Are there any good progressive rock bands without the silly keyboards?

Answer 1

I’m a big progressive rock fan, but I too quickly tire of all the cheesy grandiose keys, especially the pointless soloing. Yes, it’s true, almost every prog band has keyboards, but not all are silly. There are a lot of progressive rock bands with keyboards that instead subtly add an atmosphere or texture in the background, or use harsher heavier sounds etc. It also depends on the sub-genre of prog that you’re into- symphonic prog (the most popular) and neo prog tend to have a lot of those “silly” keyboards, while fusion can have a lot but they tend to be less “silly” and synth sounding and more jazzy piano oriented, and a lot of the avant-prog & experimental stuff doesn’t have much. …It’s tough to think of many with no keyboards or piano at all- King Crimson doesn’t use any in a number of their releases, as well as Kingston Wall, Avant Garden, and French band Lazuli. Porcupine Tree has keyboards, but use them very tastefully mostly in the background or for spacey atmosphere. Captain Beefheart, though not really considered progressive rock- maybe RIO, doesn’t have any. Those are off the top of my head, but don’t stop looking or listening just because they have keys- some use them effectively sparing us the cheese factor hehe. Just got to search.. I’d shy away from symphonic prog though… Look around on www.progarchives.com … PS- Rush does have synthesizers on most every album.

Answer 2

some of the prog bands have great keyboards parts, some other has really boring parts, for instance I personally cannot handle Rick Wakeman, apparently all he does is running up and down the keyboards as fast as he can and I don't think that's the point of making music. On the contrary the other YES keyboardist Tony Kaye (which most of the YES fans hate) is a very clever and interesting keyboardist, he doesn't play the role of "the star" as Wakeman does, he just does his work and well done, I love what he did on 90125, big generator, union and talk. Marillion has some nice keyboards work as well. And if you really want to hear an outstanding keyboards work you must listen to the band UK (the first album with Bill Bruford and Allan Holdsworth) that really is a keyboards masterwork by Eddie Jobson.

Answer 3

while there aren't many prg bands anymore without keyboard, alot of metalcore bands have taken up the prog spipirt and begun expirementing. you might wanna check out bands like "fall of troy" "norma jean" and "the dillinger escape plan"
the mars volta has keyboards, but are really the exception to the rule. all three of their albums have been mindblowing and really cpature wat progressive music is supposed to be.
also anything inthe post rock genre might be of interest to you.

Answer 4

Jethro Tull

Answer 5

Rush

Answer 6

hahahaha no. keyboards, synths, and organs are the nature and backbone of prog-rock.

Answer 7

exactly your point is well taken.