Progressive Palaver

Episode 173 – Porcupine Tree Part 4, Up the Downstair Our exploration of Porcupine Tree continues with this sophomore effort which is a huge leap forward while still finding the Porcupine Tree path. Up the Downstair is an intriguing album with a compelling idea sitting underneath. Songwriting and musicianship advance while maintaining a balance with the best parts of their previous record. There a...

Topographic Topics – April 2026 We start a new type of episode here at Progressive Palaver, Topographic Topics. We actually attempt to spend a few minutes discussing topics that are NOT years old, but only weeks or months. We plan to try this from time to time when interesting things happen in the prog world. For this episode, we consider four main topics, the sale of the Jim Irsay Collection, Rus...

Episode 172 – Porcupine Tree Part 3, On the Sunday of Life A Palaver for Two! Ken and Joe take some time to explore the origins of Porcupine Tree with On the Sunday of Life. A broad collection of songs spanning Steven Wilson’s early explorations. This album provides a deep pool for discovery of different aspects of what will eventually blossom into the full-grown glory of the band. Ken and Joe fin...

Episode 171 – Porcupine Tree Part 2, Preamble and Introduction The time has finally come. The Palaver tackles Porcupine Tree in a full segment. We covered Closure/Continuation earlier as a one-off, but we now return to the cover the full PT catalog. A segment this important deserves iits own Preamble and we present that here. How did we all discover Porcupine Tree? What are our experiences with th...

Episode 170 – Prog Algorithm Mixed Bag, 2025 Algorithm Adventures: Discovering Hidden Gems in Progressive Rock **Discovering Progressive Rock Through Unexpected Pathways** What happens when a streaming algorithm becomes your guide through the world of progressive rock? On this episode, Joe shares his serendipitous journey that began with Haunt the Woods and spiraled into an exploration of both new...

SCS40 – ProgStock 2025 A little late in releasing, but the Palaver gets to share our thoughts on ProgStock 2025 along with some help from Bleeding Edge’s Dave Ayers. Paul, Ken, and Dave were able to attend the annual festival in Rutherford NJ in 2025. As usual, there was a full schedule of prog acts from the full spectrum. The Cyberium, IO Earth, Beer with Dolphins, SerenGazer, and, of course, h n...

Episode 169 – Steven Wilson Part 7, The Harmony Codex The Palaver group convenes for an in-depth track-by-track analysis of Wilson's ambitious pandemic-era project. What initially seemed derivative revealed itself as something entirely original upon closer inspection. The Harmony Codex requires *intentional listening*—passive background consumption misses the intricate layering, jazz harmonies, an...

Bonus Episode – Genesis Revisited, March 2026 What began as a spring break car ride listening to *Invisible Touch* evolved into a comprehensive reexamination of Genesis's entire catalog. Joe candidly explores how his podcast preparation has fundamentally changed his listening habits, replacing spontaneous months-long binges with more critical, intentional engagement. But here's what makes this epi...

Episode 168 – Yes Steel Cage Match Three eras. Three visions. One band’s legacy. On this special episode of Progressive Palaver, we step into a Yes Steel Cage Match — comparing: • True (Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks) • Rio (Trevor Rabin) • Mirror to the Sky (Yes) Different lineups. Different sounds. Same DNA. We break down the music, the identity of each project, and what it all means for the lega...

After years of hearing his co-hosts rave about Styx, Joe Boclair finally made it to see them live at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater in Austin—the one built right into the Circuit of the Americas Formula One racetrack. He even bought a Mr. Roboto shirt as a playful nod to Paul Zotter, Ken Gregory, and Tom Corkran. (His wife Sarah came along too, naturally.) The triple bill featured Don Felder...

Episode 167 – Peter Gabriel Part 11, i/O Peter Gabriel's I.O. is a masterclass in production and artistry, but the release strategy nearly derailed it. On Progressive Palaver, we break down why this 17-year recording journey matters and where Gabriel's vision shines brightest. BlueSky: @progpala.bsky.social X: @progpala Instagram: www.instagram.com/progressivepalaver/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/Pr...

Bonus Episode – Apple TV’s Foundation Season 3 Recap Joe and Sarah take some time to recap the third season of Foundation on Apple TV. The adaptation of this book series continues to surprise and amaze. This show is able to present all the important aspects of the original story in new and fascinating ways. It feels fresh in ways that likely won’t alienate longtime fans. We cover the story, the ac...

Episode 166 – David Gimour Part 1, Luck and Strange Our first David Gilmour solo episode covers his most recent album. In (somewhat) typical Palaver fashion we start at the end of the Gilmour solo catalog to cover Luck and Strange. On this record we find a guitar god from our collective past who is living beyond boundaries. Fresh yet familiar, Luck and Strange finds Gilmour expressing familiar ide...

Special Episode – Interview with Rylee and Cason of Advent Horizon, March 2026 We at the Palaver had the excellent opportunity to sit down with Rylee and Cason of Advent Horizon recently. It was an outstanding conversation discussing their upcoming album Falling Together. Rylee and Cason were able to provide a glimpse into how Advent Horizon music gets written and recorded. They present a fascinat...

Episode 165 – Marillion Part 17 – Seasons End 2022 Remix Finishing out our early 2020’s remix segment, we consider Marillion’s 2022 remix of Seasons End. The question going in was what would (or could) they do with such a fantastic original recording? As usual, the group considers this remix from all the angles. We hope you enjoy revisiting this classic record with us. X: @progpala Instagram: www....

SCS38 – Kansas in Austin, July 2025 We are pleased to share this recap of a Kansas show Joe and Sarah saw in July 2025. Braving the Texas summer heat in Houston, the show was at an outdoor ampitheater. The heat couldn’t stop this most excellent band from thrilling the crowds. We love this incarnation of one of our favorite bands and can’t talk enough about them. X: @progpala Instagram: www.instagr...

Episode 164 - Marillion Part 16, Fugazi 2021 Remix by Progressive Palaver

Special Episode – Interview with Dave and Bill of Know Return, December 2025 We had the delightful opportunity to catch up with Dave Boardman and Bill Everman of the Kansas tribute band, Know Return. We look ahead with them at the exciting 2026 the band has planned starting from a date in Granbury Texas in January and on through the rest of the year. Dave and Bill tease some exciting deep cuts in...

Episode 163 – Yes Part 23, Talk – 30th Anniversary Edition The Progressive Palaver are thrilled to revisit this generally ignored or maligned Yes classic. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Talk, Yes released a remastered and expanded version. Demos, live version, and a smoothed out listening experience make this edition worth checking out. For us, Talk is definitely a gem that is aging wel...

SCS37 – Steven Wilson in Dallas and Philadelphia, October 2025 The Progressive Palaver are extremely happy to welcome Dave Ayers from Bleeding Edge Interviews to this special concert series episode covering Steven Wilson’s Overview Tour. Paul, Ken, and Dave saw Steven Wilson in Philadelphia and Joe saw the tour a week later in Dallas. As luck would have it, we all saw the same set and so we can co...

Episode 162 – Pink Floyd Part 22, A Momentary Lapse of Reason Remixed and Updated 2019 In this episode the group considers the updated version of Pink Floyd’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason. This is an album that was originally made to be “of its time.” It seems that Gilmour and company thought that maybe it didn’t quite stand the test of time that way. Does this update and remix create a “timeless”...

Episode 161 – Pink Floyd Part 21, Animals 2022 Remix Upfront apologies for the tense energy at the beginning of this otherwise charming episode considering the 2022 remix of Pink Floyd’s Animals. The backstory of this remix involves some now-standard drama from the band members. Once past that, however, the Palaver group find this remix to be a breath of fresh air for an album that deserved some u...

Special Concert Series 36 – The Sisters of Mercy in Dallas, Oct 2024 A blast from the past on a tangent! In October 2024, Joe and Sarah went to see The Sisters of Mercy in Dallas. This is decidedly not prog, but still of interest to the members of the Palaver. Here we share this short conversation about a very interesting and fun concert from a band we think is worth your consideration. X: @progpa...

Special Concert Series 35 – Marillion Weekend Bonus Chat with Planet Marzipan Guest Graeme Here is a brief, fun look back to the Marillion Weekend in Port Zelande 2025. Joe had the immense pleasure to meet Graeme and his son on the bus from the airport to Port Zelande. An immediate friendship was born that was confirmed as the two kept running into each other throughout the weekend. On Sunday afte...

Special Episode – Tom B, Joe D, and Dan M from Kansas Sept 2025 We at the Palaver were very happy to welcome Tom Brislin, Joe Deninzon, and Dan McGowan of Kansas to our show. It’s always a pleasure when we get to touch base with these fine musicians who are doing such a tremendous job of carrying the legacy of Kansas. Our conversation covers the usual breadth of fascinating topics including their...