ProgPower USA XX, Sept 4-7 2019 - Pretty Maids-Evergrey-Seventh Wonder-Dem&Wiz+

[Ben_Jamin]

Just kicking back close by the venue. Wishing I could get a ticket into the venue...Its all good though. I came to also experience the vibe. So far, it's great. Really looking forward to tomorrow.

Met Cramx but not Kattelox...

[cramx3]

Must have seen the Voyager folks 4 times in and out of the venue.  Did a cheers with Tom Englund who was chilling at the bar for the Angra's set which was awesome.  Doro was really awesome, she just had everything you want to front a band.  The band was put together last second but you wouldn't of known that if they didnt say it.  Angra signed my ticket and Fabio questioned me about my favorite singer of Kamelot (I was wearing a Kamelot tshirt) 

[Ben_Jamin]

Inside the venue, its nice.

[cramx3]

Ran into Tom again while leaving the venue, needed to drop off the booklet and CD before heading back for Bloodbound.  Of course that was after doing the Eclipse meet and greet. Wake me up, I'm dreaming!

[Ben_Jamin]

Oh My God...Redemption. All I'll say is the dvd is gonna be memorable....

[jingle.boy]

Oh My God...Redemption. All I'll say is the dvd is gonna be memorable....

[The Walrus]

Yo this festival changed my life and it's not even over yet.  JFC the hype was real. Progpower is the greatest event.

[cramx3]

Oh My God...Redemption. All I'll say is the dvd is gonna be memorable....

Hopefully got my ugly face in it  went nuts every time the camera guy in front of me turned around for crowd shots.

I can't believe it's the last day, went by so quick since it was so much fun but today may top the previous three

[jingle.boy]

Yo this festival changed my life and it's not even over yet.  JFC the hype was real. Progpower is the greatest event.

Good on ya dude.  No matter the lineup, it's a fantastic four days.  Next year is a solid maybe for me at the moment - depends on who ends up dropping out. Seventh Wonder, Subsignal and Threshold make Days 3/4 very appealing just for those 3; the rest I'm kinda meh over.  Day 1/2 is about 50/50 high level interest for me.

[cramx3]

I'm not crazy about next years line up, only a few things that would make me want to travel for it, but you are right, the festival atmosphere might be worth it alone. 

Apparently Redemption performed their set list for the cameras before the doors opened yesterday.  And of course filmed the actual show too, but I guess their blu-ray will be a lot of the footage from before the real show and then cut into the crowd shots.  Kind of sucks when I heard that, but I guess it's a one time thing and they wanted to make sure it was right (especially the history of mics not working from the first 2 days).

Also, Chris Poland coming out was sick.  That was a nice surprise and I'm definitely surprised that their cover of Peace Sells is going to be on their video.

[Grappler]

Bands do that all the time....it gives them additional footage to edit in (such as closeups ir shots that do not have a camera boom in them). No need to be worried.  The bulk of the live footage will be the actual show.  I'm looking forward to Redemptions DVD and seeing them live with Tom. 

[lonestar]

Reports from my friends there are that Redemption kicked serious ass, and I've seen more than a few saying that Sons of Apollo could have been the best PPUSA set ever.

[jingle.boy]

Reports from my friends there are that Redemption kicked serious ass, and I've seen more than a few saying that Sons of Apollo could have been the best PPUSA set ever.

That's a bold fucking statement.

[Ben_Jamin]

I had to leave early so didn't get to see the rest of SOA set. They were amazing though. Those songs come alive live. Great energy and JSS was getting pretty hammered. And they had an early 3am flight to head to Japan.

[cramx3]

Reports from my friends there are that Redemption kicked serious ass, and I've seen more than a few saying that Sons of Apollo could have been the best PPUSA set ever.

That's a bold fucking statement.

I've heard this as well from folks.  Ive been saying it since I saw them in NYC, they are a fucking great live band.  Not sure I'd say they were a better one two punch than Haken and DTP two years ago though, for me.  I got a "half set list"    Their set expanded to two pieces of paper and someone else and myself were trying to get it so we agreed to split it.  Such love 

[The Walrus]

SoA is the only band I skipped entirely. Not interested. Wish I had skipped Oceans of Slumber though.

I met Labyrinth in front of MP's dressing room haha.

Also Labyrinth had their special acoustic set. They played Purple Rain. I cried.   

[Ben_Jamin]

Sons of Apollo was a good band to end the night.

[Lethean]

Not even close to being the best band at PP. But I suppose they were for those people.

[Ben_Jamin]

Not even close to being the best band at PP. But I suppose they were for those people.

Haha...yeah I thought Redemption kicked ass better.

[devieira73]

The Redemption’s setlist on setlist.fm is correct, including the guests appearances? Thanks!

[cramx3]

The Redemption’s setlist on setlist.fm is correct, including the guests appearances? Thanks!

Yup. It was insane and better than SOA imo

[SoundscapeMN]

I'd be surprised if any performance will surpass the Pain of Salvation show at the 1st ProgPower USA in February 2001.

greatest concert I've ever seen (which I've seen well over 500).

[lonestar]

So how was Alestorm? Not seeing a ton about them on FB.

[cramx3]

So how was Alestorm? Not seeing a ton about them on FB.

Just you wait 

We killed the duck 

[lonestar]

So how was Alestorm? Not seeing a ton about them on FB.

Just you wait 

We killed the duck 

I awe that, there was a tremendous pic of it on the unofficial PPUSA page, go check it out

[Ben_Jamin]

So how was Alestorm? Not seeing a ton about them on FB.

Just you wait 

We killed the duck 

That was amazing...So many 

[The Walrus]

I'm so happy to have met some of you folks at this event. Words don't do it justice.

10 more hours on the road...

[cramx3]

I'm so happy to have met some of you folks at this event. Words don't do it justice.

10 more hours on the road...

Same  so may cool people met this weekend including those from here of course.

10 hour trip sounds miserable, I'm already back

[Ben_Jamin]

I'm so happy to have met some of you folks at this event. Words don't do it justice.

10 more hours on the road...

Same  so may cool people met this weekend including those from here of course.

10 hour trip sounds miserable, I'm already back

Right. I had a blast. Looking at my pictures and reminiscing. At the airport waiting for my flight. I'm still wondering who the Shark was during Alestorm.

It was great meeting all the forum guys and all the others at the Andaluz. Left there at like 4, Vikram is such a cool dude. Props to him...

[Lethean]

The Redemption’s setlist on setlist.fm is correct, including the guests appearances? Thanks!

Yup. It was insane and better than SOA imo

Agreed. Plus you can't beat Ray Alder as a special guest.

[Ben_Jamin]

The Redemption’s setlist on setlist.fm is correct, including the guests appearances? Thanks!

Yup. It was insane and better than SOA imo

Agreed. Plus you can't beat Ray Alder as a special guest.

I was so happy he showed up...saw him in Anadaluz after the show and he gave me a hug.

[Ben_Jamin]

Finally made it back home. Long ass back to back flight.

[lonestar]

I just gotta post the pic here for those who aren't in the FB group...

[The Walrus]

Finally made it back home. Long ass back to back flight.

Glad you got home safe, dude. I just got back about an hour ago. I never want to make that drive again, LOL. I am strongly considering flying next year despite my fear of heights.

Here's a few photos that I just put on my Facebook, one of the Angra flag I had signed, one of the PP flag, and one of all the CDs I bought. I got two picks - one from Bill Hudson, and one from Ross the Boss. I have no idea where the RTB one came from because I wasn't anywhere near the stage when they were thrown, and I don't remember Mike Lepond giving me one when I met him...

I have more that I'll share... I apologize if I flood the thread with them but I've never had so much fun in my life. Genuinely makes me emotional thinking about all the amazing friends I've made, to call it lifechanging is an understatement. I have such a great story to tell once I find the time. For now...

[cramx3]

That's a sick haul.  It took almost all day to copy over all my video off my camera and onto my computer and I've got tons of photos that I need to sort out, but I just don't have the time this week.  I plan on making a full cramx3 concert video with all the bands (except Persefone, the only band I did not catch).  But for now, I've uploaded every full song I captured and put them on this playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8Xat1WaNEGuHMPqhY4Qmxk2zwbnEYLJj

I'll say I easily enjoyed this PP much more than I did two years ago my first time attending.  A big part being that I was able to experience the whole show and do some of the meet and greets.  Another part was meeting more people and feeling a bit more apart of the community (I can no longer say I am a PP noob). 

I'd love to write a full long review of my thoughts on all the bands, but I may have to come back to that.