Between A Rock And A Prog Place: PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS' JOHN BOEGEHOLD – "Seems Like There Are More Prog And Prog-Related Bands Out There Than There Ever Were"

January 13, 2025, a day ago

By Greg Prato

feature hard rock pattern-seeking animals

Between A Rock And A Prog Place: PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS' JOHN BOEGEHOLD – "Seems Like There Are More Prog And Prog-Related Bands Out There Than There Ever Were"

What truly is progressive music? Each month BraveWords will aim to dissect that answer with a thorough overview of the current musical climate that is the prog world. Old and new, borrowed and blue. A musical community without borders. So watch for a steady and spaced-out array of features, current news and a buyer's guide checklist to enhance the forward-thinking musical mind. So, welcome to BraveWords' monthly column appropriately titled, Between A Rock In A Prog Place. 

In this month's column, John Boegehold, a multi-instrumentalist with Pattern-Seeking Animals, was up for discussing his group's new album, Friend Of All Creatures, his favorite modern day proggers, and also, the current state of prog. 

How does Friend Of All Creatures differ from previous Pattern-Seeking Animals albums?

It’s hard to be objective but I think this album is a bit more concise and focused than previous albums. Also, in the past we’ve used outside vocalists and instrumentalists in the mix, but this time it’s all us except for violin in two songs and one vocalist in the backing vocal blend.

What was the lyrical inspiration for “In My Dying Days”?

It’s a theme I’ve written about in the past and keep coming back to. Someone facing his own mortality and wondering what happens in his inevitable last days.

Which other songs on the album are personal standouts and why?

“Down The Darkest Road” was the last song I wrote for the album. It almost didn’t make it because everyone’s personal life circumstances getting in the way of recording all of the parts. It’s a very different type of song than we usually do and I love this kind of dark, slightly creepy vibe. I also think “Another Holy Grail” works really well. It flies by, even though it over 12 minutes long.

What will the touring plans be in support of the album?

At the moment, the only live date we have booked is ProgStock 2025 later in the year. We’re working on lining up some other dates before then.

Which band would you say was more challenging music-wise: Spock’s Beard or Pattern-Seeking Animals?

Since I try to avoid going outside of my musical limitations when writing, I almost never found either one challenging musically. The challenges always come from dealing with personality clashes and political considerations within a band. P-SA has none of those, thankfully.

Who are some of your favorite modern day prog artists and why?

Frost*, their latest album Life in the Wires is great. I love the complexity and energy of their songs. Meer is another one. They lean more toward pop but veer into some really inventive prog arrangements in their songs.

Is prog alive and well in 2025?

Apparently it is. I listen to new music all the time. I think I’m pretty good at keeping up with the latest prog releases, but every month I open up the new Prog Magazine and I haven’t even heard of half of the artists. Seems like there are more prog and prog-related bands out there than there ever were.

Between A Rock And A Prog Place News Blast

Dream Theater recently unveiled “A Broken Man,” the second track from their forthcoming 16th studio effort, Parasomnia, which can be viewed below. The rock-fusion trio the Aristocrats, featuring guitarist Guthrie Govan, will be touring the US in the spring, and tickets are indeed already on sale.

Big Big Train celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of the release of their sixth album, The Underfall Yard, by recently issuing a new 'Winter Version' of the tune “Brew & Burgh”. Prog collective Lunar will be issuing a new concept album this month, the curiously-titled Tempora Mutantur, and you can get an idea of what to expect via the tune “Spring in My Step”.

Prog guitarist Marko Bojkovic will be issuing his eighth studio effort this month, Powercore, for which he has already issued several tunes, most recent being 'What We Accomplished'. Prog metallists Sacrosanct will be issuing a new album, Kidron, on March 7th – which is available for pre-order.

Brazilian-Canadian guitarist, music teacher, and songwriter Rod Rodrigues recently issued a new LP, Tales of a Changing Life Part 2, as well as a play-thru of the tune “On The Road,” which can be viewed below. And lastly, Crucial Velocity, which contains members of King Diamond, Shaolin Death Squad + Chastain Harris, is described as 'tight prog,' and have just issued a new full-length, entitled Controller.

January 2025 New Albums

January 10 
Crucial Velocity – Controller

 

January 17
Steve Hackett – Live Magic at Trading Boundaries 
The Who – Who's Next (Atmos, 5.1, and Blu-ray mixes)

January 24
Marko Bojkovic – Powercore
Various Artists – The Magic Forest: More Pastoral Psychedelia and Funky Folk 1968-1975 (3CD set) 

January 31
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe – An Evening of Yes Music Plus (remastered 2CD/2DVD box)
Hawkwind – Live at the Royal Albert Hall 
Alan Parsons Project – Pyramid (45 RPM audiophile edition)
Nektar – Journey to the Centre of the Eye (remastered 2CD or 5CD/1Blu-ray editions)
Soft Machine, Softs (remastered vinyl edition)

Classic Clip

Almost from the get-go, it was darned difficult to keep track of who was in Yes at any given moment. But by the close of the '80s, four members of their classic early '70s line-up were back together – not as 'Yes,' but rather, as Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. And they even scored a moderately successful rock radio hit at the time, “Brother Of Mine.” In case you forgot all about this project and/or the tune, this live rendition should come in mighty handy…


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