MovieChat Forums > Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage (2023) Discussion > Other Canadian progressive bands?

Other Canadian progressive bands?

posted 14 years ago by Karunesh
25 replies | jump to latest

Maybe some Rush fans can answer this...Are they any other Canadian groups or artists in the genre of progressive rock? I've recently become aware of the Canadian band MYSTERY who are very much like a mix of classic "proggy" Yes and Rush with some Styx-like arena rock influences - but but with more of a modern production sound (the band's vocalist, Benoit David, also happens to be the current singer in Yes, so perhaps the Yes comparisons are most apt.) Here is the bands official website for those who haven't heard of them. Their new album "One Among the Living" is excellent.... http://www.unicornrecords.com/mystery/news.html

There is also LAWRENCE GOWAN. He's currently touring as the keyboardist/vocalist of Styx, but when he was a solo artist under the name GOWAN his first few albums had some strong progressive elements mixed in with pop hooks. Gowan has even said he is a big fan of Rush and Yes, and Alex Lifeson & Jon Anderson have both guested on his albums.

Does anyone know of any other Canadian prog bands or progisg-pop artists ala-Gowan? I'm a big collector of prog CDs, but I've noticed that most of my collection comes from British or American bands.

K

[–] rph3664 14 years ago

Dream Theater

[–] choch_masta_yay 14 years ago

Saga

[–] CDN_Dragon 14 years ago

Saga's Worlds Apart was an amazing album...

Ignorance and prejudice...
And fear walk hand in hand...

[–] rph3664 14 years ago

It had a few good songs and the rest was filler. I found the cassette at a Salvation Army a few years ago for 25 cents, and remember that all the good songs were still just as good today.

My favorite was "No Regrets".

[–] jdreher 14 years ago

Voivod

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] sunsetcourt 14 years ago

Dream Theater is an American Band. Only singer James LaBrie is Canadian.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_theatre

[–] hanfuzzy 14 years ago

Triumph.

Start with their new Greatest Hits Remixed, see if you like that, and if so you can follow up with specific albums.

Also Rik Emmett's first two solo albums, Absolutely and Ipso Facto, if you can find those.

[–] mariusar 14 years ago

Great call! I have always felt that Triumph was, in some ways, what Rush could have become stylistically had they stayed on their original more straight-ahead rock and roll course.

I liked Triumph quite a lot back in the day.

But I am oh so glad Rush took their own road. :D

cheers,
-lestatar

[–] mikerowerush 13 years ago

triumph were not a prog band.
saga were a pomp rock band.
voivod were/are a metal band.

[–] btrew 14 years ago

Dream Theatre and Saga are probably the next most popular Canadian prog rock bands, but I would *highly* recommend checking out FM. In one of the early clips, Neil can be seen wearing an FM shirt. They are less mainstream (aka more prog) than Rush but technically brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eglJ6ktgFVE

Another band that toured extensively with Rush in the early days is Max Webster and their lead singer, Kim Mitchell, is among the musicians interviewed.

[–] brandon1930 14 years ago

Definitely agree with checking out Max Webster. Never really did much in the states, but they (and lead singer/guitarist Kim Mitchell's subsequent solo career) were relatively big over here. Opened up for Rush quite a few times, and featured Geddy on a song (Battlescar).

[–] rph3664 14 years ago

What about Prism? I should blow the dust off their greatest hits CD and listen to "Take Me To The Kaptin" and "Spaceship Superstar". Those are some GREAT songs from my youth.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] btrew 14 years ago

Good point about Prism! They have just released a new album after many, many years. You can check it out here: http://cyclonerecords.ca/releases/prism-bigblacksky.htm

[–] torquemama2002 14 years ago

No *beep* Nickelback! They are the worst.

The New York Rangers suck. And Sidney Crosby is a cry baby!

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] mikerowerush 13 years ago

rush were NEVER a prog band in the way others were.......no album after hemispheres could be ever classed as prog.

[–] mariusar 13 years ago

True, I will grant this, though there were moments on Permanent Waves [Jacob's Ladder] and Moving Pictures [The Camera Eye] where I felt they still could be labeled "prog".

But that is really what makes Rush so unique isn't it? They refuse to be labeled at all yet have been enormously successful for 40 years.

Ludicrous that they have not received the accolades from the American musical "establishment" that they so richly deserve.

Best part is: they just don't care. :D

[–] redskiesmaxx 13 years ago

Klaatu were a Canadian progressive rock band from the 70s -- named after the alien in The Day the Earth Stood Still. Like Rush, they were also from Toronto.

[–] jefgg 12 years ago

When I was a kid some called Triumph the poor man's RUSH. Triumph was more of a straight ahead rock band than RUSH. But the comparisons were inevitable because both are Canadian power trios. Anvil is a classic Canadian thrash band, but they are not progressive. Those guys probably can't even spell progressive.

[–] 12 years ago

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