Andrew Colyer

4th Quarter 2016 – it flew by!  And there were also some things that happened in the latter half of September that didn’t make it into the last blog post.  As usual, I’ll hit the highlights with images.

Circuline recently contributed the track “Nautilus” from their second album Counterpoint to the compilation album One Love! Music For Relief, out now via There is Hope records.  There is Hope is a not-for-profit subsidiary of Melodic Revolution Records, founded by Nick Katona.

Circuline’s new album Counterpoint received an excellent review in the UK’s Classic Rock Society magazine!

“Confident in its vision…..a very particular style…..What we have here is drama – big, bombastic, epic progressive rock with everything turned up to 11.  The production is massive…..two excellent lead vocalists in Natalie Brown and Billy Spillane, so add Colyer’s third vocal and we have some very effective harmonies…..the music matches the production…..Colyer’s dominant keyboards are excellent throughout, recalling Keith Emerson particularly…..short instrumental vignettes are also nicely used…..high on quality and craft…..for those that like their prog powerful and dramatic, it’s a must listen.”

Circuline received a two-page Feature in PROG Magazine 69!  Following a 45-minute Skype interview with Andrew Colyer and Darin Brannon, rock journalist Rich Wilson wrote a great story about Circuline’s past, present, and future, including tales of Downing Grey, founding guitarist Bill Shannon’s departure, first album learning experiences, and the new album Counterpoint.

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to the shows on the 2016 Sonic Voyage Fest tour!

Circuline performed at the 2016 Progtoberfest in Chicago! We performed with Brand X, Carl Palmer, Security Project, The Fringe, and 23 other bands, including tributes to Keith Emerson, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and King Crimson.  What fun!

Circuline joined Melodic Rock Records Recording Artist JADED PAST for a gig at the BEST MUSIC VENUE in Queens!  This was a rockin’ gig.  🙂

On Friday, November 18th, Circuline performed at Jersey City PS27, giving back to the music education community.  The band fielded questions from students and parents about practicing music, playing in a group, what it takes to be a professional musician, career options, and more.

Thank you so much to iO Pages Magazine (Netherlands) for the great review of Circuline’s Counterpoint in issue 138!

Thank you to Classic Rock Society Magazine (UK) for featuring the Counterpoint track “Stay (Peter Frankenstan)” on the New Species 27 CD Sampler, included with their November/December 2016 Issue!

Progression Magazine (U.S.) Issue 70 covers the 13th International Rites of Spring Festival (RoSfest), and gave Circuline’s Counterpoint a 3.5 star review!

RoSfest – “Jefferson Airplane gone proggy?  The smooth chemistry between co-lead vocalists Natalie Brown and Billy Spillane amidst soaring symphonic atmospheres evoked as much, especially in Brown’s Grace Slick-like phrasing…….played tightly despite recent lineup changes…..Bassist Harold Skeete, on emergency loan from Ad Astra, deftly negotiated difficult material and contributed a poignant rendition of ‘America the Beautiful’.  New guitar virtuosos Beledo shined with dextrous chops complementing the leads and fills of keyboardist Andrew Colyer…….Violinist Joe Deninzon guested late in the set”

Counterpoint Review – 3.5 stars – “Varied melodies and styles from musical theater and jazz to classic rock and traditional prog…..symphonically soaring…..moves through multiple passages both playful and serious, while conveying a lyrical theme…..multiple yet interdependent sonic perspectives…..”

Thank you to Jerry Ewing and all the staff at PROG Magazine (UK) for featuring the Counterpoint track “Stay (Peter Frankenstan)” on their “P50 Tales of the Future” Covermount CD Sampler, included with their December 2016 Issue 72!

I’m looking forward to seeing you in 2017!  Thank you for being here.