Topographic Topics – June 2026
Rarely does a single episode pack in Rush's triumphant return, the latest release from Prog cornerstone Yes, a sprawling Devin Townsend epic, and a children's book about stage fright, but here we are.
Joe and Paul dive deep into Rush's recent Los Angeles concerts featuring new drummer Annika Niles, whose Neil Peart-honoring performances have sent social media into a frenzy. The early doubters, it turns out, had nothing to worry about. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson made exactly the right call, and the band's preparation of approximately 38 different songs across shows reflects genuine care for their fans' emotional journey. (Front-row Toronto seats hitting $31,000 on the secondary market is genuinely staggering, though.)
Thoughtfully, the guys also cover Yes's newly released album Aurora, praising Steve Howe's acoustic contributions while noting the overpolished orchestration feels a little too pristine. What does it mean when a band's music becomes so effortless it loses its grit?
Paul also walks through Devin Townsend's decade-long "The Moth" project, recommending tracks like "Covered by Causes" as entry points into its massive scope.
The episode closes with warm celebration of Tom Corkran’s children's book launching July 4th at spooksters.rocks.
Tune in for a conversation that covers progressive rock from every angle imaginable.
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Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt
