Again – not a Todd/Utopia fanboy. Didn’t really even know the music at all. And he was brilliant (Constant Companion and I ought to know, we were at one of the shows in 2018).

Now, as those of you who wander your eyes past these particular words each month, you will know that Klyde is a something of a drum head (no pun intended). And the drummers I admire most have a sense of time that is not straightforward. Where the pocket in which they reside is alternately compact and wide, soft and hard, mildly breezy and a Cat 5 hurricane.

As is the norm, you, dear reader, sit asking the age-old question – just what the hell is this really about, Klyde?

Today’s lesson, children, is that sometimes we should simply be grateful for that which is presented to us. Don’t let CC hear me say that – she’d think I’d been possessed by some alien … wait … AL!!!!!!

Anyway, this time of year I like to remind folks to call your friends and family – and if you are one of the folks who thinks a text will do – well.

Look around at who actually really needs a little help and do what you can to assist. Remember those you’ve lost – as long as we remember, they are never really gone.

Finally, please take to heart among the most important words you will ever know – “First star to the right, and straight on ‘till morning.”

Until next time.

Klyde

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