New York progressive metal pioneers Dream Theater are set to embark on their North American leg of the 2009 "Progressive Nation" tour with Zappa Plays Zappa, Bigelf and Scale the Summit supporting. The tour will make its Los Angeles stop at the Greek Theatre on Saturday, August 29 at 5:30 PM.
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Dream Theater is a progressive metal band formed in 1985 at the Berklee College of Music in Boston by drummer Mike Portnoy, guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung. In the twenty four years since their inception, they have become one of the most commercially successful progressive bands since the height of progressive rock in the mid-1970s, despite being relatively unknown in mainstream pop and mainstream rock circles. Their highest selling album, 1992's Images and Words, was awarded a gold record in the U.S. and is consistently named as one of the most influential, seminal progressive metal releases of all time. The band is also well-known for the technical proficiency of each instrumentalist, winning many awards from music magazines. For instance, drummer Mike Portnoy has won over 24 Modern Drummer Reader's Poll Awards - setting a new magazine record by winning the Progressive Rock category 12 years in a row and becoming the youngest inductee into their Hall of Fame.
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Zappa Plays Zappa is an American tribute act led by Dweezil Zappa, the eldest son of the late American composer and musician Frank Zappa, devoted to performing the music of Frank Zappa. The band debuted in 2006 with shows in Europe, Canada and the United States. At the 51st Grammy Awards in February 2009, Zappa Plays Zappa won best rock instrumental performance for their performance of "Peaches en Regalia".
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Flaunting a style that is unparalleled, Bigelf have forged a sound all their own: heavy pop rife with epic guitars, maniacal keyboards and rich, sophisticated harmonies laid over a foundation of hallucinatory hard rock. Working within their carefully constructed pop framework, they have injected a diabolical sound quality with quasi-psychedelic overtones, where demonic timbres are mingled with explosive experimental passages. Bigelf is a cutting edge, musical experience unlike anything else out there today.
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In a music industry engulfed in replication and mediocrity, Scale The Summit has cemented their position as young mavericks (the quartet boasts an average age of 22) with their blend of organic and melodic instrumental music. Already on a number of "most anticipated releases of 2009" lists, Carving Desert Canyons builds upon the band's self-released debut, Monument, with crisper production and songwriting that has grown exponentially over the past three years.