Before moving to Sedalia, Missouri in 2013, Danny Brymer was apart of local progressive rock band, The Aaron Clift Experiment. After his move, he formed a progressive rock trio, The Alea Dilemma, who released their debut album last year called Within the Clamor of Voices. This jazz fusion record is a strong and electrifying work, of which the band hopes to portray both complexity and artistry. I reached out to Danny Brymer, the lead vocalist and guitarist, for his views on progressive music, progressive rock, and how we can continue to think forward in the music industry.

“I see classical and jazz music as being art music counterparts to what I consider to be true ‘prog,” Brymer said. “I don’t want to be the ‘elitist prog police,’ but I believe that it is more than a mood or a vibe to capture, but it is working with the elements of music and painting or sculpting with them to create a work of art.”

Specifically on progressive rock, Brymer notes that while some bands today weigh heavily on the technical side of music, he believes there is more to offer.

“It seems like the odd time signatures and conceptual elements of typical prog are the only things really used by some modern prog bands, and the harmonic and melodic aspects are not as developed and end up being not that much different from pop music,” Brymer added. “Now that does not mean that prog needs to be highly technical and busy, because that is not all musical art is. The art songs of Schubert and the restrained, lyrical phrasing of Miles Davis tend to be profoundly simple, yet come from a place of richness and, for me, hold high artistic as well as emotional merit.”

He states that his influences as well as his band’s influences include Yes, Rush, Kansas, Return To Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and many others when writing for a jazz fusion album. However, for Brymer personally, his concentrated years of classical study have specifically enhanced his songwriting.

“Getting into prog initially opened up my interest in classical music and I went neck deep in it for a while,” he commented. “At the same time as a guitarist, I played a lot of jazz and studied the greats such as Coltrane, Charlie Parker, etc and burned through the standards, and I concentrated on that for a while. While studying composition for my master degree, it occurred to me that a rock band is an ensemble just as an orchestra or string quartet, and I can borrow ideas and concepts from that and implement them in a rock setting, as I am an electric guitarist after all.”

He not only hopes to incorporate classical setting norms into the rock/fusion world, but also achieve a balance between cerebral discourse and aesthetic experiences.

“The composers of the early 20th Century lost touch with their audiences with the intense focus on cerebral music that alienated anyone searching for emotional expression,” Brymer speculated. “I believe as long as there is a good balance of focus on the composer, performer, and audience, progressive music can succeed and win people over.”

Also, he adds that progressive music needs to be promoted more often. All the more reason why Voyager Fest is determined to make that happen.

“I always wonder how Beethoven was able to write the complex masterpieces he did and be popular among audiences all over Europe and even America,” Brymer noted. “The culture determines thought, and if there was a way to influence culture more toward the higher arts, then progressive artists could flourish more.”

It’s a continuing challenge for all progressive musicians to overcome in their own circle of friends, with family, among people at the workplace, and to the regulars at the bars. Hence, this is the mission of Voyager Fest-to manifest a high-art, cultural hub as well as motivate all live music scenes to do the same.

To see a recent album review of Within the Clamor of Voices, please visit: http://progulator.com/reviews/the-alea-dilemma-within-the-clamor-of-voices/

For more information on The Alea Dilemma, please visit: http://www.thealeadilemma.com/

For more information on Danny Brymer, please visit: http://www.dannybrymer.com/

Last night, three bands gathered at Hotel Vegas on an otherwise simple Monday night, ready to heat things up for the rock-starved folks on the Austin east side. Unbothered by the mist and scattered rain, the attendees included those from the early comedy show, members of local prog band Wonderbitch, and other music enthusiasts looking forward to the night ahead.

Greenbeard opened the night, with a riff-driven set and a tight, solid groove in the bass and drums. I was immediately taken by such a lock into the rhythm, soulful vocals, and just complete command of the songs. Chance Parker, on guitar and vocals, has a concentrated as well as incandescent presence on stage. Off stage, he mentioned he has an affection for stoner metal, which makes sense, as that seems to be an influence to the songs as well. According to their bandcamp website, they call themselves, “desert rock”; perhaps elaborating on the dazed aesthetic, burning both from the sun and mother Earth. Greenbeard was a fantastic opener for the night.

The next band switched gears in terms of genre, but Transit Method can also switch to many things during the course of a song. This alternative progressive rock band performed at Voyager Fest last June, and for me, it was great to hear their set up close this time around, as there is a lot to catch. Their overall strength serves their band name-being able to seamlessly transition from one meter/section to another. They can change it up in the rhythm section (Danny Cruz Borja, Jr. on bass, Mike LoCoco on drums), while the vocals (Matt LoCoco, also on guitar) like to sit up top and move the song forward. This was a delightfully, intense performance.

Mountain Rag closed the night, and brought us back to riff-driven rock, except with a rootsy and hard blues feel. Ryan Nelson, on vocals and bass, can really resonate on both of his instruments; for sure, that voice is clear above the mix. There is something to be said about keeping the heavy and fully distorted sound in rock today. In fact, do we remember rock ‘n’ roll? The “rock” and “roll” are still not mutually exclusive, and this band can remind us of that.

Overall, the three bands powered through the night, providing liberation, deliberation, and the unconventional.

For more information on Greenbeard: http://www.greenbeard.bandcamp.com/

For more information on Transit Method: https://transitmethod.bandcamp.com/

For more information on Mountain Rag: https://mountainrag.bandcamp.com/