Rating Scale: TO

Sometimes when you go to a concert, you have to endure one or more opening acts -- acts you paid money to see, but didn't have any intention of watching. Sometimes they're mediocre, sometimes they outright suck. Every once in a while however, a warm-up group steps onto the stage and wows the crowd into submission. Schordinger's Cat is just such a band.

I had the opportunity to catch Schrodinger's Cat twice over the summer, and both shows were top-notch. It was the same club both times and the bands they opened for are both notorious for their dedicated-to-the- point-of-fanatacism crowds, but this band managed to soothe the anxious masses -- people really got into their music even though almost none of the crowd had ever even heard of the band before! I knew I was on to something.

Let me first describe this band and their music. Schrodinger's Cat is a rare breed -- they play real Progressive Rock -- something you don't hear a whole lot of anymore. Fronted by vocalist Mike Horne, the band includes founders John Balducci(drums) and P.J. Muller(keyboards), as well as the intense guitar stylings of Glasgow Scotland's Paul Bremner. Sue Davis lends warm backing vocals and really rounds out the sound of the band.

Schrodinger's Cat's first album really proves that this is not your average local band. This is Progressive Rock at its finest. While the sound quality on the tape is not the greatest, it's still a fairly decent sounding recording. If I had to make the ever-haunting comparisons between this band and anybody else int he industry, I couldn't really say 'hey, this is a Pink Floyd Clone' or 'They've got Hawkwind dead to rights'. Yeah, I hear some influences from many bands in the mix (not the least of which is Marillion, one of the bands they opened for this summer), but they have developed a sound of their own and, from a Progressive point of view, it's a pretty impressive one. I have to respect a band which, in this day where everyone in the music biz either follows the fashion or dies on the vine, this band is playing the music they want to play and they're not sacrificing their integrity just to make a quick buck.

So let's talk about the album. First of all, as good as this one is, if you're a fan of the recorded stuff you must see this band in concert! Mike Horne's stage presence is riveting and the band is more than just a bunch of studio wizards -- they know how to play! "Reach for the Sky" is probably the most radio-friendly song on the album, but other songs like "Loch Ness Monster" and "Fire" really rock, while still showcasing the band's fine musicianship. My favorite song of the bunch is the instrumental "Whatever". This track is mesmerizing! "Whatever" sounds like something Steve Hackett might do -- a no-holds-barred instrumental, the likes of which I don't come across very often anymore.

So you won't likely find "Schrodinger's Cat" in your local record store, at least not yet. I'm told by P.J. that the band is in the studio as you read this, cutting a second album on CD. Chances are, if the new effort is anything like the first one, you may be seeing more of this band in the future. Whatever the case, if you are a Progressive Rock fan, you will no doubt enjoy Schrodinger's Cat. I recommend it highly!