Black Cat 6 "Scratching My Itch"

Socially distanced greetings fellow progheads!  As the worldwide pandemic continues and nations stay (at least partially) closed, The Closet Concert Arena continues to safely search out prog bands for your listening pleasure.

This week the journey brings me back to some familiar faces in new places as I check in with
Black Cat 6 and their debut release "Scratching My Itch."  This album was released on Halloween 2019; thinking it was time for some fun here in the Concert Closet I dug right in...

First cut to get the laser drop is "You're a Liar."  The song jumps in your face right out of the gate.  Hard driving guitar with some very solid drum work gets your adrenaline pumping...this should be an exciting week...

Top notes of Spock's Beard and Dreadnaught run rampant through the headphones and kick at your skull from all sides.  This is a band that enjoys playing and performing; you can feel the energy...as striking as a tornado funnel cloud breaking the horizon.

Next up is "Lose Your Way," another cut with a rough edge, but with the corners rounded just a bit.  A prog band that takes the eternal jam session approach to playing; you can almost hear additional performers joining the line-up as the music plays on.  Black Cat 6 has found a portal to the classic prog era of the 70's and they are squeezing all the life they can from it.  This song has a funk about it that reminds me of Joe Walsh in his James Gang days, but with a stronger ensemble.  The drum here lay a solid foundation and the guitar work leaps all over the room.

Liner Notes...like other bands Neil Citron is involved with, the focus is on the music and not so much the behind-the-scenes stuff.  Their home is the USA and they play like you would expect a hard hitting prog band from America to play--straight at you with no warning.  Somehow I don't think the name of the band or the  album was pulled randomly from a hat...

The band is a trio consisting of the aforementioned Neil Citron on guitar, keyboards, and vocals, Luke Fattore on drums, and Jon Pomplin on bass.  If you pick up top notes of BangTower you are quite astute; although Neil is the only member of both bands, the hard charging energy from both bands is unmistakable.

Neil is a Grammy winner, Luke an in-demand session drummer and producer, and Jon started Declassified Records, the label on which this album was recorded.  Individually accomplished, collectively occupying territory in the high energy section of the prog garden...


Last serving of the night is "Saying It Out Loud."  More of a ballad feel than the other songs I've listened to thus far, there is a sense of Seconds Before Landing in the air the way emotions drip from every note.  Don't be fooled though--the guitar still has that sting to it and the air is heavy with a brooding ardor...the canvas strokes are dark and heavy; Black Cat 6 can be quite the mood elevator...

This week I chose for your listening interlude "Black Cat," mainly for its heavy opening.  This one comes at you in a deceptive, creep-up-on-you kind of way; there are top notes of Cream shooting through the headphones. Everything about this song is heavy...it might not be metal but it sure as hell weighs a ton.  Black Cat 6 is another arena for Neil to just let loose, and Jon and Luke seem all in on the adventure.  This is a band for those who have been around the prog garden a few times and remember the fun they had taking that first journey.  Pour something with some weight behind it and sit back...




You can connect with the band and purchase their album on their website Blackcat6 and Bandcamp.
They also have Facebook and Twitter @BlackCat6band.  You've got time, stat awhile...


                  

So my fellow progheads, I hope Black Cat 6 made your quarantine a little more enjoyable and a lot more tolerable.  One of the things I enjoy about spending time in the prog garden is how big the umbrella is and how diverse the music is when traveling the different side roads in the genre.  Black Cat 6 isn't a throwback so much as a reflection of the past cast upon the future.  The music may be heavy and even dark at times, but the sun shines brightly on their section of the prog garden.

And once again the search for all things prog continues...until next week...   

Circuline "Circulive Majestik"

Good evening once again fellow progheads!  Whether you're in quarantine, a forced lock down, or just plain staying at home for the foreseeable future, I hope you are virus-free, safe, and finding musical pleasure in the prog garden.

The search for all things prog continues despite the worldwide pandemic, and since the idea of seeing a live show is all but a fantasy until (at least) Autumn 2021, I thought now the perfect time to bring a "live show" to the Concert Closet.  So regardless as to whether I'm rubbing salt in a fresh wound or making the best of a difficult situation, welcome to the latest release from Circuline; Circulive Majestik."

Another band with a strong female lead vocalist; coincidence?  Perhaps not...
Once again my headphones are on and the first song to pierce my auditory canals is "Who I Am," with a strong keyboard intro that leads into a soft melodic flow that is reminiscent of Yes.  Lead vocals are not only strong they are shared, making for a bit of intrigue I simply cannot avoid...

Opening the show with "Who I Am" starts the journey with an introspective kick.  Right away you are thrust down a rabbit hole of wonder as the piano mesmerizes you.  The guitars and percussion pick up on that energy and push you farther along...and then darkness--save the lone candle burning a hole through the center of the canvas.  Those double lead vocals burst on the scene,  and yes it is extremely captivating.  There are aromatics of Supertramp floating through this cut, right down to the bone-chilling wind that blows through as the mood changes.  A touch of Camel comes through as well, filling the room with all sorts of energy bursts.  A great opening performance...

Next on the playlist is "Summit."  There is somewhat of a Moody Blues feel as the song opens; soft and genteel.  The guitar that leads you deeper into the song is smooth like the satin lining of a suede jacket.  The vocals wrap around that guitar like a scarf on a blustery day.  Top notes are Fairport Convention and Gentle Giant as the music fills the canvas with deep, rich hues.  Circuline has put together an album that reaches across the prog garden to satisfy many affluent tastes.

Liner Notes...Calling New York home, Circuline is a live action definition of what it means to be a band--the contributions of all being necessary to create the whole.  With Natalie Brown and Billy Spillane sharing lead vocal duties, Andrew Colyer on keyboards, Alek Darson on guitars, Matt Dorsey on bass, and Darin Bannon on drums, I am reminded of The Band in the sense that everyone makes multiple contributions to the entirety of the project...and it is an impressive ensemble.

Brought to life in 2014, Circuline is a "Mulligan Stew" of talent; two theatre quality lead vocalists, a keyboard player that attended Julliard, bass and guitar players that channel 70's prog at it finest, and a drummer who connects it all together.  Cinematic symphonic prog meets AOR and blows the roof off--without frivolous distractions.

Get to know Circuline at their website Circulinemusic and purchase their music at Bandcamp.  There is also Facebook and Twitter @CirculineMusic to stay connected and learn the latest the band has to offer.

The final spin this week is "Stay Alive."  The opening path the song leads you down is once again fraught with sounds coming at you from several directions brought together beautifully by Natalie's vocals. Keyboards and drums work together on this piece to underscore the guitar; so majestic throughout.  Circuline channels a bit of The Strawbs here; they truly pay homage to their cinematic/symphonic roots. 

For your listening pleasure I chose "Hollow."  I wanted you to get a taste of what this band is capable of; running the gambit from beautiful piano work to intricate keyboards, slick guitars to solid drums and percussion, and of course the dueling vocal stylings.  As fine tuned a live recording as anything in my current collection.  Sit back and enjoy... 


                     

So fellow progheads, I hope you enjoyed the "live" show from the prog garden this week.  Circuline is a band that connects on so many levels, bringing a sound to the Concert Closet that had me more than once checking the calendar to see if I time traveled back to the prog heydays of the 70's.

Now it's time to look ahead as the search for all things prog continues the journey...until next time...