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Rock Pick of the Week: Coheed and Cambria, Porcupine Tree at The Wiltern
Fans of epic guitar solos and thirteen-minute conceptual songs about Supreme Tri-Mages will get to enjoy a veritable pupu platter of progressive rock on Thursday night, when Coheed and Cambria joins Porcupine Tree and The Dear Hunter at the Wiltern. This is the second leg of Coheed's American tour promoting Year of the Black Rainbow, a "prequel" album that rounds out the group's previous four-album "Neverender" cycle. This latest record showcases a more industrial sound, thanks to producers Atticus Ross (Nine Inch Nails) and Joe Barresi (Tool), but fans will also recognize the band's characteristic vocals and soaring rock choruses. Frontman Claudio Sanchez (he of the wackiest 'fro in rock) has also co-written a companion novel by the same name, an apocalyptic sci-fi romp through space (Star Trek novel vet Peter David shares the credit).
Porcupine Tree are veterans of the progressive scene; their sound appeals to those who are old enough to remember prog's psychedelic and krautrock roots. The Dear Hunter (not to be confused with the Georgia-based indie group Deerhunter) will open the show; their melodic, more pop-oriented compositions will be a welcome contrast to the intensity of their show-mates. Lest you prog-rock fans fret, however, their latest album "Act III: Life and Death" is only the third in a planned six-album arc. (Because we all know that real prog rockers always number their albums.)
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