Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Gaillion

A hazy, hot, humid, and heartfelt summer-time thank you for tuning in once again fellow progheads!  I hope last week's "Tensegrity" left you feeling vibrant and eager to continue the search for all things prog--I know it did me!  Liking the beach and enjoying some local sun, I decided to keep the Concert Closet grounded in the USA one more week...just gotta remember to keep slathering on the sunscreen...

This week I found a band with an impressive and remarkable history.  Releasing one self-produced album right out high school, Gaillion flamed out like the unfortunate fireflies I caught in a jar as a kid.  But alas, they have returned to the prog scene with new music, high energy, and a time tested vision for success...so let the re-discovered prog madness begin!

Self-described as a "prog rock power trio," Gaillion released their first CD in 1989--and it ultimately became their swan song.  But let us not mourn the loss of youthful exuberance--no;  let us instead celebrate the rebirth of a wiser, more focused and finely "aged-like-wine" progressive rock band. Seven days through the past or a backward step forward...let us amble on with ears wide open...

Stepping to the forefront of the buffet, I begin with a tune from the original album called "The Grand Facade."  The dark opening seems to slowly peel back a weathered, torn curtain as the the music begins to explode through the headphones.  Solid guitars being pushed by a steady drum beat accelerate this song from zero to sixty in short time.  Top notes lean toward a blend of Asia, a dash of Yes, and some latter-day Genesis.  Remembering the era of the birth of this album, Gaillion were focused students of the genre.  Strong vocals rise above the music, resting on top as if in a crow's nest guiding the band through rough waters.

My second selection from this "buffet of prog music past" is called "Red Sun Sets."  An extremely powerful drum opening fills your auditory canals swiftly and intentionally.  There is a Rush meets Dream Theater feel to this piece...feeling the tension build...waiting for the hammer blow...all the while being immersed in a whirling turbulence that, while never landing a fatal blow, does leave marks on the inside lining of your skull.  Gaillion performs with a turbo-charged energy level reminiscent of Grand Funk Railroad...

Liner Notes...the story of Gaillion is as unique as it is fascinating.  Originally from Avon CT, the trio consists of Todd Howard on bass, keyboards, and vocals, James Vasquenza Jr. on guitars and backing vocals, and Don Gunn on drums and percussion.  Gaillion came to be in the mid-80's and self-produced/released their debut album, "Admit One," in 1989.  Touring heavily across southern new England to promote the album, Gaillion went the way of many a "wanna-be" rock band...and when the dust settled Gaillion was no more--until now.

Flip the calendar ahead about three hundred months, and you discover Don has remixed and remastered the original tapes to release the 25th anniversary of "Admit One" and continued recording with Todd for about a decade starting in 1991.  No new music was released, but Don the "tape master" still holds those recordings.  Throw James back into the mix circa 2009...and Gaillion began to hold "unofficial" recording sessions hoping to bring the "prog rock power trio" back to the progressive music forefront.

In May, Gaillion released their first new song since I was a newlywed, and they hope to continue "spoon-feeding" prog gems to an enthusiastic, eager fan base every few months.  Despite living in separate time zones, technology allows Don, Todd, and James to record "together but separately" while continuing to chase the dream...

Venturing back into the past one more time, I savor the taste of a song called "Victory Parade."  Apparently strong drum and guitar openings are a signature for Gaillion, as they leap from the vinyl with bold, bright colors this time, emitting top notes of Rush and Uriah Heep.  The bass line in this piece pulls you through a gauntlet of sound that refuses to let go, drawing you in until the final note is echoing through your head.  Gaillion was onto something in 1989...let's hope they are able to keep that spark alive...

...which leads me to my music clip for the week.  I chose their new release, "Letters From the Skipper."  In an attempt to bridge twenty five years,  my intent here is to give you a glimpse of the past via a taste of the present.  Gaillion has not missed a step with this song.  Everything is tight and crisp.  It is as though Todd, Don, and James stepped out of a time capsule, picked up their respective instruments, and simply finished a recording session started in 1989.  Relevant and exciting, "Letters From the Skipper" will whet your appetite for more.  Learn about the journey Gaillion has been on at http://www.gaillion.com/.  Check out more of their music and make a purchase at  http://gaillion.bandcamp.com/.  Gaillion can also be found on Twitter, @JVVGAILLION.  Of course for the social media inclined, there is always Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/gaillion25?fref=ts
No matter how you get there--get there.  Gaillion will take you back, pump you up, and get you looking for your old high school yearbook...remember your first taste of prog rock?


                                  

Well fellow progheads, this is a first for the Concert Closet--a glimpse forward by looking back.  Gaillion has traveled a road not regularly trodden through the prog garden.  Picking up the pieces and continuing on is not easy and in many cases impossible.  Gaillion seems to have successfully checked egos at the door, walked into studio, and said to each other, "What do you wanna play next?" Knowing you have a good thing and making it work are two different things, and fortunately for Gaillion--and the prog faithful--Don, Todd, and James were able to pull it off.

Six months worth of 2015 are on the flipped-to-the-back side of the calendar, and my search for all things prog continues. Gaillion has opened a new avenue for my search..are there other bands that decided to take a quarter century hiatus, only to return to the studio with a drive and desire--as well as new material--to make another run at this prog thing?  I have no idea but I do know this; if there is a prog band calling Earth home looking to rekindle that spark, the Concert Closet will find them.

Right now, it is time to hit the pause button for seven days as the summer weather beckons and I can no longer resist the pull of the beach and all her warm weather antics.  Of course if I happen to stumble across a prog band or two while getting too much sun, I will happily report my findings...so please look for a fresh post July 14th...until then...




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