Gentle Giant 'Advent of Panurge' (reaction episode 358)

#gentlegiant #react #adventofpanurge #70sprogsundayreacts

In this video I react to the Octopus album and Advent of Panurge by Gentle Giant.

A LITTLE ABOUT ME: I'm Dean Wolfe, a mostly self-taught guitarist/composer/multi-instrumentalist/singer/producer/performer. I started out as a full time musician on the road at age 17 for two years, but went part-time ever since while holding day careers including as a chef and in spiritual health care while raising a family.
I've recorded hundreds of my own songs- many being used in media and award winning documentaries etc. I've been in several bands including a prog/jazz fusion act nFuze, performing in International Jazz festivals and jazz clubs. I abandoned the prog genre more or less back in the 1990s but have returned to it now with vigour a full 30 years later- so much prog I've ignored and quite frankly didn't have any idea about. My own prog band was rejected by record labels as "too progressive' in the late 80s, so i detoured into grunge, pop and alternative instead (then folk and acoustic fingerstyle guitar and ambient electric as well).

For the entire series of 'React to Modern Progressive Rock' Playlist #1 click here:

Thanks so much!!! Donations and tips are most welcome:
PayPal.Me/Deanwolfe
Headphones I use mostly are AKG K 712 pro reference (my choice, unsponsored) and i do love them a lot.

Playlist of all my Rush Guitar Lessons:

Playlist of ALL my guitar lessons (Prog Rock, classic rock, Police, Sting etc.)

Follow Me/ websites for me and my bands etc:

[alanfine]

Saw them in Concert in the mid 70's....loved them right away with Genesis, K Crimson, Tull, Yes, ELP....and yes they grow on were incredible musicians who would change their instruments during their Concerts! I never saw that before or since!

[microwave_brother]

You should check out some live videos. Every member plays multiple instruments extremely well, and they nail the a cappella stuff live. Thanks for the vid!

[murdockreviews]

I've never heard a band that sounds like Gentle Giant. Truly unique. I haven't heard all of their discography by far, but I'd certainly say - they grow on you.

[duckfist]

These guys are so wild. All of the vocal interplay and ridiculous instrumentation is just fantastic. And I agree, GG is an 'acquired taste'... that said, their album Acquiring the Taste is delicious.

[MawcDrums]

Every single Gentle Giant song is a grower, and each one is shocking and abrasive in it's own way at first. Definitely takes some effort.

[benoitrenaud]

If my own experience is any indication, you will never get tired of this song!

[andrelevesque]

One of the best drum part I know of. And Kerry Minnear is just astonishing on the piano.
And I loved them right away on first listen and they kept on growing on me.

[chrisnolte]

Gentle Giant fan for almost 50 years! Awesome! Thank you for joining in the journey!

I was a vocal major, instrumental minor in College at the time, and was immediately taken by the complexity, vocal harmonies and similarities to classical music.

[ethanmorris]

I had a very warm first impression with their first album and "The Power and the Glory", and as time went on I continued discovering more and more to love!

[Misa_Susaki]

Gentle Giant is easily my favorite band ever, and it took me many tries to even enjoy their music when I first heard them. Almost funny to think about in retrospect. They definitely grew on me, and now I can't imagine not listening to their music.

[Babs]

I accidentally (they were an opening act) saw them live, they were AMAZING. I don't even remember who the headliner was, but it was a show in Philadelphia in 73 or 74. Ended up seeing them again 3 times...these times on purpose, all in fairly small venues and altho I don't generally like really complex music, they hooked me. I knew a musician or two who couldn't handle listening to them ..too much, they said. I myself never played any instrument. I was just an appreciator of great stuff, especially great melodies and harmonies having started loving the Beatles at age 10. Watching Gentle Giant play live always made me smile. Being a hippy in the 60s and 70s, I loved and listened to the Beatles, a variety of British invasion bands (but not the Stones). I also saw and listened to ELP, Yes, King Crimson, too. Too much great music to mention here. I feel absolutely grateful to have witnessed the greatest period in music history. And GG always held, and still holds a special place. I'm thrilled every time I see a new live video uploaded to YouTube! They were underappreciated at the time and didn't try to be commercially accepted. I get to relive my youth all over again, which is a great thing at 70!!

[dreamcruise]

Gentle Giant grabbed me upon my first listen. That was in 1970. Here I am listening to them daily, still! This is the most incredibly under rated and unappreciated band ever! I am sure you are aware by now that there are live performances of them available here on Youtube! You can witness their genius. All the elements you described, difficult vocals, wild time signatures, complexity galore, can be seen and heard!

[RedMissou]

Its amazing how almost everyone seems to be sharing the same story when getting into GG. I had their song Wreck from Acquiring the Taste in my liked songs playlist on Spotify for like.. more than a year. I had listened to it when i barely started getting into prog rock coming from a long journey of psychedelic rock, and i had the same feelings like everyone else.. “this band is quirky, weird, unique” but i never quite understood their sound. It took me an entire 2 years to first get acquainted with prog, went through bands like Yes, King Crimson and Camel. Then my introduction to the Italian prog band Area really helped sharpen my ears, then as i heard Gentle Giant again, especially On Reflection from Free Hand, i was literally blown away. Its been 6 months now of constant non stop GG music in my ears every single day, they’re so unique, so talented, as close as it can get to perfection in a genre of music that defies this very concept. By far, they have the most creative sound i have ever heard, it just needs some getting used to and especially to be able to handle so many “weird” sounds, it really is an acquired taste, wonder if they wanted to convey that message to everyone as they were naming their second album

[gateroozeink]

Loved Gentle Giant the very first time I heard them (first album). Instant fan, and the appreciation only grew over time.

[AndrewCarterBaker]

Coming from the world of classical music Gentle Giant was an instant love affair.

[skunkworksu]

I loved them the first time I heard this song and this was the first song I heard. I loved the technicality, that said it still grew on me.

[leoscone]

Gentle Giant was my first ever real rock, let alone prog rock show, back in 1974. And yes, they could pull it ALL off live. One of the best prog bands when it came to live. They would do rounds with the whole band playing recorders, or doing percussion. They stand in the front row of epic prog rock bands, totally unique from all others.

[greatbigbadger]

I'm a huge GG fan. Was attracted to the intricate nature of each track and the interweaving of all the parts, vocal and instrumental. Believe they have backgrounds in both jazz and early music, hence the mix of different styles. Favourite prog band and favourite album.

[thesoundship]

They still growing after 50 years. .I always liked them from the first time I heard them.

[taehwiniM]

I saw them twice in Montreal. Two of the members have reunited to form a band called Three Friends. I saw them in Beloeil. They play Gentle Giant songs. The two ancient menbers are the drummer and the guitarist. Of course they have other musicians with them.