Coheed And Cambria have discussed what being ‘prog’ means to them on the latest episode of FreqsTV’s Into The Machine series
Drummer Josh Eppard admits he sees the term as a “badge of honour,” although he doesn’t actively describe the band as progressive himself.
He says: “I don’t always think of us as a progressive band, but I think that kind of goes hand-in-hand with being a progressive band. I like to think we’ve kind of carved such an eclectic mix that we can go anywhere, which in and of itself is progressive.
“On the flip side, I kind of think it’s a badge of honour. I feel pretty proud when people call us a progressive band.”
Mainman Claudio Sanchez adds that the group’s history with concept albums led to them being labelled prog. And having last year released their first ever non concept record, The Color Before The Sun, Sanchez believes he’s grown as a songwriter.
He says: “As the lyricist, I was writing the previous records as a very shy, introverted individual and thus I created this concept that I think helps amplify the idea of us being a progressive rock band. But that all stemmed from a very shy, uncomfortable, insecure person.
“I think now at 37-years-old, with the new record, I’ve taken off the mask. I’ve let these songs speak for themselves without the guise of a concept. And that in itself is progressive.
“To some degree we embrace the title, because we are ever-changing and progress in many different ways. When I think of prog music I think of bands like Pink Floyd or Jethro Tull, Rush – and in some respects we take elements from some of those bands.
“For me it’s the idea of ever changing, ever evolving that makes sense and is why I don’t brush the term aside.”
Other bands to have appeared on Into The Machine include Periphery, Leprous, Haken, Opeth and Between The Buried And Me.
Coheed And Cambria are on a North American tour, with a handful of Australian dates to follow.
COHEED AND CAMBRIA REMAINING 2016 TOUR DATES
Mar 11: Orlando Hard Rock Live, FL
Mar 12: St Petersburg Jannus Live, FL
Mar 14: Atlanta The Tabernacle, GA
Mar 15: Nashville Marathon Music Works, TN
Mar 17: Houston Revention Music Center, TX
Mar 19: Dallas South Side Ballroom, TX
Mar 21: Tempe Marquee Theatre, AZ
Mar 22: Los Angeles Hollywood Palladium, CA
Mar 23: San Francisco The Masonic, CA
Mar 25: Las Vegas Brooklyn Bowl, NV
Mar 26: Salt Lake City The Complex, UT
Mar 27: Denver Fillmore Auditorium, CO
May 05: Sydney Metro Theatre, Australia
May 06: Melbourne Max Watt’s, Australia
May 07: Melbourne Max Watt’s, Australia
May 10: Brisbane Max Watt’s, Australia
May 11: Adelaide The Gov, Australia
May 13: Perth Capitol, Australia
May 21: Maryland Heights Pointfest, MO
May 22: Schaghticoke Rockin’ Derby Festival, NY
