Saga Continues

Hey, it was 80's, okay?

Saga began as a Toronto-based progressive rock band in the late 1970's, and though their success was derived mainly from record sales and radio airplay in Canada, they did build a strong following in Europe through diligent touring. I remember first hearing their songs Wind Him Up and Don't Be Late on the Toronto rock radio station Q107. I was enthralled by their mixture of heavy guitars, metronomic percussion, and wildly symphonic keyboards and synthesizers. Add in very operatic vocals, ranging from delicate to powerful, and you've got something approaching a Queen/Yes hybrid, though often heavier and somehow carrying a distinctly Canadian stamp. 

I was very taken with Saga's style and quickly added their albums to my growing collection. I even recall seeing early film footage of the band on a cutting edge Toronto TV program called The New Music. Impressive stuff, what with the atmospheric light show and tasteful yet searing performance. 

I was a huge fan until about 1983, then only sporadically investigated their more current musical offerings. I found the band's sound had become too light and pop-ish for my tastes. It wasn't until 1995's Generation 13 album that I saw Saga returning to their roots a bit, though there was also a modernization of that electronic sense, almost tying into the techno/industrial assault of the 90's. Almost.

And it was on that album's supporting tour in 1996 that I first got to see Saga in concert. A long wait, but well worth it. I was suitably blown away and moved by their still perfectly honed skills on their instruments and the mic. Saga at their best demonstrates the successful marriage of the technical and the artistic. And I admire both of those traits in a band.... prog-rock artists like Rush, FM, and Yes fall into that category, and also into my list of  favourite bands of the genre. 

Then in February of 2013, I had the chance to see Saga again. This show, unlike the '96 one I saw in a night club, was held in a beautiful, acoustically perfect theatre auditorium. That paid big dividends, as the sound was incredible... not too loud but powerfully driven, and distortion was minimized so that even speedy guitar solos during the loudest passages were crisp and clean. The band still had the chops and musicality to put on a terrific show, one of the best I've ever seen, in fact. I came away from that concert positively glowing, and thought about it for many weeks after. Do not turn down a chance to see Saga - they never disappoint!